Page 39 of Graveyards & Greed

Sylvie poked her index finger into my chest, her eyes flashing. “We've never been on a date, and I’m here because I lost a bet.”

My temper blazed to life. “That is complete bullshit. We’re in a relationship, and we’ve been together every morning and night since you moved into my loft. This thing between us? It's more than what you’re admitting to yourself. I want you, Sylvie, and I'll be damned if I let some smooth-talking, slick asshole drool all over you.”

She searched my face, her anger slowly melting into something softer, more uncertain. “It’s more like a ‘situationship’ than a relationship.”

“What the fuck is that?”

“A situationship is when two people have a history together, maybe sex, and complicated feelings for each other, but they aren’t officially together.”

Goddamn this woman and her strange ideas and wicked mouth. I wrapped my arms around her and cupped her sweet ass, pulling her hips into mine so she could feel my hard length. “Then I’m officially graduating us to the relationship level. I’ve had my cock either in your pussy or mouth four times in the past twenty-four hours alone, and I’m planning to take your ass soon.” I felt her shudder against me and her body go soft.

“You have a nasty mouth, Drakos Creed. Why do you say things like that?”

I nuzzled her cheek and squeezed her tighter. “Because your pussy floods every time I do. You’re living with me, and we’ve eaten all but three meals together since Sunday. That’s a fucking relationship.” She gazed up at me, worry on her flushed face. “Talk to me. I swear I won’t be an asshole.”

Dropping her eyes, she stepped back. “I don’t know if I can do this.”

I reluctantly let her go, keeping my face blank. “Why? What’s going on in that head of yours?”

She glanced at me, then looked away as if ashamed. “I need to tell you something.”

“You can tell me anything.”

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’ve had exactly two boyfriends. The first one was when I was a senior in high school. Both relationships ended horribly.”

My stomach dropped. “Sylvie, has anyone hurt you?” Her gaze slid away, and I wanted to wrap her in my arms, but I kept still and listened.

“The first one tried.”

“What happened?” My fists clenched.

“His name was Lander, and he played varsity basketball in high school. Smart, popular, and well-liked. But there was something about him… he could be cruel sometimes. Callum and Declan hated his guts, and they usually like everyone. That should have been a big red flag.”

“What happened?”

“We got into a huge fight one night when I wouldn’t ‘put out.’ That’s what he said. We were in the high school parking lot after a basketball game, and he called me a cock tease and asked if I was into necrophilia. Then he slammed me against his car. I got scared and punched him in the throat and kneed him just like Callum showed me. While he stood there hunched over, groaning and swearing at me, he called me a cold bitch who liked to fuck dead people. He also asked if I fucked my cousins, and that’s why I wouldn’t have sex with him.”

“Is the stupid little shit still breathing?” I asked quietly.

She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Don’t worry, between me and Fenn, we took care of it. Somehow, one of my cousins found out. Lander came to school the next week with his head and eyebrows shaved, and a broken wrist. He lost his chance at a basketball scholarship and a lot of his friends when word got out.”

“What’s Lander’s last name?”

She slumped against me and pinched my side. “I’m never going to tell you that. And I might be a bitch who’s also now a mortician, but I’m not into necrophilia or my cousins, thank you very much.”

I bet I could find the bastard. I’d have to talk to Fennick about him. “You’re officially in a relationship now. Let’s go to dinner so we can call it a date, then back to bed so we can consummate our upgraded relationship.”

She stared at me. “This is moving fast.”

I cupped her cheeks and softly kissed her. “We’ll take it one step at a time.”

“Okay. Dinner sounds good.”

As we walked out of the mortuary together, I couldn't shake the feeling that I’d dodged a bullet. Marlowe Salazar wasn’t the type to give up easily, and he probably viewed Sylvie as a challenge now. But she was skittish and gun-shy. I would have to reel her in carefully.

Chapter 16

Sylvie

---