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“I did, too,” she said with a nervous smile, looking away sheepishly.

“And I was afraid to lose it. I thought that if things changed, we would grow bored, and this marriage, ironically, would go back to what I’d originally envisioned. But I don’t want that. Not anymore.”

“Really?” There was hope in her voice.

He nodded. “I want it all, Charlotte. More than you even realize.”

“What… what do you mean?”

He hesitated, wondering if now was the time to speak about his deepest desires, realizing that it was now or never. “The truth is that I’ve been holding back. I’ve been with women before, but nobody like you. Nobody who makes me want to… who I can’t stop thinking about when they are not around. Who I want every minute of every day. Who sets my soul on fire like you do. You want more? Do you really mean that?”

“That’s all I want.” She held his stare, squeezing his hand, and she stepped into him.

“You want me to prove that we can have this…” He pulled her hand to his mouth and kissed the back of it. “Without fighting?”

“Can we?” Her voice trembled.

His eyes flashed as he held her stare. Still bearing down on her, a low growl rose in his throat. “If we do, if I show you how much I want you, how much I crave you, that I don’t need you to fight me to bring out that side… there will be no going back. Do you understand that?”

She hesitated, as if nervous, worried even. And she had every reason to be. But there was curiosity there also, a sense of want and desire that he knew well enough by now. No need for her to snarl at him. No need for her to disobey. He could see in her eyes that she needed him to show her, and she could see in his eyes that he was ready.

“Show me,” she said, her voice a throaty whisper. “Show me how.”

And so, he did.

ChapterTwenty-One

“H-hold it like this?” Charlotte asked, her voice quavering with both fear and anticipation as she took hold of the headboard. Both hands, spread slightly apart, gripped it firmly.

“Just like that,” Henry purred as he leaned over her. Then he tested her grip, making sure it was tight. “You’re not going to be able to move, once we begin,” he explained as he used a length of rope to tie her wrists to the headboard. “But it’s important that you feel safe.”

“I do,” she said, even if she wasn’t entirely certain.

He smiled. “Good. However…” He finished securing the rope around her wrists, checking that there was no chance it might come loose. Not too tight, it didn’t hurt at all, but Charlotte attempted to wiggle her hands free and found it impossible to move so much as an inch. “Just to be sure, we will require a safe word.”

“A safe word?”

“A word you can say if you begin to feel overwhelmed. Or you wish me to stop.”

“Can’t I just tell you to stop?” Suddenly, the ropes felt a lot tighter than they had, and Charlotte began to panic, if only slightly. “Why won’t you stop if I?—”

“Because sometimes when you say no, you might not mean it.” He stroked her hair softly, remarkably gently, considering the circumstances. “You probably aren’t aware of some of the things you say when we’re together.” He chuckled.

“Oh. Right…” Charlotte blushed slightly, realizing that he was probably right.

How many times had she refused him, fought him even, knowing that it would only push him further? That was half of the fun. When she had done that in the past, she’d always felt some semblance of control, though, able to push him away if needed. Now, however…

“King George,” Henry said.

“What?”

“King George. If you want me to stop, say that name.”

“King George?” She laughed, unable to stop herself. “Are you serious?”

“Deadly. Trust me, if you say King George while I’m inside you, all the moaning and groaning in the world won’t be enough to keep me aroused.”

“All right then.” She nodded. “King George it is.”