Chapter 8: The First Night

I did not go to my own room after supper.

I walked down the cold passage to his door, and I did not knock.

He was standing by the window with his shirt unbuttoned at the throat, and he turned when the latch clicked.

He did not look surprised.

"Bronwyn."

"You said a thing in front of two hundred people."

"I did."

"You said you'd thought about what was under my dress."

"For a week," he said. "I'll say it again if you like."

I shut the door behind me and leaned on it.

My heart was hammering, and I told myself I was here for the knife, and the blade, and the plan.

That was a lie.

I was here because for seven days I had not been able to think of anything but his hands on mine in the snow.

"The terms," he said. "No touching in private."

"Break them."

His eyes went gold at the edges.

"You'll have to say it plainer than that."

"Come here and fuck me, Torin."

He crossed the room in three strides.

His mouth landed on mine hard enough to push me back against the wood.

I made a noise into it that I had not planned on.

His hands were in my hair, then at my jaw, then under it, tipping my face up so he could kiss me deeper.

He tasted of smoke and ale.

I got my fingers into his shirt and pulled, and a button went skittering across the floor.

"Slow," he said against my mouth.

"No."

"Bronwyn."

"I've waited long enough."

He laughed, low and unsteady, and picked me up.

My legs went round his waist without my asking them to.

He carried me to the bed and put me down on it.

He stood over me breathing hard, his shirt hanging open.

There were scars all over it.

I put my palm flat on the worst one, over his heart, and felt it slam against my hand.

"You're shaking," I said.

"So are you."

I was.

He knelt on the bed and undid the laces down the back of my dress, one at a time, taking far too long.

I grabbed his wrist.

"If you're going to take your time, take it with your mouth."

His breath stopped.

Then he pulled the dress down off my shoulders to my waist, and bent his head and put his mouth on my breast.

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