Lyn was in her cabin with the door closed and her back to it because she was afraid she was going to do something stupid. That kiss. She sighed and leaned her head back. Her thumb brushed over her own lips in an unsatisfying parody of what he’d done. Kayden’s touch had been so gentle and then his lips, feather soft, had brushed hers. A small sigh escaped as she remembered the feel of them. It had been barely a touch and yet she felt her heart melting from the heat of that brief moment.

  The impulsive part of her wanted to go to his cabin and press her lips to his. She wanted to abandon all reason and ignore the niggling of fear and just… give in. Kayden made her feel desirable with his intense looks and the way he kept pursuing her, but Lyn knew deep down that he wouldn’t hurt her. Still, she desperately wanted to feel something other than this fear that kept creeping in.

  Her conversation with Kieran came back to her. He’d said Kayden would flirt but he’d never force her. And suddenly she knew what she really wanted. Lyn wanted to be pursued, to be flirted with and charmed into Kayden’s bed. She didn’t want to just give in; she wanted to be all in when they finally came together. For his patience and understanding, Kayden at least deserved that.

  A gift. Lyn chuckled as she moved away from the door. When he’d first said that, she’d been afraid but she should have known better. She stripped out of her clothing and was about to put on her dressing gown when she looked down at the soft red lace cupping her breast. She ran a finger over the skin where it touched and wondered what Kayden’s lips would feel like there and then moving lower. Would he… She stopped that train of thought and pulled her nightgown over her head. Pushing those thoughts aside, she climbed into bed. It was late and she needed sleep; getting herself all worked up over the man was only going to spell disaster.

  But as she lay there in bed, her mind couldn’t help but wander to that kiss again and her fingers found their way under her nightgown. She traced the soft lace of her panties against her skin as her mind wandered again. Kayden’s lips on hers, kissing a path down her body. Her finger slipped over her clit and she wondered if he’d kiss her there too. She muffled her moans of pleasure behind her hand as she touched herself and imagined it was Kayden. Her orgasm rushed out of her in a torrent of sensation and sleep took her before she realized.

  Lyn woke up suddenly, panic flooding her. She was pinned and being jarred awake. Memories swamped her: Relskald and his cruel tortures. She waited for the blow or the angry words, but only a screeching noise filled her ears.

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  Then she remembered the train. That’s what woke her. It had been moving so smoothly that she barely noticed it, but now it was jerking to a stop. She assumed the high pitched sounds were the brakes being applied.

  Her panic subsided when she realized her hand was trapped in her underwear because of what she had done last night, and not because of Relskald. Her face heated at the memory.

  She scrambled out of bed and moved to the basin of water. Unfortunately, it had sloshed all over the floor even though it hadn’t fallen off the small ledge it was on. Lyn moved to mop up the last of the water with a towel, the movement a habit from years of not being able to use her magic freely. When she realized what she was doing, she stopped and focused on her magic. The water lifted in the air, like rain falling up, and she directed it back into the basin. Looking into the clear, clean water, Lyn smiled. She washed herself up quickly and dried herself with her magic, feeling calmer for having the free access to it again.

  There was a commotion in the hallway; Lyn wanted to get dressed so she grabbed a pair of pants and slipped them on. She’d just pulled her nightgown off when the door was flung open. Lyn clutched the garment to her chest as she spun to face the door. She’d been hoping for Kayden or at least Kieran but a man she didn’t know was pointing something metal she didn’t recognize at her.

  He gave her a wicked grin and waved the metal object. “Don’t let me stop you from getting dressed, miss. Go on, drop the gown and put your shirt on but don’t make any sudden moves or you’ll be coming out topless. Understand?”

  Lyn swallowed hard and nodded. She kept her eyes on the man, only losing sight of him as she pulled the tunic over her head and, because of how she did it, only giving him a glimpse of her lace covered breasts. Still, he gave a long, low whistle and said, “If I had more time…” He shook his head, as if in regret, then waved the metal thing. “Come on, time to line up with the others.”

  As Lyn stepped out of the cabin, she almost fell into the man as the train came to a shuddering halt. There was a noise like metal twisting and wood splintering. The man put a steadying hand on her shoulder and pressed the metal object to her back as he said, “Guess they didn’t get the train stopped in time before they hit the damaged tracks. Looks like you’ll be stuck for a while after we leave.” He moved closer to her—almost as close as Kayden had been last night at her door—and said, “Unless you want to leave with me?”

  “Cut the shit and get her in here with the rest of the passengers,” someone called with an air of authority.

  The man behind her stiffened a little but he let go of her shoulder and pushed her forward with his bit of metal. Lyn moved ahead. Her only thought was to get to Kayden and make sure he was alright.