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Case.
I refuse to acknowledge the way my stupid stomach flutters at the nickname and force myself to make eye contact with the man who owns me, yet… doesn’t. “I’m hanging in there.”
His expression twists with concern, but then he smiles. “Good. That’s - that’s really good.”
“Yeah.” I find myself smiling too, something warm unfurling in my chest as the reality of my situation slowly sinks in. “Yeah, it is, isn’t it?”
“Speaking of good things,” Carter says, his eyes meeting Nathan’s. He starts talking to him about the files he told me that Nathan keeps locked up, each one for a victim of human trafficking that he hopes to save. I notice how flustered Carter gets speaking to him. All rosy cheeks and shy looks and nervous glances. He’s in love with him, isn’t he? I hadn’t noticed before, but it’s obvious.
I have so many questions, but Jake drags my attention away from the two of them by speaking. “I’ll show Casey around the room a little while you two do that, then. Show him the mini-fridge and the box of food we brought in. Where the medical supplies are. All that.”
“Um. Sure.” I give Jake a thumbs up that feels all wrong. My face goes hot again. “Sounds… great.”
We agree to split up then, Carter looking worried about me for another moment before his focus once again shifts to Nathan. Jake shoots them an amused look before smirking at me, making me think that he’s caught on to the same thing I have.
I follow him out of the closet, fighting a smile as I realize there’s not much to show me. This room is nearly identical to the one Jake and I have been sharing the past few days. A bedroom, a walk-in closet, and an oversized bathroom. Even his mini-fridge is in the exact same spot as Jake’s. There’s only one thing I notice as a major difference - his bathtub is a obnoxiously large. It’s a huge thing that takes three steps to climb up into. I’m not sure why Jake used such a stupid excuse to be alone, but I won’t argue. Now that I know I’m safe with this man, my curiosity is pretty much in hyperdrive. So is that little bit of attraction that’s been lingering beneath the surface ever since that time I saw him in nothing but his towel. I force that part down, though.
Far, far down.
“This bath is obnoxious,” I inform him, running my hand along the lip of the huge basin. “Who needs a bath this big?”
He snorts. “My best friend is a very big fan of baths. I think maybe your friend likes them too, from the things I’ve heard.”
“Like… they take baths together?”
“I’m fairly confident, yes.”
“Oh.” I picture that - two bodies pressed together in the sudsy water, cuddling as they soak in the warmth, all relaxed and happy. But it’s not Carter and Nathan – Travis? - I find myself picturing. It’s… us. Jake and I. My chest squeezes as I peek over at him, unable to stop myself from remembering how he tasted when we kissed. Tequila and chocolate and something smoky. A cigar, maybe? “Do you think your tub is big enough for that?”
I immediately want to take the question back. I hadn’t meant to say it. My mind was distracted. I let myself look at him again, heart in my throat. His face is perfectly neutral. It’s impressive. It must be why he’s so damn good at his job. “It probably would, yes. If the two individuals were willing to be… close.”
“That’s the point of sharing a bath, isn’t it?” I ask, not sure how I’ve suddenly gotten so brave.
“Yes. I suppose it is.”
“It sounds… nice. Doesn’t it?”
“Yes,” he says again, his voice much softer now. His eyes search my face like he’s looking for something. “It does.”
I swallow hard, not entirely sure what we’re talking about anymore.
“I’m leaving,” he suddenly says.
It feels like a slap to my face. “Wait… what?”
“We have to go to Mexico for a few days. It’s one of the last things we need to do to end the operation.”
Mexico.
For a few days.
“W-what about me? What about Carter?”
“You’ll stay in here together. You’ll be perfectly safe. No one can enter the rooms besides me and Travis. We stocked the shit out of the fridge and Travis brought in a huge box of non-perishables. Carter has the burner phone where he can communicate with Maison if something goes wrong. I think Travis plans on texting him too, even though I advised him strongly against it.” His lips twist. “He doesn’t tend to listen when it comes to Carter. He’s recklessly in love with your best friend.”
I smile, just a little. “That’s nice. I like that for Carter, I think. To be loved like that. I think he might love Nathan too. Or - Travis? It’s kind of confusing, you know. All the different names. I don’t know how you guys do it. But the way Carter looks at him…”
Jake chuckles. “Yeah, it is confusing. It helps though. Travis more than me, but sometimes me too. Helps us separate from the evil of everything, you know? Like, Nathan and Benny are our shields. And I agree. I think Carter is in love with him too. But Carter didn’t know the truth right away, so for a while Travis was Carter’s master. They have a hell of a lot to work out now.”
