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She gasped, and her face flamed. “You know about Runa?”
He nodded. “I learned today that you had a child without the benefit of marriage.”
“Oh,” she said with what he could swear was relief. “That Runa.”
What is going on here? What did I say that would cause her relief? “You know that many Runas?”
“A few.”
She no longer appeared frightened, and that puzzled him even more. He sensed somehow that solving this puzzle was important to him. “Have you thought any more about my plans for you? I certainly have.” He touched his knuckles to one soft cheek as he spoke, and felt the same attraction that had drawn him to her five years ago. She truly was a beautiful woman, even at her advanced age.
“Your plans are of no interest to me, you rat.” She swatted his hand away.
He moved the hand to her thigh, and felt her stiffen. It was not entirely a stiffening of affront, but rather one of stimulation. He had been with enough women to know when one was fighting her attraction to him ... and losing the battle. “Now that I know you are no longer a maiden, I have no reservations about my plans.” Not that I had many afore. Well, a few. Mayhap this rat is just playing with you, little mouse.
“Oh please! Spare me from the ego of a windy man.”
“Windy, am I?” He grinned at her. And saw her fight a return grin. “We will be good together, Drifa. You know we will.”
“And what of your mistress?”
It was his turn to stiffen. “Ianthe has naught to do with us.”
“I beg to differ. I would never mate with a man who was mating with another woman at the same time.”
“Mate? Is that a woman-word for tup, or swive?” Or fuck?
“There is no need to be coarse.”
M’lady, you have not heard coarse yet. Good thing I didn’t say fuck aloud. “Let me put it this way. If Ianthe were no longer my mistress, then you would come willingly to my bed furs?”
“Nay! That is not what I meant.”
I thought not. “Meet me tomorrow after dusk at the Madonna fountain. ’Tis just past the entrance to the Sun Palace. You cannot miss it. It is alight with candles night and day.”
“Why would I do that?”
Do not play games with me, you saucy wench. “To begin to pay your debt.”
“This is ridiculous. I owe you naught.”
“You owe me plenty. Either meet me there, and I will lead you to my chambers in the Varangian Palace, or I will come to your rooms. Believe you me, my rooms are preferable for what I have in mind.”
He could tell she did not want to ask, but curiosity won out, causing him to bite his lip to hide a smirk.
“Why?”
“Because I plan to make you scream your ecstasy, and it might embarrass you to have your guardsmen overhear.” Good gods, I am arousing myself.
She shook her head as if he were a hopeless case.
Betimes he was.
“Dost really think my guardsmen are so ineffective they would not follow me, or forbid me to leave my rooms?”
“A devious woman like you can always come up with a likely story.”
“You defame me, Sidroc. You really do. There are things you do not know that would change your mind.”
