Page 22 of Vows of Sacrifice

“Come and have breakfast in the inn’s great hall,” he suggested, still standing behind my back.

“I imagine you’ve already eaten yours?” I asked, just to make conversation.

I was horribly nervous that he was still behind me, but out of pride, I preferred to continue down the stairs without stopping or trembling.

“Yes, but I’ll keep you company. Do you have to tie your hair up like that?”

“What is it?”

“Your hair.”

“Yes. I am no longer a young girl.”

“And what are you, then? A grandmother?”

I rolled my eyes. I had a feeling he wasn’t about to give up on this detail.

“I’m a married woman. It’s etiquette.”

“If you wanted to respect etiquette, you would have at least left home with a maid and a lady-in-waiting. But you didn’t.”

I stopped dead in my tracks on the last step and turned to meet his gaze.

“Fine. You’ve won. I’m very self-conscious about my hair. Satisfied?”

He smiled broadly in response.

“I love your hair. Don’t worry anymore.”

I put my hands on my hips and raised an eyebrow.

“Because you think you can just tell me and my worries will go away?”

“You’re obviously not listening to me. In my world, only my desires matter. And whether you like it or not, you are now a part of it. Even your complexes.”

“You’re . . . incredible,” I murmured, taken aback.

“I hear that a lot. Let’s go to the dining hall, shall we? We still have a long way to go.”

* * *

We resumed our journey and, as he had promised, I made the trip again on Vulcan’s back.

“If you’re feeling sleepy, feel free to drift off against me. I’m comfortable,” he joked.

I couldn’t see his smile, but it came through in the tone of his voice.

“I’d rather die.”

“Isn’t that a bit extreme for a simple nap?”

He was still having fun at my expense.

“When we first met, I imagined you to be grumpy and cold.”

“Anyone can be mistaken. I must admit that the idea of getting married had quite upset me.”

“I’m sure it did. I was feeling a similar way.”

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