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She nodded reluctantly. “Ironic, because I generally far prefer being alone.”
I flashed her a grin. “You must not have had the right company.”
She didn’t look convinced I’d change her mind.
“I’ll stay here for a while,” I told her. “Until Aiden comes to let you out.”
“Are you sure he will?” she asked.
“Oh, I’m sure. He has plans for you.”
“I didn’t do a very good job pretending to be a fake girlfriend tonight,” she said.
“I’m sure you can learn.” I tilted my head to one side. “While his tastes are not mine, I can certainly teach you what Aiden likes.”
“Dominic said the same thing.”
Hearing Dominic’s name on her lips sent an unexpected spurt of jealousy through me. I wanted to hear her say my name.
But most of all, I wanted to spend more time with her.
“And are you ready to learn?”
She nodded. But who wouldn’t, when they were in the cage?
“I’ll stay here with you tonight.” I sank cross-legged to sit beside her.
She eyed me, as if she were considering whether she should grab me through the bars. I had no doubt she could kill me if she wished.
But then she’d be down here alone with my corpse for company. She’d be back to screaming, and Aiden would make sure she never stopped screaming before she was quiet forever. He was an asshole, but when he cared about people, he cared deeply.
And with homicidal impulses.
“Tell me about yourself,” I said.
She lay back, smoothing her black dress over her creamy thighs. She seemed exhausted as she turned to look at me, though her chest still fluttered with too-rapid breaths she was obviously trying to master. “Why don’t you tell me about yourself?”
“You don’t like to talk about yourself.”
“Not with my enemies.”
“Oh, we aren’t enemies. You’re marrying my best friend.”
She ignored that. “How did you come to be roommates?”
I had the feeling she needed a distraction, and I didn’t see how that information could harm Aiden. “We’ve been friends since we were kids. Gavin took Dominic and me in when we were teenagers.”
“What was it like growing up with Aiden?”
“He’s always been the way he is now. Inhumanly polished,” I said, and she smiled faintly as if she knew what I meant. “I don’t think he ever went through an awkward phase. I’ve never heard him sing karaoke. I’ve never seen him get a zit. But I had enough for both of us when we were fifteen.”
“Sounds like a stuck-up prick.”
“Well, yes. But he’sourstuck-up prick.”
I stayed there until the night had passed, and dawn had come and gone. I should have been done with her by the time the door rattled and Aiden came in, but she had fallen asleep, quiet with her hand reaching through the cage for me. In her sleep, she was less guarded. And I had taken her hand and was still holding it.
Aiden took us in with a sweep of his eyes. “I think you don’t understand how a punishment is supposed to work.”
