But I don’t trust Aurielo.
And I’m horrible at being deceitful. I don’t have it in me to be someone that I’m not. But I want to survive and get away and do what’s best for my son.
I have to play the part.
Finishing my shower, I shut the water off, dry off with a towel, and dress.
The minute I’m out of the bathroom, Aurielo is practically on me.
“We need to talk.”
This has to be about what I saw last night. He wanted to talk last night, too. I avoided him as best I could, but I don’t think he’s going to let me keep avoiding the situation.
“I know,” I say and skirt past him for the bed. I climb under the covers and reach for the book that he loaned me.
I need a distraction.
Although I doubt I’ll be able to concentrate on a single page with his intense stare on me.
“Do you?” he asks, pinning me with his gaze.
“I shouldn’t have gone wandering around the house,” I say.
He snorts under his breath. “Tell me about it. Snooping is more like it,” he mutters.
“I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”
It’s the truth. I have no intention of sneaking back down into the basement. I don’t want to witness the horrors of what men like Aurielo are capable of doing to other men.
“You’re damned right you won’t,” he snaps. His eyes tighten, and he strips off his shirt.
I should glance away.
But I can’t.
He stalks to the dresser and grabs a fresh change of boxers. He strips down completely naked. It’s not the least bit modest or uncomfortable undressing in front of me.
I wish I could be quite so bold.
It’s hard not to let my gaze linger as I stare at his naked form. His chest muscles are taut. I want to reach out and run my fingers down his torso, but I keep my hands gripped tight to the book. The book that I don’t have the least bit of interest in reading tonight.
He doesn’t bother putting on the clean boxers as I thought.
No.
Instead, he stalks toward me, naked.
My breath catches in my throat.
Does he realize the effect he has on me? The room feels warm. Hot, in fact.
I push the covers down to my lap. I’m propped up with two pillows so I can read, but my focus is entirely on Aurielo’s naked form.
“I can’t protect you if you go wandering into places that you don’t belong,” Aurielo scolds.
He’s not wrong.
“I won’t do it again.” I have no desire to see his fist slamming into another man’s body. I shiver involuntarily, remembering the scene.