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“So, what of you? How do you wish to be pampered?”

She blinked uncomprehendingly. “How do you mean?”

“What completely luxuriant thing would you like to do?”

She giggled. “Luxuriant?” Her eyes moved lazily from side to side as she thought about it. “Well, I suppose this is rather indulgent of me. Too much wine, delicious food, a fire in thegrate, gentle rain outside and a husband with his entire attention focused upon me.”

He leaned closer to whisper in her ear, his breath caressing her skin, “Would you like me to focus on any particular area?”

She turned her head so that they were eye to eye. “Such as?”

“Well…for one thing…” his eyes dropped to her cleavage, “I might show you how it feels for a man to…” his eyes swept over her collarbone and up her neck, where a pulse was keeping time with her racing heart, “massage your shoulders?”

She jerked, startled. “Massage my shoulders?” she repeated with disbelief.

“Yes. It can be a very sensual experience.”

She looked doubtfully at her own shoulders. “It can?”

“Would you like to find out?”

She nodded slowly. “Yes.”

“It would be my pleasure, my lady,” Robert said, before getting to his feet and circling behind the couch.

He placed his hands on Georgiana’s shoulders, squeezing gently. She closed her eyes, holding her breath as she enjoyed the sensation of his hands on her body.

Aside from her lady’s maid, no one had ever touched her so intimately before. He began by kneading the knots out of her neck—knots she was not even aware that she had.

She groaned in appreciation, her body relaxing under his ministrations. His hands were gentle but firm, loosening her stiff muscles with skill.

“Is this something else you learned on your travels?”

He chuckled. “Strangely, no. It was my grandmother. Her legs tended to become rather stiff, and she liked it when my small fingers unraveled the knots beneath her skin. Over time I grew quite proficient at it.”

“What a nice boy you were.”

He bent down to whisper in her ear. “I can be a nice boy again… for you.”

He leaned in and kissed the junction of her neck and shoulder, a soft, wet, butterfly kiss that made her skin tingle and shiver.

“Oh, but I think you are a bad boy, making me feel things I should not,” she whispered back.

She could feel him smile against her skin. “Who says you should not?”

She inhaled a long shuddering breath, goosebumps appearing on her exposed shoulders. “I do not know. Society?”

He flung a hand dramatically in the air. “Society be damned. Feeleverythingthat you want to feel.”

He returned his hands to her shoulders, massaging diligently.

“What if…” she hesitated.

“Tell me.”

“What if I want to feel your lips on mine?”

He froze, his hands warm on her shoulders. “Do you?”