“Fourth,” Dare stammered, his eyes a bit wild around the edges as she moved around behind him to use her other hand as well. She felt a bit flushed, but she was determined to see the comforting through to the end. It was her duty, and she was ever a dutiful wife. “About your expectations with regards to my manly…er…”

Charlotte was suddenly desperate to touch his flesh. She tugged at the shirt until it pulled free of his trousers, slipping her hands beneath to where his flesh beckoned and called to her.

“So hot,” she breathed, running her fingers over every muscled bulge and valley, tracing the line of his ribs, overwhelmed with the sense and feel and scent of him until she had to lean forward and press her face against his shirt. “You make me feel so hot, husband. You make me feel as if I’m on fire.”

Dare groaned and quickly ripped his shirt off even as he turned to gather her in his arms.

“Charlotte, it’s very important that you listen to what I’m going to say,” he told her, his breath hot on her lips, but she didn’t have the time or energy to focus on his words. Words weren’t important—the heat that was building inside of her was. Fire, she thought to herself as she molded her hands up his chest and over his shoulders. He was like fire in her blood, making her burn with desire and need and all sorts of sensual, shameful things that her womanly parts were demanding with each breath Dare drew. She threaded her fingers through his golden hair and tugged.

“It’s your fault I’m on fire; do something about it,” she demanded, tilting her head back, offering her mouth even as she wondered if she could stand the inferno his kiss was sure to cause.

“I’m sorry you’re on fire,” he said, his lips teasing hers with tiny little nips that made her squirm against him.

“Are you truly?” She rubbed herself against him, her body needing the hard touch of his.

“No,” he said just before he claimed her mouth. Charlotte pressed herself even closer as his tongue swept inside her. She was eager to taste him, welcoming his outrageous demand that she submit to him. Charlotte had never submitted to any man in her life, but there was just something truly phenomenal about Dare—she thought it might be his tongue—that crumbled all her resistance until it was only the vaguest memory.

“Charlotte.” Dare’s breathing was hot and ragged as he tore his mouth from hers. She whimpered and tugged on his head to make him kiss her again.

“No, Charlotte, you have to listen to me.” Dare seemed out of breath, angry even as he tightened his jaw. Charlotte leaned forward to kiss a trail along it. He moaned softly into her hair, his fingers flexing into her hips before he suddenly, inexplicably, cruelly pushed her away from the warm haven of his body. “Stop trying to drive me insane! A man can take only so much, woman! Stay there, right there, don’t move an inch. Just stand right there and I’ll stand here and then you won’t drive me mad with your lips and…your…”