Page 133 of Ruthless Creatures

“We ordered pizza. Opened a bottle or two of wine. So yes, Iguess that means we’re having a girls’ night. What are you up to tonight?”

I drag a hand through my hair, lean my head back against the headrest, and close my eyes. My voice soft, I say, “Wishing I had my face buried between your sweet thighs.”

She must hear the longing in my tone, all the longing and desperate need, because her voice grows worried. “Are you okay?”

I answer truthfully. “No.”

Her voice rises. “What’s wrong?”

“I left something in California.”

“What?”

“My heart, baby. My cold, dead, worthless heart, which didn’t even beat before I met you.”

There’s a period of silence, then she whispers, “I’m in love with you.”

Now I do groan out loud.

She just shot an arrow through my chest. I’m fucking dead.

“I didn’t say it when you were here because… well, mostly because you were telling me to. Demanding, actually. You know how you get—”

“Say it again.”

Her laugh is soft and warm. “See? Demanding.”

“Please. Please, say it again.”

She must hear the pain in my voice, because all the laughter and teasing is gone when she speaks next. Her voice is solemn and quiet.

“I’m in love with you, Kage. I love you. Hopelessly. I thought I knew what it meant to be in love before, but it was never like this. It’s like the lights go out when you walk out of the house. Like my lungs only work when you’re with me. I’m… kind of lost, actually. I don’t know how to handle it. All I want is to be with you all the time—”

After a short pause, she comes back on the line, soundingcontrite. “I’m sorry. It’s the wine. I swear I didn’t mean for that to be so… so…”

“Perfect,” I growl, my throat as tight as my chest.

This is never going to work.

I can’t be away from her. I can’t concentrate. My head is full of nothing but her, when it’s supposed to be focused on everything else. I’m leading my men into war, and I hardly care what happens.

Nothing means anything anymore.

Except her.

The woman who’d pay with her life if our two worlds ever collided.

The woman whose sweet love would turn to burning hate if she discovered my duplicity.

The woman I can’t live with, but I also can’t live without.

We’re quiet for a moment, until she says softly, “It’ll be here, waiting for you. Your heart, that is. I’ll take care of it while you’re gone. But you need to do me a favor.”

“Name it.”

“You have to take care of mine, because you took it with you when you left.”

After I recover, I murmur, “I’ll be there as soon as I can. Tell me you love me again.”