Page 53 of Nemesis
Even though he wasn’t looking in my direction, I looked down. Heat scalded my face, slowly blooming down my neck.
I swallowed tightly, clearing my throat before I could answer. “I am.”
When I glanced back at him, he was now leaning against the counter, a coffee mug in hand, resting right below his lips. He took a sip and I used the opportunity to look at him again. I wondered how long he’d been awake since he’d already changed and had time to cook for both of us.
I grabbed my pants from where I’d tossed them on the floor and pulled them on before crossing the room, desperate for a cup myself. He turned, leaning his hip against the counter on the other side of the sink.
He studied me closely, his eyes skating over my body. My feet stalled in their tracks when he stalked over to me, closing the distance between us, his mug the only thing keeping our chests from touching.
I became acutely aware of his body, goose bumps sprouting across my skin after his gaze trailed it.
Those hands were on me last night, holding me, making me feel safe. He made me feel at home again for the length of a few hours.
My gaze dropped to his lower lip, a pinch forming in my chest.
God, I wish I could bite it.
He pulled me out of my thoughts by handing me his cup, and I took it from him, muttering athank you.
Steam rose from the top and I slightly blew onto it before taking a small sip exactly where his lips were previously pressed. My lids fluttered closed at the faint taste of him.
I heard him suppress a groan, a headiness forming in its wake, tension suffocating us. I’d barely moved when his next question startled me.
“How often do you get those nightmares?”
I lifted a shoulder, avoiding his gaze. “Not as often anymore,” I said, bringing the mug back to my lips.
I took another sip, the steaming liquid scalding my throat on the way down, distracting me from his attention. I couldfeelhim watching me swallow, his gaze fixed on the slope of my neck.
When I looked back up, his brows pulled together. He was about to ask for more details when I shot him a look, silencing him.
He sighed, deciding to give up his line of questioning. “Food’s in the oven. If you need anything, just call my name,” he said, leaving me alone in the kitchen.
I made myself a plate and retreated back to the couch, then grabbed my computer from my bag. We didn’t have cell service, so I couldn’t make any calls, but Theo had brought an external modem to give us internet service.
I desperately wanted to message Valentina again, to see if she’d received my message, but I didn’t have what I needed to cover my tracks. So instead, I plugged the ethernet cable into my computer and dove straight into work.
I spent the morning hunched over my computer, pouring myself into work as a distraction from everything else. I was in the middle of typing out an email when I heard a repetitive sound coming from outside.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
It stopped for a beat before resuming.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Curiosity winning me over, I stood from the couch and grabbed one of Theo’s sweaters that was lying around. I pulled it over my head, knowing it would bring me more warmth than what I currently had on.
Hugging it tightly against my body, I slid the screen door in the back open and stepped onto the wooden deck. It was midday, the clouds from the previous night breaking away, letting the sun come out. The air remained chill, but it was warmer than when we came in yesterday.
Trees towered overhead, but enough sunlight peeked through to see through the woods, the rays shimmering against the surface of the deep blue lake.
My gaze followed the sounds that had resumed, only to find Theo off to the side, his back to me. He swung the axe, bringing it down on the log of wood, splitting it in two. He bent down, grabbed another piece, and placed it on the tree stump.
He was still wearing his black slacks, but he’d removed his sweater, leaving him in a white sleeveless undershirt, his bandaged shoulder now visible.
I leaned against the doorframe and wrapped my arms around my body, fascinated by the way his muscles strained against the fabric with each swing.
He suddenly glanced over his shoulder, catching me off guard. His gaze stalled over my figure for a brief moment before he returned his focus onto his task without saying a word.
