A/N: Griffin may be in for some of Valtor's shenanigans when they are supposed to be preparing for an undercover mission.

"My heart is still in agony when you're not with me," Valtor said as he took her hand in his and leaned closer to her. His lips remained slightly parted as if he couldn't draw in enough air and his eyes welled up with hurt that could almost pass for genuine if she didn't know what was going on. Currently, it only made the whole thing more ridiculous.

"I am bewitched by the power of your wooing technique," she spoke, trying to stay in role but it was proving to be impossible. The comedic effect of his pretense was too strong and her lips got pulled into a smile even though she tried to fight it.

He smirked. "Believe it or not, one or two have actually fallen for that," he dropped the theatrics as he let go of her hand and straightened his back.

"No." She burst out laughing. It was just too much to take in. The image of him actually saying that to a real person and not as a part of their game, having to remain serious despite the absurdity of the situation was something she couldn't meet with a straight face.

"Oh, yes," Valtor said in a deep tragic voice as if haunted by the memories of those times. He didn't look like he was pretending and Griffin wondered what it had taken from him to play his role in those moments. She knew he'd had no choice, just like they had to go to that ball for their cause. But that couldn't have made it easier. And it looked like acting had taken its toll on him.

"I can't believe what people will fall for," she shook her head, trying to keep the thoughts of that out of her mind and, hopefully, keep him with her.

It had him looking at her, tilting his head to the side slightly like he did when something piqued his interest. So maybe it had worked too well. "And what will you fall for?" he asked, the words playful as much as they were probing. He wanted to know now. For real. Not just because they had to pretend to be a couple.

Griffin swallowed. "Not that," her gaze drifted back to her abandoned research. She'd wanted to prepare herself on a tactical level, seeking out materials that would help her get acquainted with the palace they had to rob when he'd come into the library and distracted her with insisting they needed to practice for their cover. Reluctance would've led him to believe she wished to avoid more intimate closeness with him so she'd agreed, pushing away the memories of all the times he'd kissed her before walking away as if nothing had happened while her heart was pounding as if it would shoot out of her chest and chase after him and her breathing was more labored than after a sparring session with him.

"Shall we find out?" Valtor asked, his tone light enough to pass for playful still but his eyes were on her, observing carefully for her reactions. She was his mission right now and he wouldn't give up until he got what he wanted. She knew that well enough.

"Okay," she chuckled, more to cover her nerves rather than from actual amusement since they had long ago abandoned the innocent joking around. It was real now. What he got from her he could use against her. "I'll humor you for exactly three minutes and then all of this is over and we get back to work." She should have never let him get her sidetracked in the first place.

He leaned in, invading her personal space but she'd invited him to do exactly that so it was all her fault. "You're extremely powerful and clever and I couldn't wish for another partner," Valtor said, captivating her by giving her his undivided attention. He was looking at her and her only and she couldn't make herself look away from him. It was like the rest of the world ceased to exist. "I know you always have my back and I can count on you no matter what." He brushed a strand of hair behind her ear to see her face better and his interest in her was more intoxicating than the feeling of their convergence. "I would gladly trust you with my life at any time." The words hit her so hard, for she knew he didn't trust anyone.

"Valtor," she whispered, feeling tears springing to her eyes at the sight of the softness in his, but before she could continue, his lips covered hers, cutting her off and drawing a surprised sound from her.

The kiss wasn't like all those that had come before it when he'd been trying to prove a point by leaving her breathless with her thoughts spinning out of control. It was slower and steadier, reminding more of conversation rather than of conquering. He'd been looking to win a game all the times he'd kissed her before that, but now he was letting her feel everything, all of him, and she wanted more.

Her hands closed in his coat and she pulled him closer, doing her best to keep the rhythm of the kiss and not let her hunger take over. It was his right to decide how much to trust her with and she couldn't take it from him.

He rewarded her for her patience by tangling a hand in her hair and keeping her close, letting her explore. He wasn't trying to lure out the breath from her lungs until her head was spinning but allowed her to lead instead and take it at her own pace, do what she pleased, and she was happy to just have that. She didn't need more.

A confused whine left her when he pulled away and her eyes snapped open to find him taking deep breaths. The kiss had obviously affected him as well which made it easier for her to deal with the fact that her own chest was rising and falling rapidly once again after his lips had been on hers with nothing between them but his passion and her desperation. She still let go of his coat, though, trying to make the action as inconspicuous as possible. She didn't need him commenting on how hard she'd been holding on to him. She still wanted an explanation for the sudden interruption, however.

"The three minutes are up," Valtor said as if he'd read her mind before grinning at her, and it seemed especially offensive with his face so close to hers.

"You bastard," she hissed, hitting him in the chest with the heel of her palm and shoving him away. She'd fallen for his tricks again. She'd allowed herself to believe that he was honest only to have him play her like he always did. But it was her own damn fault. She knew better than that. She knew him.

"None of what I said was a lie," he tried as he caught her hand again but she pulled it out of his, the feeling of his skin too painful a mockery.

"I don't believe you," she said, making an effort to not look at him or he'd charm his way out of the situation again. Just like he always did. And what hurt the most was that she'd let him fool her even though she knew how he operated. All because she'd wanted to believe there was something genuine in everything he'd said, in everything he'd shown her since she was his partner. But she was no different to him from anyone else. Just another person he could manipulate.

"When have I lied to you?" Valtor asked, sounding hurt and it was just cruel of him to use that tactic because he knew it would work. It had to be a strategy but even that knowledge couldn't keep her from looking at him. And the ice blue of his eyes was paradoxically warm once again.

"This was just a game." Everything was a game to him and that was why she couldn't trust his honesty. She knew that well, yet, somehow her own mind was less convincing than the words coming from his mouth even after she'd been their victim more than once. It didn't make sense and it left her afraid of what she'd allow him to do to her.

"That wasn't part of the game," he said as he held her gaze and she found herself believing him once again because she wanted to. She wanted to believe his softness and she wanted to believe that he trusted her enough to be honest with her. "I meant every word," he said, the intensity of his stare setting her insides on fire and she felt it creeping up her body, ready to give everything away to him when it colored her cheeks in soft pink that was far more dangerous than the blue of a flame.

Book. She needed to focus on the open book that lay forgotten on the table in front of her. Not on the warmth radiating from his body that she could feel thanks to his proximity.