Our lips met and I felt my body melting against his. Warmth flooded my body and fluttered at my heart as his hands tightened around my back gripping me closer. The smell of him filled my nostrils, an odd combination of sweat and leather. The earlier scent of cologne was gone, overwhelmed by the sharp tang of cordite. Our tongues twined and our steps faltered. My body tingled with excited energy and...

The door banged open and Lazarus marched in clutching a handful of dataslates and a number of bundled velum documents marched in. If he noticed the fact that Hadrian had me pushed up against the couch in a passionate embrace he didn't mention anything. He crossed to the table and dumped the arm load of files onto the dining room table with a clatter. Hadrian glared daggers at the former Skitarii and gently disentangled himself from me.

"I didn't realise your warning would be needed so soon," I said a trifle tartly.

"Your patent of nobility," Lazarus said, "apparently they have laws mandating that property won in duels passes quickly. The chief Arbitor is down there after the attack on the ball."