Page 124 of Vicious Little Snakes

“No, they aren’t—they’re called audacities.”

Before I even register what I’m doing, a vase flies at his head, forcing him to duck as it hits the wall shattering into a million pieces.

“Fuck, Carebear. What the hell?”

I growl, swinging my head around, grabbing a piece of driftwood that’s used as a paperweight off of a console table, and chuck it as hard as I can at him.

“Jesus,” he yells, dropping down trying to cover his head, “that’s my head.”

“Then off with it.”

My hand lands on a tall candle amassed in a bundle, and I wind back to toss it at him, but Liam’s rushing me. His arms wrap around my waist like he’s going to tackle me. But instead of hitting the ground, I’m lifted into the air and right over his shoulder.

“I hate you,” I grind out, smacking him as I drop the candles as I squirm, but he doesn’t seem fazed at all. “Put me down. Right now. I can’t believe I ever tolerated you.”

He’s holding me firmly in place with an arm around my legs as I keep yelling but his deep bellow shuts my mouth.

“Carebear. Shut up.”

My eyes grow wide as my lips press together.He yelled at me. He fucking yelled at me.Is he kidding? I crawl my hands up his back so that I’m almost upright, making him have to let me slide down a bit, so that we’re almost face-to-face as I snarl.

“Do. Not. Take. That. Tone. With. Me.”

The lopsided grin on his face makes me want to bite him. That is until he licks his lips and leans in close to my face.

“Then be quiet, Caroline.”

I arch a brow, but he shakes his head. “I didn’t stand you up, you little viper. God, I was in my own personal jail. You have no idea how low I was feeling.”

One blink, two blinks, then a swallow. Is he fucking serious? Does he expect me to feel bad for him?

“Who cares, so was I. And frankly, I have no interest in some bullshit brooding from you. Find a new metaphor—” I put on a baby voice, “I was in a jail of my feelings. Gross.” He shakes his head, but I’m not done. “I’m sure you can think of a better metaphor for this fucked-up non-relationship while you’re heading back into the city. Put me down and fuck off.”

Liam’s chest vibrates as he leans in, running his nose up my jaw, inhaling.

“You smell good.”

I pull my head back as far as I can, shaking it to rid myself of his breath on my skin and his goddamn charm.

“Eww, off.”

He growls before pressing a kiss to my collarbone, making me hate my body because his lips—fuck.It’s fine.I can love his body and hate everything else about him.

“Carebear.” He says it like a request, but I don’t look at him, as he adds, “Look at me.”

When I don’t, he lets out a frustrated breath. “You weigh like three fucking pounds. I can stand here all day if I have to. Put your fucking eyes on me. Now.”

Begrudgingly, I do, ensuring that my goddamn look could kill.Die. Liam rolls his eyes at me.

“I said in the literal sense. I was in jail. The real kind.”

What the fuck? My mind races, going through a thousand scenarios where Liam is lying to me but one look on his smug face tells me different. But it still doesn’t douse the flame raging inside of me.

“Why wasn’t I the phone call?”

“I left my phone in the car,” he counters back just as quickly as I asked.

Convenient.