“Let me see it again.”
Against my will, my mouth lifts in a crooked smile as I indulge her. Haven dissolves into giggles once more, before she stills. Her eyes drift up my chest, studying the other designs on my torso.
“I like this one,” she says, tracing the serpent and dagger down my sternum. “And this one.”
Her fingers glide over my skin, leaving behind goosebumps in their wake. Every instinct in me screams to push her away, while the other half demands that I pull her closer.
I step back swiftly, my hand curling into a fist.
“Sleep,” I order. “Now.”
Her lips move, mocking my words. Her snark is intact despite her muddled mind.
“Very mature,” I drawl.
“I aim to please,” Haven replies.
She obeys me, slipping beneath the covers. I reach over and draw the blanket to her chest while she peers at me with a strange expression. Her eyes are big and owl-like in the dark. I adore them.
“What is it, sunshine?” I ask.
My tone softens as I try to figure out what is bothering her.
Her hands are straining to reach me, and I lower myself to my knees to speak with her. She places her hand on my cheek, fingers delicately tracing my cheekbone.
“I hate that you look like this,” she whispers. “It is unfair.”
“You’re one to talk,” I say. “I lose my breath when you’re around me. Every sensible thought flees me in your presence. You are the source of myeverytemptation. And the truth is, I have a terrible desire to possess you.”
It hits me then that her father was right about one thing: his daughter has a leash around my throat. One that grows tighter with each passing day. Nobody has ever had such complete and utter control over me. And she doesn’t even know the power she holds.
I capture her wrist, drawing her fingers away from my face. It is impossible to resist the urge to lean in. My body rebels at the idea of pushing her away. But I cannot allow myself to care for someone whom I don’t trust.
Haven Warrick is full of secrets, and I refuse to be another thing she hides in her chest of lies.
chapter
thirty-six
Haven
Last night is a complete blur.
I remember dancing and drinking. Grayson was there. I think Ender arrived at some point, but I can’t imagine him partying with a bunch of recruits. Everything is jumbled and messy, and my thoughts are a tangled thread that refuses to unknot.
I sit upright and stare at the dusty blue walls. I’m in an unfamiliar bedroom. There’s a desk, a black couch, a rack with different weapons, and a window.
A door opens on the left, and Ender enters with a towel wrapped loosely around his waist.
My eyes widen.
Ender and I…the thought is too crazy to think, my brain struggles to comprehend the truth before me. I swallow as my eyes trace his muscled torso. Beads of water drip down his tan skin, slipping beneath the white towel.
“Warrick,” he says, a bite to his words. “Stop looking at me like that.”
I scramble upright, fixing the mess that is my hair.
“Look, last night was fun.” I run my tongue along my dry lips. “Your moves were impressive. But it was a mistake, and I’m willing to forget it, if you are?”
