She smiled despite herself, listening to his careful reply.  The hurt in his voice echoed in her soul, or what was left of it, but she couldn't answer him now, at least, she didn't think so...<br/><br/>She listened, hearing his heart speed up, smelling his fear.  It reminded her of a brocade of wine, sweet to the nose, but bitter to the senses.  She wasn't even sure if taking him was the best idea, but she'd finally had him, touched him, smelt his aftershave, been in his arms, she couldn't let him go now.  She dodged his direct question again.<br/><br/>"Certain answers will come, I'm sure, but you have to trust me.  Do everything I say, when I say, how I say...no matter what."<br/><br/>She'd never been so direct with him before, so blunt.  It was part of the change that had happened to her.  Part of who she was now, and he would have to deal with that if he truly wanted her, truly wanted to know.  She gripped his chin firmly in her hand, the other squeezing his knee, and looked him straight in the eyes, her gaze desperately searching his.  "I mean it.  No matter what."