Read Online Caught for Christmas by Skye Warren - Free Book Online Page B

and find a large pair of cotton workout shorts and a white T-shirt that hangs off one shoulder. They’re too big for me, but I don’t mind. They’re like armor, and I need all the protection I can get. I’m too exposed right now, too vulnerable in every way that matters—at least I can pretend that my body is still my own.
    When I come back into the living space, he’s on the phone in the kitchen.
    He paces, vibrating with tension. “We need to find him before he—”
    There’s a pause.
    “I can’t take that risk,” West says, practically growling. “I don’t even want to leave her alone until they’re gone.”
    Another pause.
    Then a sigh. “Yeah, I got it. Thank you. I mean it.”
    It must be Blue on the other end of the line. I can tell by the familiar way West speaks, full of trust and friendship. I linger in the living room, knowing I shouldn’t be listening. It’s like the laughter I heard at the baby shower—alluring but not for me.
    He hangs up and notices me. His expression flashes blank fast enough that I know exactly who he was talking about with Blue. Me.
    “You’re looking for Jeb?” I ask.
    He doesn’t flinch, but his expression is wary. He comes closer. “We need to make sure they’re not going to target the Grand anymore.”
    “It’s okay.” It’s only natural they would be looking for Jeb. I’m surprised he let Maisie leave at all. Maybe some old-world chivalry thing. But Maisie is just as guilty as Jeb—and I’m as guilty as them both. “I understand.”
    “You do?”
    “You have to do your job and protect the Grand.” And I’m not going to fight him or evade him. Not anymore. He can fuck me until he’s ready to turn me over to Ivan. Or maybe he’ll let me go. I don’t even care anymore. They’re both the same. They both mean losing him.
    “That’s right.” His voice is cautious.
    “And you want to make sure we leave the city,” I continue, my voice cracking. “That’s only fair, considering what we tried to do.”
    His expression darkens. “You’re not leaving, Bianca. Not when I just got you here.”
    I bite my lip. “I don’t understand. Why would you want to keep me after what I did?”
    The obvious answer is my body, but I don’t fool myself. There’s an entire club full of beautiful girls at the Grand—girls who never tried to steal. He’s sexy and kind. He would have no trouble finding a girl to sleep with him. There’s no reason why he should want me.
    Though, he doesn’t look like he wants me. Not at the moment. He looks angry.
    “God, Bianca. You really can’t believe anyone wants to help you? To be with you?”
    I flinch because he’s right.
    He pulls me to the sofa. “Baby, you’re an incredible woman. Strong. Smart. Obviously gorgeous. Any man would trip over his dick trying to be with you.” He makes a face. “I should have said that better.”
    I smile, feeling shy. “I think you said it pretty great.”
    He sighs. “I hate that you doubt yourself, that you won’t let yourself trust me.”
    A knot tightens my throat. “I do trust you.”
    As much as I trust anyone, which admittedly isn’t much.
    His eyes study mine. “When I first met you, I wanted to be with you. And the way you looked at me, it seemed like you wanted me too.”
    “I did.” At his wry expression, I laugh a little. How can he make me laugh, even now? “I do want you.”
    “But every time I got close, you backed away. At first I was going to respect that. No matter that you looked at me like you wanted to touch me, no matter that I was dying to taste you.”
    My eyebrows go up. “I was a little surprised that you…you know. Did that. While I was tied up.”
    He gets a strange expression, and I have the feeling that if I touched his cheeks they would be warm. He’s blushing. “Then I saw you struggling and refusing help from anyone—not from me or the other girls. You were getting thinner, and I could see the fear in your eyes. Then you went and tried