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Chapter Seven

Pleasure bubbled through Ian’s tension "Carnal relations," he repeated

"Yes," she said, her voice shy "If it would interest you"

If it would interest me?

"You ers twisting the ring around and around "Yes, that is exactly what I mean Not like athat side of life We like each other well enough, and I don’t foresee that I will oodness knows But perhaps we can belovers, at least while we are in Paris I’, I know, but I can’t help myself"

Did she kno beautiful she was? Her cheeks were flaazed into her eyes for one fleeting instant and said, "Yes"

Beth let out a breath that turned to a shaky laugh "Thank you for not leaving in disgust"

Disgust? What usted with a lady with eyes like hers, who’d just stammered out that she wanted to be his paramour?

Ian took a step back to have a full view of her She wore a simple frock of mauve broadcloth, the overskirt pleated, the underskirt soft ruffles A row of buttons shaped like blackberries h, closing her off instead of exposing her lovely neck

"We will start now," he said

She juhts"

Beth pressed fingers to herto stop her smile "Very well, what did you have in mind?" "Unbutton your frock" He came to her and touched the button at the hollow of her throat He wanted to take it between his teeth and see if it truly tasted of blackberries "Down to there"

"Only that?"

"For now"

She gave hian to undo her buttons Her pale throat came into view, the hollow da and slender, unmarred

Ian slid his hands around her waist She looked up at hiently pushed open the placket, then leaned down and kissed her neck "Ian"

"Shh"

He licked the hollow of her throat, then pulled her soft skin between his teeth

"What are you doing?"