Page 60 of Broken Skulls

“But …”

I grab her around the waist and force her out of the tub. “But nothing. We’re going to find something to eat and then go to bed.”

She curls her lips between her teeth to keep herself from arguing with me.

Her fingers dig into my shoulder to steady herself as I slide a pair of my boxers up her legs. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”

“I’m not hungry. You can just take me to the basement.”

I right myself slowly, trying to figure out how to break this to her. There’s no easy way. “You’re not going to the basement.”

She takes a step away from me.

“Jackson made me promise.”

“Is he your boss?” she snips, and it kinda makes me want to smile. It’s Lizzie coming out … and I’ll love her, too. I told her I want her as she is, and I meant that shit.

I keep my face schooled. “No, but he’s my brother, and he’s right. You’ve lived in solitary too long.”

Her arms fold across her chest. Oh my god, she looks good in my t-shirt. I’m so fucking happy she is here with me that I forget what we are arguing about.

“I’ve never lived in solitary.”

Oh yeah, that.

“In your head counts as living in solitary, so just stop. You’re sleeping with me tonight, and every other fucking night for the rest of your, or my, life. At this rate I’ll die first … from hunger.” I close the distance between the two of us and give her a peck on the cheek. “Now come on, let’s see what we can find in the kitchen.”

Her brows pull together, and her mouth falls open, but she remains silent. I turn, knowing she’ll follow me out.

She quietly lowers herself into a chair. Her gaze is burning a hole in the back of my head as I open and close cupboards.

“I need time to think,” she finally says.

“About?”

“Stuff, and I need to do that in the dark room.”

“You can think aboutstuffin my bedroom. I’m not going to stop you from thinking.”

“Jacob.”

“Elizabeth.” I turn to her. “Chicken or turkey?”

“Either.”

I stare at her, waiting for a more appropriate response.

“Chicken,” she says on a sigh.

“My favorite.” I put the turkey away and grab the mayo out of the fridge. I hold it up.

“Yeah.” Again, she sighs loudly.

“I know you’re tired, but the girls told me you didn’t eat much while I was gone. So, we eat first, then sleep.”

“I’m not tired.”

“Just like you say you’re not hungry, but we’re eating and sleeping anyway.”

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