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wife in private.”
    She arched a brow, but her expression remained composed, with just a hint of mockery—just enough to emasculate a lesser man. “You want me to fetch your slippers?”
    She was playing coy and he knew it. “No. I want you in my bed.”
    There was a slight pause, but not enough for him to gloat over. “And where will you be?”
    He loved how she always made him spell it out. She would have made a damn fine barrister were women allowed such an occupation. She would ask those questions while making love, and heenthusiastically responded, telling her everything he wanted to do to her in exquisite detail. “In you.”
    Her throat constricted as she swallowed, but he smelled the change in her body. She was not loath to the prospect of bedding him again, not in the least. Christ, they were a fine pair. Perverse, both of them.
    â€œYou will help me find James in exchange for the use of my body?”
    Put like that, it sounded so cold, but it was far from that. He burned for her, and if she planned to leave him again—or dispose of him in some other way—when he had served his purpose, then he would take of her what he could. “Whenever I want, yes.”
    She thought about it for a moment, no doubt searching out some way to use his base desires to her own advantage. “If I say no, will you force me?”
    That her opinion of him was so low shouldn’t surprise him—didn’t surprise him—but it angered him all the same. “I’m not a rapist, madam.”
    She wasn’t so certain, damn her. Did she truly think him so loathsome? “Answer me.” She straightened her shoulders, as though bracing for an attack. “If I say no, will you stop?”
    Apparently she thought even less of him than he suspected. “Of course.” Pride made him add. “But you won’t ask me to stop and we both knowit.” This was as much true for him as for her. She wasn’t afraid of him, not really. She couldn’t be.
    Her eyes narrowed. “You haven’t lost any of your arrogance when it comes to your prowess.”
    He shrugged, not about to rise to the bait and ask whether or not she’d had better over the years. “Do we have an agreement?”
    She met his gaze with one the color of steeped tea—but without any of the warmth. “We do.”

Chapter 3
    G od help her, she was playing a dangerous game.
    Olivia’s fingers shook as she lifted the brandy to her lips. Reign was watching her, much like a hawk watching a snake—with a mixture of predatory interest and obvious suspicion.
    She should not have come to this house. She should have made him come to her hotel where the balance of power would have been tipped more favorably for her. This room was too much him for her to think clearly. The rich fabrics and dark colors made him stand out all the more. His scent filled the air. His mere presence enveloped her, made her cagey and eager to escape before she did something rash and confessed everything.
    â€œYou agreed very readily.” Was it just her guilt, or was there accusation in his tone? What, no satisfaction?
    She met his cool gaze and forced herself to hold it. All she had to do was remember what he haddone to her. How it had felt. “You would have preferred I rail against you a bit longer?”
    He shrugged—a careless lift of broad shoulders. “I thought you might.”
    â€œTo what end? I want you to help me. You want to have sex with me in exchange for that help. If I’d said no then you would have refused to help me and I cannot afford to play games where James’s safety is concerned.”
    Any satisfaction she took from the flash of contrition in his eyes was short-lived when he said, “I cannot decide if you are the most honorable woman I have ever known, or the most manipulative.”
    â€œPick whichever you find the least attractive.” That would