His eyes flicked to hers again, and the faintest smile touched his mouth.
“You really believe that?”Viper asked.
“No,” she whispered.
That seemed to settle something between them.
He stood again, stepping back just enough to give her space.“You can take the bed.I’ll sleep on the couch.You need rest more than I do.”
“I can’t take your bed.”
“Not asking,” he said simply.
There it was again, that rough-edged kindness she didn’t understand.Mara wiped her face, forcing a deep breath.The trembling had eased, but the confusion hadn’t.She didn’t know what to make of him.Everything about him screamed danger, but she didn’t feel afraid.
“Thank you,” she said finally.“For everything.”
Viper nodded once, like it didn’t mean anything.When she turned toward the bed, she caught the way his gaze followed her, thoughtful and unreadable.
She sank down onto the edge of the mattress, suddenly aware of how exhausted she was.The room was dim, the only light coming from the lamp near the dresser.Outside, she could hear the distant rumble of bikes, the echo of laughter from the main hall.In here, though, it was quiet.
“Try to sleep,” Viper said.
She looked at him, silhouetted by the hall light, leather cut hanging open over a black t-shirt, eyes half in shadow.
“Viper?”she said softly.
He looked up.
“If you ever do figure out why you helped me,” she murmured, “let me know.”
“Don’t hold your breath, sweetheart,” Viper replied.
When he turned away, she saw the faintest flicker of something cross his face.Something almost like confusion.Maybe he didn’t know why he’d helped her either.
Chapter Six
