Page 29 of Colton
I stiffen, and he laughs, a slow, rolling noise deep from his chest.
“It’s okay, your secret is safe with me.”
I can’t trust him. I won’t.
“My name is Mary.”
Colton stares at me before moving closer, his lips hovering over mine as his tongue laps along my bottom lip, startling me. “Mm, I can taste your lies, sweetheart.”
The flicker of amusement in Colton’s eyes is replaced by a piercing intensity, a reminder that he’s not just a man capable of tenderness, but also a survivor. “You can keep your secrets, Mary,” he whispers against my mouth, the warmth of his breath the opposite to the coolness of his words. “But remember, I’m good at uncovering truths.”
I pull back slightly, my heart racing with a mix of fear and exhilaration. His grip on me doesn’t lessen, but there’s a newunderstanding in his gaze—a challenge, even. He knows I’m hiding something, and he’s eager to discover what it is. But I can’t let him get too close, can’t let him see the real me. Not yet. Not until Xavier is dead and I’m free.
“You think you know me, Colton, but you don’t,” I remark, my voice steady as my stomach churns and my ears ring. “And it’s probably better that way.”
He studies me for a moment longer before releasing a sigh, his fingers trailing along my jawline in a featherlight touch that sends shivers down my spine. “Maybe you’re right,” he concedes, his tone softer now. “Maybe some things are better left in the dark.”
I nod, relieved by his acceptance, but knowing it won’t last. Colton is nothing if not persistent, and I know it’s only a matter of time before he tries to peel back the layers of my lies. For now, though, I need to focus on the task at hand—killing Xavier and ending this nightmare once and for all.
With great effort, I extract myself from Colton’s embrace and rise to my feet, wrapping one of the blankets around my shoulders like a shield. “We should get some sleep,” I suggest, my eyes darting to the trapdoor and the bed it offers. Even if there are rats, I’ll take my chances. “Tomorrow is going to be a long day.”
As I walk toward the trapdoor, Colton’s eyes track every movement I make with unnerving precision. His stare lingers too long, a silent warning wrapped in heat, and for a moment, I feel like prey caught in a predator’s sights.
When I reach for the latch, his hand shoots out, clamping around my wrist in a vice grip.
My heart stutters.
“What are you doing?” His voice is rougher now, the hint of accusation simmering beneath the surface.
“I was just going downstairs…” I begin, but my voice falters.
His grip tightens, and his eyes harden, darkening with a possessiveness that makes my skin prickle.
“You don’t go anywhere without me, understood?” His words hit me like a slap. There’s no warmth left in his voice, only cold command. “I can’t let anything happen to you. Not now.”
What the fuck? He just said he would keep watch while I slept down there?!
Colton looks wild, his eyes bulging with rage. He releases my wrist slowly, his fingers uncurling like a threat that still hangs in the air, a silent reminder that I’m not going anywhere unless he allows it. My pulse races beneath my skin, the bruise of his touch lingering long after he’s let go.
I swallow, my throat tightening with the words I don’t dare say out loud.
Not now? What does that mean? Why now? Why does he care so much? And why tell me that he’ll keep watch then change his mind?
He’s insane.
For a second, the urge to scream at him flares up, but I choke it down, forcing myself to keep my voice steady. “So where are we going to sleep?” I ask tightly, every muscle in my body taut with nerves.
Why am I even asking him?My thoughts spin in a thousand different directions.I shouldn’t need his permission. I shouldn’t feel this knot in my stomach, twisting tighter every time he looks at me like that.
His gaze softens a little, but not much. There’s still that edge, the dark glint in his eyes that keeps me on alert. “We’ll sleep here, together.” He nods to the fire, where the blankets I dropped lie in a heap. “The basement’s too cold.”
I can’t suppress the shiver that runs down my spine.
Together?
The word hangs heavy in the air between us. My stomach churns, a mix of fear, frustration, and something else I can’t name.
How did it come to this? How did I end up tangled in his world, his control, where even the simple act of deciding where to sleep isn’t mine to make?
