Chapter 1 TEASER

• She lifted the blanket with a questioning look. Indicating she only wanted to slip under.
• I shook my head again. “Stop, Fiere.”
• She slid to her feet and shot me a pained look before rushing to the door.
• I was there as she reached it, turning her around and pushing her against it.
• “What do you want?” She cried. Tears trailing her cheeks.
• Everything.
• You’d be terrified if you knew, Little Girl.
• “You’ve had your fun.” She said brokenly.
• “Not fun to me, Fiere.” I nodded toward my rigid length.
• “What is that?”
• I rolled my eyes Heavenward for patience. Confessing, “I’m not about to dishonor some innocent maid.”
• My eyes shot to him. “Then why were you kissing me?”
• Touche. I grimaced.
• I pointed a finger at her. “I beg you to recall who kissed whom?”
• “I didn’t grab you like that.”
• When I fondled her.
• That was true.
• “I think you’re missing my point, Fiere.”
• “You’re not going to kiss me again. I got it.” She said acidly.
• Not what I meant.
• “That’s not what I said. I’m going to kiss you. Again.” I leaned over her. “And again.”
• I tilted my head to give it time for my words to sink in. Waiting for her to catch my meaning. “Especially now that I know what you’ll do when I do.”
• She stared up at me like a wide-eyed doe. “Then what are you saying?”
• “I said I’m not going to dishonor a maid.”
• There’s only one way I’ll dally with her.
• It’s going to have to be on my terms.
• “I just wanted under the blanket with you.” She defended. Not liking that she thought I was insinuating she’d have turned wanton.
• “And I’d have wanted more.” I clarified.
• “But, what if, if I didn’t...What if...”
• She wants to ask what would’ve happened if she rejected me when the time came.
• She wouldn’t have.
• She was bold enough to come to my chamber, to come in with me, to let me kiss her… She’d not have stopped there.
• “You wouldn’t have, Fiere.” I elaborated. Trying to make her understand. “You came this far, you’d let me have you.”
• She moved as though to shake her head.
• “I know you, Girl. You never stop halfway. You have to finish all you begin. See it through to the end and know the result or you obsess…”
• I recalled when she’d longed to learn archery from the back of a steed.
• Far more complicated then general archery.
• She had begun and gotten frustrated, so I’d stopped teaching her.
• But she had talked about it so incessantly that Roger had finally relented and given her, her way. Teaching her fully until she could practice.
• Over and over again. Learning precise aim and perfect stance.
• That’s how she is.
• Nothing is ever halfway.
• I recalled when she had wanted to learn to make the perfect loaf of bread because it was what we all liked for a snack, warm bread with wildberry preserve.
• She’d learned to do it.
• Pan after pan.
• She’d gotten frustrated and quit.
• Then talked about what she needed to do different, how good it was going to be when she got it.
• “For days.” I drawled. Rolling my eyes Heavenward. “And days. And days. And days... Like you did about shooting arrows from horseback.”
• She frowned at me.
• Spurring me to continue. “For days...”
• “I have the point!” She snapped.
• I eyed her quietly a long while before reiterating. “I won’t dishonor you.”
• She’s too good a woman for that.
• “If you want me, Girl. You’re going to have to marry me when all is said and done.”