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“You are trying to get me to admit to something.”

“Is there something you need to admit to?”

“You…” She swallowed as she met his eyes and saw the truth behind them. “You are serious?”

He laughed. “Deadly. Although I ask that you not tell anyone, for I am not in the habit of apologizing.”

Her eyes flashed. “Is this your first time ever?”

“It just might be.”

The tension that so often surrounded them was still there, only this time it was different. Only this time, they didn’t fight it. Alone in Miss Dowding’s bedroom, standing mere feet apart, looking into one another’s eyes, there was no fight in them, no anger, no efforts to dismiss what was growing between them. Certainly, no awkwardness either.

Miss Dowding dropped her arms, smirked to herself, eyes flicking from his lips to his eyes and back to his lips. He could see her chest growing red, her cheeks flushing, her mind struggling to remain on track… to not go where his mind had already gone.

Frederick had always assumed that his attraction to Miss Dowding was borne from her cantankerous nature, that it was her willingness to fight him that was the cause of his desire and passion for her. But right now, without that heat and fire, still he wanted nothing more than to take her as he had pictured so many times.

Only this time, it didn’t feel as wrong as it so often did.

“And what will you give me if I do not?” she asked with a coy smile, a bit of her lower lip, a hungry look in her eyes.

“If you do not…?”

“Tell anyone,” she clarified, her voice turning to a throaty whisper. “I cannot imagine it will bode well for you, people finding out how soft you have become.”

He chuckled deeply. “Is that a threat, Miss Dowding?”

“A statement of fact,” she shot back.

Standing over her, Frederick felt that pull again. That urge to chastise her, to threaten her with the same punishment he had the last time. And how she looked at him in return told him that she was of the same mind. But with how he was feeling, no rage in him, punishment did not feel right.

“So, it is a reward that you are after?” he asked. “For your silence.”

She shrugged. “Maybe.”

“I am sure I can think of something…” Slowly, carefully, he reached out, his hand moving to her waist. She stepped into it,coming in close, her curvy body pressing into him. “Something that will hopefully convince you to keep this little secret.”

“Wh - what did you have in mind?” Still biting her lip, she looked up and met his eyes. The want and desire were in them. Her breathing was heavy and deep and uncontrolled. He could feel the heat coming from her as her body shook.

“Last time…” His other hand moved to her waist so that he was holding her; he squeezed gently, she gasped, and he grinned. “I punished you for speaking out of turn.”

“You did.”

“This time…” He moved one hand up and rested it under her chin. “… I shall reward you.”

“And how shall you?—”

He did not let her finish, moving down quickly and planting a kiss on her lips. She accepted it, breathed it in, melted into it as her lips parted and his tongue dove inside her mouth. The beast within roared its approval, hungry for more, and Frederick promised it flesh and everything else it craved.

Tongue lapping, one hand under her chin, his other moved around and cupped her ample buttocks. Her hands found his waist and held him as she licked and nibbled and devoured his face. Hearts beating. Breathing heavy. For a moment, they kissed in a way that was beyond anger and fire… that was filledwith passion and want and spoke volumes to what this truly meant.

Frederick pulled away, eyes flashing. “Your bed. Now.”

She frowned coyly. “Giving commands again?”

“Are you questioning me?”

In response, she stepped back, holding his gaze as she sauntered to the bed and sat down. Then, leaning back on her hands, she spread her legs while holding his stare. “Like this?”