A Reputation For Revenge(37)

“Thank you.” His eyebrow lifted as he said evenly, “And I’m not going to allow you to run away.”

“What?” She jumped, flushed with guilt. “What makes you think I’m planning to run away?”

He put his hand over his heart in an old-fashioned gesture, even as his eyes burned through her. “If you run out into the desert alone, you will die in the sand.”

She swallowed nervously. “I would never...”

“Then give me your word.” In the dim light of the tent, lit by only a single lantern, his gaze seemed to see straight through her soul. He put his hand on her cheek.

“My word?” she echoed softly.

“As I gave you mine. Not just a promise. But your sacred word of honor—” his eyes met hers “—that you won’t try to leave.”

She sucked in her breath, knowing what a word of honor meant—to both of them. Her cheeks were burning as she licked her lips. “What would be the point? Do you really think I’m that much of an idiot to—”#p#分页标题#e#

“I think you are an incurable optimist. And when it comes to people you love, you make reckless decisions with your heart. I cannot allow you to put yourself at risk. So I intend to sleep here. With you. All night.”

“Here?” she squeaked. She frantically tried to regroup, to think of a way she could still try to escape. Maybe if she waited until he was deeply asleep in the middle of the night... She licked her lips. “So you’re going to sleep where—on those pillows? Or on the carpet, across the doorway of the tent?”

“Sorry. I’m not sleeping on the floor.” Coming closer to her, he smoothed a tendril of hair off her face, looking down at her with something like amusement. “Not when I have a nice big bed.”

She furrowed her brow, then with an irritated sigh, she rolled her eyes. “You mean after all that song and dance about me being your honored guest, you want the bed, while I get the floor?” She folded her arms, scowling.

Then she saw a spot on the floor not too far from the door. He was actually doing her a favor. She brightened. This would be almost too easy! Looking up, she saw his suspicious, searching glance, and tried to rearrange her own face back into a glower. She tossed her head, pretending she was still really, really mad. “Fine. I’ll sleep on the floor like a prisoner. Whatever.”

“I’m afraid that solution is also unacceptable,” Kasimir said gravely, looking down at her with his midnight-blue eyes. “There is only one way I can make sure you do not try to sneak out in the night the moment I am asleep.”

She stared at him in dawning horror.

“We are going to share this bed,” he said huskily.





CHAPTER SIX

“NO WAY!” JOSIE exploded. “I’m not sharing a bed with you!”

She folded her arms and stuck out her chin, glaring at Kasimir in a way that told him everything he needed to know.

He’d been right. She’d been planning to escape.

Narrowing his eyes, Kasimir folded his arms in turn and glared right back at her. “If I cannot trust you, I will keep you next to me all night long.”

She now looked near tears. “You’re being ridiculous!” She unfolded her arms. “Can’t you just trust me not to escape?”

His eyebrow lifted. “Sure. I told you. All you need to do is give me your word of honor.”

Her eyes widened, and then her shoulders sagged as she looked away.

“I can’t,” she whispered.

Kasimir brushed back some long tendrils of light brown hair that had escaped her ponytail. “I know.”

Her brown eyes were bright with misery as she looked back at him. “How did you guess?”

“Ah, kroshka.” He looked down at her trembling pink lips, at her cheeks that were rosy with emotion. “I can see your feelings on your face.” His jaw tightened. “But you saw how deep we are in the desert. Even with your reckless optimism, you cannot think that running away on foot in the middle of the night is a good idea.”

“That wasn’t my plan,” she mumbled.

“If you try to flee, you’ll die. You’ll be swallowed up by the desert and never be found again.”

Her shoulders slumped further, and she wouldn’t meet his eyes. “I wouldn’t...” She took a deep breath, then lifted her eyes, shining with unshed tears that hit him like a knife beneath his ribs. “I just can’t share a bed with you,” she whispered.

His hands clenched.

“Damn you, can’t you understand?” He had to restrain himself from shaking her. “It’s either share a bed with me, or I’ll tie you up as you were before, and leave you to sleep on the floor!”