Chapter 5: The First Night

"Get out," Dane said.

Rowena didn't move.

"I was told you were reluctant, darling," she said. "I came to see for myself that you aren't."

"Get out of this tower."

"I'll go as far as the landing."

She smiled past his shoulder at me, at the torn neck of my dress.

"I'll sit on the stair and have my maid bring me a cushion."

"When I hear the thing done, I'll go to bed."

"Father wants it done tonight. I'd hate to tell him it wasn't."

Dane's knuckles whitened on the door.

I put my hand on his bare back.

He was shaking.

"Let her sit," I said.

He turned his head.

"Bren."

"Let her listen."

I leaned around him and looked at Rowena.

I made my voice small and breathless.

"Please close the door, my lady," I said. "Or he won't be able to concentrate."

Rowena laughed.

She pulled the shawl up over her chin and went back down three steps.

Dane shut the door and put his forehead against it.

"You have no idea what you've just done," he said.

"I've bought us a night where she believes we're afraid."

"I'm not afraid."

I took his hand off the latch and kissed his palm.

"Neither am I."

He looked at me.

Then he picked me up.

He carried me to the bed in two strides and put me down on my back.

The torn dress went the rest of the way off me in his hands.

He stood over me and took me in with a look so slow and hot that my skin prickled.

"Gods," he said again.

"Take your trousers off."

He did.

He was big and hard and already leaking at the tip.

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