Inching closer, I murmured, “To find my room, you must’ve gone through my entire quarters.”
Her eyes narrowed at my subject change, but she nodded. “I did. Your room is the last one along the corridor.” Her body softened. “You have so many spaces. Game grottos, offices, a gym. I must’ve peeked into a dozen rooms after slipping through that secret door.”
A lot of space for a man who needed a lot of distance.
It looked like luxury; in reality, it was a gilded cage.
“And doesn’t that tell you something?”
She frowned. “Tell me what?”
“That this part of the Hall is private. I don’t want guests. I don’t want company. I keep my life removed from my family, even though we live in the same house.”
She trembled as I continued to close the distance between us. Each step I took, I fought to be strong enough to send her away. She would remain unhurt as long as I could fake the perfect heir.
The longer she stood in my quarters, the more I struggled to deny her.
Almost as if she followed my thoughts, she whispered, “It doesn’t matter. I’ve found you. Now I know where to come when you disappear and avoid me.”
My hands fisted as delectable thoughts filled my head: sneaking her into my quarters, sleeping beside her, fucking her without cameras reporting to Cut just how disobedient I was.
My jaw clenched. “There won’tbea next time, Nila.” Pointing at the door, I growled, “You have to leave.”
“Why? Give me one good reason and I might consider it.” Abandoning her position by my bed, she came toward me.
I sucked in a breath as her gaze danced over my body. Her fingers twitched as she took in my bleeding forehead and knuckles. “You’re hurt.”
“I’m fine.”
She lingered over my split lip before her eyes drifted down my still-damp torso to the towel around my waist.
An image of us walking back from the springs dressed only in towels came swift and strong.
I’d never been so free. Never been so happy at the thought of telling her everything and finally admitting that Nila was it for me. That I might have a chance.
It was a pipe dream. And one that got us both into this mess.
“Fuck.” I couldn’t have her in here, and I definitely couldn’t have those thoughts.
I tried to grab her, but she darted away. Jumping onto my bed like fleeing prey, her tiny feet disappeared in the feather duvet as she pranced across the mattress. She leapt down, once again placing the bed between us.
A headache throbbed and the bruises on my ribcage smarted as I ran a hand through my wet hair. “I don’t want to play any more games.”
Never taking her eyes from mine, she placed her palms on my bed. “Neither do I. We’ve both established that.” Her voice lowered. “You’re hurt, Jethro. Let me help you.”
“No. You need to go.”
How many times do I need to tell you?
My eyes flashed to the pills on my bedside. If I took one, the numbness might give me enough reprieve to kick her out.
“Who did this to you?” she murmured, inching closer again, forgetting that her intention was to stay away from me, not comfort me.
Her concern was like a mink blanket, soothingly warm and so, so soft.
I wished she would stay away. Her concern might be a blanket, but her love.... Shit, her love was a blade slicing me into pieces.
She kept coming closer, no longer trying to flee.
