Page 6 of Close Your Eyes
I swallow past the lump in my throat, unable to meet his eyes. I don’t want anyone to know I’m attracted to him. I’m sure it’s written all over my face.
I mean, I’m sure every woman here is attracted to him. How can anyone not be?
“Lazarus,” Ledger’s deep voice says. It’s been so long since I’ve heard him talk that the sound of it sends chills skating down my spine. Just like it did the first night I met him. Ledger turns his attention to me, and I gaze up at him. “Posey,” he says with a nod. “I heard I’ll be babysitting you tonight.”
“Yes, we can’t have Bane’s precious flower come to any harm while on the property tonight.” Lazarus nods, flanked by two of Delgados soldiers.
“I understand,” Ledger says. “I’ll watch her closely.” The tone of his voice when he says that is nearly feral. Like he’s angry he has to give up his night to keep his eyes on me.
“I’m sorry,” I say, barely audible.
Once Lazarus is sure I’m not going to make a run for it, he heads away, leading a small clan of Delgado soldiers with him.
Ledger twists his lips up into a tight smile as he stares down at me. I study the ink traveling up his neck, wondering what the design is beneath his white-button down.
I can tell he’s got a lot of tattoos, even though I can’t see them. All I can see are the ends of designs crawling up his neck, along his wrists, and he’s even got tattoos on all his fingers.
I’ve got no tattoos, but seeing Ledger’s ink, and wondering what the rest of his body looks like, has my pulse racing.
Lazarus turns to me before disappearing down a hallway. “No funny business.” And then he walks away, leaving me standing next to Ledger.
Ledger raises one dark brow. “No funny business?” he questions.
I shrug. “I guess he doesn’t want me to be a bad girl or something.”
Ledger’s eyes darken as he licks his lips. “Are you bad often?”
I blink. “Maybe.” I toss his word back at him.
He smirks. “Follow me.” He leads me across the floor and down a long hallway, into the same room I was in last time. I’m sure Bane made sure I got the same room. I bet this is some sort of twisted lesson Bane’s trying to teach me. Like I shouldn’t be so weak to get attacked.
I hate him.
“Here?” I ask Ledger, wishing he’d take me anywhere else.
“I’ll keep you safe. I promise.”
For some reason, I believe him, but I raise an eyebrow. “I don’t even know you.”
He shuts the door and locks it, then turns to face me, not moving away from the door. “What would you like to know?”
There are many things I’d love to know about him, but I’m sure he doesn’t want to sit here for an hour playing twenty questions with me, so I take a seat on the white couch and cross my arms. I gaze around the room, taking it in. There’s a pole in the center of the room with a small circular stage. There’re curtained off areas along the back wall, and I wonder what’s behind the curtains. Is that where my attacker sat and waited?
Ledger practically reads my mind when he sees my gaze set on the curtains, and his shoes click as he crosses the floor. One by one he opens the curtains to show off a small bed behind each one.
“We’re safe. Now, what would you like to know about me?” Ledger asks me again.
“You don’t have to entertain me.”
“I’m not trying to entertain you. You said you don’t feel safe with me because you don’t know me.” He steps closer. “So, get to know me.”
I contemplate for all of five seconds and decide to ask him what I’m dying to know. “Are you mad you have to babysit me?”
He tilts his head to study me. “Mad? No, Posey, I’m not mad. I’m annoyed that I’ve got a job to do, and Bane can’t trust any of his men to watch you.”
I bow my head. “I know. I’m sorry.”
He sits down next to me. “It’s not your fault. Can I ask you a question?”