Page 103 of Broken Blades

"No." His jaw worked. "You didn't."

The words hung between us, heavy with something I didn't understand.

I took a sip of coffee, burning my tongue, and studied him through my lashes. He looked tired. Not angry. Just... worn. "Did you stay up with me?"

He didn't answer.

Which meant yes.

My chest tightened with something dangerous. Something that felt like gratitude mixed with confusion mixed with a longing I had no business feeling.

"Thank you," I said quietly.

His eyes met mine. Held. "Don't make me regret it."

I pulled the blanket down just enough to sip the coffee, keeping my body cocooned in warmth and shame.

Wyatt watched me. Carefully. Quietly. Too intently.

Heat crawled up my neck that had nothing to do with the coffee. "Stop staring."

"You're hungover. I'm checking you won't pass out."

"You're still staring."

He shrugged, unfazed. "Not my fault you look like a wounded hamster."

I glared at him over the rim of the mug. "A hamster?"

"Small. Twitchy. Pathetic."

"I hate you."

"You said that last night too." He pushed off the doorframe, crossing to the chair across from me. "Right before you told me I was 'really nice sometimes.'"

Oh, God.

Oh, God, I said that?

My face went nuclear. I buried it back in the blanket with a muffled scream. His laugh rumbled low. Actual amusement threading through that rough voice. "Don't worry. You also told me I had 'pretty eyes.'"

I wanted to die. Actually die. Right there on his couch.

"I'm leaving," I announced into the fabric. "Moving to Alaska. Changing my name. You'll never see me again."

"Finish your coffee first."

I peeked out at him, mortified beyond reason. He sat relaxed in the chair, one leg crossed over the other, coffee mug balanced on his knee. Watching me with something that looked dangerously close to fondness.

"You're enjoying this."

"Little bit."

"You're cruel."

"You knew that already."

I did. But somehow, sitting here wrapped in blankets he'd tucked around me, hair tied back by his hands, coffee he'd made specifically for me—cruel didn't feel like the right word anymore. Complicated, maybe. Dangerous, definitely. But not cruel.