"Pretend like you want to win me or something. The sex was nice, I'll grant you that. But we'd never fit together long-term, and you know it."
Even though his mind was still fuzzy from lack of sleep, an idea came to him. "Then let me prove you wrong." She opened her mouth, but he beat her to it. "We'll work together until the solstice. And during that time, we live together, research together, and you give me a chance to show you the parts of me you don't know."
Her dark brown eyes searched his. "Why would you want to do that?"
He raised an eyebrow. "I could be a coward and say it's for the child's sake." He gently brushed stray hairs from her cheek to behind her ear. "And it partly is. However, you're fascinating, and beautiful, and clever. Just imagine what we could accomplish if we stop being rivals and became partners. No one would stand a chance."
He'd purposely talked of their careers, somehow sensing the mention of feelings, or wanting her around always, or any similar romantic utterances would make her flee.
Sometime during the frenzy, he'd grown used to her heat, and presence, and voice. He'd already loved her mind before all of this, but now he loved her body as well.
Max wanted to win her forever.
Doing so was all in the details.
Since Lavinia still hadn't answered, he brushed his fingers against her cheek again and dropped his hand. The flash of her slitted dragon pupils told him she wasn't as unaffected as she portrayed. "It's just for a little over a week, Lavinia. Surely you can try to be civil with me for that long?"
More flashing pupils before she finally replied, "How do I know this isn't just another trick?"
He shook his head. "What can I do to convince you I'm being sincere in wanting to work together?"
She raised her chin. "Give me the key to hold until the solstice."
He searched her gaze. "Will you vow not to run away until then if I do?"
To most dragon-shifters, a vow was a sacred thing. While there were always bastards who didn't think twice about breaking their word, he didn't think Lavinia was one of them.
He could be fucked at the end, but he'd do it if showing a little trust earned some in return.
She finally replied, "I vow that if you give me the key, I won't run from now through the solstice."
Relief crashed over him, but he kept his tone neutral. "Fine. Then I'll have it brought here tomorrow."
"So it's really not here?"
He shook his head. "No. And that's good because I want to lay some ground rules before I hand it over."
She crossed her arms over her chest, and it took everything he had to keep his eyes on her face, not her plumped-up breasts. He stated, "We're going to be honest with each other. No bullshit, no lies, no manipulations. Think of it as us getting to know each other before our child is born."
She raised an eyebrow. "That's it? No lying?"
He closed the distance between them and resisted smiling at her hitched breath. "We'll also share a bed."
She blinked. "What the fuck are you talking about?"
"We share that bed, right behind me, every night. That way, we both know the other isn't trying to run, and we might actually get some sleep."
"Just sleep?"
"Unless you want more." He leaned to her ear and murmured, "Because as good as the frenzy was, just imagine if I could take my time with you."
For the longest few seconds of his life, Max waited. Eventually, her hand came to his still-naked chest, and heat rushed through his body. Since his growing erection was visible, she had to know her effect on him.
After running her fingers through his chest hair, she whispered, "Okay." He moved back to meet her gaze, and her voice was stronger as she added, "No bullshit, no lies, and no tricks. But I also want your promise to keep your hands to yourself."
"I will, unless you ask for me to touch you."
She shook her head. "That won't happen."