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Q pulled his legs toward hi to wrap a fist in ently but firmly tilted my head to face him "What’s this really about, esclave?" His eyes searched reed to marry him By that alone, I would’ve spent my life surrounded by wealth because I would spend it surrounded by Q It made no difference

But s Q kept hidden

Oxygen caught in ether, so why did I suddenly have the horrible notion Q planned for much less?

Q’s face was cast with shadows as the plane pierced clouds, blocking out the view of the disappearing French countryside "Peu importe ce qu’il y a tu peux me le dire" Whatever it is, you can telluessed so was amiss--not until I had concrete evidence and could deh, I said, "It’s fine I’ll be fine Thank you Thank you for trustingfor things I won’t let come to pass

Q’s jaw clenched and for a moment I worried he wouldn’t let me hide the truth, but then his hand dropped froainst the ‘Q’ branded into er painfully sensitive; I shivered at the soft caress

"You still don’t get it" He shook his head, eyes alive with vitality and connection Bowing his head, he brushed his lips against mine "You may have become richer in bank balance--but Tess…youpriceless"

My body gave way from substance to molten, and I arched my chin to kiss him I wanted to shed my skin and fly I wanted to free my soul, so Q could see just how h to describe howacid--he was my blood We shared the same heartbeat and if he died I had no doubt ue licked athereded me All I wanted was to be nad and beneath hi the kiss, I whispered, "Where are you taking hed softly "Always so inquisitive" Kissing the tip ofyou on that date, esclave Our very first one, and I expect to get to second base"

Ihis thumb over my nipple "You’re already at second base" My breath was as soft as the wispy clouds outside

Hisexquisitely softly "So I a desire inso da soft to sharp

"I can’t help it I’ to rowl bubbled froain"

I s to marry"

"And after we’re married, hoill you address me?" His lips trailed fire over my collarbone

"You’ll be e body tre "I like the sound of that"

My insecurities broke my self-control "And you’ll be"Ae maybe forever, but a human body was not And Q seemed to think he was immortal

But I knew the difference I’d hurt him I’d scarred him

The invincible master bled…he could be killed

Rome

A honeymooner’s dream Or, in our case, a crescent ranting e hand to climb out of the vehicle Soht into the pages of my own fairy-tale

The hotel soared upward as well as outward I couldn’t see where it ended or begun--arched ith Juliette balconies stood like perfect soldiers in a battalion of architecture Pillars and porticos with dark brick, alabasterto a lobby accepted lass of the entrance, the largest tiered chandelier I’d ever seen screa crystals looked like an upside doedding cake--if such a cake existed with fifty layers and thousands of jewels, all hanging froasus, Hercules, and Zeus ihtning bolts struck guestsbelohile cupid and his fellow cherubs shot heart-arrows like rain

A party of three ladies entered the lobby, ignoringlike an idiot Each wo after her--their ars

Franco’s finger pressed beneathyour tonsils to the clientele isn’t the best first i up fro where the lights spilled onto the night-shrouded sidewalkI could stay there "Look at it It’s breath-stealingly beautiful"

"No, that’s you This is just a cleverly designed hotel meant to lure men like ainste onsome of my wonder-filled joy

Franco’s eyes were flat and distrustful of everyone in every direction

Pretending to be oblivious of the building tension, I said, "That may be so, but…Q This isn’t even our honey et ue, but I sed it back Exactly how soon will that be? After Q’s rush to get one ominously silent on the subject

Q looked over my head at Franco "Check us in You knohat to do We’ll head straight up" With a quick scan of the street, Q grabbedlobby and toward a private elevator at the rear

A man in a tailored tuxedo bowed as we pushed the up button and waited beside a flower arrange fountain of orchids, lilies, and ferns

"Ciao, Mr Mercer Very pleasant to see you again, sir"