"Do you remember what I told you, after we made love?" Asher whispers, kissing the tears away softly.

"Cher, my mistress sold my body for centuries. I was nothing more than her toy." He bows his head, not wanting to talk about this, his past more painful than anything. Anything, that is, bar seeing Nathaniel upset.

"The image you have of me...who I am now...I do not want to disappoint you." He falls silent, memories swimming to the surface, all the times he bedded men, women, couples, all at Belle's command. The humiliation he suffered at her hand, the people he forcibly addicted to the ardeur.