Page 42 of Unmask
10
KAYLOR
Dashing down the hall after Raine, I kept his broad back in my sights, contemplating tackling the lying asshole. I shouldn’t have expected anything less from a Corvo.
Prick.
Screw it. What do I have to lose?
I picked my pace up to a jog, closing the space between Raine and me, and right before he reached the front door, I launched onto his back, wrapping my arms around his neck. I never had a chance. It was as if Raine expected me to try something, anticipating my last-ditch effort, and before I could secure my hold, I was being flipped through the air like a damn amateur gymnast over Raine’s shoulders. He did the entire maneuver gracefully. The next thing I knew, I was blinking up at him, my head slightly disoriented from the jarring flip.
Kreed laughed from the other room, but despite the curl in my belly at the sound, I ignored him, spinning and facing the eldest Corvo. “If he stays, then take me with you,” I bartered.
Raine’s fingers trailed down the side of my arm, his light-green eyes sparkling. “Do me a favor, killer, use this time towork your shit out. Forgive Kreed and put the rest of us out of our misery. He doesn’t know how to handle what he’s feeling for you because he’s never had feelings for anyone before. Have mercy on him. Yes, he isn’t absolved of all guilt, but Kreed isn’t responsible for what happened.”
“He still lied,” I pointed out. “You all did.”
“That was before you stole his heart. He doesn’t fully understand why he can’t stop protecting you, but you and I both know the reason. Kreed isn’t as cold as he likes to portray. Be careful with him. He’s been through more than the rest of us have. Life hasn’t been easy on him. You, of all people, can understand his pain.” The front door shut with a click. I stood in the hallway, frozen in disbelief, staring at the empty space where Raine had just been.
What the hell did he mean? Understand Kreed’s pain?
What have I gotten myself into?
Forgive Kreed?
Raine had lost his ever-loving mind.
“You can’t just leave him here!” I shrieked at the now silent door.
No answer. Of course not.
I spun on my heels, anger rising so fast it made my vision go white at the edges. My heart was racing, still trying to calm down from that kiss or maybe from the way Kreed looked at me before it happened. Like I was oxygen and he’d been drowning.
Raine wasn’t the only one who had lost his mind. I’d kissed Kreed! After telling him I hated him. Talk about confusing. What was crazier, I hadn’t even minded the taste of him, booze mixed with coffee.
I needed to get my head on straight and figure out what the fuck I was doing because, if toying with Kreed for revenge was going to backfire on me every time, I was the one who would end up getting hurt. Again.
Fuck. My. Life.
I stormed back into the living room, my eyes immediately searching out Kreed who was lounging on the couch like he owned the damn place. One arm was slung across the backrest, his head tipped back, that infuriating smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
My throat was dry, and I couldn’t swallow. “You can’t stay here.”
“I’m not leaving,” the stubborn ass replied.
“I hate you,” I hissed, feeling my cheeks burn.
A single brow arched, the stud in his nose twinkling under the dim lighting. “That so?”
“Yes. That’s so.” I stood my ground, glaring at him, doing everything to look at only his face. If I let my eyes wander over him, I was fucking cooked. “Wipe that smug look off your face. This isn’t some win for you.”
“You sure about that?” he asked, flexing his fingers and drawing my eyes to the suit of tattoos inked into his skin. “Because from where I’m sitting, it feels like a win. If this is how it feels to have you hate me, I can’t wait to see how it feels when you fall for me.”
“That’s never going to happen.” I shook my head, my shoulders slumping. “You’re unbelievable.”
“And yet, here I am. Believably on your couch. Alone. With you.” He grinned, and I wanted to throw the throw pillow at his stupid face.
“This is temporary,” I growled. “One night. That’s it. Don’t get comfortable.”
