Page 53 of The Killer Who Kept Me

“Oh, my God, I’m sure you are.” I could feel sweat forming on my back. Was I breathing loudly? I was sure my cheeks were as red as tomatoes.

“I happen to have a large couch in my bedroom as well. I’m happy to sleep on it.”

“What?” There I went, squeaking again. “No way, I’m not kicking you out of your bed.”

Saros inched closer. “Em, I very much would love it if you’d share my room with me, and if you’re okay with it, my bed.”

His bed…where people touch each other and…“Sleep.”

He laughed. “I feel like you had a conversation in your head but only included me at the end of it.”

“I might have.”

“Think about it. Otherwise, you stay here, and I will figure it out.”

“No!” I absolutely shouted at him. “Sorry, I mean yes. As in, no, don’t make other arrangements. Yes I will share your bed with you…to sleep and not snore. I don’t—at least I think I don’t.”

“I don’t care if you snore.”

“You say that now.”

He cupped my cheek in his hand. “You could be a violent sleepwalker, and I’d still think you were amazing.”

A smile tugged at my lips. “You’re a sweet talker, or deranged.”

“A little of both.” And then we were kissing and all my anxiety washed away.

Saros helped me clear out the bedroom, promising that if I wanted to return to it once this was all over, I could. Truth was, I already knew I wouldn’t. There was a pull my heart had to Saros’s, and it was addicting.

“I’ll let Martha know the room is cleared, so she can get the sheets changed and use it.”

I grabbed Saros’s arm gently. “Wait.”

“Are you all right?” His concern for me was so foreign and whenever he showed it, every inch of my body buzzed.

“I should be asking you that.”

He appeared perplexed for a beat before realization dawned on him. “Because of my parents.”

“Well, yeah. I’m so sorry, Saros.”

“Why are you sorry, Em? I meant it when I said to you that you finally gave us all something.” He took my hand in his and pressed a kiss to my palm. “With so much power at my fingertips, not knowing who killed them ate at me, my whole family. We’ve grieved their loss with anger simmering beneath it all. We didn’t know who to blame, who to make pay. You gave us that. It’s everything.”

“I don’t know what to say to that.” I squeezed Saros’s hand. “If I can do anything to help.”

“You already do, Em. Believe me.”

We carried my stuff to his room, and I took in the whole place. It was slightly larger than mine, but I believed that had to do with the veranda.

“You can use any space you want.” He pointed to a closet. “I don’t use that one, so feel free.”

I unpacked everything while Saros informed Martha that the room was clear to use. By the time he returned, I was done.

“Why didn’t you just text her?”

Saros sat on the big couch he told me about. “She rarely looks at the thing; it was easier to just go find her and tell her. Plus, I wanted to check on everyone.”

I closed the closet and leaned on it. “How are your aunt and sister?”

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