Page 37 of The Quiet Witness

What if he doesn’t stop?

“I’ll do it m-myself.” She pulled her hand back, scrambling to free herself from the heavy clothes weighing on her. But. Her. Fingers. Wouldn’t. Bend!

“I can do it.” She muttered. “I got this.”

She ripped her pants back, only to have it slap back on her red skin.

“Fuck!” Her hoarse scream made Ghost jump up from her feet. With a whine of unease he circled down again to warm her.

She tried again. Same result.

Her teeth sang from the way she held it clenched. Chills racking through her.

Lucien just sat there. He didn’t try and peer beneath the blanket. Didn’t reach out to help.

I’m not him, okay. A line I would never cross.

She told him not to, and he stopped.

He stopped.

Kate blinked up at him. Saw his throat bob, swallow. It was the first time she’d seen him like this.

Waiting in silence. No grin to be found on him, only a strange look. One she could only decipher as sadness as he held still next to her.

She opened her mouth. Already regretting the words that would come pouring out. “Only help me do it myself. I can’t do it… alone.”

He nodded. Relief flooding him, shoulders raising as he inched a little closer.

“I’m going to lift the blanket now, okay? I don’t need to look. Just… guide my hands.”

She bit her lip, nodding once, fighting back the shadows lingering around her mind.

Warm air poured in as he lifted the blanket an inch, hand coming to rest on hers. She flinched, breathing heavy.

He waited.

She drew in a breath. Calming herself.

One. The roaring fire, casting shadows on the white walls. Not yellow. White. Two. Ghost sticking to her like glue. Three. His hand, squeezing hers once.

She nodded once. It was all it took.

Together they peeled the layers back bit by bit. She drew up her knees to kick off the rest of her pants. He helped her out of the sweater and T’shirt. Until all that was left were her undergarments. She hugged herself tighter. Keeping watch over Lucien, fully realizing she was more vulnerable than ever before.

The panic remained. Each second the voice in her head whispered that this would be the moment he would go for it.

But he never strayed.

Chapter 16

Pleasantries

Seven days. Seven days had gone past.

Escape, fall through the ice, Lucien saving her life. Lucien helping her undress while she tried to ward off her panic. Lucien, holding himself tightly behind the line of right and wrong. Kate, allowing him, a killer, to go where she had never allowed anyone’s hands before.

And nothing had changed between them. At least, it didn’t show.