Chapter 15
Rurik
CRAZY MIGRAINE:
-Good morning xxx
-The x’s mean something sexual, btw. Not just 3 kisses ;P
“Alright, Rurik. We”re going to perform an echocardiogram today,” the doctor announces as he walks into the room. I look up from my phone, not realizing he has entered.
“Sounds good,” I mumble, putting my phone beside me.
He walks over to the expensive-looking equipment and continues, “It allows us to get a detailed look at your heart using sound waves.”
“Cool,” I say, not knowing what else to say as I pull off my shirt and lay down on the examination table.
“First, I”ll apply some gel to your chest to help the transducer make good contact and get clear images of your heart,” the doctor explains after he washes his hands and puts on gloves. ”Then, I”ll move the transducer over your chest to capture images of your heart. You might hear some beeping sounds from the machine as it works.”
“Okay,” I awkwardly say. “Thank you.”
The uncomfortable sensation of cold gel gliding across my chest makes me wince. I watch as he uses a small device to glide over my chest, and as he says, the sounds of beeping echo around the room.
I sigh, glancing at my mum, who sits beside me. When she catches my eye, she offers a forced smile that fails to reach her eyes.
I don’t even want to be here.
These monthly appointments are a reminder of how bad my heart has become as I”ve gotten older. I”ve had this issue since my teenage years. My heart would beat irregularly fast, sometimes causing me to pass out. Which really sucked because I used to be an athlete. I still can exercise, but not to the level I used to do.
If I remain healthy, moderate my heart rate, and avoid things that can cause my heart to jump out of my chest — AKA Briar — then I should live a long life!
Well.
As long as anyone with a bad heart can live.
To be honest, my heart had been fine up until a few years ago. My heart condition was one of the reasons why my mum decided to move to New York with my stepdad. He promised that healthcare here would provide more opportunities and that I’d be looked after better than at home. I didn’t quite notice that much of a difference, to be honest.
I sigh, looking down at my chest to find that device moving around at different angles. I glare at it. Earlier, when the doctor approached me with that gel, I resisted the urge to swat his hand away.
I don’t want anyone to touch me.
The last person who did was this irritating woman I thought I couldn’t stand—the woman who might literally be bad for my health. Yet, the thought of someone else touching me, even if it’s for medical purposes, annoys the shit out of me because it’ll mean she’s no longer the last person to do so.
I don’t even know why it annoys me.
Who gives a shit if someone else other than Briar touches you? Your mum hugged you this morning.
Yeah, but that’s different.
And so is this.
I scowl like a fucking child.
“Almost there,” the doctor chuckles, mistaking my face as discomfort.
I am uncomfortable, though. I’m lying down with my chest bared out in the open as he stares at something on his fancy computer machine thing.
“So?” I grumble, breaking the silence. “Is my heart still shitty?”
“Rurik,” My mum quietly reprimands me.
But the doctor told her it was okay and continued explaining his actions. Minutes later, he and my mum discussed my condition, his advice, and anything else that might ease her anxiety about my health.
Tuning them out, I pull out my phone again to read the ongoing texts from Briar throughout this morning.
CRAZY MIGRAINE:
-I feel like I know the taste of you (fucking delicious, if you ask me. Which you won’t, so I’m letting you know now. You, sir, taste fucking delicious), but I wanna know more about you!
-What’s your favorite dish to eat?
-Other than paint, what do you like to do?
-What’s your favorite movie?
-I’m going to assume you’re busy AF, that’s why you’re not responding to my texts. So… do I get to be lucky again and talk to Rurik’s Phone?
She stopped texting after that. I look at the time and see the last text was sent over an hour ago. I can still hear my mum and the doctor chatting as if I’m not there, literally on display.
So, to distract myself, I message Briar back.
ME:
-I thought I asked you to leave me alone.
To my absolute not surprise, she replies almost immediately.
What the fuck? Why do I suddenly feel like someone just poked my heart, and my stomach feels weird, like something is fluttering inside it?
It”s probably gas.
I don’t care that she’s texting me back.
That’s blasphemous.
CRAZY MIGRAINE:
-You’re so cute to think that’ll ever happen.
ME:
-What do you want?
CRAZY MIGRAINE:
-You ;)
ME:
-Why do you keep spamming my inbox with your annoying texts?
CRAZY MIGRAINE:
-Because I missed you, angel :(
-Your turn!
ME:
-…. My turn to what?
CRAZY MIGRAINE:
-Tell me you missed me too!
ME:
-No.
CRAZY MIGRAINE:
-Is that “no, I don’t miss you” or “no, I’m not going to tell you I miss you, even though I can’t live without the feeling of your lips wrapped tightly around my thick leaking cock.”
-????
ME:
-Jesus fucking shit. Nobody ever talks like that, Briar.
CRAZY MIGRAINE:
-Good thing I’m extraordinary ;)
-What are you up to?
“Your heart appears to be functioning normally, and there are no signs of any new abnormalities or issues.”
I look up as the doctor starts cleaning the gel off my chest. A rush of relief washes over me once his words finally hit me.
“Yeah?” I sit up and put my shirt back on.
“Just keep doing what you’re doing,” he nods. “But if you start to feel more tired than normal, please let us know.”
“Thank you,” both my mum and I say simultaneously.
As soon as we leave the appointment, my mum whirls around and hugs me. “No news is good news, right?”
“Yeah, see?” I say, smiling at her as she pulls away. “I told you I was fine.”
“Right,” she says with a relieved sigh. “Do you want to have dinner with me and Philip?”
I grimace. It’s not that I don’t like the man; I’m just not close to him. He was cool with me at first, but then he started giving me weird vibes. My mum told me he came home late due to his job and would often smell off.
It was not like another woman’s perfume, but it was something weird, like iron or sometimes smoke. When I asked him about it, he laughed and said he needed to shower more.
Weirdo.
“I have plans tonight,” I lie. My plans are to stay home and browse on my phone while I lay on the couch.
My mum’s face falls, making me feel like an overgrown ass.
“Maybe next time?” She asks hopefully.
“Sure,” I say, my phone vibrating with another text notification. I ignore it so I could focus on my mum.
She turns to walk away but I quickly stop her. “It’s only 1:00 PM. Do you want to grab lunch?”
Somehow, my lunch date with my mum bled into the evening, and I look at the time to see it”s already 6:15 PM. After I reject dinner with her and my stepdad, I quickly drive home and throw myself on the couch like I originally intended.
Fuck, I’m tired.
Exhausted even. I feel like I just ran a mile, and my muscles feel sore even though I haven’t lifted them in months. Groaning, I pull my phone out of my pocket and scroll through my messages, realizing I left Briar’s texts unanswered.
Crazy Migraine:
-Either you’re ignoring me again, or you’re super busy. Either way, I shall continue chatting with my BFF4L, Rurik’s Phone.
-Hey, Rurik’s Phone. How are you? I’m doing fantastic. Thank you so much for asking me.
-Since you’re Rurik’s phone, maybe you can answer a few questions for me. Like… what’s Rurik’s favorite color?
-Who is his favorite artist?
-Favorite place to travel?
-What’s his favorite thing to paint besides landscapes?
-What does he think of me?
-Does he miss me?
For fucks sake, this woman. She’s definitely crazy. A certified psycho.
I close my eyes with a groan, pinching the skin between my eyes to relieve the headache I can feel already forming.
I’m not even going to bother texting her back. I’ll just wait for her to text me something new, and then maybe I’ll answer. Maybe.
Right now, I just want some peace and quiet.
My me time.
Adjusting the pillow under my head, I make myself comfortable and start scrolling through social media. After five minutes of this, I”m already bored.
I”m about to turn off my phone to make something for dinner — Yes, I bought groceries. No, not because fucking Briar reprimanded me like some frat boy, but because I realized I had no food to eat. I’m supposed to stay healthy, right? So I did proper groceries.
Not because of Briar.
It”s ridiculous even to keep thinking about her.
As if my phone could read my thoughts, a post from Natalie appears on my feed and I stare. It’s a picture of her and Oscar at this bar, and I recognize the place immediately. But it’s not them I’m zeroing in on.
It’s Briar and this fucking guy behind them, hugging each other tightly as they both grinned up at the camera.
My vision suddenly turns red.
*-*-*-*
This is not what it fucking looks like.
No, I was not on my fucking way to fucking yell at Briar and ask her why the fuck she let another man fucking touch her.
That’s not me.
I don’t give a shit.
“Touch her again, and I will punch your dick so hard, you’ll choke on your ballsack.” I snarl at the guy, wrapping an arm around Briar’s waist and pulling her toward me.
Fuck.
Again. This is not what it looks like.
I. Don’t. Give. A. Shit.
“What the hell, Rurik!” Briar has the nerve to snap at me, shoving my arm away from her.
I ignore her and wrap another arm around her again, pulling her behind me. Oscar immediately jumps and pulls Briar along, keeping her away from this prick.
“What is happening right now?” The stupid man blinks like an idiot.
His gaze darts to Briar behind me, and a low rumble echoes within my throat. He quickly looks back at me, looking more like a confused idiot.
“I thought I recognized you. Kevin, right?” I growl, ignoring Briar”s attempts to stop Oscar from holding her back. I’ll deal with her later. “You’re dating Oscar’s cousin’s friend.”
The idiot”s brows furrow.
“Yeah?” Kevin says slowly. “Cecilia.”
“And does Cecilia know you’re rather chummy with Briar?” I take a threatening step forward.
Silence.
Even Briar stops trying to fight against Oscar.
This time, the idiot’s face morphs into a full-on grin before he laughs.
Kevin immediately covers his mouth when his eyes flicker behind me before clearing his throat and saying, “I mean, Briar’s like family. A cousin. I would hope Cecilia knows how close I am to my family.”
What.
Oh.
Fuck.
Dread slams into me, and embarrassment rushes as I stare at the man.
Shit.
Fucking idiot.
Me. I’m the idiot.
Not him.
“So,” Kevin clears his throat. He nods at Oscar before winking at Briar. “I”m going now.”
Before I can say anything else, he brushes past me with his eyebrows raised and walks away. I stay rigid, staring at where he stood. I feel a soft hand on my arm, pulling me back from my spiraling mind as I turn around to look at Briar.
She gives me a small smile. “Hey, you.”
I look away from her. “Well, have a good evening, then.”
I turn around and head to the exit, but Briar’s hand tightens around me.
“Where do you think you’re going, angel?” She scoffs, pulling me to the corner of the bar. I glance at Oscar and Nancy, who stare intently at their drinks as if they were super interesting.
I grunt softly as Briar shoves me on a chair before pulling another one in front of me and sitting on it herself. She grabs a small table and pulls it toward us. She already has a beer and slowly slides it toward me.
“You look like you need this.” She chuckles, her eyes bright with amusement.
I glare at her but take the drink and chug it. When I slam the glass back on the table, Briar already signaled for the bartender for another round.
“I’m not staying long,” I mutter as the bartender comes to serve us another pint of foamy beer.
“Shut up and enjoy your beer,” Briar says after a small sip of her drink. She wipes the foam on top of her upper lip with the back of her hand, then stares at me.
I squirm, not liking the weight of her gaze.
“What?” I snap, channeling my inner asshole again.
“Nothing,” She shrugs, biting her bottom lip. I stare at it. “I just found out Jealous-Rurik is super sexy. It’s making me feel all hot and bothered, that’s all.”
I scoff, “I wasn’t jealous. I just don’t like cheaters. I thought your cousin was… never mind.”
“No, I get it,” Briar nods, tapping her fingers against the glass. “I hate cheaters, too.”
The way she says it makes me wonder if she experienced something awful during her previous relationships, and I suddenly feel like punching someone just by thinking about it.
Fuck. What the fuck is wrong with me?
“How many guys have you been with?” I blurt out.
She gulps her drink and raises a brow. “What makes you think it’s just guys?”
My eyes narrow, and I feel my molars grinding painfully.
“Jealous?” Briar chirps like a brat.
“No,” I snap. “I just would rather not get STDs.”
She glares at me for a second before grinning the next second. How the hell can she switch like that?
“I always play using protection. I’m clean.” She says, reaching forward and poking the back of my hand. She winks, “Does that mean you expect us to play soon, finally?”
I lightly slap her hand away. “Fuck off, Briar.”
“Ugh, I love the way you flirt.” She groans dramatically.
She leans back, stretches her arms, and moans when something cracks. I can”t help but give her a once-over, just realizing what she”s wearing.
She starts saying something, but I can”t hear it.
My eyes start trailing from her lips to that black choker around her neck, pausing at the cleavage peeking from her dark red lace top.
My dick, the traitor, jumps.
“Hello?” Her voice echoes through my head as my gaze continues to explore more lower to the bare skin of her belly and her black skirt with a slit.
And fuck, her legs are bare. If I touch her legs with my fingers, will they feel as smooth and soft as they look?
Her left shin has a purplish bruise, and I immediately want to know what happened. I frown, my attention now zeroing in on the other bruises on her arms and… Is that a fucking bruise in the corner of her right eye?
Who fucking did that to her, and how do I pay them a visit?
I growl out loud, and Briar looks alarmed.
“What the fuck, Rurik?” Briar asks, staring at me with wide, concerned eyes.
Shit. What did I just do?
Okay. I need to leave.
Like yesterday.
I get up abruptly and throw some change on the table. “I’m leaving. Goodnight.”
I don’t listen to her as she calls after me, probably trying to stop me from leaving. But I have to go—literally for my health and because I fear I won’t be able to control myself if I stay longer near her.
I don’t know what’s wrong with me.
What is happening to me?
I’m never violent. I never wish harm on someone I don’t know. I never feel this much anger before. Is it because of my bad heart? Is it making me more moody? Or is it that walking, breathing, beautiful migraine that won’t leave me alone?
I find the men’s bathroom and go inside, rushing to the sink to splash water on my face. I stare at myself in the mirror, slapping my cheeks to wake myself up as I mutter, “Get yourself together, asshole.”
I’m spiraling out of control.
My vision starts turning black and hazy, and I feel myself nearly slipping. I place my hands on my head to steady myself. But all I can feel are my muscles clenching and my heart beating so fast that I can hear the blood rushing in my ears.
Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!
“Calm down, asshole.” I grit, “Now’s not the time for a panic attack.”
“We need to stop meeting like this, angel.”
I look up and stare at Briar, knowing I probably look as crazed as I feel. She locks the door behind her and leans against it.
“What’s up with us and bathrooms?” Briar laughs, crossing her arms.
“What are you doing here?” I growl.
She needs to leave.
Get her to leave!
I’m pretty sure everything that is happening to me is her fault. Everything in my life was fucking fine until she came barging in.
The humor in her face vanishes. “I just want to make sure you’re okay. You were —”
I slam my body against hers, wrapping my hands on either side of her face and crashing her lips with mine.
Fuck!
Oh, god, she tastes… Shit, she tastes like the source of my imminent downfall.
I can’t keep doing this… What am I doing… I can’t stop…
No, I want more.
She tastes so fucking good.
I wrap a hand around her jaw, angling her face upward so I can trail kisses against her exposed neck and do what she loves doing to me — Suck and bite.
Give her another bruise to match with her older ones.
She releases a long moan, and I consume that immediately, her back hitting the door roughly as I press my body hard against it. She moans, and I can feel her hands on my chest, bunching my shirt with her fisted hands.
I bite her pouty lower lip, tasting blood on my tongue. I shove my tongue inside when she gasps again, tasting, consuming, and swallowing every sound she’s making.
Fuck.
Fuck.
Fuck.
I can’t stop.
I can’t stop.
I groan when her hand rubs against my hard dick. I let go of her face momentarily, only so I can help her unzip my pants. Once she shoves my boxers down, my dick springs free. My hands go back to wrap around her neck and face, while hers wrap around my painfully hard cock.
“Fuck,” I groan out, pressing our foreheads together as she strokes me roughly. “Your hand feels so smooth and warm, Briar.”
It’s fucking with me.
Literally.
I stare into her eyes, thankful she”s not saying anything for once. We continue to attack each other”s mouths until one of us needs to pull away for air. Whenever that happens, I focus on her neck, and she pulls my hair.
She smells so fucking good. I want to bottle her scent and spray it all over my pillow.
I can’t believe I just thought of that.
I can’t believe we’re still going at it.
I can’t believe I feel like a teenage boy again and about to come any minute.
“Squeeze me tighter,” I say against her lips.
She obeys, trailing her lips down to my throat, biting on the lump I notice she seems obsessed with. I groan roughly, my hips thrusting animalistically against her hand as she continues to stroke and massage my cock like a damn expert.
How is she this good? I’m going to need to know who she touched —
No.
I can’t think like that now.
Right now, I just need release.
The blackness I felt earlier had vanished before I realized it was gone. They disappeared the moment I threw myself at Briar.
All I can focus on is her.
Briar.
My crazy migraine.
My walking nightmare.
Mine.
“I’m almost there,” I suddenly whisper against her ear, feeling my balls tightening.
She licks my bottom lip before kissing me thoroughly, wrapping her hand on the back of my neck.
“You’re an artist, Rurik. Paint me with your cum.”
Fuck.
I’m done for. I latch onto her lips with mine, groaning into her mouth as I feel myself explode over and over. As I continue to pump into her hand, feelings come at me all at once, and I nearly feel like I’m about to pass out again.
Relief.
Warmth.
Comfort.
Desire.
Satisfaction.
Free.
When I finally relax from my high, I slowly pull back and just stare at her.
She stares back, her eyes darting all over my face. This time, she swallows hard, and for the first time, I see a hint of vulnerability in her uniquely beautiful eyes.
“Shall I step aside so you can run away again?” she whispers, her eyes lowering to my lips.
Shame and regret fill me again, and I want to kiss the uncertainty away from her face.
So I fucking do.
I kiss her softly, gently licking the cut on her bottom lip. I pull away just enough to place another kiss on the corner of her mouth.
When I look into her eyes again, relief consumes me as she stares back with her usual smugness and grin.
After tucking myself back in my pants, I look down at her.
Oh, shit.
Like a fucking caveman, I feel a surge of possessiveness seeing my cum all over her front like I just marked her as mine. My eyes roam all over her greedily like some idiot, seeing my release all over her skirt, belly, and some on her cleavage.
Chill the hell out, asshole. Don’t be weird.
I quickly stomp down the feeling of raging male satisfaction.
She follows my gaze and looks down at herself. Her mouth drops open, and she gasps. “Um. Wow. Okay.”
I grimace, ready to apologize. But then she makes the most beautiful sound I”ve ever heard, and I can”t stop staring at her.
She giggles.
She continues giggling until she”s full-on laughing.
“Holy shit. You made a mess, angel.” She lifts her cum-sprayed skirt and grins up at me.
“I made a masterpiece.” I can feel my lips about to betray me by grinning back, so I quickly kiss her forehead and turn around.
“Why can’t you leave me alone, Briar?” I sigh as I gently grab her arm and pull her with me.
I genuinely want to know why she can’t leave me alone. Even when I don’t talk to her for days, she still fills my every waking thought.
Sometimes dreams.