Tristan didn't put me down until we were back in his room.

He kicked the door shut behind us and carried me straight to the bed, setting me down on the edge with a gentleness that seemed wrong coming from someone who'd just broken a woman's arms like they were twigs.

I immediately tried to pull my dress down over my legs, my face burning with embarrassment. The gray fabric had ridden up during the walk, and I felt exposed sitting there with my bare thighs showing.

"Don't," he said, catching ...