Page 68 of Knight

“I’m fine.” My stomach gurgles again, and I squeeze my eyes closed, wanting the mattress to swallow me.

“Your stomach vehemently disagrees.” That dry tone does nothing for the way my cheeks are burning. I’m thankful for thefact he probably can’t see me. “I’d prefer you not to pass out from hunger.”

The soft rustle of him searching through his bag fills the space, then the mattress dips. Something lands on the bed beside me.

“Eat.” There’s no room for argument in his tone. “I’m not dealing with low blood sugar on top of everything else.”

I move my hand around until I find the bar, and tear it open. It tastes like cardboard and cheap chocolate, but I force myself to eat it anyway. The mattress moves again as Knight settles on the bed.

“You should sleep.” His voice carries that note of command that should irritate me. “Tomorrow is going to be complicated.”

That catches my attention. “Why? What’s happening tomorrow?”

He’s quiet for a moment, and I wonder if he’ll ignore me. Then he sighs. “We need to go back to my apartment.”

“What?” I sit up, the protein bar forgotten. “Why would we?—”

“Because that’s where Victor’s messages are sending me. The next move is there.” The mattress shifts as he turns toward me. “This has all been leading somewhere. You showing up at my apartment, the virus, the data, the explosions, the way we were forced out.”

“But we justleftthere."

“We had to leave to avoid the police. Now we need to go back.” He sighs. “Look, sometimes the only way to understand the game is to play it. But first, you need to sleep.” He touches my shoulder.

“I’m not tired.” The lie falls flat.

“Liar.” There’s a weird gentleness beneath the accusation, His fingers slide over my shoulder and down my arm, wrapping around my wrist just above the bandages.

I should pull away, should keep distance between us. Instead, I find myself leaning toward him.

His thumb traces small circles against my skin, the action so light, I’m sure he doesn’t even know he’s doing it. It doesn’t stop my pulse from spiking though.

“This is a bad idea.” His voice contains a rough note I haven’t heard before.

“What is?”

“This.” His fingers flex against my wrist. “Being here.”

His hand slides up my arm, leaving trails of heat in its wake until his palm cups my face. His breath fans across my cheek as he leans closer. My heart is pounding so hard, I’m surprised he can’t hear it. The darkness makes every sensation, every touch, more intense, more dangerous.

Then a branch scrapes across the window, and reality breaks the spell. His hand drops, and he rolls away. The sudden absence of his warmth makes me shiver.

“Get some sleep. We leave at first light.”

I don’t move for a moment, fighting to slow the rapid beat of my heart, the uneven sound of my breathing. My fingers come into contact with the half eaten protein bar, and I toss it off the bed, trying to ignore how my cheek can still feel the imprint of his palm.

How he expects me to sleep, I have no idea, but my body seems to agree with him. Between the steady sound of the generator and Knight’s measured breaths beside me, sleep eventually pulls me under. The last thing I register is his quiet curse as I drift closer to him in my almost-sleep state, seeking his warmth.

When I wake up, sunlight is filtering through the cabin’s windows. I’m pressed against Knight’s side, my head on his chest, his arm curved around my waist. He’s already awake. Ican tell by the rhythm of his breathing. But he hasn’t moved away.

“We need to get up.” His voice rumbles beneath my ear. “I want to get back home before it’s dark.”

“Dark? What time is it?” I start to pull away, but his arm tightens slightly, holding me in place for just a moment longer, then he releases me, and sits up.

“It’s past lunchtime. I don’t think we got to bed until after three, and I didn't want to wake you too early.” His voice is all business. “There’s a bathroom through that door, if you want to wash up first. Pretty sure there’s a couple of toothbrushes and toothpaste. I need to go and check the perimeter and shut everything down.”

He’s gone before I can respond, leaving confusion behind. I press my face into the pillow, trying to make sense of what’s happening between us. Because I’m not imagining it … right?Somethingis happening.

But there’s no sense to be found. Not while we’re caught up in this game. Not when the man I’m starting to trust is the same one who held me captive just days ago.

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