Page 85 of Chandelier Sin
“What’s next for you after this?” I took her arm and moved her to the side of the hallway to avoid a gurney.
“How do you mean?”
I leaned against the wall as though I had all the time in the world. “Where are you going now?”
“Home.”
“The Beverly Center is close. Buy something nice to reward yourself for harassing me. A prize for delivering Roper’s message.”
A flash of anger appeared in her eyes. “This message comes from me.”
I shuddered like she’d just scared me, and then laughed.
“I never want to see you again.” She twirled her silver bracelet.
“Sounds like a plan.”
She stared down at the carpet and then raised her eyes to mine as though feeling conflicted. As though all she wanted was to fling herself at me, her eyes wide and full of anguish, a relentless heart-stopping beauty.
She rallied and raised her chin high. “Can we at least be civil?”
“You’re at risk if you stay in that house, Eve.”
“I’m not.” She glanced nervously at her bracelet. “They know everything about you.”
“Not everything. Not what you and I did to become better acquainted.”
“Nothing happened.”
“You came. Hard. That’s what happened. Oh, and I finger-fucked you. Let’s not forget that detail. I certainly haven’t.”
She stepped forward and rested her hands on my chest. “Atticus, no one can ever know about that.”
“We’ve already established there’s a file on me. Why don’t you add that experience into your file under Best Day of My Life.”
She dropped her hands. “I don’t remember it.”
“I remember every second.” I pointed to my temple. “All in there. Every nuance, every sigh, every moan. The way you taste.”
“How are you still alive?”
“My easy-going charm.” I flashed a devilish grin.
Her expression softened, and then became sorrowful. “Forget Pendulum. Forget me.”
“How old were you when you married Aemon?”
“Excuse me? What’s that got to do with anything?”
“You’re not the only one who can dig around.”
“Don’t.”
There was more to her relationship than I could fathom, more to this stunning woman who tried to act tough but oozed vulnerability.
She tore her gaze away from mine. “Seeing Ben suffer destroyed me.”
“You could have gotten him out. You had the chance when Aemon was away.”
