“Yes," she spat. "I am quite picky. Often I like my seductions to consist of more than 'Hallo there. are to spread your knees for a duke?' Silly miss that I am.”

“I like you, Miss York, because you are wicked, and there can be no finer blessing for a man than a good and wicked wife. Wouldn't you agree?”

“She reached to give him an awkward hug, and when he hugged her back, his hand accidentallytouched her belly. It was surprisingly hard and something shifted beneath the surface.“Oh, shit!” he yelped, jerking back.“What’s wrong?”“It, uh, moved.”“Feels like an alien, doesn’t it? I swear to God, I have nightmares that it’s going to burst out of my stomach like a monster. But I think it’s prettyharmless.”

“Yes, she was imperfect. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t also spectacular.”

“You take control, Emma," he whispered. The words tickled her ear, he spoke them so close. Shivers raced down her neck, down her chest and her belly. "Take control of me. Come to me." Her neck arched, wanting his mouth to bite her. "If you do Emma, I may give you what you want. Or I may offer more than you can handle. Risk. That's what you like, isn't it? So play with fire. Play with me.”

“You know that's not what I mean! I just...I don't know what to do with men. I get nervous. I make too many jokes. I act like a kid sister instead of their fantasy sex machine.”

“I’ve had a rough six months, okay?” she cried. “Little Blue was my last friend,and frankly the last time his batteries ran out I had a fleeting moment of panicthat he’d been compromised!”