Page 51 of Wicked Bonds

Particularly as she had a lot of unexplored areas littered with blocks.

He wanted to know the stories there, why she hid herself away, what memories she refused to access. “I’m going to learn everything about you, Lee.”

Her eyes sparkled. “We’ll see.” She held out her hand, her eyebrow raised. Hearing the desire from her mind, he handed her his bowl, then leaned over to pick up hers. She took his fork and twirled a bite of pasta, completely unfazed by the intimacy of their shared meal.

Because it felt normal.

Like they’d done it before.

Yet he couldn’t find a thought of it in her mind to confirm that.

He couldn’t outwardly state what he wanted to know because he didn’t want her to realize how little he’d pulled from her mind. This game worked much better by leaving her under the assumption that he knew everything. It kept her from guarding her thoughts about him.

Instead, he indulged her in a round of silence while they ate.

Her mind was quiet, too.

Comfortable. Tired. Complacent.

When they finished their meal, he cleaned up the dishes and waited for the invitation he knew was coming. The one that would lead them straight to the bedroom.

The invitation he intended to deny.

Not outright. Not rudely. Just subtly.

Trust meant a great deal to him, and she’d fractured that with her memory tampering.

Which meant they had to start all over again.

That was a blessing and a curse.

A blessing in thatnewwas always exciting. A curse because of the how and why of their situation. Balthazar didn’t hold grudges—not for the long term, anyway—but he didn’t appreciate duplicity.

It would take a lot more than Leela asking him to bed to foster his forgiveness.

“Normally, this is the part where I offer dessert,” she said, her gaze running over him as she pushed herself up off the couch. “But we’re not ready to play yet.”

“No, we’re not ready to play yet,” he agreed.

“That doesn’t mean we can’t share a bed.”

“And sleep?” he offered.

“Rest,” she replied. “Dream. Fantasize. Draw out the gratification under the guise of me needing you nearby in case we need to mist.”

Amusement warmed his chest. This female truly was his equal in almost every way. “You invite me into that bed and I’ll kiss you until you fall asleep.” He wouldn’t do more. He wouldn’t do less. This was a battle of wills, one he intended to win.

Preferably with her on her knees.

“And then you’ll follow me into my dreams,” she mused.

“I’m already there,” he murmured, stepping into her personal space to take hold of her hip. “I’ve been there since Brazil.”

Her gaze went to his mouth before traveling upward to meet his eyes. She didn’t deny it.

“Take me to bed, B, and kiss me all night. Make the challenge worthwhile. Show me what I’m missing and see if you can convince me to crawl.”

His original goal to saynodied because the intent he required was absent from her thoughts and emotions.