Page 16 of Finders Keep Her
“Fox?” What the hell does that mean? “And how do you know my real name!?” Now he does smile, full-on. It makes the side of his eyes crinkle, melting away some of the hard edges of his handsome face—deadly but still handsome.
“How do you know what my cock looks like?”
My mouth drops open. I don’t think I have ever been this shocked. Not even when I created the Mino Virus on accident that locked the FBI on the East Coast out until they opened their encrypted emails. I just wanted to see inside. I’m nosy, what can I say? I was also only twelve at the time, so these things happen.
“Relax.”
“Oh my God, if you say that again, I will stab you with my fork.” Relax? Really? I’ve been busted. Not only on keeping tabs on him, but also that I watched him masturbate, and he knows.
“I don’t want you spooking yourself and taking off.” He takes another sip of his coffee. How is he not mad? I’d be mad if a person was watching me. Invading my privacy and peering into the most private moments of my life.
“Where would I go? This is my safe place, and you found it.” Oh crap, he found it, and he’s all here, knowing my name and what I’m up to. That means other people could find it. “This is bad.” I jump up from my seat; the urge to flee is strong, but where would I go? My dad is here, along with everyone else that’s like family to me.
“Hey now.” Ronan's hand reaches out, snagging me by the wrist. “It’s going to be okay.” His thumb drifts back and forth, stroking me gently. “You’re safe with me.” It almost sounds like he’s saying he wants to be my safe place, but that’s insane, like the rest of this.
“How did you find me?”
Ronan seems to weigh my question carefully. “Do you need to know this to calm yourself?”
I nod, but I get the sense he already knows that. He tugs me toward him, giving me no choice but to sit in his lap. I feel delicate and small compared to him, but why is he acting like this is so normal?
“I followed you. The old-fashioned way. When you landed back in the States from Italy.” I open and close my mouth. I’d been in Italy with his sister.
It’s not impossible. Ronan goes on and off the grid, which is rather annoying. I'm starting to think it has been by design.
“How long have you known?”
“That you enjoy watching me?”
“Maybe I’m plotting your death.” I glare at him. It does nothing. “Finding a weakness.”
“Find one?”
“No,” I huff. The man doesn’t have any vices, or at least any that I could pick up on.
"Interesting."
"Interesting?"
"You'll figure it out." He shrugs.
"Don't shrug at me."
"I apologize." His face is so straight I can't read if he's teasing me or not. I didn't perceive him as someone who apologizes, since everything he does is with purpose.
I want to ask if he's following me because he's mad that I've been watching him, but I can't bring myself to do it. In fact, I want to skip around it. The whole masturbating thing too.
"Why are you here?"
"To keep you safe."
"Oh." Right. "Cosima sent you?" I've been a shitty friend. At least in appearance. I dropped off the map, but it was to keep everyone safe.
"No. She doesn't know I'm here."
"Really?"
"Z knows I'm with you, but I didn't tell him or anyone else, for that matter, where you are."
