Relish: A Vicious Feast Book 2 Read Online Free

instead. My eye rolled back into my head the second the juices of the hundred percent pure beef patty coated my tongue.
    “Has anyone told you how sexy you look when you eat?” Larry asked, resting his chin on his palm while nibbling on another fry. “It’s so erotic, like you’re coming.”
    I blushed. How could I not? Chewing the huge bite in my mouth took up most of my concentration. Normally, Larry getting explicit wouldn’t have bothered me. Tonight, reacting to his observations only dug my grave deeper. Swallowing, I set the delectable burger down and leveled a serious stare at him. Now or never.
    “Larry, look. I’ve been thinking about it.” I sighed, gathering up my courage and considering having my burger to go. “I’m sorry. When I got back, I was in a terrible place. Unfortunately, I used you to bring me out of it. I shouldn’t have done that. You deserve better than to be used by me.”
    With each word that left my lips, Larry’s smile faded a little more until nothing of it remained. “What are you saying?”
    “You were right when you said we should break up. I don’t want to keep putting you in a position of waiting for nothing.”
    He reached for my hand and this time I’d been the one to pull away.
    “I made a mistake.” I shook my head. “I shouldn’t have dragged you into all this. I messed up during my time with Vicious. I should have known better.”
    “But you didn’t,” he said.”
    A pathetic chuckle closed my throat. It took all my strength to keep speaking. “Yeah. That I did. I don’t want to hurt you any more than I already have.”
    “Look, D, I’m sorry I pressured you this morning.” Larry caught my hand in his, refusing to let go when I tugged. “I don’t know what came over me this morning. I’d meant what I said when I agreed to no strings attached. I get that we only have a few weeks left together. Let’s just enjoy each other’s company and part as friends.”
    The hope blossoming in my chest broke my resolve. “You serious?”
    He nodded. “This is just dinner. You and me enjoying a burger at Pot Luck.”
    I turned my hand into his and entwined our fingers. The tears of relief welling in my eye pushed me to look down. I blinked repeatedly to hide them. No nights alone. I might make my deadline after all.
    “Hey,” Larry whispered. “What’s up?”
    Using the thumb of my free hand, I swiped at the stray tear that refused to stay in. “Don’t mind me. I’m just being hormonal.”
    “Staying with Vicious really did a number on you, huh?”
    I shushed him, flicking my gaze at the tables nearest us. “Not so loud. You could start a riot. I’m already worried my photos will get stolen from the Showcase.”
    Larry let go of my hand and settled back until the back of his head rested on the vinyl behind him. “I suggest you chain them to the wall.”
    That got a laugh out of me. “I don’t know how the hell I’m going to finish in time.”
    He took a sip of his soda. “You’ll make it. I’ll help in any way I can.”
    I didn’t know how much more guilt my poor heart could take. “I’m sorry.”
    “For what?”
    “For using you.” I stared dejectedly at my golden brown onion rings the size of flying saucers. “You can still back out of this, you know. I won’t hold it against you.”
    “Look at me.”
    It actually took me a couple of seconds to do as he’d asked. Another few seconds passed before Larry spoke again. The tension between us snapped like an over-stretched rubber band.
    “Know that I’m your friend. It hurts me to see you suffering.” He crossed his arms and gripped his biceps hard. “If it weren’t for that NDA, I would hunt that guy down and beat him bloody. But,” he raised his hand to cut me off, “there’s nothing I can do now but support you. They’ve taken so much from you already. I’ll be damned if I let them keep you from graduating. This is your future. Take those photos and show the world what you’re