“If you think you can intimidate me—”

“Ah, I know I can intimidate you, chica. But I wonder, has any man ever conquered you? This husband of yours, this Steve Morgan who is so competent, so fierce and noble that you love him so much, has he ever conquered you? Has he made you beg for him, made you yield all to him when you did not want to?”

“As a matter of fact, yes. You could not begin to understand what I feel for him. Do not even try.”

“You think I do not know about love? I do. I have felt it myself. It burns like a fire inside, makes a man do things he should not. Is it that way for a woman, too? I think it is. And you, passionate little gypsy with the hair like flame and eyes so green, you would do whatever you must to have your man, would you not?”

“If you are asking me to go to bed with you to find out where my husband is, I have told you before that I refuse.”

Ginny held his gaze. Her jaw tightened against the subtle pressure of his fingers cradling her throat, but she did not attempt to struggle or pull away. Defiance lit her eyes, and the cleft in her chin deepened as her mouth thinned to a taut line.

“Let go of me, General Luna. I would hate to have to explain to President Díaz how I got bruises on my face. And I must begin to get ready, for the ball at the palace is this evening and I haven’t made proper arrangements.”

Despite her bravado, a frisson of fear shivered down Ginny’s spine. Luna only looked at her with a small smile on his mouth.

“I think that I am done with waiting, fiery one. If you please me well, perhaps I shall tell you what I have learned about this paragon of a husband of yours, eh?”

“And if I do not please you?” Her hand slid downward, crumpling silk beneath her fingers as she tugged her skirt upward. A seductive smile played upon her lips, and she gave the general a glance from beneath her lashes. “I am married, and have tried to be a faithful wife to my husband. You ask of me what I do not wish to give, General Luna. What if Steve should learn of our…liaison?”

He sucked in a sharp breath, and his clasp on her throat loosened as his palm slid down over the bare skin gleaming above her scooped bodice.