Page 76 of Vicious Butterfly
“We’re boyfriends now. No taksies backsies.” I imagine him blushing on the other end.
“And what if I try?” he murmurs, voice dropping just enough to be intentional. Like he already knows I won’t let him.
Is he flirting with me? I think he’s flirting with me. And my heart’s aflutter. That’s a first. Look at all these firsts. I can’t believe I missed out on all of this as a teenager. But I see the appeal. So long as it’s contained, I could really get into this romance stuff.
I laugh like the devil I am. “Hunting you down would be fun, dollface. You’re mine now; there is no leaving me.”
His breath shudders. This is turning him on.
“Marry me,” I demand.
“Over the phone, really?”
“I don’t know if you’ve noticed—I know shit about romance, baby. But the next time I see you, I’ll make sure you can see Heaven from the peak of your orgasm.”
Muffled words groan from the backseat. I pick up Pearl, crank my arm into the backseat, and use the butt. There’s acrackand then a half-choked, half-strangled noise.
“Why? Tell me why you need to get married.”
“That wasn’t the deal.” I’m not opposed to telling him about the will, but it opens the whole Uncle Jasper can of worms that will fly wildly out of control. That can’t happen. Once the control is gone … well, let’s not go there.
“Then no. I want to know, or you can fuck off, VanCourt.”
“You little fucking brat.” Something like laughter rises from the backseat as I pull off the highway. I go still, taking a measured breath and then another. My jaw tightens. How long would it take to drive to North Point just to put my future husband in his place?
“I want to know who I’d be spending the rest of my life with. That’s a normal request.”
I’m far from normal, and it’s exactly what I don’t want—a spouse knowing every fucking thing about me. Because that’s what he’s really asking for.
“Who youwillbe spending the rest of your life with, baby.”
“Not your baby, Tate.”
“Debatable. Anyway, dollface, I’ll be tied up for the next little bit. You’d better fucking behave yourself and make a decision. I’m tired of waiting.”
“Fine, you need a decision? It’s no. I’m not fucking marrying you. I don’t need you. Stay away from me, asshole.”
He hangs up. Was it something I said? There’s more constrained laughter from the backseat as I pull into the brewery. As soon as I’m parked, I grab Pearl again. Now he’s sorry, begging me like the coward he is through the gag.
“Stop.”Crack.“Running.”Crack.“Your annoying fucking mouth.”Crack.
More blood weeps from his forehead. His head slumps, and now I’m annoyed because I wanted to talk to him, but he’s out cold.
“Maybe Ryan does need a little romance,” I say to him anyway. “Any ideas? No?” He doesn’t respond, but he’s still breathing. Maybe not for long, though. Haven’t decided. But back to more important problems. Uncle Jasper wasn’t the romantic type. Luke might be able to come up with something, but I’d rather involve Luke in my Ryan business as little as possible.
Our father—mine and Luke’s—he was romantic. What would he have done?
I pick up my phone and dial Ethan. “Tell whoever’s fucking you to get his dick out of your ass. I brought you a present.”
13
RYAN
Late October
It appeared in my room. A long box with a lone black rose inside it. I should have cut it into pieces, burned it. Instead, I fell asleep with it on my chest, which I don’t recommend. I ended up with thorn marks across my right forearm—Tate biting into me from afar. I also should have been pissed, but I was relieved.
As soon as the words were out of my mouth, telling him I don’t need him, telling him to stay the fuck away from me, I regretted them. I don’t want Tate gone. Ever. Even if being my dark protector—and warden—is all he ever is. I can’t have it all. Love, in any form, isn’t in the cards for me. Not from Father, not a lover, maybe not even from Griff anymore.
