“What happened?”

Her lips trembled and her eyes filled with tears. “I was sleeping. Next thing I knew, someone was standing over me.” She looked up at him. “I thought it was you.” She huddled close to him again and instinctively his arms tightened.

“I started to scream, but he put a cloth over my face. It smelled horrible. Then my head started spinning and I felt sick. Next thing I knew, I was lying on a dirty cot in a room filled with other women.”

Daeron gave a growl. Kidnapped. How could this have happened?

She sniffed. “They made me take a bath, dressed me in this flimsy cloth and brought me in here. I thought…I was going to be raped.”

The thought of her in another man’s arms inflamed his anger even higher. “The goddesses be praised it was I and not some other awaiting you. I recognized your tattoo.”

She stared up at him. “This is the Pleasure Tent, isn’t it?” At his nod, she bit her lower lip. “And you are here…to receive pleasure from one of these women?”

He narrowed his eyes and pulled away from her. He hated that she made him feel like he was betraying her. “I’m a man, princess. Let it go at that.”

Nessa’s heart hurt at the thought of her kesol with another woman. She was only his tathar. She had no right to be upset, but she’d considered him hers for so long she couldn’t bear to think of him with someone else. Firmly, she pushed it out of her mind. This wasn’t the time for jealousy.

“We’ve got to get you out of here,” he muttered. “Tell me more of your kidnapping. Did you recognize the man?”

She shook her head. “No…but he wasn’t a noble. He didn’t smell of perfume, but of dirt and sweat.”

He nodded. “They waited until I was gone to take you. That means they had inside information. Only a few knew I was taking this time for myself.”

Nessa bit her lip again. He hadn’t even told her he was leaving. He’d left her alone to go have sex with another woman.

Suddenly, he stiffened. Grabbing her by the arms, he hauled her back against him. Before she could protest his actions, his lips slanted over hers.

Gasping in surprise, she tried to pull away, but his hands moved up into her hair to hold her tightly against him. His mouth was hard, pressing against hers with passionate intent. Nessa moaned and her lips softened instinctively. In a matter of moments, she knew why the thought of Daeron with another woman bothered her so.

She wanted him for herself.

Forgetting completely where they were, she arched herself into him, winding her own hands into his unbound hair. She gave him her mouth, surprised when he didn’t take her up on the offer. Instead, he tore his away and bent to whisper in her ear, “Fight me, damn it!”

She froze at his words, her confusion complete, but then she heard the sound of a man clearing his throat behind them. All the lovely warmth he’d created in her cooled immediately and she struggled in his arms.