Page 49 of Carnal Urges

I retrieve the lighter from the bed and set it on the tray of empty dishes Homer’s holding. Then I smile at him. “It’s been nice meeting you. You and Kieran are both very sweet. I can’t believe you work for such a douche.”

He suddenly turns deadly serious. “It’s my honor to work for him. He’s one of the best men I’ve ever known.”

Another one who’s drunk the Kool-Aid. The doctor said the same thing.“I think we’ll have to agree to disagree. But it was still nice to meet you. Please give Kieran my best.”

Homer can’t decide how to respond, so he leaves without saying anything.

He returns in short order with bags and bags of clothes. He sets the bags inside the door, turns to me, lowers his voice, says, “Kieran says hullo, and we’re working on the cooking thing,” then leaves again.

If only the lord of the manor were as nice as his minions.

I dig through the clothes, delighted to find almost everything I asked for. I contemplate texting Declan a list of things I’d like from Louis Vuitton and Cartier, just to see what he’d do, but decide I’d rather be shot dead than communicate with him. So I dress, eat the food Homer brought, and meditate again.

By the time all that’s finished, it’s twilight beyond the wall of windows, and I’m tired.

Unusually tired. Unless I’d had a big night out with Nat, I’m always brimming with energy. Right now, I feel like someone sucked all my energy out with a vacuum.

That’s probably what Declan was doing right before I woke up next to him in bed.

I walk around the room three times, inspecting everything again, hoping to find any clue about its occupant I might have missed, but have no luck. I also don’t find anything I can use as a weapon. Not that I think Declan is going to hurt me, but there’s no telling when the desire to stab him will present itself.

I’m about to give up and go to sleep when the man himself returns.

I didn’t think it was possible for him to look angrier than the last time I saw him, but I was wrong.

He closes the door behind him with such force, I jump. Then he stands there, staring at me with glittering icicle eyes, trying to kill me with a look.

“What did I do now?”

“What exactly did you say to Spider?”

I pretend innocence. “Was that the tall blond guy? I didn’t say anything to him.”

“No?”

Uh-oh. He knows something. Shit, I wonder if there are cameras in here?“I simply thanked him for bringing me food.”

“And what did he say?”

“Only that he wasn’t supposed to talk to me.”

Declan moves toward me, one step at a time, never taking his blistering gaze from my face. I resist the urge to back up and square my shoulders instead.

His voice low, he says, “Hewasn’tsupposed to talk to you. Thatwas a direct order. Yet somehow he left this room with little red hearts in his eyes and the strange urge to conspire with Kieran to get me to let you cook for them.”

“Oh. Really? Thatisstrange.”

He keeps moving slowly closer, a panther stalking its prey.

I clear my throat. “Actually, he was quite intimidating. He’s really got that whole strong-silent-type thing down.”

“So you’re saying he was silent? He didn’t speak a word?”

I lift my chin and meet his challenging stare. “Yes. That’s what I’m saying.”

Declan stops only inches away. He’s so close, I feel the anger coming off him in heated waves. He gazes down at me, grinding his jaw.

“Why would you lie for him?”