Page 9 of Wanted

Sniffling back my tears and snot, I cleared my throat. I responded, “A lot.”

I heard his calm steps coming closer, and then, he blocked my window view, towering in front of me. “What do you need?”

“You can’t give me what I need,” I told him. I stared at his white sock-covered feet, unable to raise my gaze to meet his. “I’m in withdrawal. I relapsed before I left home.”

He crouched down in front of me, leading the back of his hand against my sweaty forehead. He sounds bored, but his body trembles curiously. “You’re burning up. Is this why you were shaking earlier?”

He noticed? I wasn’t a schoolgirl. This wasn’t cute. He was simply an observant man.

I shrugged. “It’s just a lot. I messed up. I shouldn’t have left. My brother needs me. I… Mandy needs to leave Katantia safely. I should’ve taken care of the women before I abandoned my home. She’ll suffer now… I’m so selfish. I’m ashamed…”

I mumbled away while he lifted me from the floor. “I can’t take you to a hospital if you have a seizure. You don’t exist. I’ll have to call my private doctor.”

“Why do you have a private doctor?” I asked, my mouth dry. I held unto him as he led us into the kitchen. He didn’t flinch at my touch, and I registered that.

“I don’t exist.”

“Why?”

“You shouldn’t ask questions.” He hadn’t been relaxed, to begin with, and now, he was flustered.

“I’m sorry,” I blurted out.

“Are you hungry?” I nodded. “My cooking skills are terrible. I’ll call a friend…”

I shook my head. “I can try and make something easy. What do you have in your kitchen?”

Fylox was about to refuse, but I insisted. Cooking would make me feel useful. I had my own home back in Katantia. I cooked and cleaned after myself. I was a gardener. I was a person of interest. The Katantian people loved me… Fuck. The bottom line is that I had cooking skills.

My host’s kitchen was as bare as the rest of his penthouse. I barely scraped together four ingredients for a pasta pot. I cooked with half of the spices I usually did, rolling my eyes at that fact. Meanwhile, Fylox stood close to me, observing my every move like a hawk.

I liked his attention. He was a quiet man, but his eyes spoke volumes. I avoided glancing at his neck. He hadn’t changed into a short-sleeved shirt. As I waited for the pasta to finish, I gazed at his arms, wondering if they were scarred or tatted.

“You’re a curious one.”

I nodded. “I like pretty views.”

“What’s underneath that fabric isn’t pretty.” His voice filled my eyes with sweet music. My heart was dancing to its own beat. I urged it to calm the fuck down.

“Let me be the judge of that.” I was laying it on thick. I smirked to myself as I prepared my pasta. The sauce was already finished, cooling down in the little pot on the side.

Once I finished in the kitchen, he cleaned up, not letting a single pot spend the rest of the night dirty. I admired his way of doing things. I would do the same. Mandy and I had disagreements on cleaning while we lived together.

I headed for the table, but Fylox gestured at the sofa. I scooted over to my spot from earlier, but he put a halt to that. “Sit on my lap. I need to watch your temperature.”

“I’m too heavy for that…” I blushed. Again. Pathetic.

“Let me be the judge of that.” He smirked at me, and I discovered a new sensation of melting inside.

I shifted on top of him until I found a comfortable angle. He put his arm around my back, holding me in place. I picked up my plate of food, and I started munching like I hadn’t eaten in days. Fylox switched on the television, flipping channels until he noticed I graced the screen of one. He turned the volume up.

I tried to ignore what the news anchor was going on about. It made me feel uncomfortable.

At the mention of my brother’s name, I almost dropped my plate on my lap.

“Locals in Katantia haven’t seen Weston Wraith since the ill-fated wedding. Eyewitnesses claim the royals’ private jet departed the Katantian airport after Princess Kamila’s sudden disappearance. Rumors have been floating around that Kamila herself boarded that plane, but those rumors have been shut down in a press release. He claims he has no hand in his sister’s disappearance.”

Videos of my publicity stunts in Katantia graced the screen. Pictures of my failed wedding popped up, and I couldn’t help but memorize each worried face on the screen. Where was Mandy now? She wasn’t a public figure, so the news had no obligation to report on her. I hoped she had stayed with my brother…