Countdown

There was no time for relaxation. Even after the food and the bath, I still felt on edge. I had to use this time to figure out how to get out of this game before it killed me.

The door burst open and Rogan appeared behind it. He stepped inside the room just as the door slammed shut behind him.

My eyes widened at him. He wore a matching robe to mine. His hair was slicked back off his face, which was now grime-free. His eyes stood out like blue-green jewels in the dim lighting.

Damn, I'd been right. He did clean up really well.

He stared at me for a moment and then eyed the room, including the buffet table. He stormed toward me and grabbed my arms.

His expression was intense. 'Are you okay?'

'Yeah, I'm … I'm fine. And you?'

'Did you eat any of this food?'

'Yes.'

He shook his head. 'Didn't it occur to you that it might be drugged?'

I raised my eyebrows. 'Actually, now that you mention it-'

He glared at me. 'It could have been poisoned.'

'I was starving to death. And I'm fine. See?' I turned around. 'Not dead yet.'

He gave me a look of relief and sat down on the edge of the bed. 'No, I guess you aren't.'

'Maybe a reward level is simply that. A reward. No poison. And apparently no cameras, either.'

'Forgive me if I'm a bit suspicious of anything that happens to us.'

God, and I thought I was tense. Rogan seemed to be the definition of the word.

I eyed his white robe. 'They gave you a bath, too?'

'More like a hosing off.'

'You smell nice for a change.'

He looked up at me. 'So do you.' He moistened his lips with the tip of his tongue and frowned deeply at me. 'But you're okay? They didn't hurt you?'

'No. I'm fine.'

'I'm very glad to hear it.' His expression softened, and he reached up to touch my face and almost seemed surprised that I didn't pull away.

His hand felt warm against my cheek. 'About what happened on the platform …' I started.

He pulled his hand away and stood up from the bed. 'I guess you have some questions for me, don't you?'

I nodded.

He started to pace the room, his expression darkening. 'I didn't kill your family, Kira. You have to believe me.'

'I believe you.' I tried to meet his gaze but he looked away.

'I don't want there to be any doubt. Not anymore. But I don't know how to prove it to you so you won't doubt it again.'

I bit my lip. 'Actually, there's a way. If you're willing.'

His frown deepened. 'If it'll prove to you that I'm innocent then I'm open to anything.'

'Are you sure about that?' I finally captured his gaze and took a step closer to him.

He nodded stiffly. 'I'm sure.'

'You might want to sit down, then.'

He eyed me curiously but didn't argue, and sat down in a nearby plush burgundy chair. I walked around to stand behind him.

'Just try to relax,' I suggested.

I leaned closer and slid my hands under his robe on either shoulder, and then down to his chest. Full skin on skin. I felt his heartbeat quicken under my touch. His breathing increased. He was so warm and still damp from his shower.

'What are you doing?' he asked, his voice a little gruff.

I moistened my lips and whispered into his ear, 'Shh. I need to concentrate.'

And I did.

And I flexed.

I heard him gasp softly as I entered his mind.

The sensations flooded over me. The true Rogan was revealed beneath my fingers and into me.

::::::::Alone

Tired::::::::

Angry::::::::

::::::::Revenge

Despair::::::::

::::::: Disappointment

Betrayal::::::::

::::::::Guilt

Sadness::::::::

::::::::Desire

It didn't hurt yet, and I sensed something else inside of him. I slid deeper into his mind.

No… I didn't do it…. She doesn't believe me…. She hates me…. She's so beautiful… so brave … so strong…. I need to kill him…. He needs to be stopped…. I need to stop this once and for all… once and for all… all my fault… all of this is all my fault..

I pulled my hands away from him as the pain suddenly knifed through my brain, and I fell to the floor holding my head and moaning.

Oh, God. The agony! It spread around my entire brain, squeezing and squeezing until I thought my head would burst. But then it finally eased, leaving behind a pain deep enough that I had to keep my eyes shut, grinding my fists into them to focus myself.

Were those actual thoughts? Did I just read Rogan's mind? But they couldn't be real thoughts. They were disjointed and didn't make any sense. They were all over the place.

It was more like an imprint-like a snapshot-of who Rogan truly was in words.

Painful words.

'Kira,' Rogan murmured as he fell to the floor beside me and gathered me into his arms. He kissed my forehead softly and stroked the still-damp dark hair back from my face. 'Are you okay? What was that? I felt you. I felt you in my head.'

Without saying anything-I wasn't sure I could have if I tried-I let him hold me, and I wrapped my arms tightly around him. I wasn't lying before. He smelled good, so very good. I let his scent fill my senses, and it helped to chase the pain away until I could think straight again.

Finally I moved back, but he held my face in his hands, staring at me so intently. His robe gaped open at the front, and I could see the smooth line of muscled chest down to his waist.

'You definitely didn't do it,' I said simply, and a great relief filled his gaze.

He shook his head. 'No, I didn't.'

'I believe you.'

'So I'm guessing you're a psi.'

'Good guess. I was low-level, but it seems to be getting a hell of a lot stronger as time goes by, if you ask me.'

He stroked the dark hair off my forehead again. 'That was a hell of a lot sexier than a regular palm reading.'

I smiled weakly. 'What can I say? I aim to please.'

He gave me a lopsided grin. 'All right, now that we've established that I'm innocent once and for all, now what?'

'Now I want you to tell me what you're really guilty of.'

His grin fell away. 'What do you mean?'