He gives an amused rumble. “How can you be okay with knives but not guns?”
“I don’t know. Don’t ask me to explain my logic.”
I make a mistake with the code and scowl. It’s not my fault. I can’t fucking concentrate with how Wylder’s thumb is caressing the side of my neck.
I can almost hear his smirk, like he’s noticed the effect he’s having on me and enjoys it. “You should take a break.”
“I can’t. I’m so close now.”
“I could ask Ansel to do this.”
“You know Cade would never let him near Umbra.”
My chair suddenly shoots backward. I grab on to the arms with an alarmed squeak before turning to glare at Wylder. “What the fuck are you doing?”
Looking at him was a mistake. He’s taken to wearing those damn glasses every day now. There’s a fine layer of stubble over his jaw—testament to the late hour. He’s lost his tie and left the top three buttons of his shirt undone.
My mouth dries out as I picture undoing more of them, revealing the hard planes of his chest that I know are underneath. Fuck, why does he need to be so good-looking? It’s not fucking fair.
He spins my chair so I’m facing him. “I need to pay you.”
“You paid me last week.”
“Money, yes.” Wylder leans on the arms of my chair, bringing his face closer to mine. “But I’ve built up quite the debt in terms of secrets.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
“Oh, but I do,” Wylder says smoothly. “I don’t like to be in debt. Keeps me up at night.”
“Aren’t you used to me keeping you up at night?”
I immediately regret my question. That’s something past Neo would say. Not current Neo. Current Neo knows it’s better not to try to bait Wylder.
It’s too late now. It’s out there and can’t be taken back. Not with how Wylder’s eyes light up with delight. Delight and hunger. “I am. I can’t remember the last time I got a full night’s sleep. It’s all your fault.”
“Don’t blame me. I haven’t snuck into your bed since the date.”
“Doesn’t stop the dreams,” he murmurs. His gaze is fixed on my lips. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he’s wondering how they taste. “Why can’t I stop dreaming of you?”
I don’t answer. There’s not enough blood in my head for me to form a coherent thought. With Wylder’s proximity, it’s all rushed to other places.
“That can be my payment for today,” he continues. “The knowledge that I still dream of you.”
I nod rapidly. “Good. Glad that’s all settled.”
“Not quite. I still owe you six more.”
“Four,” I counter automatically. “We don’t work weekends.”
Technically, that’s not true. I worked all through the weekend trying to crack Umbra’s servers. Not that Wylder was aware of that, given I did so from the safety of my own bedroom. I’d love to say that the time away from him helped with the walls I’m trying to build around my heart.
Instead, I just missed the fucker.
Wylder’s eyes light up in triumph, and I realize I’ve walked straight into his trap. “Four it is.”
“Fine,” I sigh. “Get it over with.”
He tilts his head. “God, I’ve missed your bratting.”
