Page 72 of Break the Rule
“Nope. But that’s a good thing.”
“Why’s that?” Eden asks, heart pounding when Charlie suddenly inches into his personal space, towering over him. He’s stupidly tall and stupidly handsome with his stupidly bright smile, and Eden isn’t sure if he wants to hit him or kiss him or maybe cry.
“It’s why I like you.”
Five words. Five little words.
“Shut up, Charlie.”
Charlie laughs, the fucker, then he wiggles his fingers in invitation. “Will you come outside with me?”
“If you’re going to kill me, at least don’t ruin my makeup.”
“I’m not going to kill you.” Charlie holds out his hand. “Trust me.”
Eden doesn’t trust people. Well, except for Addy. It had never worked out well for him before that. But Addy was different, and maybe Charlie is too.
“Just know if you do kill me, I have a lot of embarrassing photos on my phone. Addy will make sure and ruin you.”
“No killing,” Charlie assures him.
“Fine,” Eden snaps, refusing to look at Charlie as he reaches for his hand.
Long fingers curl around his own in a surprisingly gentle hold.
“Follow me.”
“I kind of have to,” Eden grumbles. “I don’t know where we’re going.”
“My studio.”
Oh. That explains it. Maybe he just wants Eden to suck his cock there instead.
“I’ve seen your dick in there, too.”
“This isn’t about my dick,” Charlie assures him, giving Eden’s hand a little tug so he starts following Charlie, almost immediately stopped by the arrival of a four-legged friend.
“You have a dog?”
“Yeah, did I never mention that?”
Eden has no idea when he would’ve mentioned it since they’ve never done more than get off or argue, but he doesn’t point that out. It might remind Charlie they have nothing in common besides sex, and he’ll realize he needs to move on before Eden can even figure out what’s going on.
“Do you wanna pet her?”
“Does she bite?”
“No, she’s a sweetheart.” Charlie drops into a squat, pulling Eden down, guiding his hand towards her side when it’s clear Eden isn’t going to do it on his own. “Her name is Birdie and she loves pets. Usually, she’s napping around this time—she’s asenior and sleeps quite a bit—otherwise I would’ve introduced you earlier and… yup, there’s the other half of my elderly duo and my favorite lady.”
Eden smooths his fingers over Birdie’s fur, watching as a bedraggled cat meanders out from behind Charlie’s sofa. It meows loudly, sounding both adorable and pathetic all at once.
“I’m over here, Agnes.”
Agnes meows loudly until she’s within reach of Charlie who scoops her up, cradling her to his chest. Immediately, she purrs as loud as a vacuum, butting her head up against Charlie’s neck.
“This is Agnes, she’s my little old lady. She’s almost blind and nearly twenty, but she’s cuddly as a kitten, aren’t you, girl?” She continues to purr loudly. “She’s a sweetheart, you wanna pet her?”
“Okay,” Eden says, because what else would he say?
