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“What is it?” she asked, kneeling to inspect it.
He kneeled beside her and held out a fork.
She took it from him, her fingers grazing his. “I don’t have to beg this time?” she asked with a hint of sarcasm.
Nik’s laugh made her squirm. That familiar tug in her belly returned. She didn’t even have the energy to fight it anymore.
“No begging. Unless there’s something else you’re hungry for.”
She rolled her eyes but dug her fork into the dessert. It was fluffy and delicious, and a moan escaped her lips as she swallowed.
“It’s pumpkin pie.”
“It’s fucking heaven.”
Nik laughed again and pulled her on top of his lap. He held her chin and pressed his lips against hers. His touch was soft yet demanding. His tongue danced across her lips, and she could taste the pumpkin on him as well.
“This…is fucking heaven,” he declared.
She shook her head. He was ridiculous. She tried to move from his lap, but he kept an arm around her, locking her in place. So she stayed and ate her pie in silence, taking in the exquisite view surrounding them.
When they finished, she leaned her back against his chest and he wrapped his arms around her. They listened to the music playing below and took turns pointing out the shooting stars that appeared with a frequency she’d never seen before. It was magical.
Her cheeks were rosy and freezing but the rest of her body was kept warm, tucked into his. He brushed his lips against her temple and pressed a kiss to her skin. Her heart raced and yet she felt so at ease in his arms.
“Happy Survivors’ Day, Ali.”
***
Chapter Fourteen
The next morning, Ali stood from her bed to get ready for work and wobbled on her feet. She felt a little lightheaded and unsteady. Admittedly, she hadn’t been eating much. She wasn’t doing it on purpose. Eli was right; it would be incredibly stupid to let herself get weak just in case the opportunity ever arose to escape. But that didn’t mean her appetite had reappeared out of nowhere. She had so much on her mind and the anxiety was crippling. She vowed to eat more today, even if she didn’t feel like it.
She splashed cold water on her face and wiped it away on the back of her hand. She pulled on a clean pair of underwear and jeans. They fit even looser than they had the day she arrived in Rysburg, which seemed impossible, given how malnourished she’d been.
Her hands shook. She gripped the bedpost to steady herself, but the room kept spinning. She managed to pull a long sleeve shirt on before the sound of footsteps echoed through the hall.
Nik came to retrieve her from her cell today and an involuntary grin stretched across her face. She always felt butterflies when he showed up at her door instead of Sam. Heat rushed through her when his eyes explored her. It felt like she was his ultimate desire. Like there wasn’t anything else in this world he would rather look at than her.
And she felt the same. After their night on the roof, it was impossible to deny that there was something between them. She loved to gaze at his muscular arms under a black T-shirt. She liked the way it hugged his abs and recalled what it felt like to run her fingertips over his flexed muscles. She cursed the days he wore a jacket or a long-sleeve shirt over them. And his jawline was just so kissable.
But her favorite part of all was his eyes. When they caught hers, it was like he really saw her. Like somehow, just by looking at her, he knew exactly who she was. It was comforting and unnerving all at once.
“Good morning,” he said in that deep voice of his. His eyes sparkled, and he flashed a small grin.
“Good morning.” She made her way to walk toward the door but wobbled and had to reach for the wall for support. Nik’s reflexes were like lightning, and he grabbed her around the waist to prop her up. She wiped the sweat from her brow and let him bear her weight. He was just so comfortable.
“Are you all right? What’s wrong?” He frowned and pressed a hand to her forehead. “Ali, you’re burning up.”
“What? No, I’m fine.” She swatted his hand away. “I just didn’t eat enough.”
Please don’t let me be sick. That is the last thing I need right now.
Nik took a step back and assessed her. Like he was waiting for her to keel over. Why did the men in her life keep expecting her to break? “Mm-hmm,” he grumbled. “If you say so. Can you work today?”
“Yes. I told you, I’m fine.” She sat down at the edge of her bed and took a moment, waiting for the floor to stop moving. Her head felt heavy, like it was going to topple over.
“Here,” Nik said, kneeling on the ground before her. He pulled a leg toward him and slipped on her boot, lacing up the strings. She had to grip his shoulder as he tugged. The force made her wobble.
