Lucian faced himself in the mirror. The infatuation and tenderness of a lovesick fool were ebbing away like the tide, replaced by a familiar, icy calm.
After fusion enhancement, mind control LV5 was somewhat more domineering than Cate's ability.
He no longer needed the foolish method of altering his own memories to keep up the disguise.
A thought flashed through his mind, and immense psychic power swiftly wove beneath his cerebral cortex, constructing an invisible firewall. This barrier wrapped up all his schemes involving Cate and all his secrets about the system, sealing them away in the deepest recesses.
Once he finished, he switched off the bathroom light and silently returned to the bedside.
In the darkness, Cate slept soundly, a faint flush of satisfaction and warmth still on her face.
He lay back down and gathered her soft body into his arms. Seemingly sensing his familiar presence, the girl unconsciously nuzzled his chest and slept even more peacefully.
Early the next morning, the first rays of sunlight slipped through the gap in the curtains, casting a golden strip of light across the room.
Cate woke first.
She opened her eyes to find Lucian's face inches from hers. He was still asleep, breathing steadily, his handsome features looking especially gentle in the morning light.
Cate's heart filled in an instant.
She carefully slipped her arm free, then saw the gloves on the nightstand.
A flicker of hesitation passed through her.
She didn't want to put those things on again. They stood between her and him every time they touched intimately. But she was also afraid-afraid that some stray thought or some word that slipped out might hurt the man she loved so deeply through skin contact.
In the end, she picked up the gloves and slowly put them on.