Page 77 of Heart of Frost and Scars

“That’s not an answer. Are you hiding anything from me?”

“Not on purpose. I don’t share every thought in my head. But if you ask, I’ll give it to you. I’ll give you anything you want.”

“I want to trust you.”

“Tell me how to earn it.” He slides his hands into his pockets.

“I don’t know if you can.” She lifts a shoulder.

“Do you need anything?” Leo prowls forward, ending the conversation. “Water? Something to eat?”

“I want to drink tea with no pants on.”

“Good answer.” I adjust the pillows behind her, ensuring she’s comfortable.

Leo removes her sneakers and socks and reaches for the button on her jeans.

When he glances over his shoulder at Monty, she doesn’t wait for their impending argument. She unzips and shimmies the denim down her hips.

“Here. Let me.” Leo adjusts his body to block Monty’s view as he eases the jeans down her legs.

A tightness forms around Monty’s mouth, carving deep lines of jealousy and discontent.

I brace to intervene as Leo pulls the blanket to her chin and kisses her lips.

Monty turns away, hands fisted on his hips.

Leo steps back, giving me room to lean in. My forehead rests against hers in a silent connection. I taste her mouth, caress the graceful shape of her face, and reluctantly pull back.

As we leave the room, I take one last look at her, searching for an excuse to stay.

“I’ll be fine.” She waves her hand. “Go. Keep the peace.”

“What peace?”

“Touché.”

Downstairs, Leo heads to the kitchen to make tea. I lean against the wall in the living room and scowl at the couch.

“It’ll be gone tomorrow.” Monty nods at the thing and takes the chair across from it, the exhaustion finally catching up with him.

“She’s tougher than she looks.”

“You don’t have to tell me that.”

My lip curls. “Don’t touch her again.”

“I’ll give you the same warning.”

“My touch doesn’t trigger her.”

A vein visibly throbs in his neck, right beside the stitches.

Leo returns with a mug of tea and jabs a finger at us. “No fighting.”

That’s rich, coming from him.

I grunt.

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