He looked back down at Leah and made a decision. Half-leading, half-dragging her still giggling frame, he guided her to the far less crowded hall that led to the restrooms. There, he pressed her into the wall and got close.
She put her hands on his chest and smiled up at him.
Lucien felt his chest get tight. This feeling wasn’t unpleasant in the slightest.
“That’s usually Justin’s gig,” she said through her smile.
“Pardon?” Lucien asked, smiling back, his arms sliding around her waist to pull her closer even as he leaned into her, pressing her back into the wall.
“Mind control. Justin was the master.” Then she laughed again, out loud, her body sagging into his. When she controlled herself she told him, “If I’d have known you six months ago, I would have paid you to mind control Justin. He was such a shit, the master manipulator.”
“You wouldn’t have had to pay me, my pet. It would have been my pleasure.” He was still smiling but his words were serious.
They also sobered her. Her body twitched and the smile died on her face.
Lucien wanted it back.
“Don’t,” he warned, his arms tightening.
She looked around, noticing for the first time where she was. Then her eyes locked at the entryway five feet down the hall.
“We should get back to Stephanie –”
“Look at me, Leah.”
For the first time in weeks he watched her struggling against her natural reaction before her eyes met his.
“For five minutes, I had you back. Don’t go away again,” he demanded.
“But you already –” she started and he cut her off.
“If you tell me I’ve already got you, I swear to Christ, we’re going home right now and I’ll do whatever I have to do to drag you out of that f**king fortress you’ve built around you.”
Her mouth clamped shut, her eyes flashed and Lucien felt a bolt of elation rip through him.
Finally, he was getting somewhere.
“Can we talk about this later?” she asked quietly.
“There’s nothing to talk about,” he told her. “You’re withholding from me.”
“Am not,” she returned.
“Leah.” Her name was a warning.
“Well, I’m not!” Her voice was rising and Lucien welcomed it.
Because of this, his tone softened when he spoke. “You forget, sweetling, I’ve been watching you for twenty years.”
Her eyes slid away and she muttered, “I haven’t forgotten that.”
His arms gave her a squeeze and her gaze came back to his.
“Therefore, I know the Leah Buchanan who I’m sharing a bed with is not Leah Buchanan.”
“She is,” Leah retorted.
Stubborn. He nearly smiled.