Page 38 of Glitter Rose
“There are people three blocks over.” Good start. I offer him the binoculars. “Two of them. Armed, checking buildings systematically.”
He grabs Bino and is on his feet, all traces of awkwardness gone. “Show me.”
I lead him to the balcony and point in the direction.
He scans the street, body tense, then relaxes. “I don’t know them.”
“You sure? They look like they’re searching for someone or something.”
“I’m sure.” He lowers the binoculars, handing them back. “Let’s keep quiet, avoid drawing attention.”
“But if they’re from your group?—”
“They’re not.” His tone brooks no argument. “Trust me on this.”
“So you do have a group?”
He freezes, muscles tensing like I’ve caught him in a lie.
“You do, don’t you? A whole community somewhere.”
He rubs his jaw. “It’s complicated.”
I snatch the binoculars. “Either you have people or you don’t.”
“And what if I do?” His voice hardens. “You planning to tag along?”
The words sting more than they should. “I wasn’t asking for an invitation.” No. I would have wanted to. But not if he asks like that. “Were you ever going to tell me? Or just disappear one day?”
“I was going to tell you. We’re about thirty miles north of here.”
“And you need to get back.”
“Yes.” He opens the balcony door, holding it with one arm extended. “After you, princess.”
Is he trying to push me away? Or pull me closer? I don’t get him. Is that now the end of our conversation?
Whatever.
I duck under his arm, careful not to brush against him as I pass. “Don’t call me princess.”
“Right. Sorry.” He doesn’t sound sorry at all.
Back in the living room, I curl up on the far end of the couch, as far from Knox as possible, and grab the romance novel I abandoned yesterday. He’s already back to his comic,and we sit in what feels like the world’s most uncomfortable silence.
I flip through my book mindlessly until…
His tongue traced a path down her quivering stomach, hands pinning her hips to the mattress as he tasted her most?—
I slam the book shut. My traitorous brain immediately supplies an image of Knox between my thighs, his hands holding me down, his mouth?—
“Problem?” Amusement laces his tone.
“Nope. No problem.”
“You sure? You look a little flushed.” His lips quirk up at the corners, the first real smile I’ve seen since last night.
“It’s hot in here.” I fan myself with the book, trying for nonchalance and failing miserably.
