Chapter 38 · I have never asked you to obey me

He turned sharply. "I have never asked you to obey me."

"You told me to stay behind you."

"That was strategy."

"You told me to come here."

"That was survival."

"You held me against a wall."

His gaze dropped to my mouth again. This time, he didn't hide it fast enough.

"That," he said, voice rough, "was me stopping you from getting yourself killed."

"Only that?"

His silence answered too much.

The air between us tightened. I could feel the heat of him through the narrow space. His hand hovered near my wrist, close but not touching now.

I should have stepped away.

Instead, I reached out.

My fingers closed around his hand.

Silas went completely still.

It was the first time I had touched him because I wanted to, not because he had grabbed me first.

His palm was hot. His fingers curled around mine on instinct, careful around the burning scar.

"Ivy," he said quietly.

"Don't make this a thing."

"You just took my hand."

"I noticed."

"Why?"

I tightened my grip when another tremor shook the floor. "Because you looked like you were about to walk into that stairwell alone.