Viper (Fallen Angel #2)(51)

I shoved my hands into my pockets and shrugged, trying to blow off my major faux pas. “I just woke up, that’s all.”

The side of Halo’s mouth crooked up before he turned back to the pizza, and I rolled my eyes at myself. Jesus, think before you talk, Viper. Maybe then I wouldn’t word-vomit every thought that ran through my head. Even if it was true.

Over the past month I’d gotten used to waking up and finding the angel sprawled out in bed next to me. With his tangle of curls and warm, smooth skin, Halo was a welcome addition to my bedroom each night, and when I woke up to find him missing, I’d had a flashback to that first time in Florida.

“Are you hungry?” Halo asked, giving me the out I so desperately wanted from the previous conversation.

I shamelessly took it, not wanting to look closer at all the reasons I might feel anxious over the thought of this man leaving my bed, even to go and get something to eat from my damn kitchen.

“Yeah, I could eat,” I said, and then I busied myself by grabbing a couple of plates and a roll of paper towels from the cupboard under the sink. “But not here.” I balanced the Parmesan on the plates with the towels then grabbed the glasses. “You bring the food and drink.”

As I made my way to the bedroom, the lights from the surrounding buildings spilled inside, illuminating the way, and as we entered, I passed the unmade bed and headed for the couch set up in the corner.

Halo put the Coke down and slid the pizza box onto the small table, then put a couple slices on each plate and took up a seat next to me on the couch, directly facing the magnificent view.

We wolfed down our first slices, both obviously hungry from missing dinner and our extracurricular activities, and once the initial hunger was satiated, I reached for my drink and washed it down with a gulp of the soda.

When Halo chuckled, I arched an eyebrow in his direction, and he gestured to the glass with a tilt of his chin.

“I’m shocked you didn’t bring in a bottle of whiskey to add to that.”

I smirked as I slid the glass back on the table. “I was tempted.”

“Why am I not surprised?”

“You tryin’ to say I drink too much?”

Halo took a bite of his second slice and shook his head. “No.”

I eyed him for a beat, trying to see if there was more to that answer under the surface. But one thing I’d begun to realize about the angel was that what he said, he meant. There wasn’t any kind of underlying message to decipher with him. No bullshit lurking around a corner to bite you in the ass later, and that was something I could appreciate.

“Well, if you were saying that you’d probably be right. Smoking, drinking, fucking around, all nasty habits I picked up from years of touring.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I frowned and added, “Habits you should steer clear of.”

Halo let out a loud laugh and lowered his half-eaten slice to the box before turning to me. “Is that right?”

“Yep.” I took a bite out of my second slice. “I mean, the fucking you can do—with me. But you really shouldn’t drink as much as we do, or smoke for that matter.”

“Right.” Halo’s lips twitched. “Because you’re the poster boy for abstaining.”

“Eh, I’m too old change my ways now.”

“Old?” Halo fell back on the couch and laughed. “You’re thirty-three, not seventy-three. And I don’t know, it sure hasn’t hurt Mick Jagger and he’s what?”

“Seventy-five.”

“See,” Halo said with a grin. “Maybe I should start smoking.”

I wasn’t sure why I cared, but the idea of Halo picking up a habit that just might kill him made my stomach revolt. “Don’t you fucking dare.”

Halo pursed his lips. “Well, since you asked so nicely…”

“I’m not fucking joking. That shit will kill you.”

Halo sat up and leaned over to brush his lips over mine. “I know. So why do you still do it?”

As his eyes locked with mine, I wondered if he was about to ask me to quit, and as he continued with the silent stalemate, I couldn’t help but wonder what my response would be if he did.

It was an answer I never had to give, though, because Halo grinned and shifted away to reach for his half-eaten slice. “No need to worry. I don’t plan to take up heavy drinking or smoking. I plan to enjoy this kickass life that seems to be happening right now.”

“Uh, what’s this ‘right now’ business?” I said, stretching my legs out and crossing the ankles.

Halo shrugged. “Well, you never know in the music industry, right? Highs, lows, and all that? I’m just trying to keep my expectations in check.”

And that was another thing I really liked about Halo—how damn humble he was. It was rare that someone with as much talent and charisma could remain so modest. But something told me that nothing—money, fame, success—would ever change Halo’s temperament. And that was so damn attractive after spending the past decade surrounded by overconfident assholes who all believed you should get on your knees and thank them for just looking your way. Hell, I’d made it my mission to become one just to fit in. But Halo was in a league all on his own. One I planned to make sure no one fucked with, or they’d have me to answer to.