At some point I must doze off because when I jerk awake, I’m still sitting up.Maverick is standing over me with his brows furrowed together.A small scream of surprise leaves me, and he takes a step back, putting his hands up.
“I wanted to check on you, that’s all.”
“Is it morning?”I ask, glancing toward the windows.The curtains are really thick, but I can’t see sunlight peeking under them.
“No, did you think you slept all night sitting up?”
“I don’t know.”I shrug.“I have before.”
“You’ve made yourself into a tight ball.You’re scared.”
“I mean, you’re kind of towering over me, and you’re ginormous.”
“That may be so, but you were sitting that way before I walked in here.”
I lick my dry lips, not wanting to be rude but wanting to be honest.“You locked me in here, and I don’t like being locked in a room.”A shiver rolls up my spine as I think about my old bedroom.
“It was for your safety.”
“What if I needed to get out of here?”
“There is a phone on my desk.I told you that.”He motions toward it.
“It doesn’t work.”
“Shit.”He walks over to his desk and picks it up to check for himself.
“What time is it?”I ask, fighting a yawn.
“A little after midnight.”He picks up a piece of paper off his desk, and I realize I must have left my list over there.“Who used to lock you in a room?”he asks, not glancing up from the paper.
Wow, am I that easy to read?“It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“It does,” he mutters under his breath, but I hear it.“Is this a grocery list of items you want?I have most if not all of them.”
“It’s what I ate,” I admit, and heat rushes to my cheeks.
“From the fridge?”Even as he asks the question, he heads over to check for himself.
“I’m going to pay for it.”I can see that his grip on the door handle is tightening.“I’m sorry.”The words come out as barely a whisper.
“Come on,” he says quickly and shuts the fridge.
“What?”I ask, and before I can move, he grabs my bag.“Hey, that’s mine.”
“We’re leaving.”
“I said I’m sorry.I swear I’ll pay for it.I just—” I’m following behind him as he abruptly stops walking, and I run right into him.I’m sure I’m about to hit the floor when I bounce off his body, but with one arm and a speed that a man his size shouldn’t be capable of, he catches me.
I stare up at him and watch his face soften.“There is nothing to be sorry for, little mouse.I’m not mad at you.I’m pissed that you were so hungry and I didn’t know.I should have ordered you a full meal instead of offering snacks.”
“You don’t have to do that, you’ve already done enough,” I tell him as I relax in his hold.“Do I still have to leave?Could we wait until morning?”
“You think I’m kicking you out?”
“Isn’t that where we’re going?”
“I’m taking you home with me.”
