Page 491 of Lessons in Cruelty

Before I can reply, he grabs my waist and hoists me up onto the countertop. And I’m so shocked, I just…let him.

“Don’t move.”

“You’re so fucking romantic,” I mutter as he turns away.

I lift my leg to look at the cut on the sole of my foot, wincing. Doesn’t look inflamed, but it’s not scabbing over yet, either. Kai thumps around the cabin, opening this, slamming that.

“That’s it,” I call out. “Break some more stuff.”

Kai drags a pair of rubber boots out of the closet, looking smarmy as fuck as he strides back over to me.

“You’re joking, right?” I laugh when he drops the boots on the floor. “Those are like fourteen sizes too big for me.”

“They’re not for you.” He shoves his feet inside the boots and gives me a satisfied grin as he stomps around to feel them out. “Awesome.”

This is so Kai. He fucks me senseless, then steals the only decent shoes for our trek back to civilization. Some things never change, even after mind-blowing orgasms.

He heads for the window he climbed through earlier tonight, waving me over. “Come on. Let’s go.”

I scowl over at him, grimacing as I put weight on my injured foot. Suppose I’m limping all the way back to Greek Row in the mud, while Kai doesn’t even get his fucking feet wet.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I mutter as I climb out the window.

Surprisingly, Kai’s arms are out to catch me so I don’t have to hop down.

Sweet gesture, but my feet splatter in mud, and I can’t help but catch sight of his glossy, waterproof rain boots.

A gentleman would have offered me the boots, even if they were too big.

A gentleman wouldn’t fuck me with an ice pick.

A gentleman wouldn’t call me a slut on repeat.

A fucking gentleman would have written back.

I tilt my head back, gritting my teeth at him in a fake smile as I flutter my eyelashes.

“The fuck now?” he mutters, frowning at me.

“Nothing, babe,” I say sweetly. “Just wondering how a prize like you stayed single all these years.”

“You calling me an asshole?” he says, narrowing his eyes. There’s a mischievous gleam in them I don’t like one bit.

“I’m calling you the king of all assholes,” I shoot back, waving him on with a flick of my hand. “Go on. Don’t mind me. I’ll just limp behind you like the loyal, crippled subject I am, Your Majesty.”

He studies me for a beat. “You really think—” he cuts off, shaking his head.

I glare at him suspiciously as he crouches down in front of me, turning his back and pointing.

“Get on.”

“Excuse me?”

“Get. On. My. Back.” He glances over his shoulder, expression deadly serious. “Unless you want me to throw you over my shoulder like a caveman. Your choice, Heavenly.”

My stomach does a treacherous little flip at the nickname, but this still feels like a trap.

His voice softens just enough to be dangerous. “Don’t you think you’ve had enough pain for one night?”