Victoria didn’t move away. “But I’m a quick learner,” she breathed.

John raised a brow. “Is that a fact?”

She licked her lips and nodded her head.

“Learning sometimes requires the student to relinquish control, Dr. Reese. You hardly seem capable of that.”

She wasn’t imagining his flirtatious tone or how scandalously close he stood. His hand was on her wrist, thumb stroking her riotous pulse. He was also issuing her a challenge: could she give up control? “It’s been a long time since I was a student.”

John smiled down at her. “Not too long, I hope.”

Her brow knit in confusion. “Wait, what are we talking about?”

He blinked as he snapped his mouth shut. Soon his shoulders shook in quiet laughter and he released her wrist. The spell was broken. “Jesus Christ,” he said in between louder chuckles.

Shaken from her reverie, Victoria raised her hand to her mouth and averted her eyes. She was certain that embarrassment colored her brown cheeks as she quickly returned to her neglected pile of books. “Never mind.”

His laughter grew louder. “Oh, Dr. Reese...”

She faced the bookshelf and fumed. “I said never mind.”

Then his laughter subsided. “Never mind?”

“I think I misunderstood this interaction.”

“What did you misunderstand?”

Victoria closed her eyes and sighed. “Please.”

“I asked if you were capable of being a student,” he said, keeping his tone light. “I’m pretty sure that was a simple implication.”

She picked up another book and ignored him. Another Vietnam War book.

“Dr. Reese, I didn’t think I had to spell it out to an academic. It kinda takes the fun out of this interaction.”

Her movements stilled. “What?”

“If you want me to speak plainly, all innuendo aside, I think I was asking, in so many words...if you’d like to start a sordid affair with me.”

Victoria dropped the book in her hand.

“You really have to stop abusing my books.”

She spun around to find John directly behind her. His arms were crossed over his chest, the devilish smile on his face issuing another challenge. “What did you say?”

“You heard me.”

Victoria’s mind was awash with a million questions. “What do you mean a sordid affair?”

He shrugged. “It could be fun.”

“But I don’t have fun,” she blurted out.

“Yeah, I picked up on that.”

Victoria reached up and scratched the back of her scalp. She was sweating again. “I don’t have time for a sordid affair.”

“How long did it take you to read For the Duke’s Pleasure?”

“For the Duke’s Convenience,” she corrected. “And I don’t know, a couple of days.”

“So you are capable of taking time to enjoy something. I’m happy to loan out my services for the professor’s convenience.” The laughter in his voice eased the tension in her shoulders. “She’s certainly beautiful enough.”