“You should.”
He kisses me tenderly again, sucking on my bottom lip. “Maybe I’ll keep you tied up naked forever, so I can always have my way with you, whenever I want you.”
“Maybe,” I say in a daze.
Then he steps back away from my body until the sun hits me in my face, reminding me that something sinister is about to happen.
I look at Langston standing naked in all his glory. His cock is hard, but he ignores it. He made me come, but he didn’t fuck me. The one more time thing was about getting me riled up, giving me one more gift before he hurts me.
He walks over to a bag I didn’t notice before. He digs inside with his back turned to me.
I hold my breath, waiting to find out my fate. What horrible crime do we have to overcome?
When he turns back to me, he’s holding a knife.
I tense.
I can handle a knife, though. Cut me, slice my skin, mark me. I’ll still love you.
Langston’s eyes darken.
“I wish we had more time,” he whispers.
“Me too,” I whisper back.
My eyes look down, then up. “Do what you have to. Hurt me; I already forgive you.”
“You won’t forgive me for this.”
He paces back and forth a second. He doesn’t want to hurt me, just like I didn’t want to hurt him, but we have to save Declan.
“Whatever it takes,” I whisper.
His eyes meet mine again. They’re dark orbs; I can’t see any of the whites of his eyes. A hurricane of feelings roars in his eyes.
He could say it.
I love you.
I can’t stop him. I can’t shut him up with a kiss. I can’t throw my hand over his mouth. I could try to talk over him, but he would still say it.
Suddenly, I’m panicking again. I struggle against the ropes, but they’re bound so tightly. Langston himself taught me how to escape bindings, even his own, so I don’t give up. I glance up, and I see a stray end of the rope. Maybe if I can tug on it, I’ll be able to get free?
Langston says something, and it draws my attention back to him. He’s twirling the knife around in his hand.
“The next location to find the treasure is Tokyo.”
“Okay,” I say. Now, stop stalling and do the thing so you can untie me, and we can get out of here.
“Tell the kids I love them,” he says.
I frown, confused. “Sure, do you want me to stay here while you go? I don’t think they’ll let you get the treasure by yourself. I’m pretty sure I have to be there, too.”
He shakes his head.
“I’m sorry,” he says again.
“It’s okay. Stab me or whatever, and then we can go.”