Tales of Darkness & Sin - Pepper Winters Page 0,108

skin. My head was throbbing and I just felt…off. I leaned my head back, squeezing my eyes shut. I was coming down with something. No wonder really, considering I’d been trapped in this dank basement in my underwear for God only knew how long.

The lock turned, but I didn’t bother opening my eyes.

Steps rang out. “Trying to ignore me, Little One?”

I still didn’t react. I felt dizzy and tired. I wouldn’t waste my energy on the man who wanted to kill me. Clothes rustled and suddenly his palm pressed to my forehead. My eyes shot open, staring into Killer’s face. For a second, I was sure I saw worry in his expression. Maybe he didn’t want a fever to kill me off and ruin his specific plans for me.

“You’re burning up.”

I smiled wryly. “See, you can let nature run its course. You don’t even have to kill me with your own hands.”

With a frown, he unchained me and picked me up.

“What are you doing?”

“Shut up for once,” he snapped.

The motion made me sick so I had no choice but to lean my head against his chest, hating how I still felt comforted by his strength, even though he was my killer. He carried me up a narrow staircase into what looked like the master bedroom. Was it his bedroom?

He set me down on the king-size bed then hovered over me. Conflict showed on his face before he straightened and disappeared through the door. I sat up slowly, even as my vision swam. This was my chance. I stumbled to my feet then plopped right back down.

Killer entered with a tea. My eyebrows shot up.

“You can’t run, so don’t waste your energy.” He set the cup down on the nightstand then pushed me back down and covered me with the blanket.

“Why do you care?”

“I don’t.”

“Then why can’t you just let me rot in your basement? Why bring me up here and give me tea if you’re going to kill me anyway?”

“Because it’s no fun killing someone this weak,” he growled before he walked over to an armchair in the corner next to the window and sank down. I lowered my head to the soft pillow, confused by his strange behavior but also oddly comforted that I wouldn’t spend my last hours in the basement.

Shuddering, I closed my eyes.

“Drink the tea,” he ordered.

That night my fever broke. My teeth clanked together as I shivered wildly, my skin hot to the touch. My underwear and the sheets were soaked by my sweat and I must have looked an absolute mess with my hair stuck to my forehead.

Maybe my pitiful sight was why Killer stayed at my side, foregoing sleep. He pressed a cold washcloth to my forehead, brows pulled together. He hadn’t said anything in hours, only watched me with this intense expression. It didn’t make sense for him to take care of me like this…unless he cared for me a little.

I doubted he generally felt pity for his victims so it was the only explanation why he took care of me. Maybe our time together had stirred something in him like it had in me. A longing for a connection, for a meaning in his life that went beyond killing.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he growled.

“Like what?” I croaked.

He shook his head and dropped the washcloth on the nightstand. “As if I’m your fucking savior. I just want to make sure I fulfil my contract.”

I laughed weakly. He stalked over to the armchair and sank down.

Two days later I was feeling much better. I finally managed to get out of bed and take a long shower, washing off all the grime. When I emerged from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my body, Killer sat on the bed. Slowly I made my way over to him. Something in his eyes gave me hope and more importantly, courage.

I stopped right in front of him. His nostrils flared and his gaze lingered on the edge of my towel, right over the swell of my breasts. “No matter what you say, I know you don’t want to kill me. If you did, I’d already be dead.”

“You know nothing,” he snarled.

I didn’t let his anger deter me. I moved even closer between his legs. Even with him sitting and me standing, we were at eye-level. He grabbed ahold of my hips, the touch possessive and threatening at once. I touched his strong shoulder then slowly trailed my fingers up his tattooed throat, surprised he