Alexei's words filled Ingrid with a relief she hadn't realized she had been hoping for. He wasn't angry with her for being the one to take away his freedom, and he was hoping for this to work out just as much as she was.<br/><br/>His constant, soft, gentle touches were both reassuring and increasingly intoxicating, birthing a strange new hunger in Ingrid's pristine body that she had never felt before. But never before had she been so close to such a strong, powerful man. The combination of his strength and his kindness were acting on her like a powerful drug, making her an addict for his touch. Perhaps the wedding night, scary and unknown as it much of it was, wouldn't be so bad with this man...<br/><br/>Shyly, she turned her face into his hand which cupped her cheek. She closed her eyes and inhaled his rich, manly scent of musk and leather. Suddenly realizing what she was doing, she pulled back and smiled shyly.<br/><br/>"Well, let's see," she said with a little laugh, hoping to distract him from her embarrassment with humor. "My virginity for your bachelorhood. It seems a fair trade full of equal suffering to me."<br/><br/>Irina slipped into the room, lingering just by the door to the bathing room. When given attention, she simply said, "My lady's bath is ready when she pleases," and disappeared to the other side of the door.