If You Give an Artist a Killer Muse: A Dark Grumpy Sunshine Romance

Chapter 31

Briar

“Pass me the body wash, please.”

“Only because you said please, gentleman.” I do that and can hear him squirting it on his palms. Then his hands are on my body again. I hum in contentment as his hands rub my body, squealing when his fingers brush between my legs.

“Stop it,” I mutter, playfully bumping him with my ass.

Rurik just laughs, taking the showerhead and rinsing my body after. His fingers brush against the scars on my lower back, and I hear him sigh.

“What?” I ask.

“Can I ask you something?”

“You can ask me anything you want, angel.”

“Where did you get these scars?”

I suck in a sharp breath. Anything but that.

“Nevermind. You don’t have to answer that.”

“A fire.”

Rurik turns me around to face him, his eyes wide and concerned. “What?”

“Don’t worry, I survived,” I tease, waving myself down. “Obviously.”

“I don’t understand. You got caught in a fire or something?”

“Yeah,” I shrug. “Someone accidentally set the building on fire. I was a kid then and didn’t know what to do. I ran outside before things got worse.”

“Fuck,” Rurik mumbles, his fingers lightly tracing the scars.

I wave my hand dismissively, “It’s fine. Now it looks like a badass scar, so people can admire it whenever they want.”

“And how many people have seen your naked back, Briar?”

“I don’t know. A lot? I wear backless dresses, you know.”

“The scar is super low. Like almost down to your ass. How fucking backless are these dresses?”

I turn off the water and find him already enveloping me in a fresh towel, gently rubbing it to dry me off. He does this a lot, so I’m used to it. He often wears a smug expression when he sees how much I enjoy the attention.

But not today. This time? The asshole is scowling.

He steps out of the tub after wrapping himself with a towel and picks me up, settling me onto the bed while I”m still wrapped in a towel.

I begin to pump lotion onto my palms, but he releases a low grumble. He wipes the lotion from my hands and rubs it between his own palms before applying it to my arms and legs.

And he’s still wearing that fucking scowl.

“I know how to put lotion on, Rurik.”

“Yeah? It’s a good skill to have.”

The scowl is still etched on his face.

What the fuck is his problem now? Usually, I would find his scowls adorable, but it’s starting to annoy me how he doesn’t just tell me what’s bothering him.

I ask sweetly. “Does the lotion remind you of your cum? Is that why you love spreading it all over me?”

His face darkens. “How often do you let people look at you naked?”

I blink. “Huh?”

“You said a lot of people see your back.”

“I wear revealing clothes because men are easy,” I say with a shrug.

“I don’t like that you show off your body like that.”

“Angel, I’ve been doing this way before I met you.”

“What? I met you when we were 18. That was nearly five years ago! What the fuck were you doing before that age? What—” Rurik stops, shaking his head, and scoffs.

I cup his chin and force him to look at me. “I’m going to need you to pay attention to what I’m going to say, Rurik. Please listen and not say a word until I’m done?”

Rurik glares at me but nods.

My eyes flash a warning when Rurik opens his mouth to speak. He immediately purses his lips, and I continue.

“Two, even if I”m not working and decide to wear a revealing dress—I fucking will. You can”t tell me otherwise, understand? This is my body. I”d walk around naked and free if I could.”

Rurik places his hands on my hips, growling like some caveman.

I stare. Am I… into this weird possessive behavior he”s been exhibiting? No. Of course not. This is Rurik, and he”s not crazy like me.

“You”re mine, Briar. I don”t like people ogling what”s freaking mine. I don”t like people fantasizing or thinking about you like that. I don”t like people staring at your body as if they”re imagining what it”s like to have a taste. I don”t share. I do not fucking like it.”

Okay. Maybe I do like this possessive caveman shit.

“But you”re right, and I”m sorry,” Rurik continues. “I didn”t mean to make it seem as if I don”t want you to show off your beautiful curves—Okay, fine, I prefer you don”t. I want to keep you all to myself. But you”re beautiful and confident, and I know you love expressing yourself.” He huffs, bending down to kiss my knee as he says, “Sorry. I don”t know what came over me. When you said a lot of people saw your naked back, I just saw red.”

“Jesus, Rurik,” I sigh. “I don’t actually stand naked in front of them or even have sex with them.”

“I know,” Rurik sighs, kissing my wrists. I tense when his thumb grazes the scars there. “I apologize for my behavior. I have no right to be pissed off over what you wear. But, for the record, I’d still find you beautiful even if you were wearing a stained, oversized T-shirt, sweatpants with holes, and your hair thrown up in a messy bun.”

I grin.

Awww… He looooves me. I know it!

Okay, if he doesn’t, then I’ll manifest that shit out of it.

“It’s okay to be jealous,” I tease as he stands up and pulls me with him.

“I’m not,” Rurik snaps, leading me to the closet. “Now, pick out whatever you want to wear. But I swear to fuck, Briar, if I catch some asshole eyeing you like a piece of meat, I can’t be held accountable for what happens when my fists decide to pound something.”

I just kiss him. “I get it. I still remember how insanely jealous I felt when I saw those girls at the gym flaunting their gym shorts and sports bras around you. You’ve no idea how many times I threatened those women in the locker room.”

He frowns, “I thought the first time you went to the gym was when you stopped my treadmill?”

“Sure. Let’s say that.” I just grin. “You’re so sexy, angel.”

Rurik’s eyes narrow, and he looks about to say something, but my phone vibrates on my bedside table. He grabs it and offers it to me.

“Who is it?” I ask while I’m in the process of putting my clothes on.

“Marcus.”

I stiffen.

“Briar? Who the fuck is Marcus.”

“Don’t answer it.”

“Why? What’s wrong— He just sent a text. He said it’s an emergency.”

*-*-*-*

Fuck. What the hell does my uncle want now? It’s been a while since I came over last time. What could possibly be an emergency? It has to be about money again.

I glance at Rurik sitting next to me and feel a new set of anxiety washing over me at the thought of seeing his reaction when he meets my biological family. I tried to get him to stay in my apartment and even told him he should go home and probably spend the night there instead.

But he refused. Now he”s coming with me to visit my dear uncle, and I”m terrified as hell.

A hand lands on my knee, and I immediately look at it and the owner.

”Relax,” Rurik says, his thumb rubbing soothing circles against my thigh. ”You okay?”

“Yeah, angel. I’m good.”

Rurik stares at me for a few seconds before nodding slowly.

As soon as we park in the driveway, Rurik gets out of the passenger seat and runs around to open the door for me. I take his hand, and he kisses the back of it, smiling.

“I can’t believe I finally get to meet your family, baby.” He grins, looking excited.

Oh, fuck me.

I’m sweating like crazy; it’s disgusting.

“You haven’t properly introduced me to yours,” I mutter, trying to calm my nerves.

“Right,” Rurik ducks his head and sighs. “Soon, okay? I promise I won’t hide you anymore.”

I feel my lips curve but then remember what’s about to happen.

I squeeze his hand and flash my charming, easy-going, please-do-what-I-say smile, “Hey, maybe it’s best if you wait in the car for me? I don’t know if they’re in the mood to meet strangers, you know?”

His smile vanishes, and I can see the excitement leaving him. I’ve never seen him look so hurt, and I want to cry in frustration.

“Oh,” Rurik says. “Uh, I’m sorry. Is this a boundary thing? Do you not want me to meet them—”

“Angel, no, it’s not that. I just—”

“What the fuck are you two waiting for?”

We both jump and turn around to see my uncle standing outside the door with a look of disgust on his face. His eyes glance over to Rurik briefly before hardening when he focuses on me.

Oh yeah. He’s definitely not in the mood to meet strangers.

Rurik’s gaze shifts between me and my uncle before he forces a smile and offers his hand toward my uncle.

“Hello, sir,” Rurik says brightly. “I’m Rurik. I’m one of Briar’s friends.”

But my uncle completely ignores him and his offered hand.

I swallow hard and turn to Rurik, “Wait out here?”

I could see the annoyance hidden in his gaze as his golden boy persona breaks. His eyes drift to mine, and he shakes his head. “No. I’ll come with you.”

For fucks sake.

We follow my uncle inside the house, and I don’t look at Rurik when I see the place still looks like shit. I can feel the disgust radiating off of him.

Empty beer bottles are scattering everywhere, old take-out boxes are still out at the dining table and coffee table, and fuck… It smells so stale and disgusting.

My uncle goes upstairs to his room, and I know he expects me to follow. But before I go up, I give Rurik an encouraging smile.

“Rurik, angel,” I cup his face with my hands. “Can you please just wait here in the living room?” I look around and grimace. I pass the keys to him, grateful when he takes it. “Go wait for me in the car. I’ll be back as soon as I can, okay?”

Rurik is now full-on, giving death glares in the direction where my uncle was. He turns to me and shakes his head, “No, Briar. I’ll wait here for you.”

“Rurik—”

“If you don’t want me to come up with you, fine. But please don’t ask me to leave you in this house.” He kisses my forehead. “Go see what your asshole uncle wants, baby. I’ll wait here for you.”

I nod. Obviously, this man is too stubborn to listen to me, so I give up. He gives me a small smile before kissing me once, twice, and then three times before turning me around and watching me head upstairs.

As soon as I see my uncle waiting, I close the door behind me.

“Don’t bother,” My uncle snaps. “It doesn’t close all the way.”

I heavily sigh and ask, “What do you want? Money? I told you, ask Mr. Rogers. I’m not giving you shit—”

My head snaps to the side before I even process what happen. Then, stinging pain radiates from my head and ear. I place a hand over the side of my face and could feel my whole body shaking.

Of course.

Of fucking course, he has to resort to slapping me around because he can’t get what he wants.

“How dare you?” I ask my voice low yet in control. My fingers itch to grab the trusty dagger hidden under my dress.

“You think I wouldn’t recognize that little shit Rurik Campbell?”

I freeze.

My uncle grins, his teeth yellow and dark. “I recognize who he is. What’s Senator Greene’s stepson doing with you? Does he know his son is—”

I am on him before he can finish his sentence, the tip of my dagger digging under his chin.

“Say another word. I fucking dare you.” I tell him, blood already trailing down the blade.

My uncle laughs, “Do it. Kill me, and watch how this will all fall on you. Do you think I don’t personally know Philip? You think I don’t know who he was?”

I snarl, letting him go. “Fuck you, asshole. If you have nothing worthwhile to say, I’m leaving.”

I turn to leave anyway because fuck him. But before I could turn my back on him, he pulls on my ponytail and yanks.

Hard.

I fall back, accidentally letting go of my dagger, and it clunks on the floor. My uncle is on top of me before I could do anything. He slaps me across the face, but I punch him back, hitting and kicking anything I could reach.

He slams my head against the floor, and I scream, darkness surrounding my vision.

Oh god, not now.

“You ungrateful bitch! Do I need to whip you again until you remember who took you in after your useless parents—”

His whole body weight is peeled off of me, and I lift my head enough to see Rurik tackling my uncle on the floor.

“You disgusting asshole!” Rurik shouts, grabbing my uncle’s face so that he can punch him hard.

I stare, completely stunned.

I’ve never seen Rurik lose control like this before.

He looks absolutely terrifying, his face scrunching into pure loathing as he delivers punches and kicks with rage, shouting and screaming like he”s some avenging angel hellbent on punishing those who cause harm.

Myavenging angel.

But this isn’t Rurik… This isn’t like him. He hates violence.

I quickly jump and throw myself at him, forcing him to stop. I make him look at me, and he freezes when our eyes meet. I place my hand on his chest, and I don”t like how super fast his heart is going. It”s really fast. Is that normal? I don”t like how he”s breathing heavily, like fighting to bring oxygen back into his lungs.

“Rurik,” I say, trying to calm him. “It’s okay. I’m okay. Are you?”

He stares back at me. His eyes are wild, and his breath comes in rough, staccato bursts. His eyes keep darting back and forth all over my face and body. His lips are moving, but no words are coming out. His body is so rigid. It’s a miracle I could turn him to look at me.

Please don’t tell me I broke him.

What’s happening, why is he breathing like that? Why are his eyes so red… What is happening to him?

See? You’re killing him. This is your fault. All you do is kill.

The darkness that greeted me earlier is back. My throat tightens, and a sob escapes me before I can stop it. But that seems to wake Rurik up because he blinks and sucks in a deep, long breath; his hands jump to my face at lightning speed.

“Briar,” Rurik croaks as he turns my face so he can look at where my uncle hit me. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” I murmur, nodding as I throw my arms around him. “Are you?”

“Better now,” He inhales deeply, “I’m better now.”

I don’t believe him, but I’ll let it go for now and question shit later. Right now, I just want to get the fuck out of here. I pull away and glance at my uncle, who is staring at us the whole time, his face bleeding and clearly in pain as he clutches his stomach.

“You’re going to regret that,” My uncle spats. Spitting blood on the floor.

Rurik stiffens for a second before turning around to face him. I tighten my grip on him as he takes a step closer to him.

“You lay another hand on her,” Rurik says in a menacing tone, “and I”ll make sure that pain and fear are the only things you’ll feel as you look at me while you fade away from this world.”

*-*-*-*

For the second time today, I find myself back inside a tub full of soapy water with Rurik behind me, washing away the feeling of being inside my uncle’s house.

“The bruises I saw during the wedding. Your uncle?”

I nod.

“This wasn’t the first time he’s hit you. He’s done this before.”

I nod.

“Since you were a kid?”

I nod.

I hear him suck in a deep breath before water pouring down my back, careful not to touch the bruises already forming in my body. His arms wrap around my stomach as he pulls me against him, his chin resting on my shoulder.

“Why?” He asks. “Why did he do this?”

I shrug. “Because he’s an asshole who has this need to feel powerful?”

I sigh heavily, straightening up against his hold as I share everything I”m ready to tell him, like how my parents died when I was young and how I was sent to live with my uncle. I tell him how my uncle started friendly and fatherly, but when he found out I was getting all of my parents” money and he was getting none, he became super abusive.

“I’m going to fucking kill him,” Rurik threatens after I finish talking, his hold tightening around me. “Then I’ll bring him back to life so that I can kill him again.”

I laugh, turning my head to face him. Rurik raises a brow.

“You think I’m joking?” He asks. “I mean it, Briar.”

“I know,” I say, running my fingers through his hair and pulling him to me to taste him.

He kisses back immediately, groaning softly when I grind my ass against his dick.

“Baby,” Rurik whispers against my mouth. “You’re hurt.”

“Then make me feel better,” I say as I turn to face and straddle him. I reach down to stroke his cock, grinning to find it already thick and hard and waiting for me.

He groans, throwing his head back and closing his eyes. “This is so fucked up.”

“Yeah, I want you to fuck me up, that’s the whole point.” I tease, leaning down to nibble on his Adam’s apple.

“I don’t want to hurt you, Briar,” He says, looking wretched and scared as he lightly traces the bruises on my face.

I can’t have that. I don”t want gentleness right now.

I pull on his hair and growl, “Fuck me up with that thick cock of yours, Rurik. I want it hard, fast, and rough. Replace the bruises he gave me. You said I’m yours? Then prove it. Make me yours. Leave your markings on my skin.”

Something in Rurik snaps.

He pulls me out of the tub, ignoring how we”re dripping wet. He lifts me until I wrap my legs around his waist and carries me to the bedroom, where he harshly throws me on the mattress. Before I can even breathe, his body weight is already on top of me, his lips and teeth on my skin, biting, licking, sucking every existing bruise, and adding new ones.

I am consumed with pain, pleasure, and passion as he thrusts into me with no lube. He doesn’t need it anyway. I’m already wet. He pins me down, fucking me so hard the headboard keeps hitting against the wall. I’m kind of afraid it”ll damage the surface again.

“Is this what you want, Briar?” Rurik whispers against my ear, opposite to the way his hands are gripping my thighs as he continuously slams into me. “You like it when I abuse that tight cunt?”

I throw my head back and groan. “Jesus.”

“No, baby. Jesus isn’t the one fucking you,” Rurik snaps, “It’s me, your fucking angel, so you better open your eyes so you can see that.”

“Holy shit Rurik,” I let out a disbelieving laugh, but it ends up sounding like some wanton moan as his dick hits my sensitive spot. “I love it when you talk dirty to me.”

He groans, leaning down to capture my breast in his mouth. My back arches when his tongue flickers around my nipple.

“I want to feel you come,” Rurik grunts, placing the pad of his thumb on my sensitive nerve as his hips thrust faster, harder, and deeper.

Holy fuck. I am a blubbering mess. My voice is so hoarse from all the noises I make as his fingers circle my clit.

“Oh fuck, oh God, oh God—”

“What the fuck did I say, Briar?”

“Fuck — Oh — angel, I”m going to… shit… Keep going, don”t stop…”

Rurik groans deeply — whether it”s pain from my nails digging into his back or the feeling of my sex clenching his cock as I come — and angles his face to kiss me.

“That’s it,” Rurik roughly releases a breath. “Good girl, baby.”

I keep coming as he continues moving in and out of me, only slowing down as my breathing starts to normalize. His kisses become softer, his touches gentler. I pull away from him and release a satisfying sigh, grinning up at him.

He grins back before throwing my leg over his shoulder. “My turn.”

My eyes roll in the back of my skull as he drives into me. But he”s going slowly this time.

“You drive me fucking insane, Briar,” Rurik groans. The deep and slow sensation of his dick sliding in and out of me sending jolts of electricity within me. “What have you done to me?”

Even though I already came, I still feel waves of pleasure, and I”m so damn wet again as I meet his hips thrust with thrust.

He whispers, “You broke me. I don”t even know who and what I am anymore.”

I cup his cheek and kiss him, sucking in his puffs of breath as if he”s the oxygen I desperately need. “Of course you know, angel.”

He stares at me and swallows hard. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” I nod, leaning up to lick his Adam”s apple. “You know you”re mine.”

And he is. He belongs to me, just as I belong to him. I”ve been his since we first met at the gallery. This isn”t about sex anymore, at least not for me. I love this man. He”s mine to protect, mine to keep.

Nothing will ever hurt him again; I will not allow it.

His eyes droop close as he kisses me again, his thrusts picking up. He shudders, and I can feel his dick thickening inside me. He murmurs something against the corner of my lips, kissing my cheeks and jaw. His breathing stutters as my nails graze his lower back. I can tell he”s ready to come.

“I want to feel you come inside me,” I whisper against his ear. “Fill me with your cum.”

“Mmm… Fuck!” He growls, doing exactly as I ask as he continues rolling his hips. He releases a drawn-out groan as he empties inside me, lacing our fingers together as he kisses me hard.

After a few minutes of kissing, Rurik lifts himself and mutters, “Sorry, are you okay? Did I hurt you?”

“I”m okay,” I say as I kiss his chest. “Thank you.”

He smiles and looks down between us. I follow his gaze to see trails of his come dripping out of me. A wicked grin spreads across his face, “Baby, seriously? Clean up the mess you made.”

I throw a pillow at his smug face, smothering the sound of his deep laughter.

*-*-*-*

“I miss you!” I grin, adjusting my earbud as I start jogging.

Rurik has been away for the weekend in Florida to visit his stepdad’s side of the family. I may have acted like a spoiled little brat when Rurik told me he was leaving. And by spoiled brat, I mean an annoying little shit.

Rurik may have punished me. And by punishing me, I mean he didn’t let me come during sex until I was super frustrated. Instead, I was forced to make myself orgasm using toys or my fingers — While he watched like a fucking creep.

Who am I kidding? I may have developed a kink for delayed gratification.

“We spoke to each other this morning, Briar,” Rurik rumbles in my ear. “Also, why are you breathing heavily? Are you okay?”

“I’m running,” I snap. “I can’t talk and run at the same time.”

“Sounds like a performance problem,” He snarks. Why the fuck am I in love with this asshole again? “Anyway, I should be home by Monday night. Please don’t change the locks.”

“Don’t do anything to piss me off then,” I say, feeling my heart stutter that he considers my apartment his home.

“You’re such a huge migraine, Briar. Oh, shit, I have to go—”

“Wait!”

“Yeah?”

“Do you miss me?”

He sighs, “I’ll call you later, Briar.” Then hangs up.

I smirk. He totally misses me. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have spoken on the phone for nearly three hours.

I turn the music up, drowning out my breathing and footsteps as I continue running along the trail, passing by the tree where I remember helping Rurik with his canvas. I passed the bench where Rurik came out of nowhere and kissed me, drawing me out of the darkness swirling in my head. Damn, it feels like years since those days… I can”t believe where we”re at now in our relationship. Or situationship? Whatever ship we”re sailing, I”m loving it.

I can feel my legs ache, so I start to slow down to a power walk. I glance at my phone… Will Rurik be annoyed if I spam text the shit out of his inbox? What if I take a topless selfie again? Ooh, he would love that I’m — FUCK!

Something hard hits the back of my head, and a sharp pain radiates through my neck. I fall to the ground; the impact is sudden and jarring. My palms scrape against the asphalt as I struggle to get up. I turn around in time to see a man with a black mask and his fist flying to my face before darkness consumes me once again.