Page 14 of Cruel Salvation

Seemingly without thinking, he reached out and rubbed her arm, the touch innocent and natural. “Cold?”

“Not really, just a little tired and that always makes me feel cooler.”

That was a part lie. She hadn’t slept well, too much on her mind for her brain to rest, but the goosebumps were a result of the close proximity of the man beside her.

“Why aren’t you sleeping?”

His voice was soft but firm, and she wanted to curl up in a ball and let it surround her. She couldn’t give in to that weakness, so she did what she always did, used her snark to deflect. “Well, obviously I was fucking one of the many men in my harem.”

Damon’s cheek twitched and it made her want to feather her fingers over his skin and smooth away the pain and anger she’d just caused. God, what a mess she was.

“Don’t do that. If you don’t want to tell me, just say so. Don’t be a bitch about it and lie.”

“What, you don’t think I could have more than one man panting after me?”

“Naz, you could have as many men as you want kneeling at your feet, but you’re not that person.”

“Don’t pretend to know me, Damon.”

“I don’t have to pretend, Nazareli. I do know you.”

“Of course, you do.” She couldn’t hide the sarcasm in her voice this time. Everyone thought they knew her, but few actually did.

“You wear your hair down because putting it up gives you a headache, you like white chocolate the most and think dark chocolate is the work of the devil. You walk on tiptoes unless you make a concerted effort not to, you cry at Disney movies and can’t keep house plants alive, no matter how hard you try, and you love hard and deep. And when you let someone close, you give them everything.”

His speech stunned her into silence, her mouth hanging slightly open. Words choked her and she had to look away to get her equilibrium under control or she’d be snot and tears in seconds. How did he know all those things, and why did he care to find out?

“That doesn’t mean anything.” She hated how throaty her voice was.

“No, perhaps not, but don’t say I don’t know you, Naz. I know you and I like you, far more than I should.”

“I said no sex.”

His warm chuckle made the pulse between her legs throb.

“Not everything is about sex, sweetheart, but any time you want a ride on my cock, say the word, but I have to tell you I might make you work for it.”

“No, you won’t.” He grinned and she tried so hard not to smile back, biting her lip and looking away. “Back to work, slacker.”

She pressed play on the video and watched as the man she thought was on the mend went on a violent rampage. She’d initially thought it might be Kelly, the girlfriend, encouraging or instigating things but it was clear it was Simon.

“Wow, that’s a lot of rage.”

“Yeah, it is, and it was pretty common when the men first came off the drugs.”

“Tell me about that.”

She didn’t want to but it was only right to give him the background he needed to make informed decisions. “So, I told you I worked undercover for a man named John Smith. He was married to a woman called Rhea Winslow who, to put it lightly, was unhinged. When he saw just how mad she’d become, he faked his death and set about stopping her. I had personal reasons for wanting to help him and I went undercover as her right hand and earned her trust. Part of that involved me doing things I’m far from proud of.”

Lotus swallowed and kept her gaze on the fine drizzle that had started to fall. “Rhea had kidnapped highly skilled soldiers and was drugging them so they were basically robots who would follow commands without question. I oversaw that the drug was administered. So, a lot of this is my fault. I promised myself I’d help rehabilitate these men and give them a tiny part of what I stole from them back. It’s why I have to help find Simon before he gets himself killed.”

“That’s why Bás let me come. He knows I’ll stop you because you won’t endanger another civilian.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re not just a pretty a face, are you?”

“Of course not. I’m a total stud, too.”

A laugh bubbled in her throat and she shook her head at his ridiculousness.