Page 8

“I did.”

She looks almost ashamed of it.

“Any dreams?”

I brush the hair away from her cheek. Her skin warms my knuckles, and she tilts her face toward my hand before catching herself.

“None that I remember.”

She reaches for the cup.

I let my fingers trail down her neck to the bruise above her collarbone. The color has faded since last night. I remember her gripping my shoulders when I put my mouth there.

Her gaze lifts to mine.

I take my hand away and set the books beside her plate.

She stares at them.

“You finished the other one.”

Liv touches the top volume carefully, running a finger over the leather. Her mouth parts.

“Thank you.”

No hesitation. No sarcasm.

I wait to see whether she’ll smile.

Instead, she lowers her eyes and reaches for her croissant.

I straighten my cuff.

“I need to leave the estate.”

Her hand stops. “For how long?” Quickly asked. Too quickly for her to disguise what prompted it.

“A few days. Some business requires my attention.”

She sets the pastry down.

I watch her look at the window, then at her coffee. She tries to arrange her face before looking at me again.

I could tell her where I am going, or when I expect to return. I could give her something definite instead of making her count the nights.

I don’t.

I want to know whether she asks for Ari once I am gone.

More than that, I want her to notice how long the days feel without me.

I step closer and lift her chin with one finger. “Will you miss me?”

Her lips press together.

She holds my gaze, and for a moment I see the woman who threatened me during her first week. The anger is still there. So is the pride.

Good.