Page 79 of To Pleasure a Prince

If he could last that long. Each kiss led to a hotter one until he thought he might perish if he didn’t soon taste her sweet flesh.

He bent to kiss her neck, then nearly blinded one eye. “What the devil!” he swore as he jerked back. He poked at her deceptively lacy collar. “What are these pointy things?”

“It’s a ruff,” she said indignantly. “With wire in it to make it stand up.”

“It’s lethal,” he grumbled. “Did youwantme not to touch you?”

A musical laugh cascaded from her. “I didn’t even think about that when I had it made.La Belle Assembleecalls it ‘the most elegant and novel’ carriage costume to appear in a long time. Don’t you agree?”

“It’s novel, I’ll give you that.”

“I thought it looked fetching.”

“Fetchingly draconian, perhaps.”

Her eyes twinkled. “Then it’s perfect for the Dragon Viscount’s wife.”

He cast her a grudging smile. “The Dragon Viscountess. It suits you. Onlyyouwould choose clothing designed to torture a man.”

She arched one eyebrow. “It never occurred to me that you might attack me as soon as we entered the carriage.”

“Then you don’t know your husband very well.” He nipped her earlobe. “I can see I shall have to help you pick your gowns from now on. Because I don’t intend to suffer this torture every time I try to kiss my wife.”

“Oh, the poor dragon,” she teased. “Thwarted by a traveling costume. How shall you ever hold your head up among the other dragons?”

“There better not be any other dragons,” he whispered in her ear. “I mean to be the only one.”

He knew he’d said the wrong thing when she flinched and drew back. “I swore to be faithful to you. And you said at the breakfast that you trusted me.”

“It’s not you I don’t trust. It’s the other dragons.”

“I did not marry any of those other dragons. I married you.”

“Because you were forced,” he said, voicing one of his misgivings.

“I had other choices. I did not take them.”

“None of them were good choices,” he bit out.

“True. But I am happy with the one I made.”

“Are you?”

“I’m sitting here on your lap, aren’t I?”

“Dressed in the most diabolical gown ever to grace the female form.”

She chuckled. “I shall never wear it again.”

“You most certainly will—whenever you’re around one of those other dragons, and I’m not nearby. I’ll put it on you myself.”

Eyes gleaming, she cupped his jaw. “You are perfectly adorable when you’re jealous.”

He glared at her. “I’m not joking. I won’t share you with anyone.”

“Neither shall I. Shareyouwith anyone, I mean.”

He gaped at her. “You can’t seriously think that would be a problem.”