Here's a scene from the Nightborn Edition of Night VI that will be quite hard to get. It's one of the less-intuitive Valdricht MF branches. I won't spoil all of it, maybe you'll discover it for yourself. I always love the banter between the Zealot MC and Serax, but she can hold her own with Valdricht, too. Mostly. Excerpt:
"Thank you," you whisper, your chest swelling. "Do you think you could help me put it on?"
Valdricht steps behind you, taking the veil from your hands. His fingers are deft and sure as he drapes it over your head, arranging the folds so they fall neatly.
The veil is more sheer than you'd like, offering only the suggestion of modesty rather than its true comfort. Still, as it settles over you, the gnawing edge of your nerves eases.
As he moves back in front of you, Valdricht draws the veil back slightly. "I only ask that you do not cover your face when we are alone."
You nod, biting your lip as you stare up at him. "You could kiss me if you like." You wet your lips. "I only mean, I wouldn't stop you."
Heat floods your face the moment the words leave you. You want to snatch them back, to understand what possessed you to offer yourself so freely—but it's too late.
"I do not think that is a good idea."
"Right, yes, of course. I'm sorry." You exhale a bit too deeply. "I thought, after what we discussed earlier, about being lovers and such, you might be interested in such a thing."
"So you are agreeing to be my lover?"
You swallow. "I… I don't know, maybe?"
His eyes narrow. "I do not need to marry you to have you in my bed?"
"I would greatly prefer if you did. Marry me, that is."
"A preference is not a requirement."
"Perhaps not," you say, fretting with your veil. "But should a gentleman not honor a woman's preferences?"
Valdricht arches a brow. "You believe I am a gentleman?"
"What I believe," you say, your hands clenching, "is that you are mocking me."
"I am not mocking you," he says, hooking a knuckle under your chin. "I am educating you."
"What sort of education is this?" You intend to sound angry, but something about his touch makes your tone turn petulant.
Patiently, he says, "I told you that I wanted you as my lover. You countered my request, asking to become my wife. You put me in the position of weighing my desire to bed you against my reluctance to marry you. You made an audacious demand of me."
"I am aware," you mumble.
"The fact that I did not instantly reject you should have told you that you had leverage over me. And yet, just as I am preparing to offer you matrimony, you undercut your own position by admitting that you will give me what I want without offering you anything in return."
"Ah," you say, holding up a finger. "But now you have undercut your position. Now that I know you were planning to offer me matrimony, I will accept nothing less."
"Perhaps," he says with a slight shrug. "Although, I could easily test your resolve, walk away, and see how long it will take for you to follow."
