Willing Captive(32)

Her face turns thoughtful, her eyes sad. She murmurs, “Must get lonely.”

Smiling, I say just as quietly, “I could say the same for you.”

She smiles back. “Touché.”

We both lay back down on the bed with a sigh. I guess my life isn’t so bad.

At least I’m not dead.





***





Excusing myself to get something to eat for me and Boo, I run into the kitchen and my sock-covered feet, and slide to a stop only an inch away from Nox.

His blue eyes flash. “Where you goin’ so quick, princess?”

Today is one of the rare days he doesn’t have on a shirt.

My eyes strain as I beg them to remain fixed on his face and not his broad and solid chest, which is deliciously damp with perspiration.

Yum.

“Just getting something to eat.”

Nodding, he says genuinely, “Glad your appetite’s back.”

Nodding in return, I respond sincerely, “Me, too.”

And then nothing.

Awkward silence.

A loooong awkward silence.

Moving around him to the pantry, my brain reminds me that we have something to discuss with him. Just as he moves to leave the huge kitchen, which suddenly feels about as big as a mailbox, I call out, “Actually, I’ve been meaning to ask if you spoke to Mitch about me talking to my sister.”

Face void of emotion, he leans his hip on the counter. “No. Not yet.” Reaching over the counter, he picks up an apple and plays with it.

I’m a little pissed at this. He said he would try. My face turns to steel. I walk around the kitchen slamming the pantry shut, and open and close the drawers far too quickly, wanting the noise to convey my mood right now.

Nox sees right through me. “Why’re you pissed, now?”

Bombs away!

Losing my patience, I shout, “Know what would make me happy, Nox? Knowing my sister is okay! I like Boo, no, I love Boo, but she isn’t my sister, and you think I don’t know what you’re doing, and that makes you so much more of a dick! Know what would make me better than happy? Actually speaking to her and hearing for myself that she’s alive and well. Not shoving a substitute under my nose.”

A silence passes over both of us. Nox breaks it by crunching into his apple. His detachment breaks my heart.

I whisper hoarsely, “I miss her, okay? She was my only friend and- and I miss her.” I don’t dare look up at him. If I see sympathy in those deep blue eyes of his, I may just attempt to claw them out.

After a moment of getting my shit together, I shake my head to clear it and another approach comes to mind. Walking around the kitchen counter toward him, I decide to try something drastic. When I’m only a foot away from him, I jump up onto the counter and sigh deeply. Chewing his apple, he turns his bored expression over to me and I say softly, “You could be nicer to me, ya know?”

He shrugs and continues eating.

I want to throw that apple across the room.

No more playing nice. Time to turn on my wily charm. I bat my lashes at him in a most southern darling way and say a hushed, “I could be nicer to you, too.”

Have I mentioned that I’ve never flirted before? Ever?

Nox’s brow furrows and he mutters, “You got somethin’ in your eye or some shit?”

Jumping off the counter to hide my flush, I stomp out of the kitchen and shout, “Ugh!”

And I clomp off to the sound of Nox’s deep, sexy chuckle. Half way up the stairs, I remember something.

Fuck my life!

I forgot the damn food.





***





You know what I love about Boo? I love that she doesn’t take anything to heart. Thinking about my sister got me down. Really down. And I didn’t really want to spend any more time with Boo because I knew my company would be less than stellar.

When she asked me what was wrong, I told her I was tired and might just read a little then go to bed. Without a peep, she hugged me, told me it was good to have me home, and left to do her nightly duties.

So here I am, in bed, pretending to read while totally moping. My brain, preoccupied with thoughts of my family, didn’t even alert me to the fact that Nox was standing at the door watching me in silence.

When he cleared his throat, I wondered just how long he was standing there watching me watch the wall.

Looking up at him, I ask, “Everything okay?”

Nodding, he walks across the room and sits on the edge of the bed. “Yeah.”

I’m sure there’s nothing but confusion written on my face, but he doesn’t say a thing. Just pulls out the sleek, black cell phone and dials a number. Putting it to his ear, he speaks into the cell, “Ready? Yeah. Thanks.” Then hands me the phone.

Cautiously taking it from him, I slowly place it to my ear and listen. I hear people chatting, laughter, and music being played softly. A girl comes on the line giggling, she sounds confused. “H- hello?”

Holy shit! I know that voice!

“Terah?” I almost shout this.

“Lily!” She almost blows my eardrum when she squeals excitedly.

Her enthusiasm is obviously catching, because without thinking I throw myself into Nox’s lap, bouncing.