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“It did not upset me,” he replied, even though his voice wavered. “I just was surprised to see my wife act so familiar with another man.”

Eveline could barely keep her mouth from popping open in surprise. Yes, his friend was handsome, more than conventionally so, but no man had ever made her blood sing the way he had.

Her husband was actually upset that she had been cordial to his friend if his tone was anything to go by, and he was insinuating that something more than cordiality had been brewing between them. It was absurd to imagine that she would flirt so shamelessly in front of her husband, even if she were that shallow of character.

She felt anger boiling in her blood, but she bit back the acid that would have spewed over had she not decided that her thoughts were too harsh to voice.

“I was only being cordial to a guest who also happened to be a good friend of yoursanda duke,” she explained. “Civility demanded that of me.”

“If that is what you would call that exchange,” he retorted.

She sat up in outrage, folding her arms.

“Why are you accusing me, instead of confronting your friend as other men would?” she asked, still processing the shock from his words. “It takes two to flirt, doesn’t it?”

“Because I trust him.”

The words shocked her so much that she recoiled in her seat with a gasp. There was a hint of remorse in his gaze, but she ignored it, shaking her head.

It wasn’t unexpected that he would doubt her character, considering that it was her choice to forego propriety and common sense for a moment of pleasure that had led to their current situation. But it still stung to see him throw it in her face.

He had been charming when he had come to propose, but she should have known he would weaponize the situation against her.

She rose from her seat, holding her head high. Tears pooled in her eyes, but she blinked them back. She would not give him the satisfaction of seeing how much his words hurt her.

“I thank you for showing me your distrust of my character,” she told him with a glare that she hoped conveyed all the anger she felt. “I shall retire to my chambers now. Enjoy the rest of your meal.”

His hand on hers stopped her from moving.

She turned to eye it, unable to mask her surprise, before her eyes rose to his face, which was now hovering over hers.

How had he moved so quickly?

“You do not even defend yourself,” he said, peering into her eyes with interest.

She pulled her hand from his with a frown. “You have already made your assumptions about my character,” she huffed. “What need is there to attempt to refute it?”

He chuckled softly, and the low rumble tempted her to press her ear to his chest to hear it again.

Do not be so easily taken by him, Eveline.

“You have the freedom to do anything you wish, wife,” he sneered. “Shopping, visiting your sisters and friends… but I will not tolerate you taking a lover.”

“You incense me with your words, husband,” she hissed.

“I only speak what I have seen happen time and again with others, and I am not so vain as to think that my situation will be any different, as I have failed to satisfy your desires—as you are content to point out,” he shot back. “Your actions tonight have only served to plant these seeds.”

He really was an infuriating man.

It annoyed her endlessly how her traitorous heart and body craved to be near him rather than away from him, even though he blatantly insulted her. The masculine scent enveloping her chipped away at the hurt and anger his words had placed in her heart, and the decadent way his eyes roamed over her did nothing to help.

“You cannot think so poorly of me when I have done nothing to affirm or disprove your thoughts,” she argued. “I was only being polite to your friend, and there was nothing more to the conversation. I am married to you, and as such, it is only you I require to fulfill my desires—as you so kindly put it.”

“Yet he felt comfortable touching you.” Picking up her hand, he added, “Kissing your hand.”

He placed kisses on the back of her hands, and she felt wet, pulsing heat pool between her legs.

“Who knows what else he might have been comfortable doing had I not been in the room.”