Page 221 of Red Marked

“I would never do that. If that’s what she wants…”

“Thank you.” His hand lands on my shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “I knew you’d understand.”

He turns and swipes the card, and Star’s door opens.

I should go back into my room and let him get on with it.

I don’t. I move to the doorway and stand there while he switches the lights on.

He goes to the dresser first and opens the top drawer. It’s empty. So is the second. He finds her clothes in the third and scoops them out in an armful and drops them on the bed. He opens the closet and stands looking at a summer dress on its hanger.

“She always did look good in pretty dresses,” he says, and takes it down.

He folds the dress and packs it.

He empties the bathroom with one sweep of his hand into a plastic bag. Toothbrush, hairbrush, the lot. Her charger comes out of the wall. Her boots go into the bag, on top of the folded clothes. He picks up the red wig and cocks his head at it. Then he tosses it in and zips it shut.

He does a slow turn to check the room, then looks at me.

“That’s everything.” He puts the bag over his shoulder and comes back to the door. I step aside to let him through. “I’ll get out of your hair. Thanks again, Flint. For everything. For bringing her back to me. I’ll never be able to repay you.”

“Take care of her.”

“I plan to.” He backs up toward the elevator. “Have a safe flight back tomorrow.”

He hits the button. The doors open straight away. He steps in, turns, and lifts his hand. Then the doors close, and he’s gone.

I stand in the hallway, staring at the brushed steel.

I don’t like that male.

Not one bit.

62

Star

The birds started up an hour ago. I’ve been listening to them get louder while the window goes from black to gray to the pale gold that means it’s a nice day out there. I haven’t slept. Every time I got close, his arm tightened, and I was wide awake again.

He’s still here with his arm draped over my ribs and his hand tucked under my hip. His chest is against my back, his knee is pushed between mine, and his breath is warm on the nape of my neck. Slow and even. He’s been sleeping like a baby all night.

I’m in full underwear, sweats, and a T-shirt. I told him I was cold, which was a lie. I wanted layers between us.

The cable ties came off last night when he got home. He kissed my sore wrists. The rope is coiled on his dresser. I can see it from here.

He stirs. His nose pushes into my hair, and he breathes in, long and deep, the way he used to. His whole body goes soft against mine.

“Mmm.” His voice is thick with sleep. “Good morning.”

I don’t move.

“I kept waking up.” He rubs his nose along the back of my neck. “I had to keep checking. I’d put my hand out, and you’d be right there, and I’d think, she’s real. She’s home.” He breathes me in again. “You smell the same. Do you know that? Five years and you smell exactly the same.”

His hand slides up over my stomach and flattens there.

I go stiff. He’d better not try anything.

“We’re going to be so happy, babe.” He’s murmuring into my skin. “We’ll take a trip to Draig Island. I believe it’s beautiful there. We’ll finally have our mating ceremony. My mom is going to lose her mind.” He laughs quietly. “We’ll fill this house up. Do you remember how you wanted three or four kids? We were so worried you wouldn’t be able to have them, but that’s not an issue anymore. Not since the vaccinations are no longer being used. Hell, you can have whatever you want. I’ll give you everything.”