Page 22 of Carnal Urges
“What?”
“I said thank you. If what you just told me is true, you saved my life. I owe you one.”
He stares at me like I’m an alien who just landed on his lawn and informed him I needed his kidneys or an entire race of intelligent beings in some distant galaxy would die.
I make my voice stronger. “I’m not saying that to make you angry.”
“I know.”
“Oh. Okay. So.”
“So.”
We stare at each other. I’m aware of every inch of skin on my body. My stomach takes the opportunity to emit a loud rumble into the awkward silence.
“You need food.” Declan shakes his head as if the realization makes him irritated with himself for not thinking of it sooner.
“Yes. Please.”
“Anything else?”
When I hesitate, he says, “I’ll let your girlfriend know you’re safe.”
I don’t understand this polite, protective kidnapper. What happened to the growling jerk? “Thank you. Again. But that’s not what I was thinking.”
He can see I’m uncomfortable. He lifts his brows, waiting.
“I need toiletries. Girl things.”
“Just text me a list. I’ll get whatever you need.”
My surprise is so great, I can’t hold it in. “You’ll buy me tampons?”
His mouth does something strange. Is he trying not to smile?
“No. I’ll send Kieran.”
“Not Kieran.”
“Why not?”
“I’m trying to get on his good side.”
“Because?”
“There’s nothing that hurts a man’s pride like being seen as weakin front of his friends. I don’t want to embarrass him more than I already have.”
Declan does his head tilt thing that he does whenever he’s really looking at me. His eyes are penetrating. Examining.Knowing.
It makes me flustered. “I might need to make him fall in love with me and break me out of here, okay? Jesus.”
He chuckles, shaking his head. “Okay.”
Then he sighs heavily, rakes a hand through his hair, and seems to gather himself. Standing taller and smoothing a hand over his tie, he squares his shoulders and sets his jaw.
It strikes me that he doesn’t want to go back outside.
Not because he wants to stay with me, but because whatever or whoever is waiting for him, he’s dreading it.
