Page 342 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

“Good boys deserve rewards.”

Ronan’s stomach twisted.

“That’s it?”

“No.”

Of course.

“What else?”

Elliot looked at him. Then quietly:

“Bad boys deserve consequences.”

The room went still. Good boys. Bad boys. Biting. Punishment. Saint had been building language around Elliot before Ronan ever used it intimately. That realization made Ronan feel irrationally violated. Not because the phrase belonged to Saint. Because Saint had contaminated something Ronan thought was theirs. Elliot saw his face.

“What?”

“I hate this.”

“The note?”

“All of it.”

Ronan paced away from the desk.

“They were in your head before we even got together.”

Elliot frowned.

“Not like that.”

“No?”

“No.”

“They called you good boy.”

“Yes.”

“They knew about me.”

“Yes.”

“They knew what you wanted.”

“Yes.”

“And now they’re using the exact fucking language we use together.”

Elliot stared. Then understood. His face softened.

“Ronan.”

“No.”

He hated that he sounded jealous. Of Saint. A fucking anonymous stalker who groomed Elliot’s worst impulses. Embarrassing. Elliot stepped closer. Ronan didn’t stop him.