Page 50 of Villains Never Die

“That’s the second time this week I’ve seen you almost smile. I didn’t realize your face could do that,” he said.

I tensed, eyes darting to make sure none of my other employees were nearby. He had a point though. Teddy was still a problem and there was a killer on the loose, but good things had happened this week. The Prague collection preparations were nearly finished and veilknight might not be full of shit.

And none of them tested my facial expressions the way Rook did.

I shrugged off Gray’s observation. “He’s amusing, that’s all.”

Don’t you have work to do?

Rook: Not until tonight. I just got out of bed.

I wondered what he looked like when he woke up in the morning, if he was handsome in a sleepy, disheveled way.

It’s noon.

Rook: I was up all night prepping for my new fighter’s debut match. Bastard isn’t half the fighter as the one you killed, by the way.

Your customers will show up and salivate for violence anyway.

Rook: They’re always thirsty for fresh blood. So what thrilling thing are you doing today?

I’m at my warehouse inspecting a new shipment.

Rook: Zzzzzzz

Some of us have serious business to do. I’m not playing at being important.

Rook: My bank account says I’m not playing, so fuck you, and also, I know you’re thinking about the next time your cock is in my mouth. Keep telling yourself I’m not important.

I breathed out a long, slow breath, and did something verynotboring for a change.

Maybe next time it will be your cock in my mouth.

Gray made a sound that was halfway between chuckling and clearing his throat. I glanced over at him and raised my eyebrows.

“Are you sexting right now?” he asked quietly, no longer containing that grin he’d held close. “No judgment. I’ve got a whole library of them on my phone.”

“That is because you are what is known as a ‘man whore,’” I said.

“Yep, but I can guess who it is, and I think you having one special person to send naughty text messages to is way more interesting than me fucking ten different women at once.”

“I don’t pay you to take aninterestin my personal life, and he isn’t special.”

“Bullshit.”

“Which part?”

“Everything you just said. For what it’s worth, it’s good to see you happy about something.”

“I’m not happy about something. I have too much else to worry about.”

“Yeah, okay. That smile was just a muscle twitch then.”

I paused, my phone still resting open in my palm. “It doesn’t bother you that I’m…that he’s a man.”

Gray shook his head and smiled like a wolf thinking about his next meal. “I don’t much care what other people get up to in their bedrooms. I’m too busy with mine.”

I nodded and hummed, distracted by another message coming in on my phone.