I roll my eyes, a smile pulling at the corners of my mouth at his ridiculousness.
“Married? Who said I’m marrying you?” I ask, arching a brow, my tone playful. “What a strange and bold way to propose.”
He doesn’t answer, just raises an emotionless brow at me, his dark gaze unwavering. I break the eye contact first, turning away to look around again, but I can feel the weight of his eyes on me, following my every move.
“Hmm... Where are you sleeping?” I tease again. “I guess the floor’s fine.”
Without warning, he yanks me forward by the handcuffs, pulling me into his hard chest. I gasp, the sudden movement catching me off guard, before he effortlessly lifts me, clutching the back of my thighs. A startled squeak escapes me as he strides toward the bed, throwing me down onto the mattress.
He follows, coming down on top of me, positioning himself between my legs, his body settling against me while he’s propped up on one elbow.
I smirk, staring up into his brown eyes, the intensity making my stomach flutter. My hand moves to his face, my fingers gently pushing his hood down. I grab his ski mask and yank it off, revealing his tousled black hair, falling messily over his eyes. I run my fingers through the back of it, the silky strands slipping between them as I pull him closer.
“Okay... You can stay in here with me,” I murmur, my gaze dropping to his lips, feeling the electric charge between us.
He smirks—just a hint of that devilish grin, the one that makes me weak.
“You didn’t think you actually had a choice, did you?” He asks darkly.
I stay silent, our eyes locked and I sense in that moment, something shifts between us, something subtle, yet unmistakable. I can’t put my finger on it, but I feel it, deep inside me, a warmth that spreads like a slow burn, twisting and squeezing in my chest.
My hand moves to the side of his neck, fingers grazing the soft skin there. His gaze drops for a moment, as if he can sense it too, and I watch him—his body stiffening in the smallest of ways. I catch it though, the tension in his muscles, the tightening in his jaw.
He’s not used to this. He’s not used to affection. To someone being close, vulnerable, human with him.
When his eyes lift to mine again, I feel mine soften but he instantly breaks eye contact, like he’s trying to push me away, dismiss me without a second thought. The space between us feels colder, more distant as he leans over, unlocking the cuff from my wrist. The weight of his body withdraws from mine, and I feel the heat leave me.
I stare at the ceiling, my thoughts swirling, a few seconds stretching too long and out of the corner of my eye, I see him heading toward the bathroom door, moving like he’s already shutting me out.
“Tell me, Ty,” I say, my voice quieter than I intended but still firm.
He stops instantly, but remains silent, his back still to me. I sit up quickly, the movement almost desperate, and scoot off the bed. My feet hit the floor with a soft thud as I stand, my body trembling with the weight of what I’m about to say.
“Tell me everything. I need to understand.” The words come out more like a plea, but I stand taller. “There’s more to you. I can feel it.”
He side-eyes me briefly, a flash of something unreadable before he looks away again, closing off. His silence is like a wall and my chest knots with frustration. I feel the sting of tears behind my eyes, but I force them back.
“You say you want me,” I continue, my voice cracking. “You kill people, but you can’t even find the fucking balls to tell me why.” The words spill out before I can stop them, raw and real, full of the anger and hurt.
He lifts his chin, taking a deep inhale. I blink, and before I can stop them, the tears I’ve been holding back spill down my cheeks.
“Do you not know how hard this is for me?” I say, but he doesn’t move, doesn’t say a word, so I continue. “I couldn’t be there for my dad. I couldn’t help him in even the smallest way, but if I would’ve known...”
My chest constricts as I inhale shakily, trying to keep the hurt from consuming me, but it wraps around me, a suffocating weight that causes my body to tremble.
“And now I have to sit here, working out where your mind is. Why you do the things you do. Why the fuck we’re here. Whats going to happen next. What’s going to happen to YOU next.” My voice breaks, the vulnerability slipping through my defences before I can stop it. “It’s killing me, Ty. Please.”
I take a step forward, the words tumbling out faster now, desperate, as though I’m afraid if I don’t say them, I’ll lose this connection entirely. “I fucking beg you. Let me in. I can’t work you out.”
He doesn’t react immediately, and then, finally, his words cut through the silence. “Why do you want to, Kitten?” His tone is cold, devoid of any emotion.
I freeze. It’s a valid question, and I don’t have a clear answer. Is it just curiosity that pulls me toward him, or is it something deeper? A strange tug that grows stronger every time we’re near each other. Every time we connect in the most messed up ways.
Am I sinking into his hold, giving pieces of myself to someone who thrives on control, on darkness?
Or am I falling for him, in some fucked way, afraid that I could lose him like I did my dad?
Or am I seeing something that isn’t even visible. Something that makes me believe there’s more to him than he’s ever shown me. Something good.