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This was a bad idea Still, it was better than sitting around entertaining soed to her cha the pod servants had provided her She, Talia, and Bayla had put in an order for new clothing, but it hadn’t arrived yet

When she exited her chaainst the ith a casual grace

“Ready?” He took her bag froh it wasn’t heavy

“Yes” She fell into step beside hilance at his handsome face Why had she decided she couldn’t be with hiain by her side and she could breathe again

“What’s the purpose of the trip?”

They fell out of stride when her step faltered “Does it htly

He held up his pallad to have a chance to, ah, be of service”

“You et me alone”

He grinned widely “That, too”

“I already told you—”

“Yes, I heard you I won’t force it”

Too bad She rather enjoyed the way he forced things And though it rong and backward to think it, her life had been cleaner when she had very few choices

“That doesn’t mean I won’t employ every means of persuasion I know”

She stopped walking, putting a stride between theht on and turned

“All pleasurable, I assure you”