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“Yes, of course,” I said, quickly, his words the only reminder that I was standing in the hallway wearing next to nothing—and that I didn’t care one bit. No one came down these halls. And the ones who did would be sleeping until morning. “Thank you, Beric, for the escort. Though I can’t say I paid much attention to where we were going.”

There was a hint of a grin on his lips, and I savored it, soaking it in, as if I’d never be gifted another smile from him. “I’m happy to escort you every night until you learn.”

With the warmth of his robe gone, I took it as an excuse to step closer to feel the heat his body radiated. “It may take a great many nights, my lord.”

And there was that beautiful blush, brought on only by me speaking his title, as if it were a declaration of love. He leaned closer, so very close, lowering his voice as if speaking a secret. “Then I shall walk with you a great many nights, my lady.”

And, before I could think of how much I wanted him to kiss me, he did.

I nearly stumbled at the overwhelming sweetness of it, grabbing the back of his neck to both steady myself and make sure he would never move away. Beric held my face so very tenderly that I started crying with no thought or reason. I simply felt so much, I didn’t know where to put it.

When all too soon his lips released mine, I could hardly catch my breath. Beric wiped my tears gently, his gaze shifting over my face to judge the purpose for them. I reached up and kissed his nose to reassure him, and his lips twitched into a sweet smile.

“I’ve been dying to do that,” he murmured.

“Have you?” My heart pounded. “What took you so long?”

“I didn’t think you wanted me…” He paused, then quickly added, “to.”

But the first version broke my heart. My lips lingered near his, wanting so badly to comfort him. “I want you,” I whispered, and kissed him again.

The overwhelming beauty of his kiss was so difficult to describe—it could only be experienced. How could I ever make anyone understand just how soothing, how safe, how freeing, how perfect it felt to connect so wholly with this angel of a boy?

Beric broke away, stroking my cheeks with his thumbs in consolation.

“I must leave you,” he said to my disappointment.

“Must you?” I breathed.

“If I were to stay, I would sin against God with you. I would make you mine, and there would be no undoing it.”

My whole body grew hot, overwhelmed, butterflies fluttering throughout me. I wanted to be his, even if I wasn’t entirely sure what all of that entailed. Whatever he wanted I would give, whatever he gave me I’d embrace wholeheartedly. I just wanted him … forever.

Still, the entire situation made me smirk. “Why, my lord, are you the men at court you warned me about?”

We laughed, and he kissed me again.

“May I come see you?” he asked. “In the morning?”

My heart danced. “Before Eliza and Faline come.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll wait up for you.”

“No.” He sighed, and the concern in his brow made my heart flutter anew. “After the day you’ve had, you need sleep.”

“How do you expect me to sleep under these circumstances?” I clung around his neck, and when he straightened, I went with him, giggling as my feet left the ground. “Oh Beric, kiss me again.”

He held my waist with one arm but opened the door to my room and placed me on my feet inside. I groaned, clinging to him harder, tears of desperate, overwhelming feelings again pricking the backs of my eyes. I didn’t want him to leave. I never wanted to be away from him again.

He pried my arms from around him, kissing my hands before giving them back to me. “Go to bed.”

I raised a brow. “Bossy as ever.”

“To no effect, it seems.” As he spoke, I took the opportunity to lean against him, attempting to close his warm robe around the both of us. “You take it as an invitation to rebel.”

“Does it frustrate you?” I teased.