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I snapped my head towards him, my own posture rigid with frustration. "Maybe you could tell me why you were so interested in my past." I grumbled, feeling a sense of betrayal creeping in. "I thought we were partners, Kylo. Partners are supposed to trust each other."
"Trust? I didn't even know you had a damn pet skunk until I broke into your apartment!" Kylo's voice rose with anger as he gestured to the fuzzball curled up on the motel couch.
"Leave Smudge out of this." I shot back, my tone sharp and defensive. "Let's just say there are some dangerous people after me and leave it at that, okay?"
An awkward silence hung between us, and I tried not to let my gaze wander over Kylo's tall, muscular frame as it usually did. But he could sense my unease, and finally growled out a response. "Fine. You take the first shift, I'll watch the door."
I knew how much Kylo hated being kept in the dark, but for once I needed to keep this secret from him. And I could see the hurt and frustration in his eyes as he made an exception for me. It hurt me to see our trust faltering, but I couldn't risk involving him in this dangerous game.
The idea of sleep appealed more than I cared to admit. "Sure, play the gallant guardian. I won't argue."
"Didn't think you would." His gaze lingered for a moment too long, and damn it if my heart didn't betray me with a stupid little flutter.
"Keep your eyes to yourself, hotshot." I settled into the couch and propped my feet up on the coffee table with a clatter. "We need to stay sharp, not start a staring contest."
"Wouldn't dream of it," he said, but we both knew it was a lie.
Hell, everything about this night was a lie. The danger, the adrenaline, the way my skin tingled under his gaze—it was all some twisted fantasy. But fantasies don’t stop bullets.
I sank deeper into the couch and let the sounds of the storm blend with the hum of silence that stretched between us. It was a dangerous thing, silence. Made you think. Made you feel things best left buried. Like how much I wanted to kiss him and forget—just for a heartbeat—that the world was hunting us down.
The neon sign flickered like a dying star and cast shadows over Kylo's face as he leaned against the doorframe. His shirt clung to him and rainwater traced paths down his well-built torso. I couldn't help but notice, despite the nagging voice in my head that mocked me for being so damn predictable.
"Like what you see?" Kylo caught my gaze with a smirk.
"Seen better," I shot back, but my pulse thumped wildly at the lie.
"Ouch," he feigned hurt and pressed a hand to his heart. "You wound me, Winslow."
"Please," I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "It'll take more than my tongue to do any real damage."
"Is that a challenge?" His eyes sparkled with mischief, and it was infuriating how much I enjoyed it.
"Consider it a warning," I crossed my arms, trying to regain some sliver of control. But the air was charged, thick with electricity.
I watched him move around the room, his muscles shifting under his damp clothes as he checked the locks on the windows and doors. Even in this rundown shithole, he took charge like he was securing a palace. It was oddly endearing, and I hated that I thought so.
"Are we expecting company?" I asked, trying to sound casual, but the tension in my voice gave me away.
"Can't be too careful," he replied, not turning to look at me. "Besides, I've got precious cargo."
"Referring to yourself in the third person now? Ego much?"
"Ha-ha," he said flatly. "You know what I mean."
"Sure, sure," I muttered, hating how my heart fluttered at the implication.
We settled into an uneasy quiet, the kind that wrapped around you like a second skin. I found myself watching him again, the way the dim light accentuated the angles of his jaw, the depth of his eyes. It was disarming, the vulnerability I saw there—mirroring my own.
"Remember that time you accidentally cuffed yourself to the suspect?" I blurted out, desperate to break the silence with something, anything.
"Accidentally? You tripped me!" He turned, finally facing me, but the indignation in his tone was softened by the laughter in his eyes.
"Details, details," I said with a dismissive wave of my hand. "Point is, we made a hell of a team back then."
"Still do," he said quietly, and something in those two words sent a shiver down my spine.
"You're not wrong," I admitted, and it felt like giving away a piece of myself. "Even if you are a pain in my ass ninety percent of the time."
