I blinked, shocked he’d initiated conversation. How was I supposed to reply to that? I went with the most idiotic response possible. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re apologising?”
“Am I supposed to?”
“I can’t figure you out.” He scowled, pinning me with his stare. “Whenever I think I have, you do something to prove me otherwise.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“It is when I can’t guard myself against whatever it is that you’re up to.”
My stupid heart skipped a beat. “I’m not up to anything.”
He laughed under his breath, cold but not callous. “Then you’d be the first person not to have an agenda when it comes to me.”
“Yes, well...” I took a healthy swig of sweet plum wine. “I do have one of those.”
His eyes flared. “What?”
“Relax.” I smiled, cursing the fresh pounding in my temples. Stupid stress. Stupid nerves. Stupid, stupid crush. Where had these annoying feelings come from anyway? By all reason and logic, I should hate this man.
But I didn’t.
God, help me.
Clinking my drink to his, I took another mouthful. When I met his eyes again, I braced myself. “I’ve tried to convince you over a thousand times, but I really hope you can believe me tonight.”
“Believe what exactly?”
“I’m not here to kill you and I’m not here to get impregnated by you.”
His face turned unreadable. “Then whatdoyou want?”
Finally.
A crack.
The smallest, tiniest crack.
“Honestly?” I began to tremble, little white spots fireworking in my vision. “I just...” I looked down at the glass; at the way my fingers quaked around it. Forcing myself to meet his eyes again, I said, “I just want to make our days here a little easier. We’re stuck together and won’t be getting out anytime soon, so...the outside world doesn’t exist right now. It’s just us. And...I’m willing to make it better.”
Shock flared in his gaze as if I’d slapped him. “Better?”
I nodded.
“How exactly?” He studied me warily.
I swallowed, my pulse hammering. “Maybe by trusting each other a little? By not being so suspicious all the time?”
His shoulders turned rigid.
I kept talking so I didn’t lose my courage or hear how crazy I sounded. “I doubt you’ve been touched in a very long time—especially without someone taking something from you.” My voice softened. “We might not share the same pain, but I know you hurt. And I’m willing to try to help younothurt.”
His eyes narrowed, but he couldn’t hide the quickest flicker across his face that looked like a starving animal being offered sustenance before his frosty mask slammed back into place. “What exactly are you proposing?”
God, I have no idea.
I laughed under my breath, my system jittery and slightly nauseous. “Oh, I don’t know? I’m making this up as I go along. How about a massage?”
