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"Take the him back She couldn’t be this close to hi her focus Losing her Frenchness He wouldn’t desire her if she turned back into her docile little self and just let his She had to stay in control

He stepped back, looking a little surprised, but then pleased too "Ie across

He grinned at that and started playing with his waistband Pulling it down a little That was so she loved about him, the way his hips were so lean and there was a little hollow there She wanted to lick it too She didn’t kno she knew about that hollow, because she never consciously looked at him, but she did Fletch pulled his breeches down, and farther down

Poppy felt a little faint She’d seen him a hundred ti that they make love with all the candles lit, and she had to lie on top of the covers She’d seen hirotesque and hairy, the way her mother had described

But she’d never looked at hie And smooth And he had his hands on his hips, so it looked like his whole body was just--

That There

"And now?" he said, his voice all deep and teasing, as if they were talking about bits of sugar

Herto think what to say next How could she stay French, be French, so he wasn’t bored? What would a Frenchwoman do next?

She couldn’t take her eyes off hi she wanted was for him to--

That couldn’t be said It was horribly vexing She couldn’t think of anything

"Sweetheart?"

He started to say so and his eyes were so sweet and kind that she knew she’d already failed He was looking at her and seeing stupid old Poppy, not a sensual Frenchwoman with kohl all around her eyes

"No!" she snapped

He stopped, but he didn’t look quite so happy Poppy took a breath She had to find herself again, find the pleasure in it She was failing, she knew she was failing--she pushed the thought away It was probably tio to the bed That hat she should do

"I would like you to lie down," she said Thankfully, she didn’t have to modulate her voice: it came out all provocative and husky on its own

"Wouldn’t you like me to undress you first?"

She froze for a moment Would a Frenchwoman let a man undress her? She couldn’t re about it At so so hard that she could hardly hear the advice

"A Frenchworinned so thathimself onto the bed, as cool as a cucus But Poppy had trouble looking anywhere other than his…his waistline She wet her lips and his hips rose just a little bit as she watched

She did it again and he ue play with her botto her with the sleepiest,it right She knew she was doing it right A little rush of exhilaration swept through her

"It’s so hot in here," she said, low and sultry That was one of the lines Jeh Isidore screahter from the bed and said Jemma sounded like a three-penny whore

Then she just pulled her neckline wide and eased it down over her shoulders Fletch was sitting up now He looked like a dyinga drink of water

Poppy licked her lips again and then slipped the dress down a little further And a little further…

"Oh darling, you’re killing roan, and Poppy felt heat flash from the tips of her ears to her toes

"M her sleeves a bit lower