“Does any of this hurt?” he asks, his eyes intent on my body. At my silence, his eyes lock on mine. “Lily?”
I suck in a breath, unable to look away from his gray eyes piercing mine. His body hovers over mine, heat radiating from him and filling me with all kinds of desire. It feels dangerous, wanting him the way I do, but at the same time, it feels so right.
His eyes soften, and I swear his head leans down toward mine, but a sound from the staircase makes me widen my eyes.
Footsteps.
Agatha’s coming.
“Hide!” I hiss.
Ryder jumps to his feet, grabs his jacket from the couch, and looks around the room before he darts under my bed. Thankfully I don’t keep anything hidden under there, and he shimmies underneath. I prop myself up to sitting just as Agatha opens the secret door.
“Lily!” she cries, rushing over to me and crouching down in front of me. “Are you all right? I heard a crash and came up as quickly as I could.”
“I’m fine,” I reply. My heart is pounding in my chest, unused to the physical exertion, the fall, Ryder’s checkup, and now nearly getting caught by Agatha. I figure it’s best to stick to a slight variation of the truth. “I couldn’t sleep, and I was watching a movie, and then I guess I got a little…carried away.”
That should be enough. She can fill in the gaps.
She tuts and pats my cheek. “Oh, Lily. We really need to get you out of here.”
“Yeah. I guess so.” I stand, dusting myself off, and Agatha follows. “I’m so sorry I woke you.”
“Oh, I wasn’t asleep,” she replies. “I was watching television.”
“But it’s…” I look over at the clock. “Nearly one in the morning! You never stay up this late.”
“Yes, well, I got caught up in a documentary about a murder investigation.”
I wrinkle my nose. “I can’t understand your fascination with those.”
Her eyes widen. “This one is so intriguing! The husband is the main suspect, but?—”
“Okay, Aunt, any more details and I won’t be able to sleep.” I guide her toward the door, eager to get her out before she finds Ryder. “Feel free to finish your series, but I’m going to bed.”
“Fine, fine. I can see when I’m not wanted.” When we reach the bookcase, she turns and gives me a little hug. She pulls back and looks me in the eye, a solemn expression on her face. “Be safe, Lily.”
I swallow hard. Does she have a double meaning? Does she know about Ryder?
At my silence, she tips her head to the couch. “I don’t want you breaking your arm. Adam will claim I’m unfit to be your guardian.”
I snort a laugh, relief filling my chest. She just means to bephysicallysafe. “You have my word.”
She nods and exits the room, and I shut the bookcase behind her. I count to one hundred before heading over to my bed and bending down to see Ryder.
“She’s gone?” he asks.
I nod. “You can come out now.”
He sighs and squeezes himself out. I don’t know how he fit under there, with all his height and flirtatious muscles, but I’m not about to ask questions since Agatha didn’t see him. He stands and brushes the dust off his all-black outfit, shaking his head.
“Here, you have a little…” I gesture up to his head where a small piece of spiderweb has latched onto his hair. Instead of trying to brush it off himself, he bends down and puts his face in front of mine so I can get it for him.
I reach a hand toward him and pick out the web, keeping my eyes on his hair but with the prickling awareness of his eyes on me. After I’m done, I press my fingers into his scalp and drag my hand through his hair. I don’t know what I’m thinking. I don’t have an excuse, other than the fact that I haven’t touched anyone outside my family for a year and a half, and now that I have the opportunity, I need to know if his hair is as soft as it looks.
And sadly, it is.
With my hand still in his hair, Ryder sucks in an inhale, and my eyes meet his. I can’t read them, but my imagination tells me they’re full of desire and longing.
