This was turning out to be a disaster.
The clink of his bowl hitting the coffee table drew my eyes back to his.
Ever so slowly, he shifted to face me and hooked his left leg onto the couch while his right boot remained firmly on the carpet.
I didn’t care that he hadn’t taken his shoes off.
I planned to rip everything out of this room tomorrow and begin painting. The carpet would be the first thing to go so I’d never have to look at the spot where Milton strangled me again.
Reclining against the armrest, he just watched me.
His eyes so deep, so intense, his entire demeanour crackling with power and possession.
I couldn’t handle the way he stared. And I definitely couldn’t handle the feelings he invoked.
Grabbing his bowl from the table, I shoved it back into his hands. “Eat. I made it for you. To say thanks for helping me last night.” I couldn’t stop speaking now that stress had gathered. I did what Lily did and blurted everything. “You unlocked the cage I’ve been trapped in. You took away his power, and I’ll always be grateful for that. I’ll always be so thankful you messaged me that day. I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to repay you, but I’d like to try and—”
“Lori.” Swooping forward, he pressed his finger against my lips. “Hush.”
I blinked and shivered.
The world fell away as our eyes locked. I forgot about cakes and gratitude. All I wanted was a repeat of last night. I wanted to give him the same level of pleasure he gave me. I wanted him to know that I might never know his name, but I would always,alwaysremember him.
His finger fell from my lips, his breath catching.
A split-second decision had me snatching his bowl from his hand and tossing it back onto the coffee table.
He reared against the armrest with a scowl. “What are you—”
I didn’t let him finish. Gathering all my fledging strength, I crawled directly on top of him.
He went deathly still. His hands gripped the couch as his body turned to stone. “W-What are you doing?”
Peng jumped off the settee as my knee went between X’s legs and I planted one hand on his chest. Fighting my trembles, I reached for his mask.
“Lori, don’t—” He tried to scoot backward but the armrest trapped him.
He shook his head.
I went to pull.
His hand snapped up and locked around my wrist. “Stop.”
My eyes flashed to his. “You can’t eat with it on.”
He sucked in a breath. “I’m not hungry.”
“But I baked you a cake.”
“And I’m grateful. I’ll eat it when I go home. If you allow me to have a piece to takeaway, of course.”
I huffed. “I’m not a restaurant, you know.”
“And I didn’t expect you to bake me a thank-you.”
My heart pounded far too fast. “How could I not? What you did felt…amazing.” My cheeks burned as I forced myself to stay honest. “No one has ever…I mean, I’ve never had someone…” I swallowed hard. “That was my first time.”
“I know,” he said softly, full of gravel and gruff. “You told me no one has ever made you come.”