“Come to bed,” she said, holding up the blankets.

Rothhaven climbed in beside her and spooned himself around her. He was mildly aroused, which Constance considered normal when a mostly healthy man contemplated sharing a bed with his lover. She drifted off on the thought that this was the tonic she needed.

Rothhaven’s arms around her, his company, his warmth. The challenge of Ivy’s situation was daunting, and it might never be happily resolved, but at least Constance would not face that pain alone.

You appear to have lost your shift, my dear.

Robert was unable to offer that observation aloud because Constance was kissing him. He’d awakened to find her straddling his lap, her breasts a feminine benediction against his chest.

“I didn’t want to impose,” he whispered, when she paused to nuzzle his ear. “Didn’t want to bother you.”

“You bother me. You bother me without ceasing.” She switched to his other ear. “I dreamed I was bothering you right back and awakened full of ideas.”

“This isn’t why I suggested we nap.” Though Robert’s masculine accoutrements thought Constance had lit upon the best idea in the whole world.

“We napped. Now I’m suggesting we move on to other agreeable activities.” She rocked her hips, and agreeable became the most spectacular understatement in the language.

“Again, please.”

She was a fiend, eventually sliding to his side to fondle him in ways that sent reason flying out the window. Her hand was an instrument of naughty, delightful inspiration, and her mouth…

“I’ll spend,” Robert whispered, eyes closed, hands fisted in the sheets. “If you don’t cease this instant…”

She licked him slowly, like a favorite ice on a hot day, then desisted, only to straddle him again and sink down over his arousal on a single, sure glide of her hips.

“A moment,” Robert rasped. “Please allow me a moment.”

Constance folded onto his chest, her breath fanning across his shoulder. “I love being this close to you. Love touching you wherever I please.”

“And I love touching you.” Rejoiced in it, in fact. “For years I dreaded every tactile interaction with another person. You touch me, and I am saturated in pleasure.”

She kissed his cheek. “Do you still own that awful place?”

“Gave it to a charity.”

“Drat. I would have loved to help you burn it down.” She began to move, igniting an altogether different sort of fire, and words became impossible. She raised herself off his chest, took his hands and put them on her breasts, then hung over him, panting while he tried not to lose his mind.

“You first,” he managed.

“You…” She came at him harder without speeding up.

Robert held out, somehow, while she drove herself against him with all the passion and determination one courageous soul contained. When he could withstand the battering no longer, he bowed up to wrap her in his arms.

“Together, Constance.”