Of course, he would. Graydon saw those bouts as a form of foreplay. How could she forget that?
If she was being truthful, she found them no less enjoyable.
It was so rare to find someone who matched her in every way. She didn’t have to hold back with Graydon. He could take her worst and return the favor.
There was something appealing in knowing she could give him every part of herself. The good. The bad. And the vicious.
Kira took a tiny step back in retreat. If they weren’t careful, they’d end up right back where they just were. Kira half naked and Graydon looking at her like she was his salvation.
It was hard enough resisting temptation the first time around.
A knock sounded at the door, snapping the brewing tension.
“Thank God. A distraction,” Kira said with a bit of relief.
A husky chuckle followed Kira to the door.
She opened it to find several people on the other side. She dismissed the presence of the lackeys, focusing on the person in the middle. The one in charge.
Wearing robes like that of Jarek’s, the woman was tall and had a poise that Kira envied.
Unlike Jarek, who could be considered an ice prince, this woman had a certain amount of warmth in her manner. Approachable in a way Jarek wasn’t.
The lines around her eyes and mouth suggested she was someone who spent more time smiling than frowning. Her hair was a mass of frizzy corkscrew curls that were even more untamed than Kira’s.
Tension entered her posture as the woman caught sight of Graydon at Kira’s shoulder.
“My lord, how unexpected. I wasn’t aware you and the lady were such close acquaintances.”
Although the woman managed to maintain her smile, there was a note of strain that hadn’t been there previously. She wasn’t easy about Graydon’s presence and didn’t hide that fact as well as she likely should have.
Graydon didn’t help matters, a faint hint of challenge in his stare. “Is that a problem?”
The woman brightened; a fake smile plastered over her face. “No problem at all. I will let my superiors know you will be attending the trial.”
“Trial?”
Whose trial? Hers?
Kira shot Graydon an irritated frown. Did he not think this was something he should have led with?
“I apologize for my distraction.” The woman dipped her chin in a respectful nod, pretending not to see their exchange. “My name is Cora, inquisitor of the second order and a direct subordinate to Eurus, the emperor’s Face of Justice. Your presence is requested in the Hall of Determination. If you’d allow me, I’ll be your escort.”
How would Cora react if Kira refused? If she said no, she didn’t require an escort?
The temptation to do exactly that was damn near irresistible. The entertainment value alone might even make it worth the trouble such an action would bring down on her head.
“Kiirrraaaa,” Jin sang in their comms, dragging her name out. “I know what you’re thinking, but don’t you dare. You heard the mountain. The situation is ‘delicate.’ Don’t go making it worse.”
Kira hated to admit it as she looked at the two figures flanking Cora, but Jin may have a point. Cora’s companions were oshota. Probably dispatched to accompany her in the event Kira took it into her head to cause chaos.
Too bad. Rebelling against the status quo might have been exactly what she needed. A way to stretch her muscles after a week spent bed bound.
Graydon’s touch landed on the small of Kira’s back, distracting her. “It will be fine. I am here.”
Kira gave him a look that said she didn’t believe him. Maybe if he’d made that claim before he mentioned he might not be able to help it would be different.
Graydon bent his head toward hers. “Trust me.”
