I didn’t want him to continue, so I decided to quiet him the best way I knew. I lowered my mouth to his.
Casteel caught me by the shoulder and held me back. “And you just found out that your—fuck,” he said, and my stomach once more felt like it curled inward. He shook his head. “You just learned that you lived only the gods know how many lives.”
“I know.” I rocked back, swallowing hard against the knot forming in my throat. “I was there for the conversation.”
He ignored my snarky retort. “It has to have messed with your head.”
“Did it mess with yours?” I blurted before I could stop myself.
Casteel didn’t answer immediately.
When he did, the one word he uttered was like a sucker punch to the chest.
“Yes.”
CHAPTER 40
POPPY
Yes.
The word echoed my heartbeat as I stared at him.
“How could it not?” Casteel asked.
Now, thosefourwords joined the pounding.
“Of course,” I murmured, rapidly blinking as I scooted back.
I knew what I needed now. And it still wasn’t to talk. It also wasn’t him. It was distance. Space.
He tilted his head, his hands moving to my hips to stop me. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I gripped the arm of the couch, but he held on. “Can you let go?”
“No.”
“Let go.” I met his stare and let the eather surface enough to charge the air. “Before I make you let go.”
An eyebrow rose, and a heartbeat passed. He slowly lifted each finger as he held my gaze.
Scrambling off him, I stood and stepped back before bending to pick up my glass. I took a large gulp of whiskey and immediately regretted that life choice. The burn hit like fire and clawed its way down my throat, causing my eyes to water and my lungs to seize.
“You okay?” Casteel asked, the corners of his lips twitching.
“Yes,” I wheezed.
“Sure sounds like it.”
“Shut up.” I turned and made a face as I glanced down at the whiskey. I was never touching it again.
“I think that was karma,” he continued. “For you not answering my question.”
My grip on the glass tightened. “Of course, you would think it was karma.”
“Poppy.”
I stepped onto the raised platform, mimicking his tone when I said, “Casteel.”
