She narrowed her gaze at him, still not quite ready to believe his easy explanation. “You didn’t order me locked in?”

“Why would I? You’re injured. Not like you’re going to run. At least not for a week. I think I could have heard your limping gait across the floor and caught up to you before you made it down the stairs to the drive. Right now, an arthritic snail could catch you.”

She suddenly felt like an idiot. But he’d brought up the first thing that had ticked her off at him. “How was I supposed to tell you I was locked in when I can’t call you? Hmmm?”

He appeared completely perplexed by her question. “You can call me anytime you want. Hell, a call from you I’d actually welcome as opposed to the other assholes I’ve been dealing with all day.”

She gestured around the room. “Please notice, Lord Governor, the lack of IT equipment in this room. All I have is that stupid pastel remote and I can’t use that to call anyone, except the kitchen and Gera. She told me that I’d have to wait on you to call me at your leisure. When you felt like it.”

He actually had the gall to look amused by that. The man really had no sense of self-preservation. “Gera’s nine hundred years old. She can’t conceive of a mistress being anything more than a play toy for the governor.”

“Isn’t that what I am to you?”

“It depends.” The teasing light in his blue eyes charmed her against her will. “If I give you the wrong answer, are you going to hit me again?”

“Not while you’re holding me. How stupid do you think I am?”

Darling heard her speaking, but he couldn’t really focus on her words as he caught a whiff of something delectable. Without thinking, he nuzzled her neck where it was strongest and inhaled.

Ah yeah, that smelled good, and it set him on fire again.

Zarya’s eyes widened as she felt Darling run his tongue along her collarbone, beneath her slave collar. “I’m still mad at you.”

“It’s okay,” he breathed against her skin. “I’m still mad at you, too.”

But she didn’t hate him.

He hated her.

That made her ache all over again, especially deep in her heart. I really want you back. She missed them as a couple. The nights where they’d stayed up until dawn talking about nothing important. The sound of his refined voice in the dark, soothing her with compliments, endearments, and support. The feel of his breath on the back of her neck as he held her until she fell asleep in his arms. The warmth of his body on hers, and the sound of his laughter in her ear. That had never failed to cheer her even during the worst moments of her life.

He’d been her best friend.

In many ways, even better than Ture or Sorche.

Desperate to find what she’d lost, she reached for his mask.