Wiley blinked, but it didn’t clear her head. The light gleamed off his chest, reflected shadows as he turned the page, illuminating every line of muscle. He’d wound her so tightly, his every move was pure temptation.As if her body weighed a thousand pounds, she turned and slowly walked to her room. It was like a nightmare where she wanted to run, but was unable. If she went in that door, she was going to become a wife.She couldn’t be a wife. She couldn’t.***Jayems watched her slow retreat. Not tonight then, but soon.

Wiley exited the salon with her hair in a French braid, a mild concession to her mother’s quest for a new look. Of all the good luck, a merchant was selling guitars across the street. Brightly enameled and oddly shaped, they drew her like cotton candy to a child. Picking up a hot pink and red model, she tuned it by ear.“Oh, you play?” Portae said curiously, seeming relieved. Maybe she thought she was about to hear some ladylike ditties she could show off to her friends at teatime.Wiley grinned wickedly, played a few warm up chords, surged into a couple of hard rock riffs, and opened with Van Halen.Rhapsody’s eyes got big. She looked left, then right, paling as she real

Jasmine was poisoned that night.They’d been at dinner with Wiley’s family. Jasmine had taken one drink of Wiley’s wine and stiffened. The delicate glass had shattered as her hand convulsed, and moments later she’d been screaming, doubled up on the floor.Keilor and Fallon had worked frantically to help her, and somebody had called the medics. Jayems had dragged Wiley back from the scene, calming her frantic struggles with gentle force. Even now, after they knew it had been Jasmine’s dessert that was poisoned and not the wine, Wiley couldn’t shake the feeling that she was responsible. Jasmine wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for her.Wiley sat i

The climax hit her like a sledgehammer. She went crazy, bucking against the couch, screaming until she thought she would black out. He joined her, driving into her like he’d been shot up with molten lightning.As she trembled with aftershocks, he slipped a hand under her and pressed. She splintered into another climax, jerking uncontrollably.She didn’t know where he found the energy, but he carried her into the bedroom and shed the rest of their clothes.The first time must have been a warm up, because he slid into her again, pinning her arms above her head, lacing his fingers with hers. His kiss was wild and tender, restrained yet ardent. He drove her crazy with his kisses, yet mad

The next few weeks passed in a happy blur. Jasmine and Keilor’s romance progressed, Wiley became better at fending off her mother and Jayems found endless ways to make love to her. Wiley was even starting to make some friends among her peers, though she gravitated to the ladies her mother found less than suitable.Oh, they were ladies all right, but they were into sports and highly physical, or else had a wicked sense of humor. Worse, they had little rank. Two of her favorites were Shanra, daughter of a preeminent musician, and Kayless, whose mother designed many of the dresses for women of status.In their middle twenties, the women still lived with their parents as was the custom. When they weren’t hanging out at Wiley’s suite, they visited at each