The Mercenary and the Mortician (The Silent Hollow, #1)

by Alexandra St. Pierre

The funny thing about being raised in a cage is it makes you angry… and angry people want vengeance.

I loved fucking dudes. There was just something about bending over a pretty alpha male and making him see Jesus through his asshole.

The ginger-haired sex god in question walked into the room abruptly, and my jaw literally dropped.

That picture online had not done him justice. Forget muscles. I was suddenly craving a ginger snap.

Not only was I going to be murdered at twenty-seven in my own house, I was going to die with a goddamned fear-boner.

What did a mercenary and a mortician have in common? Dead. Fucking. Bodies.

It seemed I had a brat on my hands, which was literally my favorite. I loved it when they fought back. I got to punish them and teach them their place.

“I’m not the devil, Ryan Fairview. I’m your fucking god, and you will beg me for forgiveness,”

“I’m so fucking straight, Ryan. I can’t wait to fuck your tight little pussy.”

“Spit in my hand,” he ordered. I tried to shake my head, but he snarled. “That wasn’t a request, Ryan. Spit in my fucking hand, or I’ll spit in your perfect mouth.”

“That’s it, straight boy. Come for me.” “No. Fuck you!” I spat, and he chuckled. “You’re going to come, Ryan; there’s no point in fighting it. You’re going to shoot your load all over that bitch’s corpse, then you’re going to clean it up like the good boy I know you are.”

Because I didn’t want to be friends with Ryan Fairview. I wanted to be much more than that. I wanted his face to light up instead of darkening when he saw me. I wanted him to let me touch him whenever I wanted. I wanted to hold his hand in public and kiss him until he felt dizzy.

“You’re so fucking gorgeous, Ryan,” he rumbled. “I’m sorry I’m so obsessed with you, but fuck. I can’t help it. You’re too damn beautiful.”

“Mhmm.” I breathed, and Cal’s hand tightened on the side of my face. “Do you?” “What?” “Have the hots for me?” he asked, holding me firmly in place.

“Do you want to find out?” he asked, and I found myself nodding. “Yes.” “Good. Me too,” he growled, and before I could react, his lips crashed into mine.

“Look at us! Pimping out our siblings for personal gain. We’re so charming.”

The way my entire body reacted to the sight of it made me nearly whimper out loud. I was so fucking gay. Yep. Super fucking gay.

“I’ll wait for you forever if I have to, angel.” His mouth parted, and his eyes turned glassy. “Angel?”

He was my dark angel, and I had been a fucking idiot to try to push him away. Because now that he really was gone, I felt like I would give up an entire limb to get him back.

I was in love with this beautiful, dark, broken angel that had forced his way into my life, and there was no going back now.

“Ryan I… I’m in love with you.” The words felt so right spilling from my lips, and his eyes widened slightly in surprise.

“Callum. Of course I love you. How could I not?” His words crashed into me, and suddenly, my eyes were filled with tears, and I choked on a painful lump that had gathered in my throat.

“No one ever has before,” I whispered, and for a moment, he looked furious. “Then they’re idiots,” he snapped, kissing me fiercely on the lips. “I love you so much, Callum Walker. I can’t believe I spent twenty-eight years of my life without you in it. But now that you’re here, I don’t want to ever spend another day without seeing your gorgeous face.”

“I love you, Callum. Now fuck me, please. Fuck me like you love me back.”

“I know what it is to make tough choices and live through difficult times. I know what hard is… Loving you isn’t hard, Callum,” he whispered, leaning forward and brushing his lips against mine. “Loving you is the easiest thing I’ve ever done.”

“Fuck being normal, Ryan. Normal is boring. I love that you see dead people. I think it’s bad fucking ass that you live in a funeral home. On top of that, I think it’s hot that you’re a freckly red-headed man who likes gardening. Everything about you is attractive to me. You’re my lil’ spooky ginger boy, and I love the shit out of you.”

“You’ve been waiting for your dark angel, and now that I’m finally here, I never want to leave your side again. I can’t imagine living another day of my life without you, baby. So Ryan Fairview… will you marry me?’

“Yes.” I sobbed. “Of course, I’ll marry you. Cal, I love you so much it hurts.”