Page 50 of Brutal King

It takes me several minutes to get up. At some point during the night, I grabbed hold of the corner of the covers and pulled them over me. Even that isn’t enough to dispel the chill. If I had known I’d knock out like this, I would have gotten a fire going in the hearth.

My body protests every move as I drag myself out of Gideon’s bed and go out to the balcony where it’s warmer. I bask in the morning sun like a lizard, needing the heat to mobilize my muscles. Why is this house do damned cold?

Only when the heat from the sun has penetrated my soul, do I realize I’m still wearing Gideon’s hoodie. I slept in his bed while wearing his clothes. It feels like I betrayed myself. Did he watch me through the cameras? If he did, he’s probably got a grin from ear to ear. He must think I did it on purpose.

Didn’t you, Little Bird?

As if he actually spoke the words in my ear, I startle and whirl. He’s not there, of course, but it doesn’t matter.

“Get out of my head,” I grit through my teeth, my fingers tugging at my hair. I screw my eyes shut and repeat it. “Get out. Get out.”

But he won’t. Absent or not, he’s messing with me, driving me insane. I can almost hear his chuckling, deep and silken and so fucking amused.

Ugh. I need a distraction.

From his drawers, I pull out a white T-shirt and a pair of boxer briefs. I made a note of where they were earlier, though I did my best to repress the mental image that came with their discovery. Gideon, in a pair of these and nothing else, sleeping on his bed with all those cats curled up beside him. Sexy. Adorable.

It’s dangerous to think of him that way.

Once again, I repress those images and focus on my plan for the day instead.

Working out has never been my thing, but I crave it now. Anything to release stress and focus my energy. Since Gideon doesn’t believe in anything but silk and cashmere for my wardrobe, I’m left with no choice but to procure something from his.

What I don’t consider is the way it feels as I slip them on. The sensation of the material of his shirt on my breasts and against my thighs suddenly seems too intimate.

It’s what you wanted, isn’t it, Little Bird? To feel me like this?

I ignore him and head to the gym in the basement. All I can do is half an hour on the treadmill, but I run like the Devil is at my heels. Probably because he is. He’s whispering. Murmuring devilish things that, to my horror, make me want to do wicked things. Dirty things.

Devilish things, Little Bird? Could it be I was right? You’re. Not. Good.

“Shut up!”

I jump off the treadmill and run to the garage door. Almost desperately, I punch the numbers. My first attempt.

666.

Red light emanates from it and the wordErrorappears and I instantly regret the impulse. I’ve wasted a try even though I knew, I fucking knew, it wouldn’t be so obvious. But he’s gotten in my head and is manipulating me from afar. Which only drives my point further.

Gideon is the Devil.

Several hours later and hunger finally forces me to emerge from the dark room. For at least one hour of that, I’ve studied the image I took of the keypad. To my disappointment, there’s nothing in it that would give away what digits Gideon punches in. No wear on the numbers or fingerprints.

As I’m heading up the stairs with the intent of finding food, I hear the front door shut. I freeze, my foot on the step, as I listen intently for any other sound.

Is Gideon back? It’s just after two and he said he wouldn’t return until the evening.

I continue up, through the kitchen, and the hall that leads to the foyer.

“Hello?” I call out. There’s no answer, however, when I check the front door it’s unlocked.

Once again, I say, “Hello?”

There’s a strange sort of moan and I turn to the great room. Other than the unusual chill due to the fire being out, there’s nothing else amiss.

“Winter? Autumn? Anyone?” I expect to find a cat from the sound of it, but again, nothing.

“Damned cold house.” I tug Gideon’s hoodie tighter against my chest and go to start a fire. It’s a good thing I lived in an old house and had to do this or freeze to death in the winter since none of the men seemed to get as cold as I did.

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