asked james , a teasing , playful twinkle in his eye . the girl was tough as nails . it was time to admit some of this stuff to her friends . here you wore nice underwear because the queen might see it . it had stripped him of nearly everything but his fury , and the fire that rose along with it . `` you could have been , you know . '' he studied her quickly , then glanced back at the file in his hands . i thought you had things figured out ? '' 