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“Do you?” he said huskily and stepped closer.

The clear satisfaction on his face peeved her a little. “Of course. It’s exceedingly annoying. I hate how you win every time, how you always gain the upper hand, with the kidnapping and your chess pieces and trapping me on that pedestal. And I hate that you know it.”

Indecision flickered in his features as he glanced away and dragged his fingers through his hair. “I didn’t realize how it affected you.”

“Don’t let it bother you,” she said dryly. “Soon, it won’t even bother me.”

“But I don’t want you to feel that way with me. I don’t want you to feel forced.”

“I don’t feel forced, not exactly.”

“What if I…let you hold the reins for this?”

“Meaning what?”

“Why don’t you take charge of our lovemaking? At least until you feel comfortable.”

What an odd suggestion. So why did it send a strange thrill coursing through her veins? “I wouldn’t know how to begin. I’ve never been with any man but you.”

His eyes gleamed down at her with intense satisfaction. “I know.”

“And you have so much experience—”

“So I’m not an inept dullard, after all?”

She sniffed. “You aren’t inept at anything, as you know very well, you devil.”

That earned her a broad smile. “All the same, you might feel more comfortable if you set the pace, have some control.” He held up his hands, palms out, in a gesture of complete surrender. “I’m at your mercy, madam. What do you want from me?”

For a moment, she was at a complete loss. It was ridiculous really, and a bit embarrassing, to think she could tell him how to proceed. Yet their afternoon in the conservatory had taught her a little of what men and women did together. And what felt good and what she liked. Combined with what her sisters had told her, perhaps she could blunder through some of it.

Besides, at this moment she knew precisely what she wanted. “Kiss me.” When he grinned and started toward her, she said, “No, wait. Take off your shirt first.”

He halted, bemused. “Whatever madam wants.”

He unfastened his cuffs, and her mouth went dry. She really was going to do this.

Yet it felt strange to just stand here and watch him undress. Glancing nervously about her, she noticed the disordered sheets on the bed. “Have you been sleeping here?”

“Last night, that’s all.”

“But I went to your bedchamber one night—” She stopped, realizing how that sounded.

He paused to shoot her a burning glance. “Did you?”

With a defiant little toss of her head, she muttered, “Yes, and you weren’t there.”

“You must have come too early. I haven’t been sleeping much lately.” As he dragged his shirt over his head, his voice grew muffled. “I labor in the forge to the point of exhaustion, then fall into bed in the wee hours and rise at dawn.”

“Why?”

Tossing the shirt aside, he stepped close to fold her in his arms. “You have to ask?”

The stark need in his face spoke volumes. “No,” she whispered. “I haven’t slept much myself this week.”

With a pleased smile, he bent his head to kiss her, but she pressed her finger to his lips. “Not yet. I want to look at you first.” The faintest irritation flickered in his eyes, filling her with a mischievous delight. “You don’t like giving up control, do you?”

“I didn’t expect you to take to it so well, you teasing minx,” he grumbled.