Page 39 of Stolen Temptation

I step into the room first, and his fingers release my arm.

My mouth falls open for the second time within a couple of minutes.

This is the prettiest prison cell I’ve ever seen.

Warm hardwood floors. A double window with a cushioned seat overlooking the gardens. A stately, four-post queen bed dominating the center of the room, topped with a pretty blue and silver comforter and matching throw pillows. A door in one corner leads to a private bathroom.

A private bathroom…I was expecting a rusty bucket in a corner.

For a wild, contrary moment, I’m actually excited to spend time alone in this room, to lie on that giant plush mattress and rest. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in weeks. Not that I expect that to change, but a nice bed far away from Leo is a damn good start.

I spin back toward the door, expecting to see it shut and to hear the sound of a key twisting in the lock. Instead, Rory enters and pushes the door closed behind him.

Alarm bells clang through my head.

“What are you doing?” On instinct, I step back.

“I told you that I have some questions for you.”

Merde. He did say that. “You…you mean, right now?”

“Why not?” Rory grabs the small wooden chair parked by the writing desk. “That going to be a problem for you?”

“I thought interrogations happened in dark rooms with hanging spotlights you shove into people’s faces.”

“I see you watch a lot of crime dramas.”

“Not really.” I perch on the window seat, the sun’s rays warming my lower back. Rory positions the desk chair across from me.

“Then, why don’t you let me lead?” He lowers himself into the chair, pulls a phone from his pocket, and fiddles with it for a moment. When he sets the phone down on the bed, I can see that it’s recording.

He’s recording me. This. Whatever’s about to happen.

I don’t know why the idea of sitting here while he grills me with difficult questions makes me want to jump out of my skin, but it does.

I’m so on edge I could pop, and my nerves are fried. I know this for a fact because the thought that keeps forming in my mind is,why does he have to look so freaking hot in the soft sunlight?

The question I should really be asking myself is,when did your brain melt into a useless pile of goo?

Though, some of the blame resides with him. If he was only handsome at night but transformed into a grotesque creature by day, it’d probably be a lot easier to keep my wits about me.

Instead, this feels like a multi-tiered attack.

Swallowing hard, I shove my shoulders down. I don’t know what the Kings want with me, but the sooner I find out, the sooner I can strategize.

Time to trick Rory into revealing what the hell is going on around here.

“Fine.” I tuck my hair behind my ears. “What is it you want to ask me?”

Rory’s smile widens before flattening out into a serious line. “What were you doing there last night? At Leo’s auction?”

“I could ask the same of you.”

His smile falters before stabilizing again. “Kiara, your answers to my questions are very important. And I willgetthose answers, whatever it takes. Even if I have to be here all day. Or all night.”

All day and…all night?Don’t love the sound of that.

The stammering of my heart begs to differ.