<em>~Mila at dinner~</em><br/><br/>As Bo started speaking, Mila's attention focused on him, his tone resonating with the conviction of his words.  As he spoke, the icy finger of humiliation stroked over her.  He actually thought that she would have sex with someone she'd known for an hour.<em>Why not, Mila.  Your own mother and brothers said worse about you before they exiled you.</em><br/><br/>Cathy chose that moment to come back to clear plates and set down the next course.  Mila looked at her lap, not even registering what new delight had been placed before her.   She fought an overwhelming urge to defend herself to Bo.  To explain that she had only been flirting and no more.  But she forced herself to bite her tongue.  Hadn't she learned the hard way with Blake and her family that explaining her heart to others only made things worse?<br/><br/>Her instinct was to flee to the one place in the castle that was her own sanctuary, her room.  But she sat still instead, trying to examine why Bo's opinion of her was so important.  Because she wanted to love him, and wanted his love in return.  She knew better than anyone that love was not enough, but this one time, she wanted it to prove to be.  She wanted love with these five people more than anything.<br/><br/>And then, there was the one other thing that he'd said.<em>A night and a day.</em>Had Bo just tossed down the gauntlet?  Was the physical intimacy between them going to start tomorrow?  The thought made her heart race.