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She thought it odd that he refused any of the ladies from accompanying him.He is intending to go to his chambers alone?

Deep in thought, Valerie made her way back to her apartment, knowing Victoria would be waiting for her in her parlour room.She will have fallen asleep.

She fell asleep often there, usually by accident.

Climbing the stairs, she turned around the curve. That’s when she heard quick bootsteps thundering behind her, echoing against the walls.

It must be Vermont.As time crept on, she realised he wasn’t a liability. She should have asked him to walk her.I walked the halls alone in the dark.

She’d been too busy thinking about her sister to feel fear for herself.

She turned to greet Vermont before she froze, her eyes widening.

“Lord Ger–” Valerie didn’t get to finish.

Geryon barged her stomach with his shoulder, forcing her to flip forward until she was resting over it. Without interrupting his stride, he began to carry her up the stairs. Valerie beat at his back with her fists while she kicked her knees into his chest.

“What are you doing? Lady Victoria is awaiting me in my chambers,” she said with a hushed whisper.

“Tell them to assist you, and they will regret doing so,” he threatened. His voice held a deep rumble of fury, like it had been building and was soon to explode.

“Lady Cecily,” the two guards gasped.

They ran forward when they saw Geryon emerge with her at the top of the stairs. She was thankful they were hers and not the king’s men.

“It is fine,” she answered, throwing her hands up to ward them back.

They’d been standing near the centre, and Geryon walked her between them. He paused. “Speak of this to anyone, and I will remove both your tongues.”

Then he continued to walk forward. There was a door here, one she’d only opened once.

It sat in the middle of the long, wide hallway separating hers and Vermont’s chambers. It was a simple bedroom, small but still fairly grand. It was furnished beautifully, since it had no extension like a parlour room for guests to be seated.

There was a large bed resting against the back wall, but the only other furniture in the room was a writing desk, a vanity table, two picture frames, and a long, backless chair at the foot of the bed.

Geryon slammed the door behind him and promptly walked her further inside.

“What are you thinking, Geryon?” she loudly snapped now that they were somewhere they wouldn’t be overheard. “If someone were to–”

“Other than your guards, I made sure we would not have been seen,” he bit before he tossed her down onto the bed.

Valerie bounced high, the wind knocked out of her from the strength of his throw. The mattress squeaked when her body thudded against it.

Before she could say anything, do anything, Geryon grabbed her leg and pulled her towards the edge of the bed. Then, he was kneeling above her on one knee and hand, kissing her.

Valerie pushed at his chest, fought against him even as she kissed him back.So sweet.She had to stop herself from making a sound of enjoyment at the taste, the feel of his firm lips.

“Stop pretending you do not want this!” he finally broke away to shout. “I can see it in the redness of your chest and cheeks, can feel it in the warmth of your skin.” He brought his mouth against hers with force, moving his lips in time with hers. He broke away again. “In the kisses you return.”

“Wait,” she begged.

He was more determined than usual, more forceful, as he began to kiss at her neck and lift the skirts of her dress.

Valerie tried to turn away from his mouth that was making her pant. Already, prickles trailed up and over her scalp. When he realised she’d turned to her side to get away, Geryon rolled her over so her front was against the bed.

“You played a dangerous game with me today.” There was a heaviness in his voice, one that told her he was filled with rage. “You used Bradwick as a way to incite jealousy in me out of spite.”

It appeared he was at the end of his apparently unflappable patience.