My eyes trail over the fresh one on her shoulder, and I know my handprints are probably still visible on her hips from how hard I held her when she rode my face.
"So take your time getting dressed, and I’ll let her in.”
I leave before she can argue, walking barefoot through the apartment. I unlock the door slowly, just to annoy the raven-haired menace I know is on the other side. The look on her face when she sees me standing there, shirtless in just a pair of sweats, is priceless.
“Ugh, of course you have abs. Do you have anything physically wrong with you?”
“You can ask Shannen.”
“That dirty girl…” She grins, already pushing past me into the apartment. “She finally took your virginity, huh? About time. Even if it was probably a pity fuck.” She heads straight for my kitchen, flipping on the coffee machine like she owns the place. “Where is she anyway? And by that, I mean, she better be conscious and here, not strung up somewhere because you were having an off day.”
“She safe-worded when I tried the kidnapping thing, so we settled for a pretty standard night in my bed.”
“Wow, you’ve been waiting all these years, and you settled for a bed. Could you be any more boring?”
“Fuck you. It was everything I ever imagined.” I drag a handthrough my hair, not even trying to hide how wrecked I still am. “She’s getting dressed. She’ll be out in a minute.”
“So, you and her… Are you good? She’s okay?”
“I really fucking hope so.”
Before either of us can say more, the bedroom door opens. Shannen steps out in the same clothes she wore to the roof, minus the coat, and her hair is still a gorgeous mess.
“There she is, my beautiful and thankfully breathing best friend.”
“He promised not to throw me off the roof, so, you know… progress.”
“I’d never—” I start, then glance back at Lianna. “You, on the other hand, are getting closer to an accident every time you open your mouth.”
“Now you’re just talking dirty to me, Phoenix,” she fires back, sipping her coffee. “By all means, continue. Nothing gets me going like a half-assed threat from a guy with anger issues.”
“Half-assed?” I blink at her, genuinely offended because I’ve never half-assed anything in my fucking life.
“Come on.” She waves her hand dismissively. “If you’re going to threaten me with violence, at least commit and go full psycho, or it’s just sad.”
Shannen stares at us both for a beat, then bursts out laughing. “I never noticed before, but you two are the same. Like, actually the same.”
“Take that back right now.” She points a finger at Shannen. “I may be unhinged, but I would never go twenty-eight years without getting my dick played with because that is diabolical. I mean, I get it. For you two, it’s this huge slow-burn soulmate thing, but I would’ve been found face down, with a vibrator buzzing in my cold, dead hand.”
“So murder, assault, stalking… all fine, but it’s my lack of sex life that offends you?”
“Exactly. But to be fair, you had your reasons, right?” I nod because it’s true. I did.
“Right,” Shannen adds, still laughing like this conversation is normal.
“What are you doing tonight?” Her eyes flick to mine for a split second before landing back on Shannen. “And I’m asking her because we need to talk without your eyes or ears listening in. Which is why I think you should come to the club tonight.”
No.
Absolutely the fuck not.
“Are you trying to piss him off?”
“A little… but no, I actually mean both of you. I’ll get you a VIP room. It’ll be good for you, you creepy little nightmare. You can take a day off from the stalking and go out with your girl.”
“Okay, can we not call it stalking? Pretty sure it only counts if the person being stalked doesn’t know the stalker exists.”
“Don’t get cute, baby. You know I’m still gonna stalk your pretty little ass. You breathe, I watch. That’s just how it is.”
