Page 41 of Stolen Temptation

“If you’re planning to kill me, why don’t you go ahead and get it over with?”

He smirks again. “And ruin all the fun?”

There’s an odd, sizzling undercurrent to his words and expression that I refuse to dissect. “You want to know about me?” Seething, I step closer to him, glaring. “Well, here’s the truth. There’s nothingfunabout my life. So, go ahead. Put me out of my misery.”

The smirk on his face melts away. He stares me down for several moments—long enough that I feel myself wavering—before shaking his head. “Lies won’t get you anywhere either.”

“Who says I’m lying?” I want to stomp on his toes again.

“A person who’s detached from life doesn’t try to escape. Not the way you did, at least.” He steadies his eyes on mine again, and they bore into me like they can tunnel straight to my brain. “Twice in twenty-four hours. Running from mafiosos. Dangling from skylights.”

I’m a glass window that Rory’s peering straight through.

The emotional exposure freaks me out. The skin on the back of my neck begins to itch, but he doesn’t relent.

Not even a little.

“A woman with no life left to live…” Rory runs his eyes down the curve of my jaw, “…doesn’t kiss like that either.”

Heat surges into my lower belly.Why’d he have to go and say that?

Mere inches separate our faces. I can tell he’s being careful not to touch me.

I frown. That’s new. Not that I want him to touch me or anything. The change just strikes me as a little weird. Unless he developed a sudden aversion to contact with my skin or body, there must be a reason.

But what?

I’m chewing my inner cheek when a potential answer hits me.

Despite the physiological chaos his proximity unleashes on me, I force myself to ask the vital question.

One Ineedanswered to plot my next escape attempt.

“There are video cameras in here, aren’t there?” Why else would he be so careful? But even with my good sight, I haven’t spotted one.

Rory’s eyes come to rest on my mouth. “Yes.”

“Where?”

He hums. “Nowhere you’ll find.”

I scowl and inspect the room again. How small must they be if even I can’t spot them? And how do I even know he’s telling the truth?

My voice lowers to a whisper.“How do you know?”

He lowers his voice to match mine. “I installed them myself.”

His wink revs my pulse. From irritation, nothing else.

Ormostlyirritation.

I force myself to focus on my surprise over his revelation and not the sexual attraction crackling beneath the surface of my skin.

Before I get carried away, I have to figure out who I’m dealing with. Underestimating Rory helped land me in my current mess. I’d prefer to avoid falling into another one.

“So, you’re an IT guy.”

His mouth crooks into a lazy, more genuine smile. “In a manner of speaking.”