As Radulf laid Melissa down onto the mattress, she pressed her hands against his chest, her breathing uneven. "Are you sure you don't want to see Nina? She's leaving for the palace… You might not get to see her often," she whispered.
Radulf's gaze darkened, his lips curving slightly. "Are you suggesting I meet her in this state?" he asked, arching an eyebrow.
"No," Melissa murmured, her fingers tightening around the collar of his shirt. "I don't want you to go."
His eyes softened at her words. "Then…" His gaze flickered down to the sash of her robe, fingers moving slowly as he undid the knot, the fabric parting slightly beneath his touch.
"I thought you both were friends," Melissa remarked, trying to steady her voice.
Radulf's fingers stilled momentarily. "She broke that friendship the moment she accepted Loretta's offer," he said.
"But—" Her words were cut off as his lips captured hers, swallowing any protest she might have had.