Chapter 87: Disoriented Resolve

Reluctantly, finger by finger, he released Caitlin. She didn’t dare make the mistake of touching his arm again. Her pulse raced as she carefully hooked the cable to the handle at the head of the coffin. "I have to put this over your eyes," she explained softly. "The sun is sinking, but there's still enough light to blind you. I'll just lay it across; you can take it off at any time." The moment the cloth touched his eyes, he tore it away, his hand shackling her wrist with a strength that nearly crushed her bones. His message was clear—he set the boundaries, not her. His eyes, dark and intense, didn’t waver from her, watching her every move. Yet despite the immense power in his grip, Caitlin had the strange feeling that he wasn’t truly trying to hurt her. "Okay, okay. No cloth," she muttered, anxiety prickling her skin as she searched for a solution. She chewed nervously on her lower lip, feeling his gaze trace the movement. He seemed to be studying her, as if trying to piece togethe