Stuck, he didn’t know how to answer her question. He was clearly her hope… she relied on him now and he was certain he’d become the centre of her universe… but what happened when the sun dies out? Slowly, the Earth would die. If he destroyed Nine’s hope… would she wither away and die? He didn’t want that.
“It’s not fair to ask me such a question. Why would I admit something that might never be possible? Misleading you wouldn’t be fair.”
Yet another statement that didn’t make sense.
“I just want to know, Kade. I want to know if I’m the only one who is affected by all of this.”
She wasn’t. “I can keep you forever, Nine, but I can’t feel anything for you. In life, I value power and control, not love and companionship,”
“And once you kill your father and we move into the city, then what?”
That was a question he hadn’t pondered. Once he murdered his father, then what?
“Our window is shrinking.” He was done with the conversation. He didn’t need Nine in his head right before he took his father’s life. With a swift nod, Nine wiped the palms of her hands down the front of her dress. “So I distract your father and you kill him?”
“As simple as that.”
Abruptly, she turned on her heel and headed for the door. There was a slump in her shoulders and it made him feel like shit. He knew he shouldn’t drag her into his problems… but she was the only person he trusted. She was the only person he wanted to share his problems with.
“Nine…” Shit. He swallowed air as her name fell from his lips and she stopped as he bit his tongue.
He wanted to tell her to sit this one out and wait for him to come back. After all, she was an innocent that he was using to make his job that little bit easier. Glancing over her shoulder, her violet eyes looked hopeful. She wanted out and he didn’t blame her. However, if he showed her compassion and let her out now, it would go against everything he’d just said.
“Remember, keep your touches light and move on the tips of your toes.”
Her hopeful stare fell, the pretty violet shade seemingly more cloudy than clear. Fuck. That wasn’t what he wanted to say at all.
“And no kissing,” she added. “Got it.”
She left then, and he would follow shortly. The no kissing rule was a rash decision he made when the thought of her supple, moist lips pressing against his father’s entered his mind. Kade didn’t want his father to experience something so heavenly before his death. He knew his rule made it harder on Nine. To seduce someone into incoherence without touching them was a skill not many had and not many could master. This night, he knew his plan would either work… Or fail. And god help them if it failed.
∞ Nine ∞
Who does he think he is? Asshole. I make my way down the stairs and I see him move along the hallway out of the corner of my eye. From my own observation, I know Michael sleeps in a room on the lower level by one of the main sitting rooms. I don’t know why he chooses to sleep on the lower floor, but it seems he wants to be as close to the front exit as he possibly can. Movement in this end of the manor is low at this time of night. Most guests are either outside and waiting for dinner or in their rooms dressing. According to Kade, Michael will be in his room any minute now for a wardrobe change. I approach his room, my hands shaking as I reach for the door handle. I slip inside.
His room is massive, much bigger than any other room in the house, and everything is an eerie shade of white. From the bed to the drapes—to the rugs and couches. All I see is white.
Kade snorts as he enters the room behind me and closes the door. I peer over my shoulder as he pulls a long, thin blade from his inside pocket.
“You’re not going to kill him quick? With a gun or something?”
Kade cocks an eyebrow and, god dammit, my heart skips a beat. “Do you want to get caught? A knife is the better, more silent option.”
Oh, right. Guns go bang.
“I’m lucky I didn’t get you to kill him on your own. You’d probably do it in a room full of people while blowing a whistle.”
I roll my eyes. I’m not that hopeless. “Go hide somewhere while I do my thing.”
I finger the knot on my shoulder and, rather aggressively, Kade steps forward. I pause in my movements. He’s looking at me like he did earlier… like he wants to say something, but his brain is refusing to let him. Instead of talking, he frowns.
“What’s your thing?”
Who’s the curious one now? I shrug with a smirk. “Get naked and be sexy, you know, the usual.”
His full lips purse and I’m not going to lie, seeing him try to bite back his small amount of jealousy is kind of sexy. That being said, can you even be jealous of something you claim to not care about? Who knows? I’m onto you, Mr. Sario. He swats at my fingers, knocking them away from the knot on my shoulder. “You’ll keep the dress on. Use your words and your movements. I told you, seduction isn’t about being sexual, it’s about being confident.”