He raised a brow, one corner of his lips curving up. “I am?”
“You are trying to seduce me… I think,” she blurted, feeling heat rise from her chest to her face.
“Not at all. What purpose would I have to seduce you?” He put down the fork and leaned back in his chair, giving her a much-needed reprieve from the magnetic force.
“Perhaps you wish to negotiate better terms.” To her chagrin, her voice was still breathless.
Hereford stood slowly, startling her. “If I wished to seduce my wife, I would have stood behind her,” he said as he positioned himself thus and bent over her, his hands reaching for her fork and holding the morsel of fish near her lips.
Not knowing what to do, she opened her mouth and took the bite.
“Delicious?” he finished, his breath warm against her ear as she chewed carefully. “I’ve been meaning to ask about the library.”
His free hand came to rest on the back of her chair, his knuckles lightly brushing the exposed skin at the nape of her neck. She shivered involuntarily.
“Will you require any modifications?” he continued conversationally, as if feeding his wife from behind while whispering in her ear was perfectly normal. He cut another piece, holding it to her lips. “A more comfortable chair, perhaps?”
She accepted the bite, exceedingly aware of his warm breath against her neck.
“Softer lighting for evening work?” Another piece appeared at her lips. When she hesitated, he traced the fork gently along her lower lip. “I want you comfortable when you pour all your… passion into your writing.”
The low rumble of his voice sent a shiver down her spine. She took the offered bite, her lips parting. Was his breath becoming shallower?
“Perhaps a comfortable settee,” he continued, his voice growing rougher, “for when I join you… Purely for intellectual pursuits, of course.”
His hand moved from the chair to stroke the strand of hair near her ear. She could feel the heat radiating from his hand.
“I could have the room redecorated entirely to your specifications,” he murmured, while the hand, devastatingly, came to rest on her bare shoulder. His thumb traced a small circle against her skin. “New furnishings, whatever books you desire… I find myself quite invested in ensuring my wife has everything she needs.”
She could barely focus on his words, overwhelmed by his touch, his scent, the way his voice seemed to vibrate through her entire body. When he offered her another bite, she turned slightly to accept it and found herself looking directly into his darkened eyes.
“You’re trying to confuse me,” she accused breathlessly, though she made no move to escape his ministrations. “Using proximity and… and seduction to gain some advantage.”
His low chuckle rumbled against her cheek as he set down the fork, his hand lightly massaging her shoulder. “Is it working?” When she didn’t answer, he leaned closer, his lips nearly brushing her ear. “Because I must confess, wife, if anyone is being seduced here, it’s decidedly not you.”
“You’re insufferable,” she managed, but her voice lacked any real conviction.
“And you,” he murmured, both hands resting on the table, caging her in, “are driving me to distraction. Do you have any idea what you do to me?”
The temptation to lean back against him, to discover what his mouth would feel like on hers, was becoming unbearable. Before she could do something foolish—like surrender to the desire coursing through her—she stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor as he stepped back with impressive agility.
“I should retire,” she said, not daring to look at him, her voice unsteady. “It’s been a long day.”
When she finally risked a glance, his eyes were dark with desire.
“Of course,” he said, his voice carefully controlled though she could hear the strain beneath it. “Sleep well, wife.”
As she fled toward the door on unsteady legs, she heard him add softly, almost to himself, “Though I suspect neither of us will manage much sleep tonight.”
