Page 74 of Total Exposure

But she never picks it back up. Her fingers begin wandering around on my chest again. Feeling my ribs like they are fascinating. And when she lowers them down to the waistband of my jeans, there’s a moment when I have an urge to stop her. To say, “Nah. Let’s just wait on that, OK?” Or, “You’ve had a rough day. How about we just go to sleep?”

But I can’t talk to her, so I can’t say any of that. And I’ve already decided to fuck her, and now she’s practically asking for it.

So… But… Fuck.

Chapter Twenty-Five - Evangeline

He stops me before I can get any further. His hand covers mine. Holds it still on the lower part of his stomach. “What?” I ask.

I want to take the blindfold off so badly. I want to see him. I want him to talk to me. And not over that static intercom, either. I want his unfiltered voice.

He slides my hand up to the middle of his stomach and keeps it there.

I sigh, because I can take a hint. He doesn’t want me. Last night was just a tactic. A way to make me stay.

Tonight, after my display downstairs this afternoon, well, I can read between the lines as well as anyone. Tonight he’s probably just thinking I’m crazy. And I need a babysitter. And—

His kiss surprises me. His lips are soft as they touch mine, his tongue sweet as it sweeps into my mouth.

But as soon as it begins, it ends.

He untangles himself from my embrace, gets up out of bed, and walks out.

I sit up, and for a half a second, my heart beats so fast I get dizzy.

That’s the only thing that stops me. The fear of a full-on anxiety attack. Because I want to run after him. I want to turn him around, look him in the eyes, see his face, and tell him to finish what he started.

I don’t bother with any of that.

I give up instead. Flop back onto the pillows, leave the blindfold in place because I decide I kinda like being blind. I’ve been unable to see anything past my fear for so long now, what’s the point?

“Fine,” I say. “Fine. I get it.”

That’s all I have anymore. Acceptance. And Disappointment. This whole fucked-up life can just go to hell.

I wake up with the sun. The blindfold is tangled in my long hair, my eyes are tired from yesterday’s tears, and the only thing I want is to go back to sleep.

The intercom speaker crackles like a warning, snapping me back to reality. I look over at it and wait.

So many seconds go by I almost think he’s not gonna say anything. But then—“He eats lunch at the Mile High Cafe next to the capitol building. Eleven forty-five every single day he’s in court. And every day this week he is. So…”

The crackling stops. Leaving me alone to figure that statement out.

My response is a laugh. “Downtown?” I ask the chandelier. “Are you fucking stupid? That’s… that’s like…” I don’t really know how far away it is. But just a few nights ago it was insurmountably far. “I might as well just go home if I’m gonna go to the fucking capitol building.”

“So go,” he says.

“Asshole.”

“You wanted to see him? That’s where he’ll be every day this week. Go. Don’t go. Fuck if I care. You’re just a job, Evangeline. I’m just a babysitter to make sure you don’t do anything stupid.”

“That’s not what you are! You’re a watcher, not a sitter. I don’t need a goddamned sitter! You’re supposed to be helping me. You’re supposed to be—“

“I did help you,” he says, cutting me off. “I got you out of the house, in a public place, among more people than you’ve been in the middle of in a fucking decade. And then you came home and broke shit. Like a fucking kid. No, like a spoiled fucking kid. Go see him. Don’t go see him. I really don’t give a fuck. But don’t tell me I’m not trying to help you. Because I’m doing my best.”

The crackle cuts off and the silence returns to the room like a ghost haunting its childhood home.

Chapter Twenty-Six - Ixion