One morenight.
A more thoroughloving.
And this time, the curse would bebroken.
On the morrow, he could confess thetruth.
* * *
The man was persuasive,indeed.
Annelise had never experienced such pleasure as her husband granted to her. He knew more of her body than she, it was clear, and he could conjure passion that she had never imagined might exist. He set her very soul on fire, cast her to the stars, then did it all again. It was too easy to surrender to the sorcery of his kiss, too easy to forget her own resolve to uncover all of his mysteries. He could make her forget her plans with atouch.
And worse, she did not regret a bit ofit.
He was vulnerable only in one moment. Annelise realized as much after he had pleased her twice and had his own release. Immediately after their mating and his release, he was spent, just as he had been the night before. He almost dozed and it was in this brief interval that Annelise knew she must try to discover more ofhim.
He had promised to tell her more this day. It was only fair to her thinking that she actively seek the truth that he had declined toshare.
When he fell back against the linens, his breath coming quickly, she recognized herchance.
Annelise propped herself on her elbow and looked down upon her husband. It was darker than dark, for he had drawn the drapes around the bed, but she knew where he was. She set her fingertip upon his lips and felt him smile beneath hertouch.
“Were you pleased?” he murmured, his voice a low growl ofsatisfaction.
She smiled herself, liking that he was concerned for her welfare. She came to believe that he was a good man, if a secretive one. “You know I was, sir, and twiceso.”
“Good.” He captured her hand and kissed her fingertips. “I would not see you disappointed.” It was a sentiment that pleased her, but Annelise refused to be swayed from herplan.
“Who are you?” sheasked.
She felt him stiffen. She felt the skip of his heart and knew he wasshocked.
“I beg yourpardon?”
Annelise dropped her chin onto his chest, her fingers tapping against his shoulder. “Whoareyou?” she asked again. “I capitulated to your touch,” she reminded him. “Now you could offer a morsel of truth in exchange. Surely you already know that I am cursed curious. You promised to tell me more on this day, and though I understand circumstances can change, you could share somedetail.”
He took a quick breath and she heard the change in his tone. “I am lord of this palace, of course.” It was evident that he wished to flee from herquestions.
Annelise angled her weight over him, knowing she could not stop him if he chose to leave, and tried to charm him. She gave his shoulder a playful poke. “Your name, sir. I wish to know your name.” When he did not reply, she shook her head. “I begin to wonder, sir, whether you wed me only for your pleasure. Perhaps I am to be a courtesan, with only one purpose in yourlife.”
“Do you not wear my ring on your finger?” he asked, and she heard that he was insulted. “Did I not pledge myself toyou?”
“Yes, but without offering your name.” Annelise tapped a finger upon him. “Are you a villain or an outlaw, sought far and wide for yourcrimes?”
“No!” That he was insulted was a good sign, in herview.
“Have you a wife already then, and you fear that I should discover the truth ofit?”
“No!”
“Abetrothed?”
“I have no wife and no betrothed,” he said, sitting up as he spoke. “Indeed, I had no intention of wedding until I came to this palace, and then...” He fell silent just as his confession becameinteresting.
“And then?” Anneliseprompted.
“And then I changed mythinking.”
