Chapter 11 #2
Grayson chuckled amusedly, though it didn’t sound quite right. He also deemed my hugging a tad crazy. But he circled his arm around me too. “Are you cold?” He rubbed my arm, trying to warm me up.
I frowned. “You’re the one without a shirt. Aren’t you cold?” I shouldn’t care.
His muscles rippled as a shiver rolled through him. “I could do with some of your warmth.”
I had the tiniest suspicion that he wasn’t talking about my body heat.
But that was silly. I zipped open my sleeping bag while he did his.
I scooted into them, and he zipped us up.
I settled into Grayson’s arms and shuddered with delight.
For someone with such a cold, unfeeling heart, he was so warm and comfortable and strong.
I wrapped one arm around him and could feel the muscles in his back move as he stroked my hair.
A warm feeling settled in my gut. I hoped that he was feeling the same comfort I did. Gods, he needed it.
“Just wait till summer the next time you make me chase you through the forest,” he grumbled against my hair.
“No way. As soon as my foot’s healed, I’m gone.”
Grayson’s silent laugh shook through us. “Sadist.”
Sleep evaded me. The images of what ten-year-old Grayson had to endure plagued my mind. I listened to his even breathing. It took him a while to fall asleep. I’d been so wrong about him. Well, sort of. And it didn’t erase what he’d done to me. He was still holding me captive.
And keeping me warm.
I clamped my eyes shut. Why was I thinking of him like that? Why was I even in his arms right now? Gods, I needed some serious help. He had been awful to me. But had it really been that awful? I bit down on my tongue. Of course, it had! He had tied me to a bed and starved me.
It was only for two days. And the rest of it had been due to my own actions.
Gods, I wanted to punch myself in the gut. What was wrong with me? Why was I making excuses for this man? Was I excusing his actions because he was suddenly kind of nice to me?
And insanely gorgeous.
I rolled my eyes… at myself. This was just like me. A good-looking bad boy with a dark past smiles at me, and my prefrontal cortex shuts down.
But Grayson wasn’t just your average leather-wearing fuckboy.
He was a career criminal. He had taken me from my family and my life like it was nothing.
He had planned on killing me when I was no longer of use to him.
And just because he had saved me from another monster and was holding me in his arms, doesn’t mean he wasn’t still thinking about killing me.
And the Gods only knew what else he had done.
Or planned to do. He was clearly a psychopath. And I was clearly insane.
I watched his face and continued to argue with myself until the sunrise.
But all the good sense I had gathered disappeared when he stirred awake.
A moan rumbled in his throat as he pulled me closer, burying his face in my hair, inhaling deeply.
I swallowed against the butterflies making their way up my body.
I couldn’t help but wonder if that was the sounds he would make if…
I darted upright. Yes, I was clinically insane.
I eyed him, my cheeks warm. Not only because of my thoughts, but also because of the graceless way I had just acted.
He looked at me questioningly before closing his eyes again, a smirk creeping to his mouth as he tugged the sleeping bag over his shoulder. “So, when the sun is up, you’re scared of me again.” His tone was something between sarcasm and amusement. “It’s the scar, isn’t it?”
I watched him nestling deeper into the sleeping bags, his breath making small clouds beneath his perfect nose. I had no witty reply. I didn’t know how to act around him anymore. Lines had been crossed, and I didn’t know how to uncross them. Or if I even wanted to.
“How is your foot? Ready for the rest of the hike?” I looked away quickly when he opened his eyes again.
“Yes, I’m ready.” I thought of the cabin. “Will you lock me in the room again?”
He sat up next to me and stretched his arms out above his head, as much as the small tent allowed. I couldn’t help but catch a glimpse of his flexing muscles.
“That depends. Will you be foolish enough to run away from me again?”
I made a face at him while he smirked at me. “That depends. Are you still planning on killing me?”
He scoffed. “With the knack you have for getting yourself into trouble, I won’t have to.”
I gawked at him. “Trouble only found me the day I met you.”
His face fell a bit, but he still smiled down at me, dark clouds starting to gather in his eyes. “Yeah, that sounds about right.” He pushed my hair behind my ear, while I squirmed nervously. I didn’t know if I wanted to move away from his touch or lean into it. I bit my lip.
He slipped his fingers under my chin and turned my face towards him again. He was always doing that. Making me look at him.
“I won’t kill you… if you’re still worried about that?”
I felt the tightness in my chest relax. I had been worried about that. About starting to feel for someone who might kill me. It was absurd. “Thank you, I guess?”
He chuckled. “You’re welcome, Princess.” He regarded me again. “Anything else on your mind?”
I bit my lip again and he smiled at it. Warmth spread through me, settling in my cheeks. I couldn’t hide the way this new side of Grayson affected me.
I cleared my throat and my thoughts. “So, are you keeping me captive forever then?”
“No, but I can’t let you go yet. I need time…” he sighed and pulled his hand through his hair, “…to think.”
I nodded. My heart soared. I was going to see Mom and Dad and Rachel and everyone else again.
“Will you be patient for me, Ava?” His voice was pleading, soft.
I nodded again. But it wasn’t time he needed. “You don’t trust me yet.”
He didn’t respond. His silence was answer enough.
“What can I do to win your trust?” The irony of my words wasn’t lost on me. Oh, how the tables have turned. I didn’t know how to feel. Everything was messed up. The world had tilted on its axis.
Grayson shook his head in amusement. He also found my words ironic. He flicked my nose playfully. “Let’s go home.” He climbed out of the tent.
I sat for a while longer, dazed. So much have changed. But I had to stay focused. I still had to get home. My real home. I had a pact to keep.