“Excuse me, but I believe you have my lady,” one of them said in a quiet, deep voice that sent veritable chills down George’s spine.Harry.”

“Be that as it may, a gentleman doesn’t continue to press hisattentions on a lady who can’t return them.”“Then, as I see it, you have two problems, my lord,” Harry said.Tony’s eyes narrowed.“One, that the lady does, in fact, return my attentions, and two”—Harry turned to meet the earl’sgaze—“I am no gentleman.”

“She gasped again and opened blue eyes lit with erotic mischief. “Are you trying to steal the reins from me?”Even with his penis buried deep within her, even moments from climax, he arched an eyebrow. “You have them only by my permission.”

“Who are you?” Her eyes snapped open, and her voice held a hysterical edge. “Do I even know who you are?”He stepped over Walker’s battered corpse and grabbed her by the shoulders, leaned downso that his no-doubt foul breath washed over her face. “I am your husband, my lady.”She turned her face away from him.He shook her. “The one you promised to obey always.”“Simon—”“The one you said you’d cleave to, forsaking all others.”“I—”“The one you make love to at night.”“I don’t know if I can live with you anymore.” The words were a whisper, but they rang in his head like a death knell.”

“But you must be awash in a sea of compliments, my lady. Every gentleman you meet must voice his admiration, his wish to make love to you. And those are only the ones who may voice such thoughts. All about you are men who cannot speak their admiration, who must remain mute from lack of social standing or fear of offending you. Only their thoughts light the air about you, following you like a trail of perfume, heady but invisible. (Winter Makepeace)”

“Now, now," said Vale in a sickeningly sweet voice reminiscent of a nursery nanny. "I already gave him a drubbing for courting Emmie."Reynaud raised his eyebrows. "You did?""He did not," Hartley said even as Vale nodded happily. "I threw him down the stairs."Vale pursed his lips and looked skyward. "Not my recollection, but I can see how your memory of the event may've become hazy.”

“You are my family. If we never have children, I will be disappointed, but if I never have you, I will be devastated. I love you. I need you. Please trust me enough to be my wife.”