Noble suddenly looked interested and reached for the pamphlet. “Bodily endowments? You must pay particular attention to my bodily endowments? It says so?”

“Yes, that is part of the treatment. It’s supposed to purify your blood if I conduct upon your…parts…those exercises shown in the back of the pamphlet.”

“‘Imperial Exercises of Eros,’” Noble mumbled as he read the title, then turned the page. Gillian thought his eyes were going to pop right out of his head.

She fidgeted with the opening of her dressing gown. “It might be beyond your strength—”

Her words were cut off as Noble, with a move too swift for her eyes to follow, sent her dressing gown flying in one direction while she was tossed in the other, landing in the middle of his bed. He followed directly behind her, pinning her on the bed and holding the pamphlet in front of her.

“This one,” he said hoarsely. Gillian hoped the trauma of his wounding hadn’t caused an illness in his throat. “You’ll do this one first, followed by the next one, and if I survive that, all the rest of the Imperial-bloody-Exercises of Eros.”

She looked at the page he was waving in front of her. “Are you sure you are up to that? Your wound—”

“Purifying,” he gasped, staring at her breasts, sending a fevered wave of desire washing over her. “My blood needs purifying. This minute.”

Gillian pushed him gently onto his back and reached across his heaving broad chest for the Oils of Araby. “Well, if you are certain that you are up to it…”

***

“Noble?”

“Aaaaaaaaaaaarg!”

“Noble, I’m not sure you are supposed to be having that reaction.”

“Gaar.”

“Yes, I understand you enjoy this exercise, but the pamphlet does not indicate that you should be panting at this point.”

“Urrrrrr.”

“Noble, my darling, we’re only to the second Imperial Exercise of Eros. How do you expect me to go through all twelve if you are going to expend all of your blood-purifying energies on writhing about in that manner and moaning?”

“Eeeeeeeerm!”

“Oh, I beg your pardon; my hand slipped off your bodily endowment. My, those Oils of Araby certainly do heat up upon application, do they not?”

“Uuuuuuuung.”

“One moment, my darling, I’m just reading the instructions for the third exercise. Let me see…apply the ethereal essences to the wellspring of vigor and manliness. I wonder where that is? Just here, do you think?”

“Nnnnnnnnaaaang!”

“Oh, my, yes, that certainly would appear to be a wellspring of vigor and manliness. Do you think you would have the same reaction if I touched you there again?”

“Nnnnnnnnaaaang!”

“Amazing! Once more?”

“Nnnnnnnnaaaang!”

“That’s absolutely fascinating. Noble, I wish you could open your eyes long enough to see this. I had no idea it was physically possible. You have tremendous muscle control.”

“Gillian.”

“Yes, my love?”

“Take me inside of you. Now.”

Gillian looked down at her panting husband. His chest, lightly sheened with perspiration from the effort of purifying his blood, was heaving as he struggled to catch his breath, while his hands were compulsively clutching large quantities of the bedding. “I beg your pardon?”