“Good. Now the first step is apologizing, which you’ve already done quite profusely, so I think we can check that off the list. Then you should start building up trust, and not just in your would-be partner, but also in yourself. The fact that you don’t trust yourself is at least half your problem. So what will your first overture be?”

Panic played a quick tattoo on Bitterlich’s chest. He had no idea, but maybe he didn’t need one. “As my trusted adviser, what would you suggest?”

A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Hmmm. Would you like to kiss me?”

Bitterlich’s eyes bulged; he hadn’t been expecting that. Be bold. “Yes,” he choked out. “Yes, I very much would.”

She leaned in so that her nose was all but touching his, the twinkling lights of her spark swarm dancing around the edges of his vision.

“Ask nicely,” she said.

Bitterlich licked his lips. “May I kiss you?”

“You may,” she said, and her lips brushed his. He pressed against her, felt her hot breath, and her tongue. He pulled her to him and she returned his embrace with near crushing strength. It occurred to him, in between the fireworks going off in his brain, that although her muscles had shrunken in size, they hadn’t withered. Instead they’d merely become more compact, strong as steel cables and with room to grow.

“You do realize I’m an abomination,” she gasped when they came up for air. “And quite possibly a lunatic.”

“Definitely a lunatic,” he said, and stifled her protest with another kiss.

She pulled him down on top of her and got a leg out from under the covers to wrap around him. His loins were dead, but all the rest of him was on fire. He held his weight off her with his elbows, but she flattened him against her chest and got her other leg around him. The squeeze of her thighs was like to drive him mad. This wasn’t a good idea. This wasn’t a safe place or a good time for this, but he wouldn’t have missed it for a roi’s ransom or a reine’s favor.

He nuzzled her neck and whispered, “May I?”

“Oh yes.” She lifted her chin and he kissed her throat. Even through the feather down, his lips found a good spot and her whole body shuddered. Little gasps of pleasure escaped her lips.

Just how far down her magnificent body could he get one “May I?” at a time?

There came a rap at the door.

Bitterlich froze. Isabelle twitched away from him, fear in her eyes.

“One moment,” Bitterlich called to the door as Isabelle desperately detached herself and slid back under the covers.

Bitterlich’s clothes were all askew. He yanked them as straight as possible, checked to see that Isabelle was in position, and opened the door.