…Lienna ran to the connecting door, opened it, then hopped onto the big bed to wait. Thought waves continued to call him her way. When the other door opened, she toned down the patterns. She wanted him willing and inventive, but not her puppet—she had those on Naru.

“Come in. Help yourself.” She waved her hand to the food. “I’m Lienna, by the way.”

The full force of his smile devastated her senses. “Ted…and this is very nice of you. I’ve never met any woman who would offer a stranger, much less a strange man, a bite to eat alone in her hotel room.”

“I’m not known for being conventional.” She fluffed up the pillows to lean against them. “And don’t worry, I’m not a murderer.”

He laughed lightly and broke off a banana. “No, but you are a mind reader.”

You have no idea.

“Do you mind?” He pointed to the open jar of peanut butter.

“As I said…help yourself to whatever you’d like.” Anything. She patted the edge of the bed. “And make yourself comfortable. This bed is big enough to get lost on.”

“Thanks, but I’ll just sit—”

No! Sit on the bed.