Paladin's Strength (The Saint of Steel, #2)

by T. Kingfisher

“Tell me what you are thinking, Domina,” he said against her hair. “Tell me, so I don’t guess wrong.” I’m thinking I’m in love with you, you absurdly decent man. I have fallen in love

“I try to be a considerate lover, Domina,” said Istvhan, in the tones of a man confessing to a great crime. “I work very hard at it. I would give you pleasure a dozen times over before I took mine. It is a matter of craftsmanship.”

“You know, you said something to me right before we went into the water…” “Did I really?” She peered into his face. “Do you not remember?” “Hmmm…I do seem to recall baring my soul to a woman who said…what was it, now?” “Oh god.” Clara untangled her fingers so that she could put her face in her hands. “That’s very nice, I believe she said.” “I wasn’t expecting it! And I was a little distracted!” Istvhan began laughing. “Well, there were a few things going on. Would you like to try again?” “Can we?” “Domina,” he said, his voice serious but his eyes dancing, “I am quite hopelessly in love with you.”