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It was the right thing for her to say, and it confirmed that he was right in his assessment. Their charade was just that, an act designed to fool others into believing that they were in love. The reality was that their feelings for one another were superficial, and neither wished for anything more.

Benedict knew this was for the best. This marriage was only ever meant to be temporary, so why risk flirting with feelings that would make things infinitely more difficult?

“I am simply warming myself up,” he purred as he continued to kiss her neck, moving to the shoulders. “I would hate to let the mask fall when we are finally in public.”

“Ah, now I see,” she moaned as his warm breath fanned her delicate skin. “Such is the difficulty of pretending to love me that you fear you cannot last all night.”

“Have you not seen melastall night already? The previous evening, for example.”

“That is not what I meant, and you know it.”

He growled as he gently bit her neck. Not enough to break the skin but enough that she could feel it. “So, what I am hearing is that I should stop treating you so delicately…” He bit her again.

She moaned. “I simply wish to ensure that tonight goes as planned, which means…” She spun about and widened her eyes at him in warning. “That you need to behave.”

He chuckled as his hands cupped her backside and squeezed it firmly. “I will behave when there is cause to. But we are alone?—”

“And running late.”

“I am a duke. The concept of running late does not apply because I generally get to do as I wish. And right now, I wish for…” He squeezed her rear as he ground his crotch against her, drinking her in, licking his lips, baring his teeth as if he meant to attack her.

She laughed and leaned back. “Seriously, now is not the time. I said…” She pushed him back and raised both eyebrows. “Behave.”

It had been effortless for them to find their old routine once again. The very night Selina’s mother and sisters left, it was all too simple to go back to the way things had been. The desire the two felt for one another had not died, but if there was a fear that it might have, they made sure to put such fear to bed… so to speak.

And Benedict had breathed a sigh of relief to see that it was still there.

He had worried for a moment that those three days might have changed Selina’s opinion of their relationship. That his acting was so darn good that she may have begun to wonder if their marriage was more than what they had both already agreed to.

Benedict did not want such a thing… or so he told himself. And rightly! Their relationship was a storm in a teacup, set to ruin anything it touched.

So, no sense in prolonging it. That was dangerous… for all involved.

“What then?” he asked, taking her hands instead as he forced himself to behave. “Does that mean I do not get a chance to ravish you as I would very much like to? I did mention how delicious you look in this dress, did I not?”

Her cheeks reddened. “Later—once we are home and there is no need for the dress, as I assume your intent is to rip it off my body so it will be unwearable afterward.”

“You know me too well.”

“Too dangerous, I am afraid,” she sighed, as if regretful. “As much as I would like that…” She smirked. “We really must get going.”

“Ah yes, the ball.”

“Which means…” She hesitated, looked away as if nervous, but then forced her eyes to meet his. “That it is time we begin to play our roles again.”

“And what roles might those be?”

She rolled her eyes. “You, the loving husband. Me, the doting wife. You did so well the other day that surely you have not forgotten how?”

Benedict almost told her not to bother with that. With her in his arms, with his arousal stirring once more, he wondered if it might just be safer to forget the ball and stay in, instead. He did miss those moments, even more than he did those three days spent in harmony, and already he could not wait for the night to be over so he could get her home.

A growl began to build in his throat, and he very nearly bit her neck. That, he knew, would put to bed any pesky thoughts of romance and happiness because they were not welcome.

“Benedict,” Selina warned and leaned back. “Remember what tonight is about?”

He groaned. This was not about him, nor was it about Selina. It was about fooling the ton and fixing his brother’s reputation. Benedict might have liked to have ignored reality, as he was so good at it, but what was one more night?

“If that is the case…” He squeezed her hands, leaned in, and kissed her softly on the lips. “You do look beautiful, by the way.”