Page 169 of Intense
I perch on a stool, watching him. “Are you mad at me? Was last night too much?”
He takes a breath, slides the pancake onto a plate, then turns with a smile that loosens my chest. “Last night was perfect.”
He sets the plate in front of me, passing the syrup.
“Are you not having any?”
“No, I’m not hungry.”
Something is gnawing at him.
“You sure you’re okay?”
“I’m always fine, love. Don’t worry about me.” He turns his back to wash the pan.
I take my first bite, and a soft moan slips out without thinking. His head whips around, eyes locked on me, burning.
I grin; I’m pushing and tempting him, hoping he’ll break and come over here and wrap his hand around my throat.
Nothing.
I finish in silence. He grabs my duffle bag.
“You ready to go, love?”
“Yeah. So… What’s the game?”
He taps the side of his nose. “Where we’re going is going to either make us or break us, temptress.”
A shiver slides down my spine. Break us?
“I—I don’t like the sound of that.” I stop walking.
“If something crumbles so easily, it was never meant to be. This is about revealing our true selves. It’s important to me.”
His face softens. I step forward, palm brushing his cheek. “I don’t want to hide from you.”
But the truth is coiled deep inside me. And I know exactly who I am.
A murderer.
A victim.
A woman who let men take from her to pay for medical school.
I’m not even sure I like myself.
“Secrets only kill you in the end, Stephanie. Remember that.”
He kisses my temple, then guides me out to his Mercedes.
As soon as I settle in the passenger seat, he secures his tie around my eyes, blocking my vision.
“All good?” he asks.
“Yes.”
Maybe the truth will set me free.
