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“Come sit.” He patted the spot beside him.

She sat, admiring the spread before them. Her favorite desserts and sweets were laid out before her, making her grin from ear to ear.

“Your mother knows me well.” She laughed. “I have a thing for sweets. It’s almost unhealthy.”

He smiled at her. “I prefer more salty snacks and crackers,” he said and then popped a cracker in his mouth.

He licked his fingers, which made her feel warm in places she didn’t know could feel warm. He noticed the look in her eyes and did it again.

“What are you doing to me, Edward?” she asked shyly. “You’re making me feel things I didn’t think was possible.”

“Like what?” He feigned innocence.

“You surely don’t expect me to say it.”

“I surely do.”

“But it’s not proper!”

“We are married now, Ara mine,” he reminded her. “There’s nothing we can do to each other that will be deemed inappropriate.”

“But, Edward…”

“Ara mine…” he drawled.

“Why do you call me that?”

“Because you are mine,” he answered, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Ever since that night I saw you in the ballroom, I have wanted to have you, and now you are mine.”

She reddened at his words. “Why?”

She knew she wasn’t ugly, but no one had ever expressed passion so ardently towards her before.

“Just because you’re you.” He pressed a chaste kiss to her lips and then leaned back to place his head in her lap. “Can we pretend for now that we are truly married? We’ve played at being angry with each other, but we’ve not played at being in love.”

Her heart rate quickened at the suggestion. She looked around, wondering if anyone could see them.

His eyes were closed, but he was not asleep. He furrowed his brow.

“Are you all right?” Arabella asked.

“I will be if you run your fingers through my hair,” he suggested. “I quite enjoyed that when I was young.”

She obliged him, as it had been one thing she’d been craving to do. His locks were like silk between her fingers, and she smiled when he groaned in relief.

“From your many lovers?” she asked teasingly.

Edward chuckled. “Are you jealous?”

“Maybe.”

“Don’t be.”

“I’ll try not to.” She laughed. “So tell me, who was your first kiss?”

“Some girl I met at Court when I was sixteen.” He frowned, trying to remember. “She was a pretty little thing, but she’s married now with three kids.”

“That is interesting.”