“And?”
“And I hate every man who’s ever typed anything about your legs. But I like knowing what the feeds see when you walk into a room. So I know what I’m protecting you from. It feels… less helpless.”
Something inside me melted.
He wasn’t just possessive. He was trying to build a map around me. Aroundus. Learning the system he loathed. Because he wanted to wedge himself between me and every gaze that didn’t deserve me.
I stood before I thought about it.
His eyes tracked me up automatically. “Where are you going.”
“Nowhere. Just… over here.”
I walked around the table, bare, and slid into his lap sideways without asking. His hands went to my hips on instinct, steadying me.
“Hi.”
“Hi.” He sounded a little dazed.
Up close, the line between his brows looked less like anger and more like worry.
“You’re not helpless. You’re the least helpless person I know.”
“I can’t take you outside. Not without turning you into a target.”
“I’m already a target. Thorne daughter. Veil’s favourite liability. The difference is, with you, I’m a target who sleeps better.”
His jaw worked. “That’s not the kind of comfort most people offer their girlfriends.”
“We both know I’m not most people. And you’re not myboyfriend.”
His grip tightened. “No. I’m not.”
I knew what he was thinking. Dom and sub meant something else to him.
“I wore this for you.”
His attention snapped down to my dress. “What.”
“Underneath. You were very distracted by cutlery when I arrived. I feel neglected.”
His throat worked. “Baby.”
“I thought, since you went to all this trouble with the date and with Veil and with your war on comments, the least I could do was remind you what you actually own.”
His pupils blew so fast it was almost funny.
I slid the strap of my dress down my shoulder. Then the other. The neckline loosened. I bunched the soft fabric at my waist, hiking the skirt just enough to show him the top edge of the set I’d chosen.
Black silk. Thin straps. Tiny bows. A hint of lace where my thighs met.
His hand flexed hard on my hip.
“Madeline.”
“Recognise them? You picked them.”
His gaze dragged down, then up, lingering.
