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“Hannah!” he stammered, taking a surprised step back. “What are you doing here? In my room?”

“Please, do not stop on my account.” She gestured toward his hands, which were still hovering over his pants. “Things were just getting interesting.”

He leveled her with a glare. “I ask again, what are you doing in my room?”

She snorted. “Do you need me to explain, or do you think you can figure that out on your own?”

“I thought we had an agreement.”

“We do,” she said innocently. “And from what I can see, your daughter is nowhere in sight.”

“My daughter has nothing to do with it. Regardless, we spoke about this already. Or do you need me to tell you again?”

He was angry, she could tell. Or at least he was trying to be. And she very nearly shrank under that anger. The glare he fixed her with was hotter than the flames in the fireplace. Truly, a part of her wondered if he might grab her by the arm and drag her out of his room. Only… well, that would require him to touch her.

“Tell me,” she said, keeping her voice level. Sitting on his bed still, facing him, she leaned back slightly and then… spread her legs. “I seem to have forgotten.”

Frederick swallowed as he saw her legs part. For a moment, he seemed to forget what he was about to say, his mouth hanging open, a look on his face that she recognized well by now. But then he gave his head a shake.

“This marriage is?—”

“For convenience only, I know.”

He narrowed his eyes. “And seeing as it is, as I told you, I will not touch you. And I would appreciate it if you would respect my wishes.”

“Why?”

He blinked. “Why would I like you to respect my wishes?”

“No,” she sighed. “Why do you refuse to touch me? It has just occurred to me that through all of this, you have never given me a good reason.”

“I—” He bit his tongue and gathered himself. “My reasons are my own.”

“But they concern me.”

“I do not have to explain myself to you.”

“And I do not have to leave your room if I do not wish it. I am your wife, after all.” She cocked an eyebrow at him. “This room is as much mine as it is yours.”

“You’re really not going to leave?”

“I would ask if you might drag me out, but that would require you to touch me…” A wicked smirk. “Which I know you will not do.”

“Do not tempt me.”

He took a step toward her, and her breath caught in her throat with the thrill, the sense that he was about to grab her.

“Go on, then.” She waggled her eyebrows at him, daring him to do it. Still leaning back, she pushed her chest out, spread her legs further—made herself totally vulnerable. “Do it.”

“I…” He hesitated.

She could see his resolve wavering. Oh, until now, Hannah had been certain that her husband wanted her and was only stopping himself for reasons she could not imagine. But now, sheknewit. Not a doubt in her mind about the matter. And, like a deck of cards, one small push was all it would take.

Her heart hammered in her chest. Sweat began to bead on her exposed skin. She was nervous, yes. Terrified of what might happen if she went too far. But she was here now, her husband was alone with her, and nothing would stop her.

“You want to, don’t you?”

“Throw you out? More than anything.”