Page 27 of Hostage with Benefits

His expression hardened. “Is that really what you think of me? That I used you?”

“What else am I supposed to think? You won't talk to me, you won't explain anything, you just... keep me here like some kind of pet!”

“I'm trying to give you space,” he raised his voice to match mine. “I'm trying to... to figure out what this is, what I want, what you want. But you make it impossible!”

“I make it impossible? I'm not the one keeping secrets! I'm not the one who fucks someone and then acts like nothing happened! I'm not the one who?—“

“I'm in love with you!” he shouted, the words echoing in the suddenly silent room.

I stared at him, certain I'd misheard. “What?”

“I'm in love with you,” he repeated, quieter now but no less intense. “And it's terrifying.”

I shook my head, taking a step back. “No. No, that's not... you can't be. That's ridiculous.”

“Is it?” His laugh was harsh and humorless. “You think I planned this? You think I wanted to fall for the womanI kidnapped?”

“This is insane. We've known each other for less than a week.”

“And yet, here we are.”

I needed to get away to think clearly. This was too much, too fast, too confusing.

I turned and fled the office, ignoring him as he called my name. I ran up the stairs, down the hall to my room (aka the hostage room), and slammed the door behind me, turning the lock with shaking hands.

I sank down the doorframe, heart pounding, mind racing. Love? How could he possiblyloveme? This was a trick, a manipulation, another way to keep me compliant. It had to be.

But I couldn't forget the look on his face when he'd said it. The raw honesty in his eyes, the way his voice had cracked slightly on the words.

A knock at the door made me jump.

“Natalia.” Mikhail's voice was low and urgent. “Open the door.”

“Go away.”

“We need to talk about this.”

“There's nothing to talk about.” To my horror, tears welled up in my eyes. “Just... leave me alone.”

“I can't do that.”

“Why not? You've been avoiding me for days!”

“Because I was afraid!” The admission seemed torn from him. “I was afraid of what I was feeling, of what it meant. I've never... this isn't... I don't know how to do this.”

A tear slipped down my cheek, followed by another. Goddammit. I swiped at them angrily, hating the weakness of it.

But that’s all this was. Hormones and stress and the bizarre psychological fuckery of being kidnapped and then told your kidnapper loved you. It wasn't because his words had touched something raw and wanting in my soul, something that had been hollow for so long I'd stopped noticing the ache… right?

“Please, Natalia.” His voice was softer now. “Open the door.”

“Why should I?”

“Because I'm standing in the hallway making a fool of myself, and I'd rather not have the entire staff witness my humiliation.”

Despite everything, a strangled laugh escaped me. “Serves you right for lying to me.”

“Yes, it does.” The simple agreement surprised me. “I never expected... I never expected to find someone who looked at me and didn't flinch. Who challenged me. Who made me smile like you do.”

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