Page 118 of Carnal Games

Untangling his hand from mine, like he revealed too much by his admission and wants to sever the connection, he rises from the bed. “Do you want to rest or shall I bring breakfast?”

“What time is it?” I ask.

“Ten.”

That’s how long I slept? I never stay in bed that late. The doctor must’ve given me a heavy dose of medicine. Peering at Kian, I question, “Why aren’t you at the office? You had an early meeting and have another at ten-thirty. You’re going to be—”

“Stop,” he interrupts. I snap my lips shut. “You don’t have to worry about the job. Arjun will handle it until you’re back.”

Ah! Crap! I wince, thinking how Arjun will hate me even more.

“What?” Kian asks suspiciously.

“Nothing. I felt a cramp.” His jaw tightens, not in anger but with guilt. “I’m not hurting a lot. Only when I move.”

I smile at him until his posture relaxes. “I’m working from home until you get better.”

“What? No!” I’m still unable to digest that Kian allowed me into his sanctuary. However, I’m being a nuisance and disrupting his routine.

“Don’t miss work because of me,” I tell him, twisting to the side to get down from the bed. “I’ll get out of your hair.”

“Lie back down.”

“No, I’m feeling better. I can—”

“You’re not going anywhere, Iris.”

My breath catches in my throat at hearing my name fall from his mouth for the first time. This is a dream. I’m hallucinating. I pinch myself. Hard. He doesn’t vanish and stays looming over me. Oh, this is real.

I whisper hoarsely, “You said my name.”

“Of course, that’s what she hears first,” he mutters low to himself before pinching the bridge of his nose. “Did you hear the rest of what I said?”

I blink my uninjured eye. “Not going anywhere. Where am I staying then?”

“Here.”

“Here?” I squeal, again doubting if this is all a fantastic dream. Maybe I’m still in the hospital and out under the heavy dose of pain meds.

“Yes.”

Okay, maybe not a dream, but I’m still shocked at his offer. It doesn’t sound like an offer, though. More like a statement. “Here, as in your apartment? With you? Sharing a room with you?”

“Yeah, in my apartment. With me.” He shuffles closer. “In this guest room. So I can guard you while I hunt the person who attacked you. Let Nathan know, if you must. If he has any objections, I’ll handle it. But you, Iris, are living with me.”

Without waiting for my response, like it’s a done deal I’m staying right here, he turns to leave the room.

“Where are you going?” I shout at his back.

“To bring you breakfast,” he replies. Turning around as he stops at the door, he says, “Afterward, you’re going to tell me everything you can remember about the attack.”

The next second, he’s gone.

I slump against the comfy mattress, staring up at the ceiling in wonderment. Kian, the man I’ve been chasing for ages and who always felt out of reach, basically told me he’s not letting me out of his sight for the foreseeable future.

Does this mean I’m moving in with my scary reaper?

Oh, how the tables have turned.