Page 317 of Sorrow & Strangers

“Hm,” I say, filing that information away.

“Is your job dangerous?” I ask, pushing my luck for more information.

“In a way,” he replies, tilting his head.

I play with the bracelet, feeling the smoothness of the shells, interrupted by their sharper ridges.

“Are you truly curious about what I do, or are you trying to guess who I am?”

My lips twitch. “Can’t it be both?” I brush my fingers up his biceps. “Your muscles are so big . . .”

“Are they?” he asks, flexing beneath my fingers.

I grin up at him and turn my head, licking along his bulging biceps.

He moans. “Maybe I’m vain, and I like to hear you say it.”

“I want to know what you really look like.”

“One day, princess.”

My phone pings, and I reach underneath his arm to grab it off the bedside table. I frown when I see Max’s name pop up.

Do Not Fuck

Hey, Rafe told me about his deal.

I sigh and quickly change his name in my phone.

Summer

How are you going to survive all summer without your boyfriend?

I answer him with our usual banter, trying to dissolve some of the awkwardness that has crept into our friendship. Tension radiates off the stranger, and I glance at him to see his gaze locked on the screen.

“I forgot they were close,” he says, his voice tight as he shifts off me.

“Yeah, I’m not sure who Rafe is more in love with, Max or Mira.”

My phone pings again, and I feel the stranger growing angrier with each passing second.

Max

You’re hilarious. But I’m worried about him going back to the fighting pits while down there.

Summer

I’m not sure that he will. Mira will be with him every few months. He won’t want to do anything to upset her.

Maybe we should give him a subtle warning, though.

I lock my phone and turn to face the stranger. He wraps his arm around me possessively and pulls me close, hitching my leg up so my knee is against his hip.

“Hi,” I say, petting his chest soothingly.

“If I could, I would show you all the ways you are mine right now,” he growls.

“Is someone feeling jealous?” I ask, running my fingers through his hair.