“No. I said I couldn’t see you anymore. And that my plans required a match with Joshi. I never gave you a reason why for either thing I said.”
I bit her lower lip, making her cry out, and then pulled back just as she tried to close the distance between our mouths.
“You are truly the perfect agent, Highness. Manipulating and twisting words so you never lie but never reveal anything.”
She shrugged. “It’s who I am, what I am. We both started our training at thirteen, but you had a father in Arin. I had Solon. We are replicas of our teachers, especially me. I’m an agent, a creation of the best in the business.”
“There is a life outside of the organization.”
“The rules are still the same. Except in the real world, it’s a solo game, and I have no one to depend on but myself.”
“You have me.”
She shook her head, her eyes clouding with tears for the briefest of moments. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore. Nothing will change.”
“You can’t believe that.”
“Please, Sam. I need you to make me forget. Just for tonight.”
I studied her.
This beautiful woman had no defenses left. If I pushed too hard, she’d break, and the last thing I wanted was to hurt her.
I sighed and reached over her head, unbuckling her cuffs.
“What are you doing?”
“This isn’t what you need right now.”
“I know what I want.”
“But it isn’t what you need.” I rubbed her wrists and hooked an arm under her knees and back, lifting her against my body.
“Where are you taking me?” She dropped her head against my bare chest.
“To bed.” I descended the stairs, keeping Devani tucked tight against me as we walked toward her bedroom. “You need to sleep.”
“Dammit, Sam, I’m not a child.”
“Believe me, I know. I’ve fucked you in every way possible.” I ignored her as she scowled up at me. “When was the last time you had a good night’s sleep?”
“Last night. I slept a whole four hours at a five-star hotel.”
On what planet was four hours a good night’s sleep?
I set her on her feet, opened her bed, adjusted everything the way she liked, and helped her climb in. “I mean more than four hours straight without waking to train or work?”
“Does it really matter? I’m home. I’ll sleep tonight.”
We stared at each other as I took in the meaning behind her words.
She’d spent the last few weeks in the various Joshi properties around the country. She couldn’t sleep if she was on the offensive. If she was working and had to stay on guard.
She offered me her hand.
Logic told me to put her to bed and leave. This vulnerable side of her wouldn’t last long. Tomorrow, she’d go back to the armored woman with the impenetrable wall. I’d come to her for answers and then planned to make her come to me. I’d resolved not to chase her anymore.
Now here she was, needing me, making me feel. This woman had me so twisted that I wasn’t sure what was up or down.