Page 18 of Forbidden Eyes
This feeling is fuck all to do with diabetes.
“Carter please, wait.”
I turn and see her balanced on the edge of the grass, attempting to place her bare feet on the gravel. “What?”
“Do you want to take me?”
"What?” No, of course I don’t. Didn’t before I saw her figure, certainly don’t now with my dick jumping around in my pants. And her throwing questions like that at me really isn’t helping me keep this clean.
“I’m not having him palm me off on you,” she says.
Or that.
I suppress the dirty smile that wants to erupt, and watch her fingers tighten the robe as I stare at her face.
“I… I just want to understand. See what my father refuses to let me. If he’d just let me in, he’d see I could be an asset. I want to learn.”
Not about my dick, though.
I pull in a long breath and tug my tie again, releasing the knot completely. Quinn asked this of me. All the help he’s given me over the years deserves this simple errand—doing as I’m asked without complaint or any other intent in mind.
“You want to learn. I’ll teach you.”
“Okay,” she says. Her face breaks out into a smile, which is just as fucking disarming as the rest of her. “That’s great. Good. I mean, thank you.” She fidgets a little, hands still fiddling with her robe. “So, ten, yes?”
I nod, using everything I’ve got to keep my gaze as impassive as it needs to be and directed at her face.
“I’ll be ready.”
Good.
I turn away for home again.
Hopefully I will be, too.
Six
“Sofia?” Emily asks.
“Sorry, what?”
“You were miles away. Thinking of home?”
I bury my hands in my lap and look away, guilty that home hasn’t registered in my thoughts since last night. I've been too preoccupied with whom I’ll be spending the next couple of days with to care anything for home.
“A little. I really do appreciate you letting me stay here.”
Her brows knit together. She doesn’t want to go along with my plan, but Quinn and I have an agreement, and I know he won’t break it.
“Couldn’t you just let your mother know you’re safe? She’ll be out of her mind.”
“And Dad will send an army to drag me home, and I’ll never see the light of day again. Aunt Emily, would you expect Logan to stay at home and study, not even go out to celebrate with a friend because it was in the city?”
“Well, no, but you and Logan are very different.”
“Yes, and I am an intelligent, capable woman who is sick and tired of not only being locked up, but being kept in the dark, too. I’m about to start my master's degree in the fall. Do you think I don’t have some idea of what my father and uncle do?” We've been over this several times already, and it’s getting tiresome. “I can spend a few days on my own without getting into any problems. Carter will be with me. Then, I promise to let them know I’m safe and ready to go home.”
Emily smiles at me, and I can’t quite read it. “You’ve grown into quite the remarkable woman, Fia. I know your parents are so proud of you.”