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She shook her head.

“How about the future then?”

She heaved a sigh. “What about my future?”

“What are your dreams, hopes, aspirations?”

Her hands absently ran up and down his arms. “Why do you want to know?”

His chest rose with the strength of his inhale. “Perhaps, I want to know more about you. Perhaps, you intrigue me…” A pause. “Or perhaps I just like the sound of your voice and I would like to fall asleep to it.”

“I thought you wanted my help in getting warmed up,” she teased.

He chuckled low. “Oh, I am already warmed up, believe me. The mere scent of your skin, your voice, and your closeness already does that to me just fine. I am not saying I wouldn’t like more, because, of course, I would. I think you can feel it. But I don’t think you are as enthusiastic just yet.”

“Oh… So, you are distracting me?”

He chuckled again—a pleasant sound that sent butterflies fluttering in her belly. “Perhaps it’s another one of my motives.”

Maybe he was just trying to ease her mind before pressing for more. But that’s more than most—no, all—men ever did before bedding her.

“I think I reached all my dreams and aspirations,” she said. “Being a fugitive with a thief-taker is absolutely the height of my dreams.”

He let out a laugh.

“For a girl who started by being forced to work in a brothel, I think I achieved all of my goals. I broke free. I built my own little empire. I help some people escape terrible situations, I help others to explore their desires.” She shrugged. “I am quite happy with my achievements.”

“What about a family?” he asked.

“I have my family. Hades, Colette, even William, though he’d never admit to it.”

“What about children?”

Grace thought for a moment, not quite certain how to answer that question. “I have never wanted children. When you’re born into the world that I was, it is unfathomable to think of bringing children into it.”

“Even now that you’ve achieved all your goals?”

She licked her lips. “Now it might be a little too late. It is rather rare for a harlot to not have multiple children by my age.”

He cocked his head. “What do you mean by that?”

“I have always taken very serious precautions against becoming with child. I just always thought that if it happened, it was meant to be. I suppose it wasn’t.” She paused. “What about you? What are your greatest aspirations?”

He let out a chuckle. “Getting a commendation from the King.”

They both laughed at that.

“Now that that is impossible, I suppose I will need to find a new dream.” The way he said that tugged at the strings of her heart.

She turned toward him, her legs brushing against his, sending shivers up her spine.

“What kind of dream do you have in mind?”

He brushed a loose tendril out of her face and tucked it behind her ear.

“At the moment, I have only one dream,” he whispered. And then he kissed her.

Chapter 21