“Something other than what you’re saying.”
“Okay.” Max nods easily. “In the time since we’ve met again—or, from your perspective, just met—have I lied to you or deceived you?”
I take a beat to think about it. “No.”
“Have I made my intentions perfectly clear before doing something?”
“Yes.”
“Would it in any way benefit me to lie to you and be inconsistent?”
“Yes.”
His brows furrow. “How so?”
“You could get off on it,” I say with a shrug. “Building up fragile trust, shattering it, then laughing at me for being stupid enough to believe you.”
Max’s eyes soften with sympathy. “Flame,” he murmurs, shaking his head. “One day, you’re going to tell me what happened to you, and I’m going to torture every person who’s hurt you to death.”
“Don’t hold your breath. I’m not big on heart-to-hearts.”
Max exhales a long breath. Gazes at the floor and shakes his head. Finally, he meets my eyes again. “I’m not trying to trick you or play a prank on you. It infuriates me that you’d even go there, because that means it’s happened to you before. Was it Dagon?”
“Among others.”
“If you get me their names, I’ll bring you their heads.”
“Silly boy.” I force a smile. “I don’t need a knight in shining armor to avenge me. All I need to achieve vengeance is a sword. And maybe an AK.”
“Then consider me your blacksmith and squire.In the future. For now, shower. Strip, and give me your hands.”
“I’d prefer to have my hands free.”
“I’d prefer to avoid another assassination attempt from you. This time around, my preferences trump yours. Strip now, or I will do it for you.”
Very few living men have seen me naked. Only Dagon, actually—anyone else who tried to be a peeping tom or forcibly undressed me died,painfully. Plenty of dead men know what my body looks like, and that’s how I prefer it. I’m not in the business of putting myself in vulnerable positions, and being naked is the most vulnerable position imaginable.
“I can’t,” I whisper. I can’t freely give up my dignity. I know it’ll happen in any case—Max has proven that, in hand-to-hand, he’ll beat me. He’s anextremelygood fighter. I’ll need a weapon if I want to beat him.
Max cocks his head to the side. “Do you want me to do it for you?”
“Not particularly.”
“But you won’t do it yourself, and you understand I’ll do it for you if you refuse.” He takes a step toward me, and my ass hits the counter.Christ, I’m stooping low enough to retreat.“Admit you want my help and I won’t punish you for refusing.”
My temper flares. “I don’t wantanyone’shelp.”
“Ember.” His tone is low. “I already have several unholy things planned for when you get out of this shower. The spanking I gave you was just a warmup. Don’t test me.”
I swallow. Gaze at the floor.
“I want you to help me,” I mumble.
“What was that?” he arches a brow.
I squeeze my eyes shut.Fuck,this is embarrassing. “I want you to help me,” I say, louder.
“And I’m most happy to.”
