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“I do know,” I interrupt. “The second you stop being useful to Ashley, she’ll drop you. She’ll find someone else to manipulate. You don’t see it, but I do. So yes, I’ll chain you up if I need to.”
She exhales. We are so close I feel the warmth of it across my lips. Like a dog recognizing a scent, my body remembers the feel of her. Hardness grows between my legs. There’s an inch of space between our lower bodies, but at this rate, it won’t be there for long.
I shove away from the bed and pace back to the door.
Piper sits up slowly and folds her hands in her lap. “I didn’t realize you cared so much.”
I grab the door frame. My fingers turn white gripping the wood. A little more force and I could rip it clean off. “I don’t want to search for another nanny.”
We both know that’s not even close to the whole story, but Piper is smart enough not to press. “Okay,” she says finally.
I look back. “Ashley is grown. If she can’t take care of herself, she’ll never learn.”
She nods. “You’re right. I’ll stay here.”
She sounds dejected. Surprisingly soft-spoken.
Our eyes meet, and I might as well still be on top of her. Her legs might as well be wrapped around my waist with the connection I feel from just a momentary glance.
“Stay in your room.” I swallow down the desire and turn away. “She isn’t worth your life.”
46
TIMOFEY
I head in the direction of my room, but when I reach it, I keep walking. I take a side hallway, looping back around to the back staircase, and then I go outside to the patio beneath Piper’s room.
I can see light from her window splashing across the grass. I lean against a wooden banister and pull out a cigarette. If I’m lucky, I’ll get through the whole thing before I’m interrupted.
But a few puffs later, I see a shadow cross the square of light in the lawn. I hear the rattle of metal against stone as someone climbs out of Piper’s window and shimmies down the trellis.
Blyat’.Just once, I wanted to be wrong.
I sigh and drop my cigarette to the ground, smashing it down with the toe of my boot. Then I stroll to the edge of the patio with my hands in my pockets and wait.
A minute later, Piper drops to the ground. The damp grass squelches beneath her feet, and she’s already breathing heavily. She’s so focused on catching her breath and scanning the lawn that she doesn’t even look my way.
She doesn’t see me coming until it’s too late.
I reach out just as she looks over. Her eyebrows shoot up, and she tries to stumble away, but I snatch her arm. My hand wraps around her bicep, my finger and thumb overlapping.
“I thought I told you to stay in your room.”
“Let go of me!” she screams, flailing wildly.
I pin her arms to her side and back her against the house. “Scream as loud as you want. No one is coming.”
She narrows her eyes and then arches her head back to unleash a truly impressive scream. The sound echoes off the trees and leaves my ears ringing for a second. But I don’t even flinch.
“Feel better?” I ask flatly when she’s finished.
She tries to kick me, but I pin her legs down with my knees. We’re entirely sealed together. I can feel her chest against mine with every ragged inhale. She’s trembling.
“You can’t be reasoned with,” she spits. “This was my only choice.”
“Or you could fucking listen!” I release her and take a cautious step back, ready to step in and grab her again if need be. Piper stays put. “I’ve never met someone so eager to get themselves killed.”
“I’m not going to get myself killed. If Ashley can survive there, so can I.”
