Page 54 of King of Temptation

What is my mom going to say? How am I going to live with myself? I need to get out of here. I scrub my hands over my face. “Where’s my bag?”

“What?” Leo asks and he doesn’t sound angry anymore. The word is cautious. Maybe even afraid as he touches my shoulder.

“I’ve got to go. Where is my bag?”

“You can’t leave now. It’s the middle of the night.”

“I’m not your problem. This is not your problem,” I say as I shrink away, tears sliding down my face. “My bag. Is it in the bathroom? The car?” I surge up. I’ve got to find it, get some real clothes, and leave.

I can’t do this. I can’t.

But I must have moved too fast because my head swims and then my stomach rolls.

Instead of searching, I surge out of the bed and toward the bathroom.

I only just make it when the contents of my stomach heave up my throat and into the toilet.

I don’t even have it in me to fight when Leo’s arm comes around me to support my weight, his other hand gathering up my hair to keep it clean.

I vomit until I’m empty in every way. I don’t even feel tired. I swear, I feel nothing.

We’re both naked. I have no idea how long I’m suspended over the toilet before he lifts me into his arms. He carries me back to the bed and I don’t even protest as he lays me back.

I know I should leave but I don’t think I can. I’m devoid of energy, of fight, as I lay exactly where he leaves me. He comes back and pulls me back up, pressing a glass to my lips.

I drink automatically but as a bit of water spills down my chin, that’s when I realize that it’s also coating my cheeks. How long have I been crying?

Leo’s sets down the glass and then his large hand swipes over my face. “Kim.” His voice is soft. Gentle.

But I don’t respond. My eyes squeeze shut. “You can say it.”

“Say what?”

“That you never want to see me again. That you think I’m some?—”

“Do not say those things about yourself.” His voice is back to having a hard edge and it actually makes me feel better, like things are less strange. But they aren’t right… they’ll never be right again. My whole life is changing because I couldn’t keep my legs closed.

My lips press shut as I close my eyes. “You were going to say them before. I could hear it in your voice.”

“I wasn’t going to call you any names and besides, we both know I’m an ass. I got scared, that’s all.”

“I’m scared too.” The words shiver through me.

“Look. We don’t know anything. Let’s get some sleep and then we can figure this out in the morning.”

I nod because it makes sense and because there is nothing else to do.

Leo climbs in the bed and holds me close, but it doesn’t feel the same.

I’m pretty sure whatever delusional bubble I’ve been living in just burst.

Still, he tries. “I promised you that I would always keep you safe, Kim. And that’s what I intend to do.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Leo

Kim falls asleep but I’m crawling out of my skin. So when I know she’s deep asleep, I climb from the bed and head out to the living room.

---