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

Chapter 35

Rurik

Fuck. Fuck. FUCK.

What the fuck do I do?

I told him I ended things with Briar. Nausea and regret wash over me as I glance between the two. Oh God, my stepdad is going to hurt her. He’s going to take her away from me. He’s probably calling for back-up already…

Fuck.

I clear my throat and plaster the best smile I can make. “Hey, sir. I didn’t realize you visited this area?”

But my stepdad just glares at Briar before turning his focus to me.

His brows raise. “What’s the meaning of this?”

My smile vanishes as I let go of Briar’s hand.

I don’t miss the way her hand balls into a tight fist. “I… We… We were just…”

Briar clears her throat, interrupting me. I turn to her, but she’s focusing her gaze on him.

She gives him a beautiful smile and holds her hand out. “Good evening, Mr. Senator. Nice to meet you. Again. I’m Briar.”

Holy fuck, what is she doing?

Is she really insane?

“We”re just grabbing some groceries,” She continues, unfazed, as if we”re regular people meeting for a pleasant conversation.

But my stepdad ignores her completely, still looking at me with hard eyes.

“I…” I hesitate.

Anxiety and apprehension crawl up my body, wrapping around my throat. I can’t say anything… Why can”t I say anything? Fuck… Oh, that”s right. I”m a coward.

A shitty coward.

Briar”s hand finally drops, and I glance at her to see her jaw tightening and her eyes dimming with rage and... loathing?

“I thought I told you to end things with her,” My stepdad interrupts, treating me like a child in need of punishment.

Before I could respond, Briar beat me to it.

“That’s not possible, Mr. Senator,” She smirks, crossing her arms. “There’s no end between me and Rurik.”

Oh, fuck.

He’s finally looking at her, and I want nothing more than to shield her from his wrath. Even though a part of me knows how capable this woman is and how strong she is, another part just wants to step up and be stronger for her.

“My stepson is too good for the likes of you.”

Briar looks thoughtful before humming. “Maybe. Or, I’m exactly what he needs.”

I close my eyes, wishing I could just disappear and take her with me.

You’re a damn coward, asshole.

“Here’s the thing,” Briar continues, opening my eyes. “I really like your stepson. I can promise you, he’s totally safe from whatever is between—”

“Safe?” He blurts out with a scoff. “Him being with a bunch of murderous gangsters isn’t safe for him.”

Briar”s hands drop to her sides, her expression dark and chilling.

Her voice takes on a low, threatening tone, “Oh, really? That’s quite ironic, coming from you, Chef Greene.”

I frown. What the fuck does that mean? I look at him and see his face growing pale at her words.

What the…

“What are you talking about?” I couldn’t help but ask.

But Briar shakes her and lifts her chin, “Never mind, angel. Let’s go home.”

I start to follow her but halt at the icy glare directed at me by my stepdad.

Briar turns around, her brow arched. “Rurik? Let’s go.”

I stare at my stepdad, hoping for him to understand. But he continues to glare at me, his face growing redder with each passing second that I don”t refuse her.

He inhales deeply, his tone laced with warning. “Rurik.”

“Rurik,” Briar also says.

I look at her and… There.

It’s like my choices decided to attack me all at once and punch me in the face as I stare between her and my stepdad. One person has grown to mean so much to me and makes me feel like I”m the most important person in the world, versus the person who is saving my life and protecting me and my mum.

“I’m sorry,” I croak, shaking my head as my mind continues battling. Why am I even choosing? This shouldn’t even be a question—

“You’ll be fucking sorry if you don’t follow my ass home, Rurik.” Briar’s melodic voice breaks through my muddled brain. “Endless. Remember?”

That word.

Endless.

I drop my hands, not realizing I am pulling my hair like a crazy person. I glance at Briar, her eyes shining with anger. But if I look deeply, I can see another emotion she’s trying to hide.

Fear.

Fear for what?

I shake my head, turning to look at my stepdad. “I’m sorry, sir. I can’t leave her.”

“Remember what I said, Rurik.” He answers. “I also pay for your medical bills. You owe me—”

“He doesn’t owe you shit,” Briar snaps, wrapping her hands around mine. She takes my chin with her fingers and forces me to look at her. “Fuck him, angel. He may be the father figure in your life, but he is no family to you.” She pulls my hand and rests it on her chest. “Let me be yours, Rurik. Let me be your family and take care of you.” She swallows hard, her eyes brimming with hope and unshed tears as she whispers so only I can hear her. “Let us be your family.”

I’m kissing her before she can continue talking. Her mouth opens with a gasp, and I hungrily drink her in, my arms tightly wrapped around her waist as I pull her into me.

Fuck.

Kissing her feels like I can breathe again. I feel like the indecisiveness, the fear, the cowardness just melt away with each stroke of her tongue against mine, with each little tiny noise she makes when I nibble her lips. I could feel the warmth of her hands radiating against my skin as I devour her whole.

She makes me feel alive. Like I”m not about to die any moment from a broken heart. How can I die from it when my heart isn”t mine anymore? I can”t break what”s not mine.

Can she feel what I’m feeling?

Can she feel how much she means to me?

Can she feel how much she’s broken me?

I don’t give a shit if I’m kissing her in front of my stepdad. I don’t give a shit if we’re standing in the middle of the Farmers Market. I don’t give a shit that cameras surround us and that nosy people can take pictures of us and post them on gossip sites.

I. Don’t. Give. A. Shit.

Not anymore.

“Rurik, wait,” Briar sighs, placing her hand on my chest to gently push me away.

But like a boomerang, I throw myself back to her.

I release a sharp exhale, cradling her cheeks as I kiss her. I can feel her lips curl into a smile, and her soft giggles wash over me like a drug addict craving a hit.

Only she”s the drug, and I”m fucking addicted.

After a few minutes, I pull away, sensing she needs air to breathe. A blanket of tenderness envelops me as I gaze at her, and she bites her bottom lip to suppress a grin. I swallow hard, noticing her eyes darting to my throat, and I fight to keep my grin at bay. She quickly kisses my Adam’s Apple and then turns to my stepdad.

But he’s not here.

Jesus, did we disgust him that much? Is he really that unhappy with me?

We both look around us and do not see Philip anymore in the vicinity.

I should be happy that we won this round.

Right?

He knows now, so nothing matters anymore.

I ignore the way my heart continues to beat abnormally.