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“I’m familiar with the feeling of desire, of course,” he began, chuckling wryly. “And you are a beautiful woman. But there’smore. I want to spend more time with you, Daphne. I want to talk to you, listen to you, and hear your opinion on things. Icareabout what you think, it seems.”

“What a shocking turn of events,” she remarked acidly. “How unfortunate for you.”

He chuckled again. “Itisunfortunate because you, my dear, have a great many opinions, and I find that I want to hear all of them.”

“Oh dear. Perhaps youarecursed.”

He laughed aloud at that.

The gap between them was almost closed. A prickling sensation ran over Daphne’s skin, making her shiver. Desire throbbed in her stomach, pulsing lower and lower.

At last, Edward lifted his hand, tentatively at first, and then with greater confidence when she did not pull away. His fingertips ghosted over the side of her neck, across her shoulders, and then down to trace the edge of her neckline. Her heart pounded so hard that she was sure he could hear it.

“I wantyou, Daphne,” he whispered. “Properly. Not snatched moments and losses of control here and there. I want us to be properly married. I want Alex to look upon you as a mother. I want… well, I suppose what I am trying to say is that I wish to renegotiate our agreement.”

Her breath hitched in her throat. “Well. I… I would be amenable to that. But, Edward, you cannot push me away again. I don’t expect you to change the habits of a lifetime in an instant, but you must try, please.”

“If only you will give me another chance, I will try to do whatever you require,” Edward whispered, and the next thing she knew, he was kissing her.

His arm wound around her waist, pressing her against him. His lips were dry and smooth. He tasted of salt and whiskey, and she felt the edge of his teeth slide against her lower lip. Heat flared in her gut, pulsing between her legs. She gripped his shoulders as if to steady herself, sliding a hand to cup the back of his neck.

His free hand slid up her ribcage, his fingers teasing the underside of her breast, and Daphne broke away to gasp aloud, desire making her shudder.

“Daphne, I…” Edward whispered against her throat.

And then the curtain flew back.

They leaped apart as if a pot of boiling water had been thrown their way. A faintly scandalized pair of young dandies were standing there, staring at them, with books tucked under their arms.

“Oh,” one of the dandies managed. “I… We… didn’t know the room was occupied.”

Daphne knew she must have looked flushed and disheveled. She tossed back her head, hoping she wasn’ttoored in the face.

“It’s quite all right,” she said coolly. “We are just leaving.”

The dandies exchanged nervous glances.

Daphne strode past them, and Edward followed after her, shooting the dandies contemptuous glances. The poor gentlemen skittered away as he passed.

“So,thatis what these rooms are used for,” one of them whispered to the other.

Daphne tried not to hear it.

“You brought your carriage, I assume,” she whispered, pushing her way through the crowd.

“Indeed.” Edward looked irritatingly composed.

“We’ll leave at once.”

“Home?”

“It’s too far.”And I am not sure I can wait that long to have you.“We’ll go back to my mother’s house.”

Edward looked faintly uneasy. “As you like.”

Daphne turned, tilting her head back to look up at him. Desire was making her breathless again. “I thought we could start with renegotiating the wedding night.”

A slow, hungry smile spread across his face. “You’ll get no complaints from me, wife.”