“No,” Darling said, sobering. “It’s really a long story, and I don’t feel like getting into it right now.” He had something much more important to think about.

He faced Syn. “What I want to know is if you can fix this,” he gestured at his face. “And how long will it take to make me look human again?”

Syn let out a slow breath. “You want the bad news or the worse news?”

12

Finishing up her breakfast, Zarya kept glancing back at Maris who watched her closely as if she was some kind of experiment that had gone horribly awry. Dressed in an elegant gold jacquard jacket, he stood with one foot toward the door, ready to bolt for some reason. “What’s wrong?”

He widened his eyes innocently. “Not a thing.”

Yeah, right. She wasn’t about to believe that given his strange behavior. Quirking a brow at him, she placed her napkin next to her plate. “Then what’s with that look?”

Blinking with feigned innocence, he postured behind the padded chair next to hers. “What look?”

She waited until he did it again. “That one.”

He visibly cringed, then made an exaggerated twist of his hand. “Uh… well… I’m trying to think of a way to broach an uncomfortable topic with you.”

She would much rather have the truth, plain and simple. “Just spit it out, Mari. I can’t stand games. Whatever it is, I assure you, I can handle it.”

He chewed his bottom lip. Something that made her even more trepidatious. How bad could it be?

“You sure you’re ready for this?” he asked hesitantly.

Not really, but…“Absolutely. Hit me.”

“All right then.” He spoke in a tone that made the knot in her stomach tighten even more. He pulled the chair out from the table and finally sat down. Still, he hesitated as he toyed with a bit of lace that fell from his gold sleeve. “I’m sure you’re aware of the fact that when you’re having sex you’re a screamer, right?”

Now it was her turn to cringe as a nasty suspicion went through her.

Please, please let me be wrong…

“You heard us?” she whispered in horror.

“Oh honey…” He placed his hand over hers comfortingly. “With the acoustics in this place… everyone has heard you. Even Syn and Hauk. That’s how I knew to wait almost an hour before I brought them up.”

She felt suddenly ill over that news. “What?”

Patting her hand, he nodded. “Three quarters of the staff is convinced he’s torturing you up here. None are willing to believe any man can have that kind of stamina or that any woman can have that many orgasms in a week, never mind a single day.”

She wanted to crawl into a hole and die over that. “Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?”

“Didn’t want to embarrass you. As you saw, I had to force myself to bring it up even now. I knew you’d feel awful about it.” He screwed his face up sympathetically. “But look on the bright side. I’m both jealous and impressed with Darling’s skills. I had no idea he had all that in him. Girl, you are so lucky. Trust me, for I have a lot of experience in this area, most men cannot do what he does to you for as long as he does it. If we could figure out what he’s eating or doing to cause that, we’d be even richer.”