*Tristan*

 Hell and damnation!

 As soon as I am in my bedchamber with the door slammed behind me, I begin tearing at my wet clothes before they suffocate me. Buttons go flying, brocade and linen are ripped. I am fighting to draw in breath, I have been ever since I had made the awful decision to carry the woman back to my residence. I knew it was a mistake the moment she wound her arms about my neck and clung painstakingly to me.

 I couldn’t very well drop her at that point, no matter how desperately I had wanted to be rid of her cloying hold. So I had urged...