Page 70 of Fall Before Her Throne

Max had stayed behind as well, but I didn’t fucking care what he was doing. He could go die and I’d sleep a happier man.

“When you fucked Leona in the hallway?” He leaned against the side of the vehicle, tilting his head to the side to appraise me. “You’ve been grumpy ever since we left the penthouse. Understandable, don’t get me wrong, but unusual for you.”

A smile split my face as I imagined the sweet taste of her. The feel of her. The jealous look on Max’s face as she came. “Yeah, I feel a lot better now.”

He snorted. “Of course you do.”

“You know what else would make me feel better?”

“Probably murder,” he mused.

I flicked a knife around my knuckles. “Yes, definitely. That always makes me feel better. But I was thinking about something else specifically.”

“And what is that?”

“You, me, Leona.” I stepped toward him. “Or even just you and me.”

“You’re full of shit.”

I barked a laugh. “You’re just scared. You never know if you like it until you try it.”

“Sure,” he said with a head nod and a sideways glance to where Giulio showed Wynn and Obi some of the wooden crates. They were saying something about booby traps, but I wasn’t paying attention. My full focus was on Cas and his teasing smile. “Except I’m not into guys.”

“Being not into guys doesn’t mean you can’t be into me,” I said. “It’s pretty clear you’re into me.”

“Ryu, I think it’s pretty clear that you’re into me.”

“Hell yeah, I am, bodyguard,” I responded, watching the way he bit his bottom lip and pretended like he didn’t feel the same way. Every time we sparred, even at the new house, the tension between us crackled. He was interested, even if he continued to deny it. “What? You thought I was just teasing you this whole time? No, I genuinely want to fuck you.”

He suddenly choked and started coughing. I burst out laughing while I smacked his back a few times. Obi gave us a slightly annoyed yet knowing look over his shoulder, and I grinned.

“What? It’s not that strange,” I said. “You’ve seen Wynn and Ciel.”

“Yeah, but Wynn and Ciel are perfect for each other. It’s you and me that’s the weird part.”

“You don’t think we’re perfect for each other?” My palm clutched my heart. “I’m wounded, Cas.”

He rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”

“Just think about it.”

“I do—” he blurted before he immediately cut himself off.

I grinned even wider. “I knew it.”

“No, that’s not what I meant!”

“It is exactly what you meant.” I leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to his scruffy cheek. He flinched back, eyes wide, but his cheeks went an adorable pink. It made me want to bite him. “Stop fighting it so hard.”

He tilted his head to the side and stared at me without speaking. His eyes flicked all over my face, long enough that it made my own cheeks heat. What was going through his head?

He leaned closer, for just a moment, before he pulled back. “We should talk about this at home.”

“Oh? Where there’s a bed—multiple beds actually—readily available?”

“No,” he said. “Because Wynn and Obi are coming back, and we’re ready to load up.”

“Fine,” I responded. “Keep thinking about it, though. Imagining all the…things we could do with each other. To each other.”