Chapter 4: The First Night

"Because I wanted you," I said. "Since before I knew your face."

His thumb stopped on my lip.

"That's not an answer a man should believe on the first night."

"Then don't believe it." I pushed the heavy coat off my shoulders and let it fall. "Find out."

He looked at me for a long moment.

Then he put the cane aside, and it clattered on the stone.

He pulled me up into his lap.

His mouth found mine, and it was not careful.

It was twenty years of cold, and it was starving.

I got both hands in his hair and he groaned into my mouth.

It was a low raw sound that went straight down my spine and settled between my legs.

"You said you'd wait until I was sure," I said against his lips.

"I'm listening for it."

"I'm sure."

"Say it again."

"I'm sure, Phlegon. Take the damned robe off."

He laughed, one short breath.

Then his hands were on the tie of my under-robe and he drew it open slowly.

Cold air hit my skin.

His mouth followed it.

He kissed my collarbone and the swell of my breast.

Then he closed his lips around my nipple, hot and wet, and I arched into him so hard the couch groaned.

"Warm," he said roughly, against my skin. "You're so warm."

"Then get warm."

I pulled his shirt up over his head.

His chest was lean and scarred, with a long ridge of pale scar tissue down his left side.

A faint gold line ran over his heart.

I didn't stop to look at it, because he had my thighs in his hands and was lifting me.

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