'Not unpleasant,' Laurent answered, drawing his first full breath in moments when Damen rose. He suspected they both knew it was not onlt the wine that had gone to his head, but if Laurent could only eliminate one usurper of his control, so be it. 'Simply too loose.'

Laurent looked up at the sound of his cupboards opening and rose to his feet, catching subtly at the back of his chaise when the world tipped. 'I did not mean for you to fetch it to me.'