Page 26 of Liberating Lily

Unless that was the smarter option. Which it could be. Give him a sense of false security. Act like she was caving. And then when his guard was down, she’d get away.

Yeah. That was exactly what she was going to do. Surely, it wouldn’t be that hard to trick him.

Of course, she might have to be a bit stronger before she tried another escape. Right now, she was trembling and barely able to walk on her own.

Yeah, she’d have to wait a few days, but that’s what she’d do.

Harvey wished she was easier to read.

He wasn’t sure what she was thinking and that annoyed him.

Lily didn’t get to have secrets from him.

He sat next to her at the island, then turned her stool toward him so they were facing one another with her positioned between his open legs.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Feeding you.” He grabbed hold of her bowl and drew it over then used the fork and spoon to twist some spaghetti around the fork. Then he held it up to her mouth.

“I don’t need you to feed me.”

“And yet you weren’t eating. Plus, you have bandages on your hands.”

“Which you haven’t told me about yet.”

Oh, there was fire still inside her. Good. It hadn’t been completely extinguished by that bitch of a mother.

“Eat your food and I’ll tell you.”

She eyed him suspiciously. He just stared back at her calmly. To his surprise, she didn’t argue any more. Just took a delicate bite of the food. A small moan escaped her and she slammed her hand over her mouth, looking mortified.

“I’m so sorry!” she said around a mouthful of food. “Urgh, sorry again!”

“Why are you sorry?” he asked curiously. “I think it’s a compliment to make noises like that while eating someone’s cooking.”

“My mother would have killed me for making those noises,” she said swallowing her mouthful. “And then talking with my mouth full. It’s so rude and ill-mannered.”

“Thankfully, your mother isn’t here,” he murmured. “I am and you can make as many noises while eating as you like.”

She licked her lips nervously.

“Now, one mouthful of food equals one question. So ask me something.”

“I’m pretty sure I went to sleep on the sofa with all of my clothes on . . . did you . . . did you take my clothes off?”

And what else did he do while her clothes were off?

Harvey stiffened. “Are you implying that I touched you while you were asleep . . . intimately touched you?”

She looked so worried but she shook her head. “Of course not. I just hate not remembering.”

“You were filthy and I didn’t think you’d be comfortable sleeping like that,” he told her.

“What day is it?” she asked even though she hadn’t taken another bite of food.

However, he didn’t say anything about the spaghetti. Not yet.

“It’s Sunday.”