“My lord,” Lady Azarine began, her voice trembling as the instincts of a proper courtly lady took over, “surely you understand that I am good for my word.” She could feel the heat on her chest—a tingling above her breasts, where her hand moved up to the pit of her neck, teasing at her warm bare skin with delicate gloved fingertips. She knew he was assessing her willingness—and she was willing. She could feel the tingling all the way down her body, a pressure building between her thighs as she demurely pressed her lips together. His small smile spread on his lips like she wished he would spread hers.<br/><br/>She realized she had been holding her breath and exhaled long and slowly.<br/><br/>“But, of course, I am in your debt. And a debt may be called upon any time one wishes to collect it.” Lady Azarine swallowed. The muscles of her neck tensed as her back righted to the most ladylike posture she could manage. “Debts even accrue interest sometimes, as I’m sure my lord knows. You pay now, and later. And later. And later again … Interest is mischievous like that, isn’t it? Sometimes it’s hard—impossible even—to get out from under what one owes.“<br/><br/>Lady Azarine’s hand timidly moved back to Variel’s leg, her fingers massaging against the strength of his muscles. Her dark eyes flicked upwards, as she tilted her head back to look up into his beautiful green orbs. Her hand inched forward on his thigh as she tightly pressed her knees together trying to hide her excitement, the thrill sizzling through her. Her head moved towards him as she shortened the distance between their bodies, leaning near to him.<br/><br/>Her hand moved farther up his thigh, heart aching as she continued to look up at him. She had never been so forward in her entire life, but he drove it in her, these carnal desires, driving her mad in a way she’d never felt before, as if something primal inside of her desperately wanted to be free. Her eyes flicked down and she could see his own growing excitement. Her lips opened into a small, delicate shape, and she looked back up at him. His eyes were fierce and untamed, but beautiful and green and she felt she could spend the rest of her years looking into only them.<br/><br/>“What would Lord Variel Sunshadow consider fair collateral for this favour I ask?” she whispered.<br/>