Exton

Something is off; Marc comes awake on the instant. The bed beside him is empty.

His eyes do a slow scan of the room until they light upon Rowan, standing naked at the window. He clears his throat.

"You best be thanking the Goddess for that shapely ass, ma chere; I know I am." Rowan goes rigid, then turns back to the bed with a soft smile. Marc replies with a smile of his own. "Bring your ass back to bed, Rowan; the rest of you, too."

Her smile broadens; then, to the merc's considerable astonishment, she begins to giggle. She giggles till she's out of breath, then gives a very unladylike snort. This sets the giggles off again and now Marc joins in - which makes Rowan laugh even more. She staggers to the bed, falls into his arms, still giggling and she lies there and giggles till her sides hurt and she's gasping for breath.

"I didn't know you had it in you, ma chere." She almost goes off again, but her next words are almost completely unexpected.

"I want it in me, Marc. Think you can rise to the occasion?"