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I wanted my mouth on her.

I wanted⁠—

"You've had a shock," I said, instead of touching her. "You need to rest."

Gold flashed in those milky eyes. "You do not get to tell me how I feel. That's a very easy way to lose my trust, Gunnar."

She pushed herself upright. I caught both her wrists in one hand before she could touch me. Gently, I put her back where she'd been. She didn't go down easily like I'd planned.

Her back hit the mattress. Her arms stretched over her head beneath my grip. I came down over her, bracing my free hand beside her shoulder so none of my weight crushed her.

Her breath hitched. So did mine.

Her breasts pressed against my chest. Beneath the silk, her nipples tightened harder. There was no mistaking her scent now.

"You're a brat," I said.

A wicked grin spread across her face. There she was. Not the trembling virgin from our wedding night. Not the helpless princess her mother had handed over to my family. My wife looked entirely too pleased with herself.

"Don't," I warned.

"Don't what?"

"Try to manipulate me."

I tightened my grip on her wrists. Enough to make the point that she wasn't going anywhere unless I decided to release her. Her pulse jumped beneath my fingers.

I knew exactly which bones I held. Radius. Ulna. Eight small carpal bones at the base of each hand. I knew the tendons threaded between them. Knew how far a wrist could bend before pain became injury. I knew how little pressure it took to make a man scream.

"You're not going to hurt me." She sounded so sure of herself. Sure of me.

"I did hurt you."

"Do better this time."

I couldn't stop the grin that tilted my lips at her challenge. "You're a menace."

She ran a toe up my thigh. I trapped her thigh with my knee.

"You want something from me." My voice came out rougher now. "So stop playing games and tell me what it is."

For once, Rosalind had nothing clever to say. I waited. I could interrogate a man for hours without losing patience. Mentally, I had reams of patience for my wife. Physically…

Her tongue swept slowly across her lower lip. My cock went hard against the soft mattress. Her gaze remained fixed on mine. Then that wicked little smile returned.

"I would like an orgasm. Please."

It was the please that did it.

"Open your mouth."

She hesitated for a second. Then she did as she was told.

I pressed my middle finger into her mouth. A surprised groan escaped her.

"Suck."

She did as she was told. Her small mouth suckled my digit, coating it with her saliva. The sharp points of her teeth made my dick twitch.