his hand cupping my nape as his lips claim mine, silencing me with an exquisite kiss. I’m unprepared for the rush of desire his touch creates. When he pulls away and looks into my eyes, he says softly, “It’s a victory celebration, Kricket.”
“What did we win?” I ask breathlessly and with a smile.
“It’s what we want to win. Hearts and minds, remember?” he says as he straightens. “We need to ensure that the public opinion remains in your favor. To do that, we need to endear you to the citizens of Alameeda.”
“So . . . I should get dressed now,” I say.
“You should,” he agrees.
I wait for him to leave the room so that I can walk to the lavare and take a shower. He doesn’t move. “Aren’t you going to go get dressed?” I ask, raising my eyebrow.
He nods and says, “Mmm-hmm,” but he doesn’t move.
I finally get it and a small smile touches my lips. I pull the sheet back from me, rising from the bed. I brush past him, naked, and walk to the lavare. As I cross the threshold, I feel an arm wrap around my waist, then halt me and turn me around. I lean against the doorjamb as Kyon kisses me until my lips are full and tender.
“Wait,” he murmurs urgently. “I just need . . .” He lifts me up and carries me back to bed with him.
After we both dress for the day, he gives me the grand tour of his estate. Fulton is there to answer all my questions, which are extensive. I meet my security team in the formal gardens outside. There are a dozen of them, and I try to remember all their names. I think I have them figured out. It’s important. I plan to watch them to understand their shifts and patterns. Kyon explains that they will monitor me at a distance on the estate, but I will need to schedule them for any activity that I plan to do in the city or beyond. Of course, this is for all future activities, which will be considered only after Excelsior is no longer a threat to me. Unfortunately, no one can say when that will be, not even me.
After the security team is dismissed, Kyon and I stroll arm in arm along the path near the water. “Your house is ridiculous—you know that, right?” I ask.
“I knew you would think so. That’s why I took you to the island first,” he replies. “Does it make you uncomfortable?”
“Yes. I will get lost and you’ll never find me.”
“I’ll always find you,” he promises. “And you’ll get used to it.”
“Will I?” I wonder aloud. I sound sad, even to my ears.
Kyon immediately reacts to my tone. “Why do you say it like that?”
“I don’t know,” I lie.
He doesn’t believe me. His eyes sharpen on me and he stops walking. “What did you see last night?” he demands.
“I didn’t—”
“Don’t lie to me! You nearly died last night! Something kept you away. I need to know what it was. I’ve been waiting for you to confide in me.”
“I’m not a confider,” I reply. I’m a spy, a thief, a betrayer, a loner, but never a confider.
Kyon stares at me for a moment. He controls his anger. “You want me to hurt you, don’t you? So that you have an excuse to hurt me back?—To keep your secrets. I won’t give you that! I’m your partner in this! You have to trust me or we both die. My father is looking for any way to exploit our weaknesses. Let’s not give him any.”
“Being your partner doesn’t come easily to me. You have to give me more time to adjust.”
“I’ve given you time.”
“I want more.”
“What do I get in return for time?”
“My undying gratitude?” I reply, trying really hard not to make it sound sarcastic.
“Not good enough.”
“How about I promise you something special—something you’ll want?”
“Like what?”
I sigh. “I don’t know what. I have to figure out what you like.”
“I like information. I’d like to know what you saw in the future because it almost destroyed you. I need to know so I can prevent it from happening again.”
“You’re going to have to trust me.”
“That doesn’t work for me. That wasn’t the first time you almost died.”
“I told you: I’ll handle it. I promised I wouldn’t do that again.”
“So you can control it?” he asks.
“I think so.”
He shakes his head. “That’s not a yes.”
“I can’t deal in absolutes. I can tell you I’m trying. This