Fabric tore. I cried out again. His tongue was on my skin, searching. He pushed down my bra and closed his lips around my nipple.
I saw the Everstill with my eyes closed.
Then came the knock on the door.
We froze, March with my breast in his mouth, and me with both hands on his hair, keeping his head down.
“Miss Reese, may I come in?”Lida.
“No! No-no-no-no—don’tcome in!” I screamed so hard, March closed his eyes andshookwith laughter, still over me on the bed.
“Move!” I hissed at him, too, the panic suddenly clearing my head.
I pushed him off me and I made to stand up, but before I could, his arm wrapped around my waist, and he pushed me back down on the bed with ease.
Time’s Teeth, he wassmiling.His eyes were bloodshot and his cheeks flushed and his hair a mess by my own hands (perfect-perfect-perfect) and he was smiling instead of freaking out.
“It’s the maid! Let go—she could see you!” And I didn’t understand why he wasn’t panicking with me, trying to hide, but…
“And?”
I stopped.
“So what?”
“What…what do you mean,so what?” It was absurd, wasn’t it? A perfectly absurd question.
“Are you trying tohideme,Spade? Are you planning to keep me a secret?” He was grinning ear to ear.
“No, I-I…I…” What in the world was I supposed to say to that?!
“Because I refuse. The whole world will know—there’s no other way,” he said, and he was leaning in closer and closer, watching my lips like he was hypnotized by them.
“Know what?” I breathed, and I completely forgot about Lida as I waited…
“That you’re going to be mine.”
He said it simply, like it was just another statement, the most natural thing in the world.
My mouth opened.Aren’t I already?
No-no-no—Ora, it was just a kiss!
“Miss Reese, I’m waiting!”
I jumped. Pushed his arm off and practically ran to the door, flustered. Behind me March chuckled, I heard him just fine. And I pulled the door open just a bit so Lida could see at least one of my eyes.
“Miss Reese, I?—”
“Lida, I will get to the eating hall myself. Please leave.”
She looked confused. “But I?—”
“Please,Lida. I’m going alone. Go away. Thank you.” I pushed the door closed again.
March laughed from the bed like hereallydidn’t care that someone could see him in my room.
I mean, it was…bad,wasn’t it? Someone would have something to say about it, wouldn’t they?
