He wanted to throw her across the room. He wanted to hit something.
“Careful.” Her small hands slid up his arms. “Be calm.”
He bit back a snarl. “It’s quite adorable,” he said, his voice hard, “that you think you can order me around.”
“I would not try. My attempts have never been very successful.”
“So why are you here?”
“Because Radu is a pain in the ass, but what you are walking into may be more than either one of us anticipated.”
“How well do you know him?”
“I know him.”
Ben swallowed hard and pushed past his craving for her. Think, think, think. “So why is he acting like you just met?”
“I don’t know. Just like I don’t know why Kezia was following you in Kashgar.”
“Were you seriously following me the whole time?” A muscle in his jaw twitched.
“No. You lost me in Cambodia, and I consider that an accomplishment. I could not find you until you got back to Xining.”
He slid his hand down her back, stroking the small of her back. He told himself it was to keep up appearances since they were definitely being watched.
It wasn’t. He couldn’t help himself. He wanted to put his hands everywhere.
She looked up at him, all stormy grey eyes and luscious red lips. He hated her and he wanted her so badly.
“I’m really not trying to push it, Ben. I’ve been giving you space.”
A hard laugh burst out of him. “Your definition of space is unique.”
“I know you’re angry—”
He stared at the pulsing crowd of dancers over her shoulder. “Angry doesn’t begin to describe what I feel about you.”
Her hand slid up his neck and into the hair at his nape. She gripped it and forced his eyes to hers. “If you expect me to apologize for you being alive, you’re going to be disappointed.”
Ben kept his eyes locked on hers. “Why didn’t you kill Johari?”
She blinked. “You asked me not to.”
“When?”
She cocked her head. “You don’t remember?”
“No.” He really didn’t remember.
Wait…
You’re lovely.
Yes, he did.
“You’re lovely. Lovable. …don’t kill anyone, okay?”
She pushed against him, starting to dance again. “Ben?”
His body moved with hers whether he wanted it or not. He wasn’t dancing with her. It wasn’t him, it was the memory of what they had been. The same memory that made his throat thick with emotion.
She pulled his head down. “Whatever you may wish to think, we are not finished, my Benjamin.”
“Stop calling me that.”
“I will not. Blood does not lie.”
The song ended and Ben pulled away, keeping her hand firmly in his. “We need to get back and we need to be on the same page. You’re leaving Bucharest; I’ll make excuses to Radu.”
“Are you listening to me? None of this is right. That’s why I’m here, and I’m not leaving.” She wore a placid smile as they made their way back to the lounge. “I will make no excuses to Radu. If you want me gone, you’ll have to tell him everything.”
His caution recoiled at the thought. “I hate you so much right now.”
“If you think your hate will prevent me from doing what it takes to keep you safe, then you do not understand me at all.”
“You’re right.” He opened the door. “I don’t understand you at all.”
“Liar.” She held her hands out to Radu as they approached the booth. “Thank you for excusing us. It has been some time since we have been able to speak in private.”
Ben slid next to Chloe as Radu rose to let Tenzin into her seat. “Tenzin wanted me to tell you about the Corsican lead first. We’re quite optimistic.”
Radu looked between them. “So you are officially accepting this job?”
“Of course. You’ve presented us with an irresistible challenge.” Tenzin turned her smile toward Ben. “We’re both quite intrigued by the possibilities.”
* * *
Gavin and Chloe waited until they’d entered the soundproof car before they started on the questions.
“Oh my God!” Chloe was nearly shouting. “What was that? What is going on? I feel so lost right now!”
“The atmosphere was…” Gavin cleared his throat. “…noticeable.”
Ben stared into the sky where Tenzin had already disappeared. “Hopefully Radu thinks it was just repressed sexual tension or something.”
“Oh, it was definitely repressed sexual tension,” Chloe said. “Holy shit. I have to admit, I was still kind of wondering if you two had slept together before tonight—”
“I wasn’t sure either.” Gavin looked at Chloe. “They have.”
“They definitely have.” Chloe leaned back into the seat of the sedan. “Why is she here? How does she know Radu—because he definitely knows her—why is she here?”
Ben cut his eyes toward Chloe and Gavin. “She didn’t tell you she was coming?”
“No.” Gavin shook his head. “I would have warned you.”
“I know the three of you are pals.” Ben’s voice was bitter. “But if you—”
“Ben, we didn’t know.” Chloe’s eyes were wide. “I know you’re angry with her. And I even understand why, but—”
“But you’re not.” Ben knew that betrayal wasn’t the right emotion, but seeing Tenzin had tossed him completely upside down. “You don’t understand it, Chloe. Don’t pretend you do.”
“Watch your tone.” Gavin’s voice was a low warning. “What the hell do you expect, Vecchio? Were we supposed to be disappointed that she saved your life?”
“She took my life!” His fangs fell. “How am I the only one who sees that?”
Gavin leaned forward, blocking Chloe from Ben’s view. “Did she plan it, Ben? Was it her own blade in your back? Or did she react in the best way she could when everything went to shit?”
“Since Tenzin is the one who kept dragging me into her damn problems and apparently she didn’t want to let me die a normal death, she should have had a better plan when everything went to shit!”
Gavin laughed bitterly. “Dear God, I hope you never expect me to be as omniscient as you expect her to be.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that you expect too damn much of her.” Gavin’s
