I nuzzled her neck and kissed under the ear.
“Bastian?”
“Mmm?
“I’m still not going to follow orders sometimes.”
My hands clenched on her.
“But next time, I’ll leave a note.”
I relaxed. Coming from Lark, that was a big concession. “I want to see that cut on your arm.”
“It’s really minor.”
“It still needs cleaning.” I opened my top drawer and pulled out the tiny first aid kit I kept in my office.”
With a long-suffering sigh, she shoved her sleeve up.
She was right, the cut wasn’t bad at all, it had just bled a bit. I ripped open an antiseptic wipe and cleaned it off.
Reaching out, she touched my lip. Then, I realized she was tracing the barely noticeable scar above it.
“How did you get this?”
I was quiet for a minute. I finished cleaning her cut and threw the wipe in the trashcan beside my desk. “I was fifteen. A man attacked me.” I shrugged. “Plenty of predators on the street think that homeless teens are fair game.”
She stiffened. “Did he hurt you?”
“No. Even by then, I was tough and mean. I broke his nose, and he slashed my lip with a broken bottle.” I turned her arm so I could see it better. “I don’t think this cut even needs a band-aid.”
“Told you.” She leaned forward and kissed my faded scar. She took the first aid kit and dropped it back in the drawer. Then I felt her pause. A second later, she reached in and pulled out a black cloth. “My knife.”
The distinctive handle was sticking out. She set it on the desk and flicked the cloth open.
Then she looked at me. “You cleaned it. And oiled it.”
“I told you that it’s mine now.”
She cocked her head. “Do you sit in your fancy office and fondle my knife, Mr. Thorne?”
“It’s a nice knife.” And it was a connection to her.
Her lips quirked. “You can keep it.” She flicked the cloth closed and gently placed the knife back in my drawer.
Then my gaze fell on the parcel of my desk and I finally took notice of it.
The liquid feelings inside me cooled. I frowned.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“That parcel.” Reaching past her, I pulled it closer.
It was tied with a red ribbon.
Lark saw it and stiffened.
I saw that it was addressed to Lark Smith, care of Sebastian Thorne, Avernus Casino.
