Page 318

“She may have been right. Lucian and Nik wouldn’t want me seeing their wives like that any more than I want them seeing you.”

“Speaking of Lacey, she told me something interesting today.”

His eyes came back to mine. “Did she?”

“She told me you had DarkMatter agents sending you reports about me while you were in Boston. Every hour.”

He glanced at the image on his phone again, but didn’t respond.

“You were supposed to be giving me space.”

“I did.”

“Hourly reports are your definition of space?”

“I gave you space, Mouse. I didn’t stop protecting you.”

I laughed.

The completely unapologetic delivery made it impossible not to.

“You are ridiculous.”

“Probably.”

Completely ignoring Lacey’s warning, I let my gaze travel over him, then gave his thigh a condescending pat. “You’re a very naughty little bad boy, aren’t you? Maybe someone needs to put you over their knee and give you a spanking.”

His head turned slowly.

Apparently, I’d hit a nerve.

“Mouse.”

The threat in his voice sent a pulse straight between my thighs.

I should have left it there.

Instead, I smiled sweetly and picked up my phone.

His hand closed over my wrist.

“Think carefully about your next move.”

“Why?”

“Because you’ve spent the last hour digging yourself into a hole I’m going to thoroughly enjoy watching you try to climb out of.”

I leaned closer. “Maybe I don’t want out.”

His fingers tightened around my wrist.

For one long second, neither of us moved.

“Go ahead, Mouse. Keep testing me,” he said, releasing me and settling back.

That sounded ominous.

I sent the next photograph, and his phone vibrated.