Page 41 of Cruel Betrayal

That she needs me.

But maybe, what she needs is a little sleep and for her subconscious to know that someone is watching over her.

I creep through her apartment like I’ve done before, making my way over to the bookshelf and pulling out her copy ofPeter Pan.

Sitting down, I crack open the book and get comfortable.

She can have her sleep for now.

She’s going to find out what happens when she disobeys me the moment she’s awake, though. I don’t have the patience for this shit, and with Noah breathing down my back, I don’t have the energy for it either.

She tosses and turns in her sleep, muttering beneath her breath in a way I’ve never heard her do before. Of course, I haven’t been in the apartment with her before when she’s sleeping.

“No,” she whispers, horror in her voice. “No. Don’t kill him. Don’t kill her. Please. No. Please.”

I put the book to the side and lean forward, watching as she rolls over and tries to bury herself in the couch. Standing, I cross the room and climb onto the couch behind her, curling my body around hers.

She nestles back into me, her breathing evening out again.

I think about anything other than the way her body slots against mine, trying not to poke her in the back with an erection while she’s sleeping.

This isn’t about sleeping with her, though. This is about keeping her safe and chasing away the dreams, even though I’m pissed at her.

I band an arm around her waist and pull her close to me, trying not to fall backward off the couch.

Jade shifts in my arms, rolling over and burying her face into my chest, her breathing deep.

I close my eyes, fingers drifting up and down her spine.

And then her eyes are open, and she’s staring up at me.

“What the fuck are you doing?” She jolts away from me.

She springs over the back of the couch, nearly falling over. Jade manages to catch herself on the back of the couch. “I was supposed to get away from you. You weren’t supposed to find me this quickly.”

I get up and stretch. “You forget how well I know you, love. I’ve spent months studying you and all that you do. I know who you are. I’ve always known who you are.”

I stalk toward her, and she scrambles backward, trying to keep some distance between us.

Arching an eyebrow, I keep my pace. Sooner or later, she’s going to run out of places to escape to, and then she’s going to be left with me.

“Now, why don’t you tell me how the fuck you got out of those cuffs?” I stop, letting her think that maybe she’s winning.

The false sense of confidence is going to fuck her over. It always does.

She smirks, some of the alertness coming back in her eyes. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“Careful, love. You’ve already tested me enough for one day.”

“And what are you going to do?” She steps closer to me, jabbing her finger into my chest. “You might threaten to kill me, but I don’t think you’re going to do it. You would’ve by now.”

I reach over, grabbing a vase from a shelf, slamming it against the edge.

Pieces shatter to the ground, leaving one jagged end in my hand. I hold the sharp edge to her throat, backing her up until she’s trapped between the wall and my body.

“You spend a lot of time underestimating me, love.”

She swallows hard, trying to lean away from me, even though there’s no escape. “I’m never going to love you.”