Page 54 of Blood and Lies (A Twisted Duet 1)

Heavy silence fell around us, and it instantly felt like all the oxygen got sucked out of the room.

She grabbed the towel and wrapped it around her while I pulled my pants up like a fucking sixteen year old who just got caught with his dick in his hand.

I stood, roughing my hand through my hair, and noticed Tatum standing on the other side of the room like she couldn’t get far enough away from me.

That’s right, little mouse, stay as far away from me as possible.

Glancing in her direction, I noticed the way she clutched the black towel around her body as if shielding herself—from me.

“Are you okay?”Why the fuck did I care?

She snorted. “That’s a funny question, actually.”

“No. It’s a simple one.”

With her palm against her forehead, she looked up at the ceiling. “Nothing about any of this is simple.”

For a second, I allowed myself to look at her. Like a normal man would look at a normal woman, not like a captor would at his prisoner…or slave. Tatum Linscott was beautiful. Her blonde hair hung in long waves over her shoulders, her blue eyes shimmering like sapphires. Even though she was probably consumed with fear on the inside, on the outside she looked strong, resilient…dazzling. No wonder I wanted to be inside her so goddamn much. No wonder Carlo wanted her. I finally saw her for her, a gorgeous woman with enough strength and intensity to bring any man to his knees. How was it possible that Tatum went from a guilty murderer to a beautiful woman within the span of a quick fuck?

Unable to look at her anymore, no longer able to stand the ridiculous thoughts occupying my mind, I tucked my shirt into my pants. “I’m going to ask you again, are you okay?”

“I really have no idea how to answer that.”

I straightened my jacket and looked her way. “How about honestly?”

With clear defiance, she crossed her arms in front of her chest as she glared at me. “I’ve been better.”

“You and me both, sweetheart.”

“Castello—”

I shot her a warning glare, biting my tongue. “You can’t get that right, can you?”

“Calling you sir just feels wrong.”

“It didn’t feel wrong a few minutes ago, did it?”

Her cheeks flushed, embarrassment painting her face with the kind of red I wanted to see on her ass.

“That was different,” she whispered.

“How was that any different?”

“It just was.”

I stepped forward. “Tell me how it was different, Tatum.” My voice boomed through the room, and I noticed her flinch. I wasn’t angry; I just needed to know what was different for her.

She looked at me, and the intensity in her eyes momentarily took my breath away. “It was different because a few minutes ago you weren’t the man who wanted to kill me.”

Another step, my heart beating faster, my body humming as I got closer to hers. “Who was I, Tatum?”

She swallowed, her eyes never leaving mine as I continued forward. Something was pulling me, drawing me in, luring me to her like I was no longer the hunter but now became the prey.

I stopped, my body mere inches from hers. “Tell me, Tatum. Who was I?”

She licked her lips. “You were a man who could give me what I need—what I’ve always needed.”

I leaned forward, lifting my arm above her shoulder and placing my hand against the wall. “And what exactly is it that you need?”

---