Page 46 of Her Tempting Traitor
But Gabby made no move to rise and tower over him.
Instead she pulled herself up to perch beside him, still watching him. He refused to meet her eyes, and instead judged the distance to his false foot. Could he reach it and get it strapped on, or would he be forced to hop out of here, away from her—and to go where? This was his damned room! If he began to yell for help, who would come to his aid—and could he stand the humiliation of beingrescued?
“Cassian…” Gabby murmured, reaching for him.
But he flinched away. “Jesu Christo, I thought…”
“What did you think?”
He closed his eyes, stomach souring at the thought of how badly he’d fooked this up. Days of flirting, a week of laughter, of sharing his dreams with her, oftrusting her.
Fooking hell.
He sighed and acknowledged the truth. To her. Yet again.
To the darkness behind his lids, he admitted, “I thought I could trust again. I was so bloodytiredof having to be aware every moment, I thought I could rest.”
Her fingers closed around his wrist. “Because you were home.”
Her tone wasn’t mocking. It was…soft. Understanding.
Of course, she would have been well briefed.
“I kenned they would send someone after me. I just thought I’d be smart enough to…” He twisted his head to pin her with a glare. “Smart enough to recognize a fellow spy.”
Her lips curled almost ruefully. “Well, to be fair, youdidrecognize me.”
Eventually.
And no’ before trusting ye.
“To be fair,” Cassian spat right back, “ye’re shite at investigation. Ye need to lead the mark to reveal information, no’ ask outright questions.”
She shrugged unrepentantly. “I am not the best at subterfuge.”
Nay, not his Gabby. She was bold and unapologetic—for herself or her actions. It was one of the things he admired most about her. Had admired.
And now, one of the things which would condemn him.
With a low curse, Cassian pulled his hand from her hold and ran it through his hair. “I cannae believe I trusted ye. I cannae believe I thought?—”
Allowed yerself to think. To hope.
Aye, he’d been so caught up with hishopefor a future with Gabby—fook, even a dalliance, a bit of fun!—that he’d missed all the obvious signs.
She wasn’t here to dally with him. She was here to condemn him.
And he’d been too caught up by his cock and heart to notice.
“Fook,” Cassian muttered again, sighing in defeat. “What do ye want to ken?” he asked dully, scrubbing his hand down his face. “Yer handlers are waiting on yer report, I suppose? I’ll cooperate as best I can.”
“I am not a spy, Cassian.”
At her ridiculous claim, he snorted and shook his head.
Why would she lie at this moment?
Why no’? She’s been lying this whole time, aye?
