to my rooms."
Jacinda either ignored him or missed the implication of his simple statement. But Tressa didn't. He wanted her to come back to his chambers instead of the ones where she'd been held prisoner in the last few days. Her heart skipped a beat. She took a deep breath to calm herself. Of course he'd take her to his chambers. That was where her new wardrobe awaited her. The attendants had probably moved all of her things there during the first part of the ceremony – before the kilrothgi had taken them by surprise.
Jarrett slipped his hand over hers and lead her out of the throne room. No one stopped them. Tressa felt the invisible bonds that had chained her here fall away. Finally she had her freedom.
They walked in silence through the castle to Jarrett's chambers. He flung the doors open, revealing a sumptuous sitting room. Another door was set back in the room, presumably leading to his bedchamber. A fire roared in the fireplace, infusing the room with warmth in the dark of the night. Jarrett held his arms out wide. "What do you think?"
"It's beautiful." Tressa's fingers ran along the silken couch. She'd never grow tired of the gentle fabric, so unlike the bulky wool of Hutton's Bridge. It screamed luxury and at the same time whispered sensuality.
"I know you stayed here only because of your loyalty to your people. I don't mistake your choice for anything else. I know it does not include me."
"Jarrett..." Tressa wrung her hands. How could she tell him that she couldn't stop thinking about him? That he'd broken through that armor she'd so carefully built? That she wasn't married to Bastian in her heart any longer, and hadn't been for a very long time? That she'd fallen into Bastian's arms out of habit? That if Jarrett made one more move, she wouldn't be able to resist him any longer?
He placed a hand on her cheek. "I'm sorry for everything you've had to endure here. I had hoped Jacinda would readily agree to help us. The wedding, well, it was brave of you to go through with it."
"We didn't actually get married," Tressa said, letting the heat from his hand warm her whole body. She closed her eyes and leaned in. "Jarrett?"
"Yes?" he asked, his voice a careful whisper.
"I —"
His lips fell on hers and his arms snaked around her back. They tumbled onto the couch, their arms a tangle, Tressa on top of Jarrett. She forgot to breathe, only taking in Jarrett, as if her heart couldn't manage one more beat without him.
Jarrett pulled back. "Are you sure?" His hand found its way back to her cheek, his thumb stroking her lips.
Tressa trembled. His shirt had fallen open and her hands rested on his bare chest. The stark paleness of her skin contrasted against the deep brown rippling across his abdomen. A shiver traveled from her heart to that warm spot between her legs.
"Yes."
All it took was that one word. Jarrett stood up, gathering Tressa into his arms. He kicked open the door to the bedchamber. She laughed. "Don't break anything."
Jarrett turned his dark eyes on her. "Trust me, I'm very gentle."
He laid her down on the soft blankets. Tressa had no doubts in his promise as he slowly removed her sheer gown, savoring every inch of her body with his lips.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Tressa woke up, her head resting on Jarrett's chest.
"Morning," he said, smiling at her.
"Morning." She grinned and sat up, not at all ashamed of her nakedness as the sheet fell to her waist. She reached over to the table. An attendant had brought them breakfast, silently sneaking in when both Jarrett and Tressa slept. Tressa took a cup of tea, letting it snake down her throat. "Mmm. It's the same tea my Granna used to give me back in Hutton's Bridge. We'd take it every morning together. Everything feels so unreal this morning."
"It wasn't a dream." Jarrett wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer.
Tressa sipped the last of the tea, set the cup aside, and laughed. "If it was just a dream, then we wouldn't be forced to get out of bed and head out with an army this morning. We'd get to stay here and do more of all the wonderful things we did last night." She kissed his chest, savoring his smell, a heady combination of the desert and wine. "But we can't. We have to march out as soon as the sun is