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absorbing her surroundings while Ty spoke with his subjects and as he showed her the various shops. People bowed when he passed, and it was obvious in their motions and in their expressions that they respected and loved their King.
    Was he showing her all this to impress her? Awai’s old suspicions plagued her as she studied the man, but her instinct told her no.
    He wasn’t making an attempt to impress. He was simply sharing what had meaning, showing her his heart.
    It was almost more than she could stand, considering she wanted to keep all inner walls firmly in place.
    While he talked with the swordmaster about the order of weapons she was making for him, Awai took in the sights and sounds and scents of the village to distract herself. Warm smells of baked bread and cookies came from the bakery and the smell of fresh fish from the fishmongers’. A cart filled with round and oblong fruits passed by. Behind it was a woman who seemed to be directing the cart with flicks of her wrist, but she wasn’t actually touching the cart.
    Magic. This whole place is powered by a force I don’t even understand…
    Awai’s eyes strayed back to Ty, who indeed appeared to be a mysterious force as he admired the swordmaster’s blades. The muscles in his arms bulged and rippled as he lifted a white-gold dagger. The sun’s reflections on the blade were the same color as his hair. Indeed, she had never seen a man so beautiful, or so…basic. Ty seemed to have no artifice about him at all.
    Enough! That can’t be true. All men can deceive, and any man might. Shaking her head, Awai forced herself back to reality. Whatever that was.
    For lunch they ate at an outdoor deli of sorts where their food appeared on the table before them. While they ate the spicy meat-filled pastries, Ty and Awai talked. He explained to her in more detail about his world and how their systems of trade worked and what his Kingdom’s specialties were. It was obvious he was proud of his people and his Kingdom and Awai found herself admiring him even more, despite her best intentions not to let him any closer.
    After they’d finished eating, Ty took Awai up the hill and into the sweeping fall of cherry blossoms. At first it brought back the memory of her dream, but she brushed it away, not wanting to ruin the day just because she’d had a nightmare.
    They walked through the grove, blossoms raining down and floating on the wind like small flurries of snow. Awai laughed as they caressed her face and landed in her hair. When she saw Ty’s flower-studded hair she gave a little school-girl giggle then clamped her hand over her mouth.
    Ty smiled and brought her into his embrace. Without hesitation, he kissed her. A soft, slow kiss that soon deepened until her head was spinning and her body was crying out for him. She wanted him to take her here in the cherry blossoms, here where they were still in view of the palace, here where she would do whatever he asked of her.
    She broke the kiss. “You were serious…” Awai swallowed then continued, “If I become your submissive, and I’m uncomfortable with anything, I can tell you and you won’t push me?”
    “I would never hurt you, my sweet tigress.” His expression was sincere and caring. “As you no doubt know, any responsible Dominant dedicates himself—or herself—to caring for the needs of the submissive. Look into your heart, your instincts, and ask yourself if you feel that I would meet those needs?”
    She looked up at him, confused yet certain all at the same time. Maybe she was out of her mind, but he was giving her the choice. And she believed him when he said he would never push her beyond what she was comfortable with.
    Was he right, too, that she needed to submit to fully heal her wounds?
    And what about filling my deepest fantasies, the ones I’ve never told anyone…barely even myself…
    Awai bit her lower lip then slowly nodded. “All right. I’ll give it a try.”
    The most sexy, seductive smile