Page 14 of When She Tempts (The Fallen)
Giorgio points to the right. “Bathroom is through that door. The door beside it is the closet.”
“What about that one?” I ask, nodding at a third door on the other side of the room.
“That leads to my bedroom.”
A nervous laugh spills past my lips. “Is that a joke?”
“No.”
My eyes widen at the same time as something warm curls inside my belly. “Why are we staying in connected rooms?” Doesn’t that seem slightly…inappropriate? This is a big place. He didn’t choose to put me in this room because of space constraints.
The way he purses his lips tells me he thinks I’m making a big deal out of nothing. “It’s for your safety. In case anything happens, I’ll be close enough to intervene right away.”
“What could happen?” Does he honestly think someone would break into this room and kidnap me?
“Anything.”
“Why don’t you just give me a gun or something as insurance?”
“Do you even know how to use a gun?”
“Well, no,” I say, bristling.
“Then it’s either me sleeping next door to you, or a camera in your room.” His voice lowers. “Which do you prefer?”
A hot film of outrage and embarrassment sticks to my skin. “What are you going to do? Watch me while I sleep?”
“If that’s what I need to do to keep you safe.”
“What if I told you I sleep naked?”
A flash of surprise passes over Giorgio’s face, and then his eyes narrow. He drags his assessing gaze over my body, like he’s trying to imagine exactly what I might look like beneath my clothes.
My muscles freeze. All blood inside my body rushes to my face.Whydid I say that? By the time his gaze makes it back up to meet mine, I’m sure I’m bright crimson.
He drags his tongue over his upper teeth and slides his hands into the pockets of his slacks. “All jobs have their challenges.”
I deflate.
“And their perks.”
I’m sorry,what?
I must have misheard him. There’s no way Giorgio just implied watching me sleeping naked would be a perk.
Before I can attempt to read his expression, he turns away from me and takes a few steps toward the door to his room.“I take my promise to your brother very seriously, Martina. It may take a few days, but you’ll get used to being here.”
“Uh-huh.” I drag my palms over my cheeks.Pull it together.
“Me being next door is a simple safety precaution, nothing more,” he says, his voice all cool professionalism.
I swallow, still flustered. “A safety precaution against who exactly?”
When he turns back to me, his eyes soften the tiniest little bit, and it finally clicks.
He doesn’t need to say it. The answer is in his gaze.
He thinks I might hurt myself.
