Page 2 of Carnal Urges
“You don’t remember? You broke it.”
“Brokeit? No. I would’ve remembered breaking someone’s nose.”
When Declan stays silent and only sits there staring at me, my heart sinks. “The drugs?”
“Aye.”
I look down at my right hand and am startled to see bruises on my knuckles.I did break someone’s nose. How could I not remember that?
My voice climbs in panic. “Oh god. Am I brain damaged?”
He arches one dark eyebrow. “You mean more than you were before?”
“This isn’t funny.”
“How would you know? You’re unironically wearing a child’s Halloween costume. I’d say your sense of humor is as bad as your wardrobe.”
I fight the unexpected urge to laugh. “Why am I barefoot? Where are my shoes?”
His silence is long and calculating.
“They’re my only pair of Louis Vuitton. Do you have any idea how expensive those are? I had to save for months.”
He tilts his head to one side and examines me with those piercing blue eyes for longer than is comfortable. “You’re not afraid.”
“You already told me you weren’t going to hurt me.”
He considers that for a moment, his brows drawn together thoughtfully. “Did I?”
“Yes. Back in the parking garage.”
“I could change my mind.”
“You won’t.”
“Why not?”
I shrug. “Because I’m charming. Everybody loves me.”
His head tilt and frown are now accompanied by a derisive curl of his upper lip.
“It’s true. I’m very likeable.”
“I don’t like you.”
That makes me bristle, though I try not to show it. “I don’t like you, either.”
“I’m not the one claiming to be so charming.”
“A good thing, too, because you’re not.”
We stare at each other. After a beat, he says, “I’m told my accent is charming.”
That makes me chuckle. “It’ssonot.”
When he looks dubious, I relent. “Even if it were, it’s cancelled by the rest of your horrible personality. What did you want to talk about? Wait, I need to pee first. Where’s the bathroom?”
When I stand, he leans forward, grasps my wrist, and pulls me back down to a sitting position. Without releasing my wrist, he growls, “You’ll go to the bathroom when I say you can. Now stop running your bloody mouth and listen to me.”
