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It was over in minutes, seconds even.

I’d never had sex like that. It was like I’d been obsessed. Angry.

Maybe I was angry.

Easing back, I curled my lip into my mouth, suddenly overwhelmed with embarrassment. “Sorry.” I eased into the water and fetched my bikini bottoms with my foot.

“No need to be.”

I tugged my pants on, and with my heart pounding so hard it was a wonder it didn’t make waves in the water, I climbed out of the tub. “I have to go.”

“Okay.”

Wrapping my towel around my waist and clutching it over my bare chest, I glanced at Frederik.

He was still in the water, a frown heavy over his stunning eyes. “Are you okay?”

“Yes,” I lied. “Sorry.”

I grabbed my bikini top, dashed out the door, and raced up the stairs. Every step added another layer of guilt to my already fucked up brain.

A sob burst from my throat as I shoved the key into my door. Slamming it behind me, I dove onto the bed, shoved my face into the pillow, and bawled my eyes out.

What have I done?

Hardly able to breathe, I heaved wracking sobs as I searched for the answer.

I know exactly what I’ve done.

I fucked one man, yet my heart was for another.

Oh, God.

I am never going to be whole again.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Aftermy crazy sexual release with Frederik, every time I was near Roman, and even when I wasn’t, my guilt strangled me like a barbed-wire chastity belt.

Yet even as I tried to rationalize it, and Zali slapped me with her words of wisdom, I couldn’t get it to stick in my thick brain that I had no reason to be guilty.

Roman and I were not together.

We had not pledged our love to each other.

He wasn’t tied to me, and I certainly wasn’t tied to him in any way.

I had not cheated.

Yet I still felt like a slut.

From Thorsteinn Castle, Roman drove us to a cute little town in Germany’s Black Forest called Baden-Baden. During the six-hour drive, Roman remained quiet nearly the entire way. I did too. It was like both of us were living in our own nightmarish bubbles.

I hated that I still had no idea what his problem was.

As Roman turned off the highway and into the mainstreet of our next destination, I grabbed the microphone. “Okay, folks. Wakey, wakey.”

As usual, most of them had slept the entire way. Not that I blamed them. Many would have been up past midnight at the castle banquet. And we’d had an early start this morning. I waited for most of them to stir before I said, “Welcome to Baden-Baden.”