“Lovemaking in my court is a sacred bond,” he said, the words coming out strained as he formed them, as if he was trying hard not to offend me. “It wouldn’t be right for me to take you into my bed knowing the future I’ve condemned you to.” It wasn’t until he looked away and his hands curled up at his side, that I realized I’d read him wrong. His hands didn’t simply curl up, they’d turned white. His breaths were shallow and measured, as if he was carefully timing each one. More telling, still, was the way he tilted his body away from mine, one leg coming up to cross over the other in an attempt
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