Page 89 of Red Captive

Ground, please swallow me whole.

What rhymes with duck?

I want you to take advantage of me.

I hate myself.

“I was more than just a little out of it, but we will never talk of it again, and I’m never drinking again,” I mutter, praying he’ll drop it.

He chuckles, turning to face me and folding his arms across his amazing chest. He leans against the counter. “Famous last words.”

“I mean it. I’m not drinking again. Not ever.”

“It’s nice that you could let your hair down a little. You don’t do that…ever. You should sit. Brunch is nearly ready.” He points at the counter. It has two stools. “Would you like some coffee?”

I groan. “That would be amazing.”

He pours me a cup, putting it in front of me as I sit.

“Breakfast will be ready in a minute.”

I sip my coffee while he grabs plates, dishing up a whole heap of eggs and bacon. He adds a slice of buttered toast onto my plate and three onto his.

For a moment, I am tempted to tell him I don’t need the bread, but my stomach growls loudly.

Steel laughs. “Hungry?” He lifts his brows.

I nod.

“I’m sure you are; you barely touched your dinner.”

“I was too busy drinking all that champagne. Roscoe is nice, by the way.” I bite the edge of a piece of crispy bacon and groan. “This is perfectly cooked.” Then I pick up my fork and try a piece of egg. It’s fluffy and delicious. That slightly nauseous feeling I had earlier is disappearing by the second.

He sits next to me, putting his plate down in front of him. “I’m not sure if nice is the right word to describe him, but sure, we’ll go with it. He’s the nicest, most trustworthy bad guy I know.” He puts a huge forkful of eggs in his mouth.

I want to say something back, but I can’t; I need to eat and right now. We inhale our breakfast in silence for the next few minutes. I don’t think I’ve ever been this hungry in my life. I eat half my eggs, all of my bacon, and most of the toast before I start to feel better.

“Natalia is gorgeous. I don’t think I’ve met a more beautiful woman. She seems nice, as well.” I may as well put it out there.

“You think everyone is nice, Jen.”

“Again, I doubt that you meant that as a compliment. And that’s not true, by the way. I don’t like the general or the lieutenant much. I hate the duke.”

“Most people aren’t as nice as you think.”

“Again, you say it as if my thinking that people are nice is a bad thing. I like to see the best in people. I don’t think that’s a bad thing.”

His whole expression softens. “It’s an amazing thing. You see such good in others because you have so much good inside of you. I mean it as a serious compliment. Also, you look beautiful, even with a hangover. I mean that as a compliment, too.”

“You’re not supposed to be nice to me.”

“And we’re also not supposed to talk about sex or spanking. We’re not supposed to flirt. You did all of those things last night.” He grins at me.

“We’re not talking about that. I was slightly inebriated.” I take the last bite of my toast.

“Slightly?” He laughs. “You’re funny, Jen.”

I roll my eyes. “Okay, fine. I was a lot inebriated and can’t be held accountable for the things I said.”

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