I smiled at that—Iannis so rarely cursed, and never more than once in a single sentence. “I’m sure you will,” I said, tugging open the sash of his robe. “But in the meantime, I could use some help getting to sleep. I’m still a little wired from all the excitement.”

Iannis tensed as I slipped my hand inside his robe and ran it along the smooth, hard muscles of his chest. His right hand pushed up the fabric of my nightgown, and I gasped as he slid his hand between my legs, finding my sweet spot with his skilled fingers.

“Anything for you,” he murmured, rolling me onto my back. His lips found my own, and I lost myself in his arms, pushing aside my troubles. I would deal with them tomorrow, but for now, I would enjoy Iannis, and be happy that I was still alive to do so.

9

“I must say, you’re looking very well for someone who nearly died in an explosion last night!”

“Thank you.” I smiled at Gena Chanie, the correspondent, who had arrived half an hour early to interview me this morning. I’d arrived in the meeting lounge at nine o’clock on the dot—which was a damned miracle considering how long it had taken me to get ready. A maid had rapped on my door at six in the morning, sent by Director Chen to help me prepare, and I’d endured over two hours of scrubbing, washing, hair pulling, and powdering as she dressed me up.

“I imagine you aren’t used to wearing such feminine clothing,” Gena said as her eyes skimmed the peach-colored and far-too-lacy dress the maid had crammed me into. “Considering that you’re an enforcer by trade.”

I smiled a little, smoothing out the skirt of my dress. “I’d have a lot of trouble catching criminals if I had to chase after them wearing ensembles such as this.”

Gena laughed. “Too true! But they will look great on the photos we just took.” She glanced down at her binder. “So tell me, have you and Lord Iannis picked out a wedding date?”

I froze. “Um, no. Not yet.”

“Really?” Gena frowned as she scribbled on her notepad. “I know it’s only been a week since you announced your engagement, but, surely, you’ve given it some thought. Do you plan to have the ceremony in Dara, during the next Convention?”

“No,” I said automatically. The next convention wasn’t for another two years, and there was no way I was waiting that long. “We want friends and family to be present, and that will be easier if we have the wedding here in Solantha.”

“Family?” Gena asked, her pen poised like a viper ready to strike. “Do you mean your relatives from the Jaguar Clan? Do you plan to invite all of them, or only immediate family members?”

Fuck.