Julie's fingers curled nervously into the fabric of his shirt, her lashes lowered as she whispered.
"I...I do have one more confession."
Her cheeks flushed pink, her lips quivering as though the words burned even before they left her mouth.
"But it's...humiliating. More humiliating than anything I've already said. I don't know if I can—"
"Come now, little knight." His voice softened, but his arm around her tightened, making her feel caged and secure at once. "You've already admitted to bribery, gambling, jealousy, lying...what could possibly be worse than that?"
He nuzzled her ear with the barest brush of his breath.
"What could you possibly say that would shame you more than telling me you bought Skadi off with a steak?"
Julie squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head, ears burning red.
"No, you don't understand...it's not like those. This isn't just a sin, it was...foolish. Irrational. Something I should never have done. My thoughts got so muddled, and I—"
