Page 48

When Archie was distracted, I slipped a piece of chicken into my pocket. Another piece moments later.

After dinner, I make a pitstop at Cole’s room before meeting with Daeja. I rap my knuckles against his door, remembering how his eyes grazed my skin at dinner.

I knock a second time, and the door opens. Cole’s buttery smile lifts his face, and he opens the door wider for me to enter. When he shuts it and turns to me, I edge closer.

Cole holds out a hand to stop me.

“What?” I glance at his hand, as if he’s trying to show me something.

“Don’t…come any closer,” he whispers.

When my mouth falls open he continues.

“Listen…it’s so hard for me to be around you. I can’t get you out of my head.”

I smile at the confession and close the gap between us, lacing my fingers into his. “Then don’t. But we should probably work on your stare outside of these four walls. You know, trying to keep a low profile and all.”

His body tenses as our skin touches.

My head falls back to gaze up at him, my gaze settling on the soft curve of his mouth. I reminisce about all the beautiful things he can do with those lips. Years of declarations, soft kisses, and fiery moments when we’re alone.

His breath stirs a heat in my skin, his voice sultry and soft. “Do you know how hard I’m trying not to kiss you right now?”

“Perhaps it’s better if youstoptrying,” I murmur, skimming my fingertips up his muscled chest and to the nape of his neck.

“Katerina…” he growls in warning.

The lethal sound—and use of my full name—sends a shiver down my spine. A warning, and yet a dare.

Fuck it.

I close the gap between our bodies and press my lips to his. He groans into my mouth and hesitantly melts into me. Flicking my tongue across his lip, I push harder into him. His body stiffens, and he pulls away from me. I bite down a whimper of disappointment, my lips growing cold from his absence.

“I can’t.” He breathes heavily.

“Why not?”

“I’m…I’m trying to do the right thing. We’re supposed to keep a low profile—” His voice breaks into a rasp. “Gods…because if I kiss you, I can’t stop. And I won’t…stop.” His hand slides from my face, down my side, and over my hip.

He flinches. “What do you have?”

I blush, opening my pocket for him to see for himself. “For Daeja…”

“A chicken wing?”

I snort. “It’s all I could take without drawing suspicion.”

A grin cracks his tense features, his head falling into his hand as he rubs his eyes. When he looks back up at me, he’s smiling. “You always find ways to amuse me, woman.”

“How else do you propose I get her food? I worry if she hunts, she may catch someone’s attention.”

He sighs and trains his eyes on my pocket. “I’ve been trying to come up with a plan. I’ve been able to reassign the patrols away from the southern part of the lake. But I haven’t gotten far in terms of next steps.”

I blow out a disappointed breath.

“But...” He motions toward the desk and pulls the chair out for me.

I sit as he shuffles through stacks of papers fluttered across the desk. His gaze jumps, looking and searching. He finally snatches a letter and sets it in front of me, resting his finger on the page.