“You’rewhat?”
He clicks his tongue, clearly unwilling to repeat a word that is not second-nature to him. “I shouldn’t have said that. You’re notthatannoying. Well, not most of the time. You sometimes do really aggravate–”
It’s my turn to interrupt him with a cough, because I really want to remember only the first part of the sentence.
You’re not that annoying.
Coming from Quill, it feels like a declaration of love or something.
I cling to the words desperately, even though I definitely shouldn’t be clinging to anything coming from him. I’m in such turmoil that when I speak out again, it’s with a lot more sarcasm than I mean. “Do you need to go to the doctor or something? Because you’ve just apologized twice today, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard you apologize before. First about my parents dying, which apparently you had nothing to do with—”
I’m still babbling on when he pushes me aside and stands up. At once I’m inwardly kicking myself, hating myself for my stupid big mouth that’s causing him to push me away.
And hating myself, too, because I should be doing a lot worse to him than saying a few snarky words.
But my skin is aching for his touch, and the sudden distance between us is like a punch to my stomach that makes my arms curl around my knees in quiet desperation.
Quill is facing the other way, staring at the wall as I look at him. I don’t dare to open my mouth, because if I did it would be to let out a whole jumble of apologies.
And that would be seriously pathetic.
I’m just settling on the words Icansafely speak, something in the nature ofWhy did you bring me hereandWhen are you letting me gowhen there’s a knock on the door. My heart seizes again as I realize it must be Liam or Dane.
Quill doesn’t notice my tensed-up reaction as he pokes his head out, hopefully shielding me from whoever is on the other side.
There’s a slight pause, then an intake of breath that I really hope is not a reaction to anyone seeing me. Then Dane’s quiet voice reaches me, and I shudder.
“You need to come with us. They made it very clear that if you don’t, we’ll be their next contract.”
Quill doesn’t answer, but I see his shoulders shrug.
Dane’s voice drops to a whisper. “You can’t go against them. Not even you. They’d kill you in a minute. Come on, Quill. If you come with us, they’ll listen. They’ll give us a chance to make things right. They said so. But first, they need to see that youdofollow instructions, and that you respect their order to come.”
“What if it’s a trap?” comes Liam’s high-pitched, wavering voice.
“Idiot,” scoffs Dane. “They don’t need to trap us. If they wanted us dead, we’d be dead. They wouldn’t take the trouble of calling us in.”
There’s a silence and even though I only see the back of Quill’s head, I can tell he’s in deep thought. “Fine,” he grunts at last. “Just give me a minute.”
He slams the door behind him, and I open my mouth. This time, though, it’s not to question him about my predicament. It’s to ask him about his. I’d gleaned he was in trouble fromhis conversation with Liam and Dane earlier, but I had no idea it was this bad. It sounds like he’s in deep shit, and I have no idea why. I also have no idea why my heart is racing, my skin is clammy, and I feel far more nervous than when I was scared a killer was after me.
He sees my open mouth and must guess at the flow of words about to leave it, because he makes a beeline for the duct tape, and before I have time to get three words out, he’s stuffing a handkerchief from his pocket in my mouth and sealing it with duct tape.
“Mmmphh!!” I cry out, bringing my hands up to rip off the tape.
But before I can, he’s securing them behind my back and trapping my wrists together with more duct tape, before doing the same to my ankles.
“Have something to take care of,” he mutters. “I’ll be back later.”
He walks toward the door as I stare at him, helplessly trussed up on the floor by the bed. Then he quickly comes back, gives me a hurried kiss on the top of the head, before heading back out, slamming the door shut behind him.
I stare at the closed door, wondering what the hell just happened.
And why the hell my panties are once more soaked.
23
Piper
