Page 24 of Misery
"Hour maybe. Sleep okay?"
"Better than I have in months." It's true. No nightmares. No waking in panic. Just dreamless rest beside a dangerous man. "Thank you. For staying. For not..."
"For not taking advantage?" He plates the bacon, still not looking at me. "That's a low fucking bar, Elfe."
"Maybe. But my bar's been pretty low lately."
Now he turns.
His eyes travel down my body once, quickly, then back to my face.
Controlled, but I catch the heat there before he shoves it to the side.
"Hungry?"
My stomach answers before I can, growling loudly. He almost smiles. Almost.
"Sit. Food's ready."
I settle at the small kitchen table.
He brings two plates—bacon, scrambled eggs, toast. Simple but perfect, and sets coffee in front of me, two sugars and a splash of milk.
Exactly how I take it.
"How did you know?—"
"Lucky guess."
We eat in silence for a moment.
I'm hyperaware of him across from me.
The way his throat moves when he swallows coffee.
The scars on his knuckles as he holds his fork.
The fact that he's still shirtless and I'm still in just his shirt, and neither of us has mentioned it.
"We need to head back soon," he says finally. "The club needs to know you're safe. Your parents are probably losing their minds."
My phone. Right. "I should check in."
I go and grab it from the bedroom.
Twenty-three missed calls.
Fifteen from Mom, six from Dad, two from Saga.
Dozens of texts. My stomach turns into knots.
"They're worried." Oskar's behind me. Moved silently again. "Call them."
I dial Mom first.
She answers before the first ring finishes. "Elfe! Thank God. Where are you? Are you okay? Emil said you were safe but?—"
"I'm fine, Mom. I'm with Oskar. We're... somewhere safe."
