My blood beat faster at his soft sound of approval, my fingers curling tighter against his arm, giving voice to a quiet moan of my own.

And then he drew away, the guilt on his face plain and clear, and I felt my stomach sink as I too drew back, getting to my feet with a neutral expression and reaching back to twist up my hair as I'd meant to do earlier.

I said nothing; part of me wished to tell him what Alcuin had told me of James' straying eyes (and hands and lips as well) but I did not want to seem cruel or spiteful, especially when I had begun this in the name of easing his pain.