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Eveline was pleasantly surprised when he did not laugh after a long minute. She lifted her head to look at him. He had a teasing look in his eyes, but overall, he did not seem inclined to laugh.

“What is it?” she asked.

“I am surprised by your taste in books,” he answered. “You never discussed such books with me before.”

“Why would I?”

“Tell me, wife, what else have you read in those books?” he asked, leaning closer till his hot breath was fanning her ear. “Did these books describe how the heroine was ravished?”

Her cheeks flamed, as indeed the books had described in sordid detail how the heroine was ravished.

Her husband did not need her answer, for he came to his own conclusion.

“I see my assumptions were correct,” he murmured with a smile. “And I believe you want to be ravished like the female protagonist. To have your body tasted and kissed like hers had been. To have the male protagonist lift you onto a table and taste you until you are weeping for release.”

Her eyes widened at his crude words. Yes, he was whispering, but anyone could overhear them.

“You really mustn’t say such things here,” she told him. “Anyone could hear you.”

“Then you should not have broached the subject,” he chided playfully. “But now that you have, I am tempted to see if you would be as brave as the heroine of your novel.”

“I am brave,” she asserted, squaring her shoulders. “Surely you remember it is why we are now married.”

He chuckled deeply.

“You make a good argument,” he acknowledged. “But that wasn’t premeditated. This is.”

“I have never shied away from telling you my desires,” she reminded him with a frown.

It was always he who had pulled away from her and not the other way around.

“So, tell me now, wife,” he teased, baring his teeth in a wolfish grin. “What will you have me do for you?”

She stepped closer to him so she could look him squarely in the eyes, enjoying the surprise that flickered in their blue depths.

“I want you to show me pleasure, husband,” she whispered. “If I’m ever to get rid of this raging fire inside of me, it can only be by your hand.”

His eyes darkened as he took her in, and as if fate were on her side, the dance came to an end. She watched emotions flicker across his face as he silently debated whether or not to grant her request.

“It seems I will indeed grant this request,” he purred in her ear. “I will leave first. Follow me after a few minutes, but try not to make it obvious.”

She nodded, dazed that he had accepted her request. Anticipation bubbled up inside her. It was one thing to make her request and another to have it fulfilled.

She tried not to look guilty as she went to the refreshments table, watching her husband casually exit the ballroom. No one would suspect he was leaving to do something so scandalous.

Eveline counted the minutes after he stepped out of the ballroom and was about to follow when Theo’s voice stopped her.

“I know what you two are planning,” he drawled.

She turned to him with wide eyes, remembering too late that she was supposed to feign ignorance of what he suggested.

“What do you mean?” she asked, but even she sensed the truth seeping into her words.

“Oh, nothing.” He smiled. “I am glad to see my friend act so carefree, and I must thank you for it. Do be careful, so you two aren’t caught.”

“We aren’t?—”

“Go through the front doors,” he suggested. “No one would suspect otherwise if you did.”