"Bodin!" I squawked as he landed over me. Only his palms on the bed on each side of my shoulders keeping our foreheads from crashing.

He was so close I could feel his breath along my cheek. His brown eyes were so dark right now they were nearly black. His jaw was ticking like it did when he was annoyed.

For the first time, I had no choice but to really see Bodin Charters. He was tall and slim. Over six foot by a bit. His body was hard honed from the archery and fencing I knew he often spent time doing with his little brother, James.

James had been sickly many years when we were young, from being bit by an insect and his mother had often kept him home while Lord Charters came to visit my father.

I'd only met James a handful of times. But I knew that as soon as he was well enough, Bodin had been dragging him outside to get him moving and into the sunshine.

To help him heal, Bodin had said.

***

I realized I was determinedly trying to think about anything but Bodin laying atop me. His hard body resting over mine. And his eyes boreing into me.

I had been looking everywhere at him but I finally met his look. Forcing mine to be fierce.

To scare him off.

He always backed down to me.

But now he laughed. "That isn't going to work anymore Belle. I'm tired of your push and pull games."

He lifted his body and fisted my skirts. Dragging them methodically up my legs while he met my gaze.

"Bodin! What you're doing is quite improper."

"Yes." He acknowledged. "It is. But what are you going to do now, Belle?"

"Scream for my servants!" I announced.

He tilted his head and smirked. "Do you know what happens to ladies caught in a compromising position with a man?"

I gasped. "But I haven't!"

"But you look it." He eyed down our bodies. His gaze lingering on where my skirt was now between us around my waist and only my undergarments kept him from being against my skin.

As if thinking the same thing he hooked a finger in the side of my underwear and began dragging it down my hip.

"Bodin, no!" I writhed under him.

"Best stop." He leaned over to whisper in my ear. "You're only arousing me more."

I went stock still. Realizing I did indeed feel something as hard as cast metal resting just beneath my skirt hem along my thighs. "Is that-is-is."

"Yes, it is."

"But-but."

"But, nothing Belle." He said boredly. And with that he jerked the fine garment and I felt it rip around my hip and down the side. Opening my hip to his hand which immediately folded around flesh and jutting bone to trail the line of it curving forward and down between my thighs.

I gasped in shock. Lurching to sit up.

But his hand landed on my shoulder and held me down. "What are you about, Bodin."

"I want to show you something."

"Looks like you're trying to show yourself something!" I huffed. But I was breathing raggedly at his callused palms molding my hip and grabbing at my rear to cup its fullness.

My body shivered and I felt my muscles easing as I shivered in a pleasurable way.

"Is my touch truly so bad?"

"I-I..." I didn't know what the hell to say.

I didn't want Bodin touching me. Ever.

But what he was doing felt good and it made me curious as to what he was going to do.

And how it'd feel.

Because, though I'd never admit, his touch was melting my willpower.

That hand rolled up my hip to scoot my skirts higher and he slowly tore my petticoat the rest of the way across and tossed the fabric along the bed on the opposite side.

I felt a gust of air against my most intimate place and was shocked at how it felt.

I squeezed my thighs closed but he angled a hip and dropped his weight on it.

My thighs reflexively opened at the pressure and let his lower half drop between them.

I blinked stunned eyes at him. Why did I do that?

Why'd I let him closer?

"Ssh." He put a finger to his lips. "You wouldn't want a servant to find you with me in this state, now would you? Afterall, it'd mean I have to wed you to save your honor." He smirked.

My eyes widened in horror as I realized he was right.

He could even yell for someone and one witness could have things moving in a direction he favored very quickly.

I gave him a betrayed look.

"I won't call out if you don't." He grinned. Leaning to press his lips to mine as he whispered. "No matter what. Is it a deal?"

What's he asking me? To be quiet about whatever he's going to do to me?

What the devil is he going to do?

Where is the Bodin I knew.

This man didn't seem to care what orders I barked. He did what he wanted. And proved his points in the most aggressive ways and didn't seem to listen to any command I made.

I didn't like it.