Lady Azarine could feel the tingling of her body as he promised to keep her debt to himself. She felt foolish for so boldly offering her own body as payment, but the feeling was overpowered by the cruel anticipation she suddenly felt of<em>wanting</em>to be received as payment. It felt like her cheeks were glowing as she sat there. Kaiyah positioned the silver cup in front of her, which Lady Azarine avoided. Gold was more fitting for a person of her position, her father always said. She took a long sip, but the cool icy water only made her face feel hotter by comparison.<br/><br/>Could he tell how deep her breaths were? It felt like she had been running, as she focused on the rising and falling of her chest, the fullness of her breasts modestly contained in her black dress. She looked over Variel for some sign that he felt the same way, but he showed no signs to her that he was as affected. She had never felt this way around a man before. But what a man. Her handmaid had told a story about him when she first inquired about the Lord Sunshadow. The handmaid had told of how Variel had saved a princess from her evil uncle and then ravaged her for her thanks. The way her handmaid had told the story, Lady Azarine had found herself breathing much the same way, and Gods, she wished he would rescue her now.<br/><br/>And that wasn’t the only story—nor was it the steamiest—that she’d heard of him. Maybe none of them were true, but, sitting in his presence, she understood where they came from. She wanted to feel his hands in her hair, his lips on the soft fine line of her neck.<br/><br/>Lady Azarine put a delicate hand in front of her mouth and swallowed. “Assistants, yes—yes of course, whatever you think is best.” She cleared her throat. “Did you have anyone in mind?”<br/><br/>Kaiyah watched with vested interest as the Lady continued her conversation with Variel. He spoke so calmly, with such especial sophistication, his words like honey in her both their ears.<br/><br/>“Yes, Master,” she said, nodding quietly to his request.<br/><br/>She became acutely aware of the thin collar around her neck. Her back straightened slightly as she stood a little taller in the garden, dutifully standing at attention, watching their conversation unfold. She felt the sting of jealousy in her eyes knowing that he was interested in Lady Azarine’s offer for payment. He had owned Kaiyah for months, but he had never made her serve him. She ached sometimes thinking about being able to serve him fully.