Page 83 of The Truth Serum
She grinned. “I shall hold you to that.”
He chuckled. “I’m sure you will.”
“Right now.”
He lifted his head. “What?”
“I have more questions. And you shall answer.”
He blinked. “What?”
She squeezed his organ as a pretend threat. She would never hurt him, but it was enough to get his attention.
“Becca!” he cried.
She eased her grip. “I want to know everything.”
“What?”
“What you have been really doing for the last ten years. More than you told us all tonight.”
“Becca, I cannot tell you everything.”
“I will not press for details, but you will explain.”
He nodded slowly. Then he gently pulled her hand off his organ. Fortunately, he had a handkerchief available to clean himself. She helped. There was water and cloth nearby. But when it was done, she sat on the bed beside him.
“Tell me everything,” she said. “Please.”
“On the condition that you do the same. You must tell me what happened to you. What have you done since I left.”
“Agreed.”
And so their bargain was struck. And hours flew by as they talked.
They should have been more careful. They should have known they hadn’t all the time in the world. But just like when she was sixteen, she lost track of everything but him. And so when morning came, it was a shock to them both.
Especially when the maid walked in to find her asleep in his arms.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Nate heard thegasp and was out of bed in a second, already reaching for the knife that was always strapped to his thigh. His pants had a special flap to allow him to draw it quickly and now was no exception.
He stood at the ready, knife drawn and Becca at his back before he remembered where he was, who he was with…and that he was looking at Ras’s maid—what was her name?—and Kynthea, standing behind her.
Both women’s eyes were wide, and a tray of morning chocolate trembled in the girl’s hands.
“Ah, good morning,” Becca said behind him. “Is that chocolate? We never have it in the country. Lord Nathaniel, do put a shirt on. Trousers are not enough.”
He turned to look at her, stunned by the calm he heard in her voice. If it weren’t for the bright pink of her cheeks, he would think being woken with a man in her bed was an everyday occurrence for her.
“Um, of course.” Sometime in the night, he had stripped off his shirt, but the bandages remained tight around his ribs. It was the work of a moment to pull on his shirt. And also sheathe his blade.
Meanwhile, Kynthea took over, gesturing to a side table. “Set the chocolate right there, Dorothy. Thank you. Lord Nathaniel, would you like a cup? Dorothy can go for another glass while we all talk.”
There was a note of steel in her voice that matched the hardness in her eyes. She might have spent last night in Ras’s bed—he knew that for a fact—but they were engaged. Right now, Kynthea was being protective of Becca’s reputation, and he appreciated that.
“Oh my,” Becca interrupted as she grabbed the counterpane and wrapped it around her shoulders. “Dorothy, is it?”
