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“Hey.” He takes another drag, watching me.
“Can I bum a smoke?” There’s no point beating around the bush.
“Sure.”
I move closer to him as he pulls a packet from his back pocket, taking one out and handing it to me.
“Thanks…?” I leave the question open for his name.
“Dave.”
“Dave.” I smile up at him, “It’s a strong name. It suits you.”
His grin gets a whole lot wider, and I’ve never met a person who doesn’t like a good compliment. I hold the cigarette up to my lips and lean closer to the flame Dave holds out for me.
And it isn’t pretty.
As I inhale the smoke and breathe it down into my lungs, my body erupts into a coughing fit. Tears sting my eyes, and I fight the urge to gag. I try to hold myself together, and I force myself to take another drag, trying to show Ren this is all just a normal occurrence. But it goes even worse than before. I can’t breathe from the coughing, let alone exhale. I start to get lightheaded, and my chest feels like it’s going to explode.
Dave plucks the smoke out of my hand as I grip my throat still coughing, gasping for air. “Don’t kill yourself on my watch.”
I can only cough in response.
“Nice try.” Ren steps forward and places his hand on my lower back, guiding me back into the house. “Come on, inside.”
The spluttering stops when the doors close behind me, and I wipe away the tears trickling down my cheeks. Even with my dismal performance just then, I still consider tonight’s recon mission a success. I managed to get familiar with the layout of the house and check the doors. Tomorrow, I will try the windows. Satisfied with my progress I start walking towards my room.
“Ah, ah, ah, I warned you.” Ren grabs me by the arm stopping me in my tracks.
“That’s not fair. I wasn’t even planning to run.”
He shrugs, uninterested. “You can either follow me back toourroom or, I can throw you over my shoulder and take you there myself?”
The threat from Ren is so different than any of Sergei’s and the promise of pain. Behind Ren’s words is a sly smile and a daring look that I know has him hoping I’ll go with the latter.
Considering I’m naked under this shirt, obviously I take option one, stomping my way back toourroom. I messed up big time. Sleeping in the same room as him is not what I wanted at all.
Okay, let’s be real. In another time and place, I’d be thrilled at the prospect. I’m not blind and am more than aware the effect he has on me, with or without his shirt on. I mean really, who could blame a girl for getting hot and bothered. But he kidnapped me. He is forcing me to marry him. And now, I just lost access to my own room, my privacy and my last scrap of sanity as my mind conjures up all the wicked things that we could do sharing a bed together.
Very stupid, Lilly.
His bedroom door is open, and I notice the bed is still made, not a crinkle or crease to be seen, like he hasn’t slept in it. Then it hits me, he was waiting for me to slip up, waiting for this exact moment.
“Which side do you sleep on?” If he wants to play games, bring it on.
“The left hand side.”
Fuck him. That’s exactly where I go. I throw back the covers and hop into bed, making myself comfortable, pulling the quilt right up to my chin. Oh, it’s nice too, soft like a cloud and better than anything I’ve slept in for a long time.
Ren stands at the end of the bed, peering down at me.
And I wait.
And wait.
And, for the first time, I win. He stalks to the other side, pulls back the cover and slides in. A smug smile breaks out on my face, as I finally get the upper hand. I relax into the mattress and turn my back to him, curling up in a ball.
Big mistake.
