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“Correct,” I answer quietly. “Plus, alcohol works just fine for me.”
I raise a brow.
“You also like it when I touch you. Any touch of mine…me holding your leg, my hands between your legs—”
“Well, I should go,” Louise says, obviously feeling slightly awkward.
“No, stay and eat.” I reach for her hand, and she sits back down.
“You also hate to be touched, especially with affection. But not by me.”
“Oh, yes, she hates it when I cuddle her, so I make sure to do it every time I see her to get her used to it.” Louise laughs.
“You do it on purpose?” I question.
“Of course I do. And because you are the best friend a girl could have. Even if you hate cuddles, I love them, so youwilltake them.”
“I’m gonna start kicking you now every time you cuddle me,” I threaten, just as the food is placed in front of us.
“You won’t. You love me too much.”
Damn! She’s right. I do.
I look to both of these people who are now fixtures in my life and I wonder how I got here.
I’ve never had anyone—it’s always been me against the world.
But now, I have two people who look after me. Granted, one wants to kill me when he fucks me.
But even then, I keep coming back for more.
THIRTY-ONE
Zuko
“How much longer is thisgoing to take?” I’m sitting on her bed, watching her while she perches on the floor in front of her full-length mirror doing her makeup. Her hair is already curled and arranged in some half-up half-down style.
Her narrowed eyes meet mine in the reflection of the mirror. “Beauty takes time, Zuko.”
“Well, okay then.”
“Do you think women just throw together a look and hope for the best? No, we have to shave, wash areas that need to be washed, apply moisturizer everywhere. Dry our hair, style our hair, and hope to God it works. Andthenwe do our makeup.”
“I’ve seen you get ready before. You usually throw things together and hope for the best.” I wink and she gasps.
“I look fabulous. But yes, you are correct. On a normal day, I would do that. But for a gala, I want to feel like a princess. Are you denying me that happiness?” she bites back.
Fuck. Okay.
“You know I wouldn’t deny you.”
“I do not know, hence why I asked.” She turns her attention back to her task in hand and continues swiping something on her eyelids. “You do look very handsome, though. Did I tell you that?”
I glance down at my all-black attire. My shirt is silk, and my slacks probably cost more than my watch. But having her compliment them makes me want to go out and buy twenty outfits just like it and wear them every day for her.
“You didn’t,” I say, hoping how much her words affect me doesn’t come through in my voice.
“Well, you do.”
