At nighttime when I made my pallet on the floor, it was always pitch black under the bed, but with the room currently flooded with light, I could see everything. There was one box with a fancy bourbon label and beside it, a couple other fancy bottles of whiskey and vodka.
“Son of a—” I let go of Sully’s blanket, which he immediately snatched back from the floor. The bed squeaked above me, and I imagined him turning around and settling back in. His snores returned almost immediately.
Which absolutely infuriated me.
He thought he got to cruise through these months in an alcoholic haze while I was stuck being stone cold sober?
No damn way, buddy.
Once his snores became even more sonorous and deep, I squeezed my thin frame underneath the bed just enough to get a handle on the box of booze. Wedging one foot against a wall, I managed to pull it out even though it was damn heavy, and the bottles clanked against one another loudly.
I thought for sure Sully would wake up, but his snores went on.
I fought a maniacal giggle.
After I got the big crate out, I went back for the last few separate bottles. Then I got everything arranged and shoved open the window.
When it was all perfect, I hollered at the top of my lungs, “Sully! Wake up or I’m dumping it all!”
Sully jumped at my shrill tone and his half-lidded eyes opened, wincing against the light. He was about to turn over again and keep ignoring me, but I clanked two of the bottles together loudly.
It was obviously a sound he was very familiar with, because finally, I had his attention. He pushed down the blanket and sat up, looking adorably befuddled, and also unfortunately terribly sexy with the several days’ dark scruff he was sporting.
He is not sexy, he is the enemy, I tried to scold myself, but his angry growl had my thoughts quickly clearing.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
I looked down to where I had the big box of bottles resting precariously on the open window ledge. I’d neatly laid the free-standing bottles on top.
“I think we should make a new rule. No drinking allowed.”
Sully sat up, his eyes suddenly much clearer. Clear and dark and angry. A tingle raced up my spine. I smiled and held up one of the free bottles. I’d already pulled out the stopper, and I tipped it upside down.
Crystal-like amber liquid flowed from the bottle down onto the green grass below. It was quite a beautiful display in the golden sunlight of mid-morning.
“Stop it!” Sully’s face went panicked, and he held out his hand like that would make the whiskey pause mid-flow.
“Are you ready to negotiate?”
But Sully’s eyes only went darker. “I don’t negotiate with terrorists.”
I shrugged. “Fine with me. I never thought booze should be allowed in our room in the first place anyway.”
And with that, I took a quick glance below to make sure no gardeners or anyone else happened to be passing by, then I nudged the entire box out the window, tossing the last two bottles after it for good measure.
It exploded on the lawn below in a fantastic burst of glass, liquid, and wood. I grinned, feeling extremely satisfied with myself.
Extremely satisfied, that was, until I glanced back and saw Sully’s dark, furious face.
“You’re going to regret that, little girl.”
8
Sully
Strangle or fuck.
I was going to do one or the other to this woman before me.
“Have you lost your mind?” I seethed, standing up from the bed completely naked and not giving a shit that my dick was on full display. “Do you have any idea how much money you just threw out the window?”
She shrugged as if she hadn’t done anything worth mentioning. “I’m sure it’s nothing you can’t handle, Mr. Rich Boy.” She walked past me and didn’t seem to flinch at my anger or my nudity. “Maybe now, you can do more than just drink your hours away.”
“First of all, princess,” I said as I casually leaned against the bottom bedpost and crossed my arms against my chest. “There is plenty of booze in this manor. I’m not worried about going dry.” I was pissed, but I wasn’t going to let on exactly how much. I didn’t want her to know that her little stunt had gotten my blood boiling. I needed to remain cool and collected.
She took a deep breath, and I watched her shoulders rise and fall. She didn’t say anything with her mouth, but her eyes said enough.
“Fuck you, bastard.”
“I’ve tried to play nice,” I said, taking a step toward her.
She laughed. “Nice? Is this what you call nice?” She laughed again. “I’m curious what your asshole looks like then.”
“You haven’t seen the worst of me, or this place yet. Trust me on that.”
“Frankly,” she began as she placed her hands on her hips. “I would take anything over what I’ve seen. You’re pathetic.”