He doesn’t comment on my dress. Silently, he lures me into a candle lit room and I am stunned at the amount of detail he’s prepared for our midday rendezvous. He has staged a very gothic feeling scene: a sparkling crystal skull stands watch from the nightstand, a red velvet throw covers the bed, and he himself, looking so dark, so mysterious, and in one word foreboding.

Standing me in the center of the room, he steps away.

“Take off your clothes. I want to see you.”

I blink, surprising myself with the hot press of tears behind my eyes. His demand was to be expected. It was the reason behind choosing an easy-on-easy-off dress. Still, I am taken aback, realizing that though what he has asked isn't difficult, nor painful or humiliating, the simple fact is that it is quite impossible for me to accomplish, the problem being that I haven't disrobed in front of a man since Master Jasper became ill. I turn to run but Lord Draco catches my arm and pulls me sharply against his chest, “I didn't say you could leave.”

“I can't stay, I’m…” I start to say I’m sorry, but remembering his threat, I choose silence instead.

A tear slides down my cheek, and then another. I feel his warm breath against the back of my neck as he lifts my hair.

“Sh-h,” he gentles, pushing his fingers into my tense neck and shoulder muscles. “Talk to me, Julia.”

I relax against him, completely breaking down. He supports my full weight against his chest as I manage to say between sobs, “I haven't…since Jasper…I thought I could…but…it’s…only Jasper has seen me naked—since…since he collared me. There hasn’t been anyone else… I can’t.”

“Relax. Jonathon explained about Jasper, about your relationship with him. It’s commendable that the two of you were together so long. You loved him.”

I nod even though it was a statement not a question. My entire body shakes uncontrollably and I embarrass myself by being so childlike. “I should go.”