He tilted her chin up with his thumb. 'Oh, yes, it was all right.'
'You weren't disappointed?'
He was touched by her vulnerability. 'No, I wasn't disappointed.'
His expression had turned so somber, she decided he was telling the truth.
'I wasn't disappointed either.'
'I know,' he answered with that arrogant grin back in evidence.
'How do you know?'
'By the way you reacted to my touch, the way you found your own fulfillment, the way you shouted
my name then.'
'Oh.'
His smile melted away the rest of her worry. 'It was a little shattering, wasn't it, Jade?'
She nodded. 'I had no idea it would be so… splendid.'
He kissed the top of her head. 'I can smell my scent on you,' he said. 'I like that.'
'Why?'
'It makes me hard.'
'I should wash.'
'I'll do it for you,' he offered.
She rolled away from him and was out of the bed before he could reach for her. 'You'll do no such thing,' she said before she gave him her back and struggled into her robe.
Her smile was dazzling but it faded quickly when she noticed the spots of blood on the sheets.
'You made me bleed.' That accusation came out in a stammer.
'Love, it was your first time.'
'I know that,' she returned.
'You were supposed to bleed.'
She looked taken aback by that statement. 'You're serious?'
He nodded.
'But only the first time, Caine? Not that there's ever going to be a second time,' she rushed on. 'Still,
I wouldn't…'
'Only the first time,' he answered. He decided to ignore her protest about not making love again and asked instead, 'Jade? Didn't anyone ever explain these facts to you?'
'Well, of course they did,' she replied, feeling like a complete fool now.
He didn't believe her. 'Who? Your parents died before you were old enough to understand. Was it your brother? Did Nathan explain?'
'Nathan left me.' She really hadn't meant to blurt out that truth. 'I mean to say, he was away at school
all the time and I rarely saw him.'
Caine noticed how agitated she was becoming. She was twisting the tie of her robe into knots. 'When
did Nathan leave you?'
'He was away at school,' she said again.
'For how long?'
'Why are you asking me these questions?' she asked. 'My Uncle Harry took over my education while Nathan was away. He did a fine job, Caine.'
'He obviously left out a few pertinent facts,' Caine remarked.
'Uncle is a very reserved man.'
'Weren't there any women around who…'
He quit his question when she shook her head at him. 'There were women but I would never discuss such a personal matter with any of them, Caine. It wouldn't have been proper.'
She moved behind the screen before he could question her further. Jade washed with the slivers of rose- scented soap and water from the basin. She only then realized how sore she was. She was thoroughly irritated with him and with herself by the time she returned to her bed.
Caine looked like he was settled in for the night. The pillows were now propped up behind his head. He looked extremely comfortable. She tightened the belt on her robe and frowned at him. 'Caine, you really have to understand something,' she began in a firm voice.
'What's that, sweet?' he asked.
She hated it when he smiled at her so innocently. It made her heart start pounding and her mind empty
of every thought. She had to stare at the floor in order to continue. 'This can't happen again. Not ever.
It won't do you any good to argue with me, Caine. My mind's set. Now it's time for you to leave.'
In answer to her fervent order, Caine lifted the covers and motioned her over with the crook of his finger. 'Come to bed, Jade. You need your rest.'
