He warned himself not to do it, but he had to agree with her. He wanted to take no anger to bed with him this night.

She stretched her arm out in front of her to reach out for him.

Tarass took hold of her arm with reluctance and warned himself not to take her in his arms even though she wore the shift. He’d never be able to let her go if he did. His manhood was hard and throbbing with the want of her and his mind was filled with images of making love to her.

It would be so easy to surrender to his need, to her, but she needed to learn to obey him. Something she had failed to do again and again, and he feared it would one day cost her dearly. She had to learn, even if the lesson hurt him possibly more than her.

“One kiss,” he snapped.

“One kiss,” Snow repeated and stood on her toes as he brought his head down, and their lips met.

Snow felt his hesitation, the tenseness in him, and she knew he fought his own passion. She kissed him lightly, letting her lips linger on his until her tongue peeked from her mouth to tempt his lips apart.

His lips wouldn’t budge. They held tight. He was a stubborn man, but then he claimed she was a stubborn woman.

Snow brushed her lips over his before she moved them off his, then she rested her hand on his cheek and said softly, “Thank you for rescuing me today from my own foolish decision to wed a man I didn’t love. It thrills me to be wed to a man I love with all my heart.” She let her lips brush over his as she turned her head away.

A growl rose up deep from within his chest. “Damn it, wife.”

His hand was at the back of her neck in an instant, holding it firm as his arm coiled around her waist to yank her against him, and his lips came down on hers in a kiss that punished and pleased all at once.

Snow’s arms went around her husband’s neck when he lifted her with his one arm, leaving her feet to dangle above the floor as he kissed her like a man long starved for the taste of her. He didn’t let up. He punished her lips with a passion that raced through her, tingling every inch of her senseless.

He kept hold of her as he walked to the bed and he reluctantly pulled his mouth away from hers when he set her on her feet, and said, “You did that on purpose, wife.”

Snow heard more passion than annoyance in his voice, and she smiled. “Aye, I did.”

Tarass planted his nose against hers. “Now you pay the price.”