Roan wondered how long it would actually keep her quiet.
“Do you think the silkies use regular cameras in their dungeons, or… wait for it …webcams?”
Apparently not that long. He rolled his eyes. “Why aren’t you freaking out?”
Maddie’s shoulders shrugged slightly, as much movement as she was able. “It wouldn’t help anything. And I’m with you. I know you’ll fix this somehow.”
“I’m the one who got us into this mess,” Roan pointed out.
“No, you trusted the wrong person. This is on them. I mean, not technically, obviously, since we’re the ones wrapped up. But you get my drift.”
“Do you always ramble when you’re nervous?”
She sighed. “No. That seems to be the Roan effect. It’s a recent development in my life.”
Roan chuckled and then grunted when she somehow managed to shove her fist into his stomach. “Be nice,” he growled.
“Or what?” Maddie challenged.
Roan glanced down at Maddie’s indignant face, still partially mushed into his shoulder. Even trussed up in spider webs, she managed to look adorably fierce. It made him want to tease her more just to see that fiery reaction.
“Or I’ll have to punish you,” he replied, pitching his voice low.
Maddie sucked in a sharp breath, those mesmerizing blue eyes going wide. A pretty blush stained her cheeks.
“You wouldn’t dare,” she managed after a moment, but her bravado had cracked. Roan could have laughed at how flustered his empty threat made her. She tried so hard to appear tough and unflappable. He enjoyed knocking down those walls and seeing glimpses of the soft woman underneath.
Unable to resist, he leaned in closer. “Wouldn’t I?” He all but purred.
Maddie’s throat bobbed as she swallowed. This close, he could see flecks of silver in her soft blue eyes. They really were exquisite, even wide with alarm.
When she stayed silent, Roan took pity and backed off. “Relax, Maddie. I’m not going to punish you.” He wouldn’t mind exploring that scenario under better circumstances, but he kept that thought to himself.
Maddie’s shoulders sagged in relief and exasperation. “You’re incorrigible.” But there was no real heat to her words.
Roan chuckled again. “And you’re very entertaining when riled up. Though we should probably focus on escaping, as much as I enjoy being wrapped up with you.”
“Roan?” she asked a minute later, her voice lacking the playful banter it held before. He thought he even heard a slight tremble.
“Yeah?”
“What are they going to do with us?” She paused. “I mean, if we don’t get out?”
Roan’s memory was long. He remembered how the Kingdom of Silk handled their prisoners back in the Damarian realm. He wasn’t about to share that with her. “Look at me,” he told her sternly. She tilted her head back, and he did, too, so he could look down at her. “We’regoingto get out of here. I promise you that.” She dropped her eyes with a small nod. Roan didn’t like the defeat in her eyes. He pressed a kiss to her soft, pale hair and whispered vehemently, “I don’t break my promises.”
Katy stood with her back pressed against the bathroom door. She’d gone in to brush her teeth, but twenty minutes had passed, and she hadn’t emerged.
“You okay in there?”
Her skin flushed. Just from hearing Gage’s voice. She had no idea what the hell had happened to her since they arrived home a week ago, but every day got harder. This desire that she had for him was bordering on psycho. Like she might need an evaluation, a straitjacket, and a padded room psycho. Katy found herself avoiding him, which was difficult to do considering the cabin was only three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an open-floor-plan living space. She was pretty sure he thought she had a bladder infection or irritable bowel syndrome by the number of times she “used the bathroom” a day.
She rubbed her hands over her face and blew out a breath. “Get it together, Katy Dire,” she told herself as she looked in the mirror. Gage had been nothing but a gentleman, though at night he did wrap himself around her like a boa constrictor. But he hadn’t pushed for anything more. “Why not?” she groaned at herreflection. All he would have to do is wiggle his finger at her and Katy would assault him. Like full-blown, rip the clothes off, and have her way with him.
“Why don’t you quit thinking about it and come out here and follow through, mate?”
Katy jumped, and a ridiculous squeal emerged from her mouth.
His voice was right against the door.
