Could've sworn I felt the coolness of his chrome hand for a sliver of a second. My eyes flew open in a gasp. Yanking my hand from my shorts, I pushed to my feet, whirling around to see Johnny leaning on the back of the couch.

"Hey, don't stop on my account," Johnny said with enough snark I could punch him.

I rubbed my temples and moved to the open window. "Jesus, Johnny. Do I not have one ounce of privacy from you?"

"No."

I seethed at him over my shoulder.

Johnny shrugged as he threw his legs over the couch, plopping to the seat and propping his feet on the coffee table. "And I'm not trying to be a dick about it—for once. I could be as invisible and quiet as I wanted to be, but I still know every damn thing you're doing despite not wanting to be present for half of it, fucking trust me." He crossed his ankles and interlaced his hands behind his head. "When you take a damn shit, whenever you burn your mouth on pizza, and yeah—" His gaze locked with mine, predatory and vile. "—when you rub one out. This time was especially hot, though, by the way. Loved the—inspiration."

Growling, my cheeks flushing, I turned away from him again. "Fuck. Me."

"You first," Johnny crooned from the couch.

Leaning against the window frame, I gripped it so tightly that my cyberware implants in my hands slightly crushed it. "Would you leave? Please?"

"No. You know what? Fuck that." He glitched from the couch to stand at my side, leaning his shoulder against the wall. "You are the only person I can talk to, and it's getting damn old being a constant fly on the wall. Nah. You'll see a lot more of me, sister."

He had somewhat of a point. Must've gotten lonely as fuck only being present less than half the time. Maybe—if he wasn't such a self-centered, righteous, dick-headed twat bag—we'd be having a different conversation.

"Is that so? I could always pop some omega blockers." I stood tall, crossing my arms and facing him.

Pills Misty gave me to shut up the voice in my head and possibly slow down the Relic's progression—but also run the risk of speeding it up.

He glared at me, sliding forward, staring down at me with the "fuck all else" expression only Silverhand himself could pull off. "You wouldn't."

"Wanna bet?" Arching a brow, I turned for my computer desk, yanking open the drawer to the awaiting bottle of pills.

I had no intention of taking them, but sure as fuck wanted to see him sweat.

"V, wait just a damn minute," Johnny shouted, glitching across the room to where I stood, his hand outstretched.

Again, like a passing wind, I felt his skin against mine as he reached to stop me. Judging by the perplexed expression that played over Johnny's face for a nanosecond, he must have experienced the same. But neither of us was ready to admit it—wasn't even sure how it was possible.

"Just because 'ol Vikky turned you down when you tried to swap spit with him doesn't mean you should be taking it out on me," Johnny spat, pointing at himself and eyeing the ominous pill bottle sidelong.

Slamming the drawer shut with such force, I made the rottweiler bobblehead resting on the corner rattle, I narrowed my eyes. "You really think with everything that's going on, that's what I'm stewin' over?"

"It certainly ain't helping." He interlaced his fingers between us, balling his hands into one fist. "You're wound so tight I want to explode. I mean, for fuck's sake, why don't you pay for a Joytoy? Or wait—lemme guess—that's beneath you."

Sighing, I sat on the edge of the desk. "Please. Everyone in this damn city has paid for sex at least once in their lifetime."

"Then what the hell is it, V, hm? Need to get shit-faced? Go whip yourself up a Ripper." He jutted his chin toward the small corner bar in my apartment.

Wrapping my arms around myself, I stared at the clothes hanging in my tiny closet, jackets, tank tops, and the like. "I don't know, I—I don't feel up to it anymore. People in general. It seems so exhausting going through the bullshit, and for what? A fucking orgasm?"

Johnny stared at me unblinking for a solid ten seconds before speaking. "I think you underestimate the power behind a mind-blowing fuck."

"Please don't make me regret not taking those blockers," I groaned, rolling my neck until my head rested against my back, eyes turned to the ceiling.

"Alright, look, this conversation's gettin' too sentimental for my taste anyway. Take a shower because you fucking stink—"

I snapped a glare at him and he gave a shit-eating grin.

"—finish what you started—" He made jacking off gestures. "—and go the fuck to sleep. You're so exhausted it's making me tired, and I don't have a damn body. I'll stay out of your hair for the rest of the night."

I pouted, only half-believing him. "Promise?"

"Cross my heart and hope to—" He crisscrossed his chest and paused before finishing the saying. "You know the rest."

"Fine," I breathed out, pushing to my feet to make the ten-step trek to the bathroom.

"Relax, V. I fucking mean it. That's my body too." Johnny pointed at me, his form starting to glitch away.

"Yes, mother," I said with a sarcastic grin.

He squinted at me, a hint of a smile playing on his lips before flicking me off.

I'd gotten my middle finger up to salute him right back only seconds before he glitched away completely.