And even when she managed to force those flashes back, there were other things determined to take her attention. The blood. The bed. That tongue of his, licking over his upper lip. It all washed over her, one thing after another, until she couldfeelthe glow around her hands, beneath the table.
She had to force it down for the first time, before she started rattling the cutlery. And then somehow answer like a normal person. “My cheeks are fine,” she managed to grind out. But even after that, he didn’t let up.
“Well, that mysterious flush has certainly helped. But they still look a little pale, to me.”
“I’m going to make you go pale, if you don’t shut up.”
“And I’ll shut up when you eat,” he said, as the food he’d obviously had in his head arrived. He set it down in front of her, instead of the soup. Then came very close to nudging her arm. “Go on, get stuck in. It looks delicious.”
How would you know?she wanted to say.
And apparently, she would soon get the chance to.
Anaya had stood up. For the guy she had enjoyed at the ball, waving at her across the room. Frank, Mina knew he was called. Though that obviously wasn’t the only reason she was exiting stage right. “I’ll leave you two alone,” she said, as she gave Mina a one-armed squeeze.
So now she was alone with the university version of Satan.
He sat across from her, very satisfied with himself.
“You know I hadjustmanaged to convince her that we did not have sex,” she said. Much to his amusement. He gave her a little faux frown, as he leaned back in his seat. And when he spoke his voice was almost musical.
“I thought you didn’t mind if people imagined we did. Or have, many times.”
“Yeah, I don’t mind people thinking that. But my friend is a different matter.”
“Because it’s only her opinion that could make you ashamed of it?”
“Don’t say it like anything actually happened. I fed you. Nothing more.”
“Fedandnothing moremakes it sound like you did what I have just done—ordered you a plate of food you’re still not eating. Instead of what actually happened: you came pretty close to sparing me a horrible death. And at great personal risk, I might add. I could have killed you.” He shook his head, almost disapproving. Most likely ready to say more things designed to throw her. Only then he seemed to stop, and his eyes dropped to her arm. “Though it seems I might not be the only attempt on your life around, if the smell all over you is anything to go by. Did someone actually try to set you on fire?”
“Not exactly.”
“That means yes.”
She looked away. “I don’t see how you figure that one.”
“Because I know you by now. Always trying to hide how hurt you are.”
“So then youareaware of the amount of damage you do to me.”
“Of course I am. It sinks in deep, every single time I land a hit,” he said, just as offhandedly as he’d been about everything else. He even did things as he spoke—took up her knife and fork and started cutting up the fat, sizzling steak on her plate. She was still sitting there, baffled and uncertain of how to respond, whenhe skewered a juicy piece of it, and after adding a glossy coating of sauce, offered the handle to her insistently.
Maybe he’s just actually grateful for what you did, her mind suggested, as she fought to figure out if she should take it. But before that thought could settle, she answered her mind back,Either that or one taste has him desperate to fatten me up.
Though she took the fork, as she finally replied.
“You say that like it’s you getting stabbed,” she said. A happy medium, she felt, between snark, and the space for him to confess why he kept saying things like that. But he dodged it soundly, as he forced her to eat another forkful.
“Stop trying to change the subject. Someone set you on fucking fire.”
“They set the chair next to me on fire. And Hargreaves eventually put it out.”
“So she took her time, then. She let you suffer a little first.”
“It wasn’t like that. She meant no harm.”
“Yes, but someone did. So let’s start with who.”
