He nuzzled my neck. “Maybe it’s what you need more.”
“Blackjack—”
He shook his head. “Say my name, Katarina.”
“Bishop.”
“Good girl.”
He brushed my lips with his, dropped his hand, and returned to the command center without a backward glance.
Lyra came out as he went in. “Everything okay?”
“It’s fine. I needed a break.”
“An old contact of mine has ties inside one of those private banking houses Dagger was asking about after you stepped out. He’ll only make that introduction through me. I need to know if you want me to make that call.”
“Of course, and thank you,” I said as I followed her inside.
By seventeen hundred,I was beat. I went up to my room in the main camp, showered, and changed for dinner.
Anna had been cooking all afternoon, and the dining room smelled of roast and bread. My grandmother was in a chair near the fire in the great room, with a blanket across her knees. I crossed to her and kissed the top of her head. She raised her hand and cupped my cheek.
“How was your day, Katarina?”
“Long. Tiring.”
“I suppose it would be if you stay out until four in the morning.” She patted my arm and winked at the same time Anna called us to the table.
I helped my babushka to her seat and reached for my chair when Bishop pulled it out for me, then took the one beside it for himself.
Over dinner, we all laughed at the stories Anna told about being at the camp. Reaper and Amaryllis argued about something from the morning brief. Henry leaned in and whispered something in Lyra’s ear, and she smiled. It was the first meal since we left Switzerland that felt like we were a family again.
I’d taken my last bite when Bishop put his hand on my thigh under the table. Conversations went on around us, and when Amaryllis asked if I wanted another serving, I thanked her and took it.
His hand hadn’t moved even an inch. Until I brought another forkful to my mouth. Then it did.
I finished the bite and lowered my fork. His fingers crept higher. Lyra asked me a question and cocked her head when I only nodded inresponse. He was within an inch of the top of my thigh when he lifted his hand away and rested it on the table.
The absence was worse than the presence had been.
After dinner was cleared and dessert served, Lyra announced she wanted to play cards. Anna was in. Reaper was in. Amaryllis and Henry were in. My grandmother said she’d watch from her chair. Bishop said he was in without looking at me, so I said I was too.
We played Crazy Eights. He was still seated beside me, and within three hands, his palm was on my thigh again. He started higher this time, and when his fingers pressed into my flesh, I threw a card without paying attention to what it was and lost the round.
This went on for what felt like several hours but was probably only one.
Just when I thought I couldn’t take another minute of him toying with me, he moved his arm and offered to help clear what was left on the table. I did the same, hoping I’d make it to the kitchen without breaking half of the plates I carried since my hands were trembling so badly.
I was at the sink,drying the last of the dishes, when Bishop came in from the dining room.
He glanced around to make sure we were alone, then leaned in close behind me.
“My door will be unlocked for exactly five minutes. The clock starts ticking as soon as I walk out. If you want to finish what we started last night, that’s your window.”
“And if I’m not there?”
“Then, you wait another day.”
