Aeliana could feel the tears beginning to form in the folds of her eyes, cascading swiftly down her cheeks. She had no idea what to do; she had no choice but to be held by him…

And yet, she could not allow herself to be vulnerable yet again. “Please, Jacques, please. You don’t know the first thing about me,” Aeliana whispered frantically in hushed tones. She could have let him caress her, hold her, until she was mollified entirely. But now that Aeliana was feeling ...