Page 25 of Reckless On Ice

Knox: You tried to kill Goldie. That’s no way to take care of your fish, you idiot.

Ryder: Whoa, I didn’t try to kill Goldie. I love her. She’s my child. I want her to thrive.

Knox: So you dumped a week, or even a month’s worth of food, into her tank before you left? You’re a shitty fish dad.

Ryder: Take that back! I’m a good fish dad! She needs to eat, Golden Boy. I made sure she had food while I’m gone.

Knox: No. Just no. Goldfish will eat until they explode. You tried to blow up your fish, Reckless. Besides, the food got all soggy and was super gross in her tank, which is bad for her. That’s no way to care for your fish.

I continue driving while my phone pings with new messages. Once I park at the pet store, I check them.

Ryder: Goldie is smarter than that. She’s disciplined. She eats when she’s hungry, you’ve seen how she leaves some flakes for later.

Ryder: Goldie’s okay, right?

Ryder: She left food for later and didn't eat until exploding. Right?

Ryder: KNOX! Answer me!

Ryder: My fish is alive, right? I didn’t kill her?

Ryder: You fucking suck. I’m mourning the loss of my fish, and it’s all your fault.

I shake my head at the projection of his guilt onto me, and his depth of feeling for the little fish that probably can't even distinguish between his face and the castle in her tank. At least it shows he’s capable of caring deeply about another living creature, and he wants to take care of something. He’s more nurturing than he lets on. I decide to put him out of his self-inflicted misery and text back.

Knox: Goldie is fine. I saved her life. I cleaned her tank out. You can thankme later.

My phone rings as I’m walking into the pet store. I answer it when I see it’s Ryder.

“The fish is alive, chill,” I start, knowing he’s probably spiraling and wanting to put his fears to rest.

“Don’t fuck with me about my fish, Knox,” Ryder says, impertinence in his voice.

“What the fuck do you mean? I’m fixing your mess and taking better care of it than you are, you lame fish dad. I wasn’t about to let your fish eat itself to death like a tiny glutton.” I rub a palm over my face as I look for the fish section of the store. Why am I even putting up with this? I’m doing something nice for him, helping him out, and he’s just an irrational, angry bastard who doesn't know how to say thank you.

“Nothing can happen to her, you got it?” he says, impatience coloring his words now.

“You don’t have to be so grumpy, I’m the one saving your ass. You caused your own distress this time. I was going to have to buy another fish if you killed this one.”

“That’s not even funny.” His voice is deadly serious. Okay, no jokes about his fish dying and replacing it.

“Lesson learned, right? The fish can’t handle half a jar of flakes at once. She’s not like you and your insatiable appetite,” I say, spotting the aquariums and fish bowls. I head down the aisle, looking at all the options and trying to find what I need.

“Hey, fuck you. I’m a growing boy, and I burn a million calories between all my training and games. I can eat what Iwant. Besides, you know I look good despite what I eat. I’ve seen you checking out my abs.” His tone is haughty, and I can just imagine his eyebrows drawing together as he puffs his chest and points at his abs like he did on stage at the drag show when he proudly showed off his physique. Yeah, he works hard for that body and should be proud. He looks damn good.

“I’m ignoring your statement since you can’t see me rolling my eyes,” I say, my cheeks heating when he calls me out. Finding what I’m looking for, I pick up the package, turning it around and reading the description to make sure it will work. “I’m at the pet store buying an automatic feeder, so there’s no need to dump in so much food if you’re leaving. You just set up the feeder, and she’ll get food every day at a specified time.”

“Ah, Knox, you do care about Goldie! We’re already playing house, so you can be mommy, and I’ll be daddy. We both know you’re more nurturing, anyway,” he quips, a laugh in his words. Why does he always have to laugh at me? I want to wipe the smirk right off his beautiful face.

“You motherfucker, that’s not even funny,” I say, gesturing with the box in my hand to the empty aisle around me.

“Hmm, calling me a motherfucker implies you want me to fuck a mother, and we did just decide you’re Goldie’s, so…you trying to tell me something, Contraire? I knew you were obsessed with me, but this is a new level of interest. I’ll have to think about that proposition.”

His arrogance is unmatched. “You’re an idiot, and once again, I’m ignoring you. This is your damn fish we’re talkingabout. I shouldn’t be doing anything for it. You left it in squalid conditions and forced me into this.”

“Admit it, you like being forced and told what to do. I know you need a man to dominate you in the bedroom. A little force is a good thing when you’re both into it,” he says, his voice dropping low and dragging through gravel, it’s so rough as he continues with his innuendo and taunting.

My body goes still, my skin burning at his depraved suggestion as I shut my eyes, even though the images he’s conjured play on a loop against the backdrop of my mind.Do I want to be dominated?From this instant reaction, the idea sounds more than ideal. How could Ryder guess that about me? I swallow around the lump in my throat and will myself not to react. I’m in public, a damn pet store, and he’s just fucking with me, anyway.

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