Ruthless Creatures (Queens & Monsters, #1)(103)

“Dear god. You’re not still beating that dead horse, are you?”

“I am. I know you just haven’t met your match yet.”

“That’s because you were brain damaged from that time when you were six when you fell off your bike and hit your head on the curb.”

“I was wearing a helmet.”

“Whatever. You haven’t been the same since. I tried to convince your parents to pull the plug, but they’d gotten attached to you and refused. Idiots.”

I realize I’m smiling. “I never went into the hospital, but thanks for the love.”

“You’re welcome. And I know you’re smiling right now, so don’t even try to pretend you’re hurt that I find your ridiculous love life entertaining.”

“Speaking of love lives, how’s Brad Pitt, Jr.?”

She pauses. “Who?”

“The hot blond guy you met in the Uber rideshare.”

“Oh. Him. Rear view mirror, babe.”

The more things change, the more they stay the same. “I miss you.”

“Miss you, too. Come back soon. This dog of yours is the most boring animal on the planet. All he does is sleep.”

“Would you be surprised if I told you he attacked Viktor the assassin who was sent to kill me?”

“Yeah, right. Now you’re just making things up. By the way, I saw Chris at the store last night.”

“Oh no.”

“Oh yes. He said to tell you he apologizes for anything he ever did to offend you and hopes you’ll forgive him, then he ran away. Now what do you think made him do that?”

Remembering my last encounter with Chris, I make a face. “Kage had a little man-to-man chat with him after I told him Chris had been driving by my house at all hours of the day and night.”

“Exactly as I thought. I wish I had a man who’d protect me from all the assholes in the world.”

“You could, but you’d get bored of him.”

“You get my point. Kage is gaga over you, babe. Cut him a break. Now I have to go, because there’s a singles’ meeting at the library that I’m late for. I hear there will be Bingo.”

She hangs up on me, which is her way of telling me not to feel sorry for myself.

She’s the queen of tough love, but I suspect underneath that steel armor she wears beats the softest heart in the world.

Not that I’ll ever know for sure, because she’d throw herself off a cliff before she’d admit it.

I finish my glass of wine, then wander around the room, opening drawers and running my fingers over brushes and tubes of paint, my mind abuzz and my body so tired I can barely feel my feet.

Then I lie on my side on the floor and stare out at New York City until I fall asleep.





I wake up in Kage’s arms. He’s carrying me down a hallway.

Yawning, I mumble, “Where are you taking me?”

“To bed.”

I don’t bother fighting. I don’t have it in me right now.

He brings me into the master bedroom. It’s decorated in soothing shades of beige and brown with lots of wood accents. There’s another ridiculous view out the tall windows, but it disappears when he tells Alexa to close the drapes.

He sets me on the bed, removes my shoes, and pulls the covers over me.

Then he turns to leave.

“You’re going?”

He stops and looks back. A small smile plays around his full lips. I can tell my tone pleased him, but he’s trying not to be obnoxious about it.

“You don’t want me to?”

“No. Yes. I don’t know.” I sigh and burrow deeper under the covers. “Maybe?”

“Let me know when you’re sure. Until then, sleep well.”

He leaves, closing the door softly behind him.

Now I’m wide awake again.

I roll to my back, fling off the covers, and stare at the ceiling for a long time, going over everything in my head. Except my head is full of mashed potatoes. It’s like I’m trying to do algebra. I can’t come up with anything that makes sense.

The only thing I know for sure is that no matter what he did or how mad I am at him, I’d feel better if Kage’s arms were around me.

I throw my legs over the side of the bed, go to the door, and open it. Then I pull up short.

Kage is standing there, leaning against the wall next to the door with his massive arms folded over his chest and his head bowed.

He looks up at me. Our eyes meet. A jolt like a thunderbolt goes through me, hot and powerful, all the way to my toes.

We stand there staring at each other in crackling silence until I say softly, “Will you please come in and—”

He pushes off the wall and grabs me, crushing his mouth to mine.

The kiss is desperate. Devouring. When we come up for air, I say breathlessly, “Hold me?”

Walking me backward toward the bed, he growls, “Hold you? Sure. Right after I fuck you.”

“Kage—”

“Red or green, baby.” He pushes me onto the bed, kneels, plants his hands on either side of my head, and kisses me again, ravenously.

It’s like my hands have a mind of their own, because they instantly tangle themselves into his hair and start pulling.

He breaks away from my mouth, chuckling. “That’s what I thought.”