I’ve tried not to think too much about who Neo is dating. The man he willingly shares a bed with. Who he smiles for. Laughs for. Moans for.
It’s no good for my blood pressure.
Before my body catches up with my brain, the target does something no one has been able to do in decades.
He gets the upper hand. Shoving at my chest, he sprints away, almost knocking Neo over in the process.
He doesn’t look back to see if his boyfriend is okay. Doesn’t try to save him. Doesn’t even check whether he’s still standing.
I’m so in shock about what’s happening that I don’t bother to pursue him. Instead, I drift closer to Neo automatically, my head tilting. “Did he just…run away?”
“He just ran away,” Neo repeats in disbelief.
A fury unlike anything I’ve ever felt before unfurls in my chest. “What if you’d actually been in danger?”
Because, although we both know Neo is safe, his boyfriend doesn’t. As far as he’s aware, he’s just abandoned him to a masked person intent on violence.
Hilarious, really. There’s no one in the world who Neo is safer with than me. My monster might want to play with him, but he’d never hurt him.
Neither of us would.
“Well, I guess he would’ve had to live with the knowledge that he left me to die.” Neo scowls at his retreating form. “I suspect he wouldn’t lose too much sleep.”
Really?Thisis the man that Neo has chosen to be his partner? Can’t he see he’s worth so much more? “Why are you with him?”
Surprise flashes in Neo’s eyes. “Why do you care?”
Yes, why do you care, Wylder?
I grit my teeth. “Humor me.”
Something crosses his face. It’s there and gone in a flicker, so fast I almost miss it. But I don’t.
It sets alarm bells ringing in my mind.
“Because he satisfies me,” Neo taunts, stepping closer. I plant my feet on the ground, refusing to let him win by moving. “He knows all the ways to make me moan. To make me scream. How best to make me beg. I can’t get enough. That’s why I’m with him.”
I stiffen. Is he serious? He can’t honestly think that sex is that important. It never has been to me. To be honest, I’ve always seen it as more of a chore than anything else. The best part about not truly being with Candace is not having to search for the necessary attraction to get the deed done. “I see.”
Neo chuckles bitterly. “I don’t think you do, Wylder. If you did, we’d be having a very different conversation.”
Fuck. How long has he known it’s me? What gave it away? There’s no point in asking. He’ll never tell me.
With a sigh, I remove my mask and fight the urge to smooth out my hair. I must look a state, but I ignore it. It’s not like I care what Neo thinks of me.
I stare in the direction his boyfriend vanished. “You deserve better than good sex. At the very least, you deserve someone who won’t abandon you in a dangerous situation.”
From the corner of my eye, I see Neo shrug. “Never had that before, so I’m not expecting to get that now.”
I turn to face him. “That’s not true.”
“It is. Everyone abandons me.”
I’m not sure which I hate more—his words or the complete lack of inflection in his voice.
I purse my lips. “Ansel hasn’t.”
“True, but he’s not my partner.” Neo sighs, rubbing a hand through his hair. “It’s fine. I have low expectations of everyone. Can’t be disappointed then.”
