Butcher & Blackbird (The Ruinous Love Trilogy, #1)

by Brynne Weaver

When I lower my hands, I see the body on the floor. The artistic director of Ashborne Collegiate Institute. And my one wish is that he’d rise from the afterlife so I could do it all over again.

“You’re all the best things to me, Sloane. No matter how many bruises are in your heart or on your skin.”

“You fucking tell me, so that you know when I ruin you for all other men, it’s what you asked for.

Sloane rolls her eyes and looks away as I grin. “You need to catch up. I’m on the hitchhiker smut now.” “Then let me borrow your e-reader.” “Get fucked,”

“Sloane, I can’t handle worrying about you right now. I don’t think I can take that stress on top of everything else. I can barely manage to keep a day-to-day, normal life with you together, let alone that.”

I have to keep reminding myself to take him for his word, that he didn’t mean it that way, even though my insecurities keep rattling around in my head like insects pinging against panes of glass. If he said I’m not a burden, then he’s being honest … right?

“You have never been unlovable. You were just waiting for someone who will love you for who you are, not for who they want you to be. I can do that, if you’ll let me.” I press my lips to hers and taste salt and blood but pull away before the kiss deepens. “I fucking adore you, Sloane Sutherland. I wanted you from that first day at Briscoe’s. I have loved you for years. I’m not stopping. Not ever.”

“Skullduggery.” “Maybe a little bit.” “But you said I was way off course.” “You were.” “You said you were only scheming to get into my pants.” “No lies spoken.” “Then what the fuck is this?” “Clearly, additional skullduggery. Minus the parrot.”