“Awhat?”
Rook! Are you insane?!
I just kept digging my own grave.
I should’ve left.
Should’ve run far, far away—
“If this is a trick to get me naked.” Every part of him drew up and shut down. “You won’t like what will happen—”
“It’s not!” I dashed toward him but then skidded to a stop as he backed up. Ugh, this was going so badly.
Throwing the rest of the wine down my throat, I slammed the glass next to the untouched dinner and had no choice but to double down on this ridiculous, suicidal idea. “Whenever my head hurts and nothing helps, I find...” I sighed heavily, already knowing he’d reject me. “I find a massage really helps.” I touched my temples. “The pressure points here really do work.”
He didn’t speak for an eternity.
Already, I heard his refusal, most likely followed by a savage reprimand.
Never taking his eyes off me, he finished the wine, placed the empty glass on the sideboard and pressed his fingers against the silver disc implanted in his chest. “I’ve already told you that just being in your company seems to soothe the constant burning I feel.”
The fact that he hadn’t left. Or kicked me out. Or refused to talk.
I froze in absolute shock.
“How?” I asked softly. “Howdo I help? If you tell me...I could do more of it.”
“No idea.” His hand dropped as he studied me as fiercely as a hunter. I felt him deep inside me, ransacking my mind and heart. Thoughts scattered over his face before he drew his shoulders back and gave me a reprieve. “Fine.”
“Fine?” I blinked.
“I’ll try.”
“You’ll try?”
His eyes tightened as his temper sparked. “Are you taking back your offer?”
“Wait...” Comprehension finally caught up. “You’re...agreeing? You actuallywantme to massage you?”
His lips twitched as if my shock entertained him. “I might be sheltered from the outside world but I’m fairly sure you won’t get pregnant just by touching me.”
A nervous laugh escaped. “Not the last time I checked.”
“Okay then.” He pushed off the doorframe and stalked into the living room.
I couldn’t move.
He looked at me over his shoulder. “Are you coming?”
Nervousness exploded through my blood, making me sway on the spot.
Don’t you dare pass out now.
I’d suggested this, yet never in a millionyearsdid I think he’d agree, but...I couldn’t back down now, could I?
Maybe this was a test?
A test to see if I would try to seduce him, after all? Yet another attempt to force me to admit all my secrets?
