Ulrich stepped out of the estate doors and into the quietness of the training courtyard. For the first time in recent memory, he had forgone his morning sword drills. His muscles carried a different sort of ache today, the fault of Meera's pestering throughout the night. After their initial sex, she had immediately asked for more, eager to spend the hours locked in a chaotic tangle of limbs. Ulrich had denied her, knowing that giving a woman of her boundless appetite everything she desired would only invite her to seize complete control.
