Page 163 of The ARC Unit: Breach
“Why didn’t you?”
I considered giving him a joke. Something about respecting classified information or being afraid he would throw me off the balcony if I tried. Either one would have been easier than the truth.
“Because you didn’t offer.”
His eyes stayed on mine.
I rubbed my palms over my cold knees. “I’m curious, obviously. But I’m not entitled to your face just because I’m curious.”
I held his gaze and repeated what he said in the car. “A yes means more from someone who can say no.”
The cigarette stopped halfway to his mouth and for once, Wolf had nothing ready. I became uncomfortable with the silence before he did.
“Don’t make this weird,” I said.
“I’m not.”
“You’re staring.”
“You notice that a lot for somebody who does the same thing,” he replied.
I looked at him with the bitchiest face possible. There was the faintest pull at one corner of his exposed mouth.
“Was that almost a smile?”
The mask came back up immediately.
“Seriously?”
Wolf looked toward the trees and I laughed quietly, more from exhaustion than anything else.
“Go back inside.”
“I’m fine.”
“Your legs are shaking.”
I looked down.
They were.
“Cold. Not fear.”
“Didn’t say fear.”
“Good.”
Wolf turned and nodded toward the door. “Bed, Mercer.”
The command tightened my stomach again. His eyes held mine for a second, long enough to tell me he had noticed the reaction.
I stood.
“You coming?”
“In a minute.”
I reached for the balcony door, then stopped with my hand on the metal handle.
