Page 55 of Being Bold
Selene
“What are you doing here?” Bo grunted at her in surprise, stopping halfway through the doorway.
Selene blinked him into focus, looking up from her seat on his bed. She’d almost fallen asleep after waiting hours for him to come back. Two big European-style pillows had been toocomfortable as a prop. “You disappeared, and I wanted to talk to you.”
After he’d stormed off, her stomach had clenched into disappointed knots. As the team discussed the plan, she couldn’t help but wish Bo would support her choice. Yumi hadn’t been thrilled either, but she’d agreed.
Because they had no other options.
Not unless they found the servers and could shut down Sentient Shadow before Mr. Dao’s demonstration, which was planned for three days from now. With the time crunch . . . Selene wanted to be prepared for Plan B.
B as in bait.
She shook that thought from her head and watched Bo. When the surprise cleared from his face, he shut the door, but instead of coming closer, he leaned back against it, crossing his arms. “I needed some air.”
Despite the calm timber of his voice, he didn’t seem any less angry than when he’d stormed out of the kitchen this afternoon. His gaze darted around the room, taking in the double nightstands, the tall armoire, the low leather chair in the corner as if he refused to look at her.
Miffed by it, she asked, “Why are you upset?”
“Why’d you agree to be bait?” he countered her question with a question.
She stood up with a jerk, her bare feet sinking into the plush oriental rug. “Because I can’t hide forever!” Frustration made her raise her voice. “If I want my life to return to normal, Mr. Dao has to be stopped.”
“Dammit, Selene! He’s already almost killed you twice!” Bo advanced on her in two long strides, gripping her shoulders. “Why the fuck would you want to give him another shot at it?”
She was scared and wanted him to tell her that everything would work out. Not yell at her for her choices.
Oh God, don’t cry.Tears welled up in her eyes, clogging her throat.
His grip on her shifted, his hands sliding up to cup her face. “Aw fuck. Don’t cry, ocean-eyes.”
She was trying really hard not to. Biting the inside of her lip, she blinked rapidly to keep them from falling.
“I’m an asshole.” He kissed her forehead gently. “It’s not like you don’t know what you’ve been through. Sorry I threw it in your face.”
She tried to laugh it off and only managed a choked warble. “I’m scared.”
He pulled her in, hugging her to his chest. “You don’t have to do this. We’ll find another way.”
Selene shook her head, dragging it across the muscles in his pecs. “If I don’t, and we wait, innocent people are going to die.”
His arms tightened around her. “You don’t have to be a hero.”
She sighed, clinging to him and the comfort he offered. “I couldn’t live with that on my conscience.”
His grunt of acceptance rumbled through her as it climbed up his throat. “Yeah, I get that.”
“Will you be with me?” Selene hated the desperate, clingy need that colored her question. But there was no denying it. She needed him there when things went down with Mr. Dao.
He tried to pull back, but she wrapped her arms around him and held on. “Look at me, ocean-eyes.” With the demand, he fisted a hand in her hair and tugged lightly.
He hadn’t answered her question. Embarrassment flushed her system, pinkening her skin. He was going to say no. Reluctantly, she lifted her face, tilting it up. “It’s fine. You don’—”
“I’ll be there,” he growled, cutting her off.
“Oh.” A powerful wave of relief crashed over her, loosening her knees. “Thank you,” she whispered, caught in his stare. His eyes looked darker, the low light from a bedside lamp casting shadows over the brown.
The way he stared at her. It was almost . . . romantic.
