“I thought you’d want to write.”
“Why would you assume I’d be here long enough to use it? If you’re telling the truth and Roman knows what he needs to do to get me back, then why assume I’d have time to use the laptop?”
Uh-oh. I see why she’s angry now. She thinks I’m lying about contacting Roman. “I didn’t. When I bought it for you, I didn’t care if you used it for an hour or a day, I just wanted you to have it. If he does as we ask, you’ll be free to go. You can take the laptop with you.”
Fists clenching, she stands, pushing back her chair and glaring at me with all the fury that could possibly fit in her slender frame. “Take me home. Takeme home now. If Roman hasn’t responded yet, he’ll never give you what you want. I’m useless to you.”
I grunt and shake my head. “Not a chance, sweetheart. I’m not buying it for a second. No man gives up a woman like you without a fight. He’s bluffing. Releasing you is exactly what he wants. You’re mine until he caves.”You’re mine for always.
“A woman like me? I hate to break it to you, but I’m far less famous than I used to be. I’m no prize.”
I allow my gaze to rake over her, settle on her mouth, her breasts, her waist. I picture the scene she sent me when she was in the shower and let my dragon’s heat fill my expression. “I don’t give a fuck about your fame, and he didn’t either. He knows what he had in you. He wouldn’t be a man if he didn’t.”
“So that’s it, huh? No wonder you and Roman are at war. He’s refined and sophisticated. He’s not a brute who goes around abducting innocent women to get what he wants. I have a life, you know. I have friends… work.” She grinds her teeth.
“Your friends will understand, and I bought you everything you need to do your work,” I force out.
The tension between us has reached a fever pitch. At some point we’ve both rounded the table—I don’t even recall moving, but here we are. My hand is wrapped around the back of her neck, and we’re face-to-face, her mouth dangerously close to mine. I can feel her breath on my lips.
“Let me go.”
“No.”
“The only reason you bought me the laptop is tomake yourself feel less guilty.” She lifts her chin an inch. “I should have known it was all about you. Kidnap a woman on her wedding day and hold her prisoner! All you are is a fucking criminal. A fucking criminal who knows how to beat an egg.”
Her insult snaps like a whip. We’re nose to nose, grimace to grimace, her chest rising and falling rapidly in a way I find incredibly distracting. Her eyes dart to my mouth, and the pull between us steals my breath.
The urge to kiss her, to claim her, makes my skin burn. She draws back with a soft grunt, leans forward again. Draws back. Our breaths come in pants as we inhale each other’s air, both of us fighting this thing between us for different reasons.
With a hard shake of her head, she surges out of my grip and past me, pushing me away as she runs for her bedroom and slams the door. I could easily catch her, but I don’t.
I bring my forehead to my fist, the mating sickness sending spikes of pain and need through me again. “Come on, Bones.”
I head outside again to cool off.
Chapter Fourteen
FIONA
He knows what he had in you. He wouldn’t be a man if he didn’t.
I stand in the middle of the bedroom, replaying the dizzying interaction in my head. The way Connor looked at me sent a rush of need through my veins I’ve never felt before. The pull to move closer to him was like a tightening corset, like God was pulling the strings, squeezing us together, squeezing us into the shape the universe wanted. My God, I almost kissed him, and if Ihadkissed him, I’m not sure I could have controlled what would have happened next.
Is he lying to me about Roman? He must be. There’s no way Roman wouldn’t do whatever it took to get me back. I was practically snatched right out of his arms. He did shoot at us, but he might be a good shot. If Vivian hadn’t pushed him out of the way, would he have hit Connor and not me? It is weird though that he’s told noone I’m missing.Ifhe’s told no one I’m missing. I have no way of telling if that’s true or not. No internet access. No television.
You need to use this time to tell my story, Alex demands, thrusting herself into the center of my head. She’s dressed in a maid’s uniform. She wants to pose as a maid in the Milk Cult’s headquarters to investigate what they’re doing with the drugged girls.
If I have no choice but to be here, I might as well use the time productively.
Do I have a choice to be here? Should I have tried to run today? Tried to escape? No. I’m not strong enough. Not yet. It’s my first full day out of bed.
I sit down at the desk, turn on the computer, and start writing again.
Hours later,there’s a knock on the door. I’m deep into chapter ten. Alex has crawled out the window and onto a ledge to avoid detection and is listening to the Milk Cult leader talk about selling the girls. If Alex doesn’t find where the cult is hiding the girls soon, she won’t be able to save them or her friend’s daughter in time.
The knock comes again. “Ms. Morrow?”
“Come in, Zaire,” I yell.
