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“Thought that was forbidden among their kind.”

“It is.”

Unlike most of the underworld, the mage didn’t recognize the Council’s laws, believing themselves to be higher beings. An authority onto themselves. The Council didn’t object, seeing as how mage were capable of policing their own and powerful enough to do any damn thing they pleased. They had their own Syndicate that handled their law enforcement.

He tossed the sponge into the water, troubled by the part of the story she’d breezed right over. “Tell me. Did he draw energy from you?” The act was like raping someone’s very soul.

Rather than answer, she rose from the tub, and for a moment, his mind went blank. Water sluiced from her body. Bubbles glistened on her damp skin.

“Help me out?”

“Uh, yeah.” He lurched to his feet and took her hand. Regal as a queen, she stepped over the edge and onto the rug. There she stood before him in all her glory, curves inches away from his hands. He’d never met a woman who was more comfortable with her body. Proud even. Fuck, if it wasn’t sexy as hell.

If he wanted to have those curves pressed against him, all he had to do was put his arm around her waist and pull her in. Some instinct told him to do it, to hold her close, smooth that crease between her brows, make her forget. Make him forget as well.

Knowing Alistair hurt her sickened Liam. The thought of what she suffered was like a noxious sludge fermenting in his gut.

Before he could make good on the idea, she pointed to the wall. “Towel.”

“On it.” He snagged the towel and handed it to her, stepping back to a safer distance. Perhaps sensing his restraint neared its end, she didn’t ask for his help, patting herself dry. Then she retrieved a silk robe from a nearby hook and drew it on.

Once she was covered, he breathed a sigh. Thank the gods that was over.

She opened the door and turned to him. The glint in her eyes gave him pause. Gone was that glimpse of vulnerability she’d given him in the tub. That evil spark was back.

“Come, darling. I’m not through with you yet.”

Eight

From the wayLiam opened and closed his fists, along with the soft look in his eyes, Vivian suspected he wanted to comfort her. The fact he obviously didn’t know how suited her just fine. Any sympathy from him, and she’d embarrass herself more than she already had. The time for soul-wrenching revelations had passed.

She wasn’t interested in comfort. What she needed was a distraction.

Spotting the low-backed chair set in the center of the room, her pulse leaped. Gilbert, you dear man. Beside it was a small table with the items she’d requested.

Liam eyed the setup warily. “What’s all this about?”

Folded neatly on the seat was a silk tie. She picked it up and ran it through her fingers, strolling toward him. “Recognize this?” The muscle ticking in his jaw said he did. “It seems Gilbert had no trouble finding the tie you misplaced earlier.”

“You want me to wear it, now?” He held out his arms, glancing down at his bare chest and briefs.

“In a manner of speaking.” She allowed her gaze to take a similar path, taking in all that was Liam. The sight of him had liquid warmth curling between her legs. Far from lean, Liam was built like a Greek Titan, barrel-chested, with wide shoulders and thick biceps. Set the world on his back, and he’d put Atlas himself to shame.

Standing before him, she should have felt small and vulnerable. She didn’t. Instead, she felt powerful because all that muscle was hers to command.

As though he’d picked up on the predatory urges coursing through her, he backed up a step. “What are you up to, Viv?”

“Viv, Viv, Viv.” She stalked a slow circle around him, enjoying every inch of the body he’d been so reluctant to display for her earlier. “Remember those rules we discussed? Well, it’s come to my attention that you’ve broken each of them more than once in the last twenty-four hours.”

Once in front of him, she nodded at the stool. “Sit.”

“Thought bathing you was punishment for my crimes.”

“It was. But you’ve been very bad,” she purred.

He cocked his head, interest gleaming in his eyes. After a moment’s hesitation, he settled onto the chair. “Now what?”

She moved to stand behind him, looped her arms over his massive shoulders, and dangled the tie in front of his nose. “Now, I’m going to restrain your hands with the necktie you refused to wear.”