The Mate He Gave Away novel · Chapter 9 of 40

Chapter 9: Rye

His mouth tasted of flour and river water.

For one second I didn't move.

Then I grabbed the front of his wet shirt in both fists and kissed him back.

Three years of Osric had taught me that a kiss was something you held still for.

This wasn't that.

Corvin kissed like he'd been thinking about it for weeks and had decided to get it right.

Slow, then not slow.

His hand slid from my jaw into my wet hair and held on.

I heard someone whistle.

I heard Agnes say, "Well, finally."

I didn't care.

I pulled him closer by the shirt.

He made that low sound again, against my mouth this time, and I felt it all the way through me.

Then I remembered where we were.

And who was watching.

And how it would sound in Highcrown by the end of the week.

I put my hand flat on his chest and pushed, gently.

He stopped at once.

We stood there breathing hard, with flour all over both of us and the whole mill staring.

"Not here," I said quietly. "Not yet."

He searched my face.

"Did I...?"

"You did exactly right. That's the problem." I made myself let go of his shirt. "Come and find me tonight. On the wall."

He came at moonrise.

I was sitting on the parapet above the falls with my knees pulled up, listening to the wheel turn in the dark.

He sat down a careful arm's length away.

"Terms," I said.

He almost smiled. "Again?"

"Again. These are mine."

"Go on."

"If I go to your bed now, the whole Greywold says your brother gave me to you, and you took the gift. They'll say the Debt worked. They'll say I was only ever a thing to pass around."

He was quiet.

"I won't be that," I said. "Not for anybody. Not even for you."

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