His voice draws my attention back to his eyes that are fixated on me. "You're probably right about that."
I can't help but smile at his admission. Don't get mewrong, I love when people are obsessed with me, especially men. It makes me feel powerful. But usually, they get the hint when I'm done with them and blow them off. I've never had anyone be this persistent. To be fair, I've also never had anyone who felt this way about me other than Harlen, as far as I know. I successfully scare everyone else off.
"I'm not afraid that you'll leave me..."
I pause, struggling to finish my thought, my body completely rejecting the sentiment. Kass sits up a little straighter, his face relaxing as he listens intently. My heart is racing, and I can't force the words out. That is, until Kass's hands gently cover my eyes.
"What are you doing?"
His voice is calm and gentle, tender even. "I thought it might be easier for you to say it if you didn't have to look at me."
"Kass..." His name comes out as a sigh.
How is it that the girl who always has something to say and isn't afraid to say how she feels is struggling with just that? I pull my head back and turn it to the side, so his hands slip away from my face. I look back at him, heart pounding out of my chest.
"I'm not afraid of you leaving me." Inhale. Exhale. "I'm afraid that you'll be taken from me." And then I'd be ruined. My voice cracks, and my bottom lip starts trembling.
Fuck no. I am not about to start crying, tied up to a chair in the basement of the first guy I've loved since Harlen.
As I tilt my face up to stop the tears from falling, realization hits me. Did I just admit to myself that I love Kass? No. That's obviously not what I meant. Those are just his words in my head now. Goddamnit, how does this man make me so fucking crazy?
My head is pulled back down by his large hands oneither side of my face. Luckily, I successfully sucked back all the tears, so there are none left to fall. He's so close to me right now. His thumb rubs my bottom lip that I'm pretty sure is still trembling.
The moment is broken by the buzzing of my phone on the nightstand. Both of us turn our heads at the same time. I try to crane my neck to see who the hell is calling me this late, but it's too far away. Kass's hand, no longer on my face, reaches over and grabs it.
"Hello?"
"Kass, you can't just answer my—" I whisper-yell at him before he cuts me off by holding up a large, tatted finger in my face.
"Yeah, it's Kass. She's at my place."
I lean forward and try to bite his finger.
"Hey! You promised no biting," he barks at me. Going back to the phone, he says, "Sorry, Fia, Blake was just being a bit of a menace."
I try to listen closely, but I can barely make out her voice. "Fia? What does she want?"
Kass pulls the bottom of the phone away from his mouth for a moment. "Your roommate is worried that you didn't come home or text her."
Shit. I completely forgot. I'm sure she checked in with Bear and Iris, but they didn't know I was staying here. For all they know, I called a ride. Iris has probably texted me several times to check in on me. I've been so distracted I didn't even think to text her, or Fia, for that matter.
"She's going to stay here. Could you cover for her?"
"Cover for me?"
Oh no. My flight. Work. I got so caught up in the Clover drama that I also forgot about my work trip I'm supposed to be going on tomorrow. It's the only reason I didn't drinkmore than I did and go home with some random guy to help myself forget about the man who is holding me hostage in his basement. The man I accidentally admitted to myself that I love.
This night is fucking crazy, and I need it to be over.
"Okay, great. Thanks, Fia. Goodnight." He hangs up the phone and places it back on the nightstand.
"What the fuck was that all about? Didn't feel like including me in that conversation?"
"It wasn't necessary. I told her you were safe, and we figured out an arrangement for your work trip tomorrow. Fia's going to cover for you."
"Kass! You can't just ask Fia to cover for me. That's myjob. I need to go on that trip. You should have asked me." I flex my leg to try to kick him, getting frustrated when I remember that it's tied to the chair.
"Relax. Fia said it's not a big deal."
