Page 135 of Black Light: Cured

“Oh really,” he growls, sitting up. “You think I don’t know what I need? It’s a simple cold. A

simple cough syrup will make me right as rain.”

I draw my hand back, bringing the medicine out of reach. “But do you know what chemicals

you’re putting into your body?”

“Lila,” he grinds out. “My heart and soul.” My own heart stutters at those four little words. “I

know exactly what I’m putting into my body, so hand it over.”

“No.”

He sighs and slumps down. “I don’t have the energy to spank you, but I assure you, I’ll get better

soon, with or without your help, and heaven help you when I get ahold of you.”

Once more, I dance just out of reach, a thought forming in my mind. It’s dastardly; it’s

underhanded. But it just might work. Anything to get him to open up to alternative ideas. He’s so stuck

in his ways, and I have to do something to shake him out of that line of thinking.

“You like deals so much, so why don’t we make one?” I say. He raises an eyebrow and crosses

his arms but lets me continue. “You try it my way, just for tonight. I’m sure it won’t kill you, and if you

don’t feel better tomorrow, I’ll let you do more invasive medical play on me. Needles perhaps. I

know we’ve been talking about it. I’ll let you try them on me without a fuss. However, if you do feel

better, you have to do something just for me—rope. Deal?”

AIDEN

I STARE AT THE MINX IN FRONT OF ME, FEELING FAR TOO CRAPPY TO REALLY ARGUE WITH HER. ROPE

just isn’t a skill I have, and I’m hesitant on making this deal simply because I don’t want her to know

how inept I am at it. I want her to think that I’m the best at everything, that I can see to every single

one of her needs.

It’s not that I think she’ll win, not necessarily, but she’s proven me wrong far too many times for

me to take this lightly. Besides, a cold doesn’t need anything extra—rest and fluids, that’s it. All I

need is something to manage the symptoms while I go about my day, not an entire holistic arsenal

taking up residence in my house.

However, if I don’t take the bet, she’ll know for sure that I can’t do it, and again I’ll look like an

ass. The only safe option is to accept her terms and let her try her woo-woo stuff on me. There’s no

way it’s going to work. I’ve been sick like this before, and I know exactly how to fix it.

With a sigh, I extend my hand. “You have a deal.”