“You can sing…”

She smiles. “I can sing.”

Lacing my fingers through her’s, I turn and lead Winter back to our table. Karaoke Barb grabs the microphone from Winter’s hand before we get too far, and when we reach the table, I screw the cap back onto our bottle of whiskey.

“What are you doing?”

“We’re leaving, Grimm.” I grab my phone from the table, ignoring the missed call from Hayden, and push it into my pocket.

“Seriously?” she snorts. “Where are we going?” A hint of nervousness is clear in her tone.

“Back to the suite.”

“Why? Is everything okay?”

“Everything is fine.” I turn to Winter, wrapping my arm around her waist, and lean into her body. Her breath catches when I rest my lips against the shell of her ear. “I’m ready to negotiate terms.”

TEN

WINTER

Shit, shit, shit!

Aleck collected his credit card at the bar of Fat Billie’s with a predatory look in his eye that made my legs feel too weak to stand on. He grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bar, leading me down the gentrified strip of bars with ironic names like we were about to miss a flight.

Negotiate terms… I wasn’t so naive that I didn’t know what that meant.

Do I want this? If I’m honest, my god, yes, I do. Do I want him to know that? Hell no. Aleck has been a thorn in my side since he sauntered into our suite with two sparkly women. It’s true that we’ve warmed up to each other, dare I say, even enjoy each other. But we enjoy each other the same way people enjoy watching murder documentaries. They’re fascinating, but at the end of the day, they’re grotesque.

And that is the extent of my feelings for Aleck Fox. He’s fascinating, but grotesque.

Fascinating, so sexy he hurts to look at, and grotesque… but, like, becoming human and more bearable…

Shit, Winter!

I want Aleck’s body against mine. So what? I would never actually do anything about it. Mostly because he and I have been in a constant state of competition. Giving in to him is like surrendering and I do not give up in the heat of battle. I’d rather see my limbs get blown off than to give in to the likes of Aleck Fox. So I suppress the warm tinglies he gives me whenever he’s near… or in the suite… or within fifty feet of me.

My only comfort in living with him? Knowing he would never want to be with me like that. Not that I’m not worthy. I know Aleck respects me or he wouldn’t have given me a second glance. A glance he has given me… A second one, a third, and a fourth one. But to Aleck, control is paramount. He would never let himself shit where he sleeps. And screwing me, knowing he’ll still have to live with me beyond that, would be like a hot, steamy pile of shit in his bed.