Lorraine pauses for a beat. “Me, uh… I was talking to Kit.”
Soren nudges me again, but I stay perfectly still. “Ohreally? So… he’s awake then?”
Lorraine laughs again, adding a scoff and completely failing to help me pretend. “What?No, I… uh… I was just talking to him as he slept…”
Soren shifts behind me, propping himself up a little. He interrupts her gently. “So what’s with the water?”
“Just ready for when he comes round,” Lorraine replies. “Shouldn’t be long now, dear.”
Soren lets out a deep, rumbling laugh. “Do you two think I’m stupid?”
Inside, I’m screaming.Oh my god. Play cool, Kit. You’re still unconscious. Totally…
Suddenly a hand gently digs under my arm, tickling me just enough to make me twitch. A tiny whimper-laugh escapes before I can stop it. I clear my throat quickly and try to pretend it never happened.
Lorraine hums thoughtfully. “Maybe we should let him rest… on his own?”
Soren grunts, his arm tightening around my waist. “Absolutely not. I’m not letting him out of my sight.”
Lorraine snorts. “Good lord… haven’t you got work to do?”
“This is more important,” Soren replies, voice final.
I frown to myself.More important?I wonder how on earthIcould possibly be more important than Soren’s work.
Lorraine sighs softly. “Alright, well… I’ll go and get my gang to start prepping some supper for us all. It may be late, but no one’s had a proper meal yet, so… midnight dinner it is.”
Soren just grunts in approval as I hear her footsteps retreating, then the soft click of the door closing behind her. Oh god… I’m going to have to face him; Soren won’t let me ignore him. I keep my eyes closed, heart racing way too fast now.
“Kit, I know you’re awake.”
I stay perfectly still, pretending I’m still unconscious. I don’t know what I’m feeling right now… uncomfortable with this sudden, gentle attention, a part of me wondering if Soren genuinely cares or if he’s just…horny? The thought makes my stomach twist. I don’t know how to handle someone like Soren giving me this kind of softness.
He huffs in that usual grumpy, grunting way of his, then repositions himself until he’s straddling me. This actual man, this hunk of a giant, muscly, tall, tattooed man… is currentlyon topofme. Then he rolls me onto my back. I don’t have the strength to resist; I’m too weak even on a good day.
Soren growls, displeasure filling the room like a low rumble of thunder.
I keep my face turned to the side, as if that could somehow hide me from his gaze.
His deep, commanding voice cuts through the quiet. “Christopher.Lookat me.”
I swallow hard and simply shake my head a little.
He strokes a curl away from my face with surprising gentleness and sighs. “You hate me, don’t you?”
The motion pulls at the stitches in my eyebrow, sending a sharp sting through my face. I whimper softly to myself, annoyed that I can’t even have normal facial expressions anymore.
I whisper, barely audible, “No…of courseI don’t hate you.”
Soren sighs, the sound full of relief and confusion at the same time. “So do as you’re told andlook at me.” I resist, but he gently grabs my jaw and whispers, “Look at me, Kit.”
I slowly open my eyes. My bad eye only opens halfway, the lid heavy and swollen. I meet his gaze.
Soren smiles, sad, but full of something else I can’t quite name. “I’m proud of you.”
I swallow, trying to keep my facial expression as neutral as possible to avoid pulling the stitches. “Why? I successfully got kidnapped in a matter of seconds… what’s there to be proud of? I’m amurderer, I…”
Soren shakes his head. “Why are you always so negative?”
