Page 342 of Dark Love

Though beautiful, who would want to live in such a cold, hard place?

A man that crushes bones with his bare hands…

“I got you some more water.” Vex stands up as I step out of the bathroom a few minutes later.

There’s a closed bottle sitting on the nightstand. “Thank you.”

“Are you ready to try out some food?”

My stomach gurgles for the first time without the rolling pain of nausea. “Food sounds wonderful.” I slowly make my way back to the bed. A sigh almost escapes as my muscles relax into the comfortable bed.

“What would you like?”

That’s a good question. What does one eat after they’ve been drugged and had their entire reality turned upside down? How am I supposed to pick something when I don’t know what’s going on—

“I’m in the mood for a steak and baked potato. Does that sound good to you?”

Steak? “I like steak.” It’s not something I bother with often.

“Good. I’ll order some.”

“You’re not going to ask me how I like mine cooked?”

“There’s only one way to cook a steak.” He lifts up the tablet on the bedside table after cracking open the water and handing it to me.

“Oh really?”

“If you’re not eating it medium rare, you’re eating it wrong.”

He has a point.

The little smirk on his face tells me he knows it.

Men. I lean back and close my eyes to rest a little after all that activity.

“Drink your water first, and then you can rest until food arrives.”

My eyes want to shut more than I want to drink, but I lift the bottle to my lips. Does anyone actually say no to Vex?

Dinner And A Game!

Dahlia

“Dahlia, wake up. Food is here.”

Food? Why is a man telling me to wake up and offering me — “It’s not a dream.”

“No Dahlia, it’s not a dream. Trust me when I say you want these steaks to be real. They are the best in the city.”

“Doubtful.” I work up the energy to open my eyes. “I have these neighbors that… their cooking will blow your mind. Eating their food is a life-changing experience.”

“You know your neighbors?”

“Of course, don’t you?”

He stands over me with a stack of towels in his hands. “I know about them, but generally avoid them as much as possible.” With the flick of a wrist, one towel opens up, draping across most of my body. “This is to cover you up, so you don’t end up sleeping in crumbs.”

That was so thoughtful.

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