Chapter 217

“I need five minutes.”

“Food will be cold by then.”

Was he suggesting she sit across the table from him and eat a civilized breakfast without underwear or a bra? “Start without me. I will join once I am dressed.”

Trees dropped the fork he’d been turning bacon with on the stove and approached her. “You’re wearing enough to eat. What’s the real problem?”

“I have on nothing beneath your shirt.”

“I know.” A clandestine glance down told her that aroused him. “I’ve seen it all, little one. More than once. I’ve had my mouth on it, too. But I won’t jump on you, and you can always stop me with a word. Last night should have proven that.”

How could she explain this to him? “What you might do does not worry me. It is the memories… Eating this meal dressed in almost nothing will leave me feeling…exposed, like meals Victor and Hector forced me to endure.”

His eyes narrowed. “Meaning?”

The memories were humiliating, and Laila hated to talk about the