Page 85 of Forbidden Confessions: Vol. 2
“Actually, they’re in someone else’s, so can we cut this chat short? A friend’s older sister called me for some…company. She’s expecting me in an hour.”
“You have a booty call?”
“Yep, and I’d rather not show up covered in your blood.”
That both fills me with relief and sobers me up. “Sure. Just one more thing… We’re going to need some supplies here.”
“I figured. I already started a short list, but text me what else you need. I’ll have stuff delivered before noon tomorrow. Can you last until then?”
I don’t know what Havana and I will eat, but if we fall into bed together, will either of us care? “We’ll manage.”
Ethan laughs. “I’m sure you’ll think of some way to pass the time.”
Then he hangs up, and I’m free to tell Havana what’s on my mind. What’s in my heart. What I hope for our future. A glance at the clock on the wall tells me I still have ninety minutes left of her birthday to make it the best I can. I’m not wasting another minute.
7
Havana
* * *
I take inventory in the kitchen, so aware that I’m with Ransom under one roof. Alone. My belly knots nervously.
Will he finally make me his…or send me away again?
“Meow.” Shadow rubs against me, looking like she expects me to solve her feline problems.
“I’d love to help you, but I don’t know how to solve my own problems.”
The fur ball circles my ankles again. I’m not sure why since she isn’t hungry. I found a can of tuna in the massive pantry, but Shadow sniffed it, took a few bites, then walked off. Same with the little dish of water I put beside it.
When she jumps up, head-butting my shin and rubbing against me, I get it. I give her a scratch behind the ears.
Don’t we all want someone to love us?
After checking out the house from top to bottom, Ransom holed up across the place, doors shut. The muffled rumble of his voice tells me he’s on the phone…and he doesn’t want me to hear. After everything that went down tonight, I shouldn’t be okay with that. I should be demanding to know who he’s talking to and why he wouldn’t let me call for medical help or contact the police. But I don’t.
Because you trust Ransom or because you don’t really want to know?
Maybe both.
I distract myself from asking more hard questions by starting a list of things we’ll need if we’re going to stay here for a few days. I munch on a protein bar I found and suck down a bottle of water I pulled from the pantry. Not exactly a celebratory birthday dinner, but it’s food. At this point, I’ll take it.
Well, you can’t say your big day turned out dull…
As I finish, measured footfalls across the tile are my only warning that Ransom approaches. I turn to find him prowling closer. He fuses his stare on me.
I can’t look away.
Ransom is shirtless, so it’s impossible to miss his inked chest and bulging biceps. But that isn’t what makes me weak-kneed. He’s an alpha male in his prime. Rugged. Potent. I shiver. My skin tingles. My heart thuds.
Shadow scampers away, skidding across the tile until she flattens herself under the sofa in the next room. Poor baby. She’s afraid of the big, bad man.
Maybe you should be, too.
But I’m not.
“Havana?” He keeps heading for me, until the only thing separating us is a few feet of empty space and the questions I’m too afraid to ask. “There are a million things I need to say to you—later. But let’s cut to the chase. You know why I came to see you tonight.”
