He doesn’t look at me, and I shudder.
“None of this is your fault,” he adds quietly. “I told you from the beginning I knew what could happen. You didn’t.”
“Did we really love each other?”
My question startles him, and something about his stunned vulnerability triggers a spark of awareness within me. He doesn’t seem like the type to let his guard down. Stranger or not, there’s no denying the way my body reacts to every movement of his.
“I don’t know. We didn’t discuss it.”
“You can read minds though, right? You know.”
He shifts slowly, a wince spreading over his features he quickly clears. His fist keeps clenching at his side as well. How much pain is he trying to hide?
“If I leave Madison, will they let you back into your room?”
“They won’t let you leave.”
I bite my lip and study my hands. “Can you give me my memories back through my ability?”
I reach toward his fingers, searching his eyes. I expect him to pull away, but he releases a ragged breath and allows my touch. The control over my visions is beginning to make them an asset, and I work to steady my breathing at the flashes of our heated relationship. I see us in his room, clawing at each other with animalistic hunger. My heart beats wildly like it must have then; my fingers tingle from this small touch. What would it have been like to explore his breathtaking body openly? To run my fingers over his hard chest, down sculpted abs. To taste his lips. My gaze sinks to the slight curve of his mouth now, and I force my brain to move forward through his thoughts. My heart stops.
Oh god. He was telling the truth.
“I’m so sorry!” I breathe out. “Daniel…” Tears burn hot in my eyes as I pull him against me and bury my face in his shoulder.
“It’s okay, Rebecca.” His voice is tender, even though I can tell he’s hesitant.
“But I doubted you! I…”
I stabbed him! Hit him.
I grip him harder, and his arms finally tighten around me in response. A weight starts to lift at the contact, a peace from each beat of his steady heart against mine. Holding him feels right—safe.
“It’s not your fault,” he says quietly, resting his lips against my hair. “They know what they’re doing.”
I press my hand on his chest, covering the hidden evidence of my betrayal. “They’re supposed to be helping us. Why would they do this?”
“The answer to that question is why you have no memories of me.”
“So, you’re not going to tell me.”
“No. Definitely not.”
I sigh and nestle against him. His fingers run through my hair in absent strokes while we sit in silence. Familiar, comforting. My body remembers every detail my brain doesn’t.
“Okay, so how do we fight them?” I ask finally.
“I don’t know, but it’s incredible. You actually have them fooled. Maybe we can use that.”
I tilt my head up to see his face. “What do you mean?”
“Our initial plan was to pretend to hate each other. You weren’t able to pull it off, and I certainly didn’t help.”
“And now?”
“You obviously did, so let’s use it. They want Senator Albertson, so let’s give them Senator Albertson. If I had to guess, that’s why you’re here. They wouldn’t have let you in without some ulterior motive.”
“Yeah, but they know he’s not really my father.”
