Page 61 of Villainous Rise

I froze. The volume of data he collected about my physical state while sitting across a crowded dining room was terrifying.

“Valor didn’t notice a single goddamn thing,” Cipher continued. “He touched you like he had a right to, and then he let you starve. I don’t let what’s mine go hungry. Pick up your fork, Bishop.”

“You need to eat too,” I insisted, pushing the plate back toward him. “When was the last time you had an actual meal?”

“I’m not hungry. I’d rather watch you eat.”

“Fine.” I pulled the plate toward me and noted the perfectly cut pieces.

I took a bite and couldn’t suppress a small sound of appreciation. The meat practically melted on my tongue, rich and buttery.

“Good?” he asked, his voice rougher than before.

“Yes, it is.”

“I like watching you take what I give you,” he said quietly. “Always have.”

Christ. I took another bite to hide my flustered reaction, wondering how eating a steak had suddenly become the most erotic activity of my week.

I needed to develop better immunity to villainous charm. Or any immunity, really.

“You’re staring,” I said between bites.

“Yes.”

“It’s distracting.”

“Good. I want you distracted. I want you thinking about me instead of him.”

I snorted. “Trust me, I don’t think about Valor at all unless I’m contractually obligated to.”

“Then what are you thinking about right now?”

“The mountain of paperwork waiting for me tomorrow.” I took another bite of steak, avoiding his gaze. “Havoc’s schedule for next week. Whether my dry cleaning will be ready on time.”

“Liar.” The word was soft but absolute. “Your pulse is elevated. Your pupils are dilated. And you’re gripping that fork like it’s the only thing keeping you anchored to this table.”

I swallowed hard. Damn him and his observational skills.

“You’re thinking about my mouth.” His voice was matter-of-fact. “About where else I might put it besides that wine glass. You’re remembering how it felt against your neck, your breasts. How I made you come with just my tongue while you begged for more.”

Heat flooded my face, my body betraying me with a sharp intake of breath.

“That’s what I thought.” Cipher sat back. “Paperwork, Bishop? You’ll have to lie better than that.”

Before I could think of a response, the sound of shattering glass and screaming pierced through our private bubble as two dark figures plummeted through an opening in the ceiling, their impact with the floor sending tables flying.

The screams intensified, punctuated by the distinctive sound of an energy weapon powering up.

Oh crap.

CHAPTER 11

CIPHER

One second, Annie was sitting across from me, her eyes narrowed in that adorably suspicious way of hers, and the next, chaos. Glass and debris raining down, threatening to tear into her soft skin.

In a heartbeat, I was across the table, wrapping myself around her smaller frame, my suit’s shield activating automatically as I pulled her to the floor. My mind flashed back to that night of her bloody in the Crucible.