Perfectly Toxic (Sterling Shore 9)

in my house, and we sure as hell never talked about it. Hell, if my parents had their way, I would still believe babies magically appear in a mother’s stomach.

My hand smooths over his chest, just as he starts shivering and a new coat of sweat breaks across his skin.

“The chills are almost the worst,” I assure him as I move and wrap the blanket around his body.

“Lucky me,” he grumbles as his eyes stay closed.

As he slowly drifts off, I settle down on the floor in front of him, getting comfortable as I cut on a show.

“No girly shit in this house,” he mumbles, letting me know he’s not fully asleep yet.

Grinning, I flip the channel to some sports channel, and he smirks while keeping his eyes shut.

Compromise… Yeah, that’s going to take some getting used to.

After a while of steady snoring, I head toward the kitchen, and grab a banana to eat as I wait on him to need the trashcan—because he will need it. His house is so plain and sterile. He has a maid who cleans four times a week, so it’s also spotless.

Moving back to the living room, I study Ethan, watching as he sleeps peacefully. When I reach his side, I sit down next to him, and his arms immediately fold around my waist as he rouses from his sleep just a little.

“Thank you for coming,” he murmurs, pulling me closer until he can put his head in my lap.

Idly, I run my fingers through his short, dark, silky hair. He makes a sound of approval, and I stare at the TV as I continue affectionately stroking his hair. Arlene mentioned dinner between her spiels of Ethan’s most mortifying moments.

As much as she seemed to like me, I’m a little worried about his father.

I really hope he’s not as rude to me as Ethan is to most women.

Chapter 39

ETHAN

“So you and Bella are like a real thing?” Maverick asks me as I finish my workout and wipe away some of the sweat.

“Yeah. Why?”

He shrugs, even though there’s a taunting grin on his face. It’s been over a week since I actually got to have sex with Bella. First she was sick. Then I was sick. Hell, I haven’t even seen her since the day after she took care of me all day and night.

She had two doubles to work after that. Then she wanted to spend some time with Angel, and… Well, kids aren’t really my thing so I skipped out on that night.

Now it’s been three days, going on four, since I even saw her, since she and Allie needed some time to catch up, and the very next night I got hit up for poker.

Fucking eh. It’s not like I could tell the guys I needed to see Bella, considering the immortal hell I’ve given them since they got domesticated—which I’m not. At least… Fuck. I’m not, am I?

“Just curious,” Maverick says with a shrug. “You came back acting like we were all too tame for your taste, and here you are without any partying going on and a girl waiting for you at home. Just find it… funny.”

I crack my neck to the side while glaring at him. “She’s not waiting for me at home, and I’m not having this discussion right now.”

Ignoring his mocking laughter, I pull my phone out.

ME: You still coming at dinner tomorrow? Anyway I can squeeze in a date tonight?

Immediately there’s a text, as though she was waiting with a response on hand.

BELLA: Not tonight. I have to get my house clean. And as for tomorrow… Maybe it’s a little soon for a family dinner.

That has me pausing, and I cock my head to the side. She seemed fine with it just last week.

“Read this and tell me what it means,” I say to Maverick, tossing him my phone.