Theo sighs and shakes his head. “We made a bet over who was the most stubborn out of you two.” He flicks his eyes between me and Rhys. “And I lost.”
I cross my arms over my chest and narrow my eyes at them. “I feel like I should be insulted. Who bet what?”
“I bet that by the end of the day, you’d have ignored three of Rhys’s orders. Alex bet the opposite.”
“Really?” Rhys says with a heavy sigh. “You thought someone could out stubborn me?”
My gaze snaps to Rhys. “Is that a challenge?”
He cocks an eyebrow as something sparks in his liquid honey eyes. “Do you want it to be?”
Well shit. When he’s looking at me like that, I kind of want it to be, even though I know this is a terrible idea. My eyes narrow. “Are you sure you’re ready for me?”
A wicked smirk spreads across his lips, highlighting the sinful nature of his lips. This man is far too good looking for his own good, the scars only adding to his allure. “Princess, I’mmorethan ready for you.”
Fire sparks in my blood and heat pools between my legs. Is… is thisflirting? Am I seriously flirting with the most infuriating man I’ve ever met? Shit. Abort mission.
I open my mouth to backtrack, but the challenge shining in his eyes stops me. My stubbornness rises to the surface. Fuck, I can’t allow him to think he has me beat. His ego will inflate too big and he’ll be insufferableto be around for the rest of this journey. Plus, I may be many things, but I’m no coward.
“We’ll see about that,” I say, holding his gaze. “And I told you to stop calling me princess. Do it again and you won’t like the consequences.”
Rhys just smiles wider. “Bring it, princess.”
“Sure thing, buttercup,” I retort.
“Buttercup?” Rhys sputters, but I ignore him, instead turning my attention back to the other two men. They’re glancing between Rhys and me, amusement and surprise on their faces.
“Things are never boring with you around, huh, princess?” Theo says, mirth dancing in his silver eyes.
I smirk at him. “I don’t intend them to be.”
Theo chuckles and shakes his head.
“How come he gets to call you princess?” Rhys says, his voice sounding suspiciously close to a whine. “I’m the one who called you it first.”
“Well, you see, sweet cheeks, he’s not a massive prick like you are.”
“Sweet cheeks? What the fuck?”
“Don’t like it? Hmm, I’ll keep trying then.” I shoot him a sickly sweet innocent smile. And that’s when it dawns on him what my payback is going to be.
“I swear to God, if you keeping calling me by these ridiculous names…” He tapers off as he tries and fails to think of something to threaten me with, which only makes the whole thing funnier. He growls in frustration. “Fine. You keep up with those and I’ll keep calling you princess.” He crosses his arms over his chest, his face contorted with annoyance, but there’s a sparkle in his eyes that tells me he’s enjoying this.
“Come on, I requested a song and I expect you to uphold your end of the bet,” Alex says, changing the subject.
We all settle back and relax as Theo begins the next song. Fuck. This is so dangerous, but I can’t help but enjoy their company. As I curl up in my sleeping bag with Harlow cuddled up next to me, I feel just that bit safer with them here. Even though I know this will spell disaster for my heart when they leave. Because they will leave, everyone does.
And I know I might not survive it this time.
Rhys and his Rope
Olivia
“This place is ashithole,” I say as with a wrinkled nose as I take in the ruined town in front of us. Ketchup, who's perched on the saddle in front of me, chirps in agreement before flying off to find a roost for the night.
Beside me, Theo snorts, and Rhys glances over his shoulder at me, one eyebrow raised.
“Not up to your high standards, princess?”
