“Just cream.”
“Are you hungry?”
“Not really. You?”
“Not really.” As soon as I handed her the mug, our fingers collided and we both seemed surprised. But neither of us moved, not even when I brushed the tip of my index finger across hers.
Her nervous laugh finally broke the tension. “We can’t go on like this. You know that.” She slipped onto one of the kitchen chairs.
“Like what?”
“Like strangers passing in the night.” She took a step away, her face flushing from the instant connection. Yet the awkwardness remained a lingering sensation that skimmed across my skin.
This wasn’t working the way I’d thought it would. The craving for her was dark and as sadistic as I’d seen in the men the night before. Maybe I wasn’t the best person to handle the mission after all.
“We are strangers, Reese, strangers forced together by extreme and very dangerous circumstances. I won’t allow you to be hurt any more than you already have. Believe it or not, I do have a moral code.”
“In case you haven’t figured it out yet, I am an adult. As such, I make my own decisions. That’s my sister stuck in that hellhole. God knows where she is at this moment. Maybe she was sold to some fucking asshole who uses bullwhips to keep women in line. Or maybe she’s back in a cold, dark cell rotting away, thinking her family doesn’t give a damn about her. So, if we need to become very close to keep the charade going, then that’s what we are going to do.”
“You’re going to do exactly what I tell you to do.”
Her smile was wry. “Why, yes, sir.”
There she went again, forcing me to rethink my objective, not only with her, but also with this goddamn case. Fuck. There was no win in the situation, but I had to put my foot down. “What happened last night can’t happen again. You can certainly provide sketches and we need to talk through everything you know, but under no circumstances are you going to be put in a position of danger ever again. That’s final.”
“Final?” she spit back. “From what you told me last night and from little I know about theseprivilegedmen, if you receive another invitation, it’s going to involve me. It has to and you know that. If Lucifer, his goons for guards, or his very special members have any doubt you are who you say you are, then the easiest way to assuage their suspicions is by ensuring you’re a sadistic, dominating man. That takes practice. And I can’t believe I’m suggesting that.” Her laugh was laced with nervousness. “God, this is insane, but contrary to what you witnessed last night with me trembling in fear, that’s not my personality. I am a fighter.”
Of that I had no doubt.
“Not happening. You will not be involved in any other way.”
“What are you going to do, get a body double or are you just going to try and convince Lucifer you’re ready for another slave?”
Even though it killed me to admit it, she was right. “And if your scenario holds true, they will push boundaries that neither one of us are ready to cross.”
Although I’d already continued questioning myself about just how far over the line I was willing to go. The initial answer continued to trouble me.
Especially given the number of filthy images I’d allowed over the last few hours.
“Why are you doing this?” Her question was meant to catch me off guard.
“Why? So that justice can be served and innocent victims saved.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “There’s more. I could see it in your eyes, the same conviction and drive that I felt. So why?”
The uneasiness between us wasn’t going to be solved by commiserating over aspects of our pasts. “There are still some people in this world who will stop at nothing to eliminate evil.”
“A very practiced answer. Alright, then what do we do, Mister Prosecutor? You’re right in that what happened after we came here shouldn’t occur again. We were both carried away and neither one of us are looking for anything like companionship.”
“Being carried away will not happen again.”
“You are insufferable. When I date someone, I need to know them. You know what I’m talking about. Their likes and dislikes. What they like on their pizza or in their coffee. Maybe what kind of books they read or movies they enjoy watching. Something to entice the conversation. So, since we won’t be getting personal, then I guess we won’t need to worry about me calling the caterer for the fancy reception.”
Every defiant word out of her mouth created a new desire that I’d soon need to chain with thick strands of steel. She certainly knew enough about me that she’d figured out how to dig a sharp instrument into my gut.
I resisted firing back immediately, trying to find any words that would work in this situation. “We’ll do what we need to bringdown the Privileged, but if I agree to allowing you to help further than what I’ve mentioned, you will agree to follow all my rules.” I pointed my index finger at her and I could swear the woman was ready to bite it off.
“What if I fail?” She lifted her pretty little head, testing me. Defying me.
