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Talin nodded. "Same inscription?"
"Only the symbol on the outside," I promised. "The words on the inside are for you and you alone."
"Good." He guided me to one of the portraits. "This is my father. Well, was." Then he pulled out a gold coin and balanced it on the frame at the back. "Every year, I leave Danis a gift in the same place. We've been doing this since we were both kids."
"You know, this doesn't seem like the holiday I know," I had to admit. "Granted, I've only celebrated in the temple since I was ten."
He grumbled under his breath. "It's not. Tath says Maela can't take the 'orgy' at the temple, but I'm not so sure." And he lifted his brow in question while steering me to another room. "Since you two seem to have become friends today, what do you think?"
"I think she feels like the outsider in this family, and she's convinced Tath's interest in me is far from brotherly."
"It is," Talin agreed. "Never mind that you're the most beautiful woman in this house. You're also the one onmyarm, so that's twice the temptation for him. And worse than that, no priest or priestess can refuse a session with the Baron without a very good reason."
"Well, I told her that the same is true for Lady Ranndor, which is the title she now holds." I flashed him a devious smile. "I mean, if your brother does decide to have a session with a priest, I have a feeling she will too, and I may have dropped Eladehl's name."
"Good," he said, pausing to lift a vase and put a silver coin beneath it. "Because Tathisgoing to try something. He's counting on the fact that we priests don't value marriage the same inside the temple as they do outside. He's assuming that because you're a first-year initiate, you'll be so honored to have thebaronflirting with you that you'll forget that Maela might be hurt."
"Initiates aren't allowed to have sessions," I pointed out.
"No, but they're allowed to have sex on their own terms," he countered. "If you choose to fall into bed with him, it's not a session and yet still allowed. He's also assuming that I'm just a shadow to follow you around. Nothing more."
"Aren't you?" I teased, backing away from him playfully. "Even forcing me to sleep in your bed, leaving me wholly unsatisfied."
"Wasn't what you said last night," he reminded me.
I pulled a pair of coins from my pouch and dropped them into a vase of flowers. "Oh, I was just trying not to hurt your feelings, you know. Since that ring is such a burden to bear."
He growled and rushed at me, so I spun, hurrying from the room. He followed. Giggling without shame, I darted into one of the more delicate women's rooms, intending to escape on the far side, but Talin knew me too well. He skipped past the door I'd used and aimed for the next. Too bad for him I saw his shadow before he rounded the corner. That gave me the chance to retreat back the way I'd come.
I managed to sneak in another couple coins when I slipped through the parlor again, but that slowed me down. Talin entered the room just as I darted out, not quite sure where I was going in this massive house. Desperate to stay just ahead of him, I tried another door and found it open, so slipped inside - and paused at the array of books.
Hundreds of them, possibly thousands, filled the shelves along the walls. There was a moveable set of stairs to reach them in one corner, and some cases were covered with glass. The whole thing was amazing. Homey, even. I'd wanted to follow the Path of the Word because I loved the knowledge hidden in books, and right here was a treasure trove just waiting to be sampled.
But Talin stepped in behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. "I should've known this would be the trap to slow you down." Then his lips found my neck. "I love you too, Nariana. I love the watch. And if I'm honest, I love that you're willing to make this week not just tolerable, but wonderful."
I turned in his arms, but he was already pushing me back. "Would you be offended if I said I like the man you are when we're alone the most?"
My back found the wall and he smiled. "No. I also like the man I am when we're alone the most. I like how you never forgive me because of who I'm related to, and Ilovehow you never seem to be afraid of anything."
I lifted my chin, baring my lips to him. "Not worried that I don't need you?"
"Not at all," he promised, leaning a little closer. "I've never been attracted to women who need to be coddled. The first time I saw you, I was intrigued because you were a beautiful lady alone in a place where women didn't go. I love you, Nariana, because you can protect yourself. I also know that no one can do everything alone."
With each word, his mouth got closer to my lips, until he finally kissed me. As my lips parted for him, Talin's hands moved higher, sliding up my ribs. The fabric of my dress rustled under his hands, the only sound in the room besides the delirious moan that slipped from my throat. His body pinned me against the wall, his presence holding me there, but the teasing of his tongue locked me in place.
My fingers found the side of his jaw, begging for more. He gave it. Beneath the finery of his expensive suit, Talin was pure muscle, and he leaned into me, shoving his knee between my legs, not caring that my skirts kept us separated. I pressed into his body, wanting to grind against him, but the door opened.
Talin didn't jerk back. He simply sighed and tipped his forehead against mine.
"Well, well," Tath said. "And here I thought you were an obedient little lap dog."
I ignored him, holding Talin's eyes. "I think I wrinkled your suit."
"Mhm," he agreed. "And I creased your dress."
"Oh, but I planned for that. Straighten your ascot, my love."
Tath let out a heavy sigh, well aware that he was being ignored. "What are you thinking, Talin? This is a family home, and you can't finish what you've just started."
