“I don’t need you to agree on the first part, since it’s a fact, not an opinion.”
“You’re right. Itisan opinion.Yours.”
His lips curve. “Any chance you’d consider cutting off my restraints?” When I don’t move, he adds, “I swear I won’t run.”
Since I released Quinn, I decide to give Reeve back his freedom. “Stab me in the back again, and you’ll wish Tarian never brought you back.”
I reach into my pocket for his knife, grazing his glasses. I don’t return them, preferring to keep him a little incapacitated. I cut off the plastic binding his wrists first, before circling his body and snapping the ties around his ankles. As I straighten, he takes hold of my jacket.
“Don’t touch me,” I hiss at the same time, as he asks, “Is that blood?”
I try to shrug his hands off, but he gathers more leather, prying my ruined jacket open.
“Who hurt you?” he growls.
Keeping my gaze on his bloodstained lap, I whisper, “You did.”
He grows quiet, and then he releases my jacket. “I hate myself so much right now.”
I roll my lips. “I hate you so much right now, too.”
He tentatively brushes his palms against my hips. When I don’t back up, his fingers grow bolder and grip. And then he’sleaning forward and pressing a kiss to my chest, to the piece of black-and-blue flesh beneath the bullet hole.
His touch triggers an ache that’s more than skin-deep. My stupid heart staggers back toward him. My stupider feet stay planted between his.
I exhale the pent-up air in my lungs. Expel the pent-up tears in my eyes.
“Reeve?” My voice is a mess. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?” he murmurs, pressing another kiss to my chest, so near my nipple the little bud stands to attention. “Love you?”
“No. Yes. I mean…”
He wraps his arms around me and holds me tight, tight, tight. “You’re my happily ever after, Electra Serran.”
“No. I’m not. I’m not even yourhappy for right now. I’m only your jailor.”
A soft snort warms my chest. “I can get behind being your prisoner.”
I swallow. “Reeve…”
“Yeah, baby?”
“You betrayed me.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“I can’t forgive you for that.” I try to put distance between us, but my feet still refuse to obey.
My fingers ball at my sides.
“I got a second chance at life, but I don’t want it if I don’t get a second chance at us.” His lips set on my chest, right above the scudding muscle he misled.
“You and Quinn…did you ever…?” I can’t even finish my question.
“Never.”
“You don’t even know what I was going to ask.”
