He ignored her silliness and went for the logic of this. “Why did you sing off key?”
She stretched up and rubbed the tip of her nose on his. “Why do you think?”
“There is nothing wrong with you?”
She brushed her lips across his. “I do have a malady.”
His heart clutched, and he held her more tenderly. “What? Tell me, sweetheart.”
“I have this awful affliction.”
He buried his lips in her soft mane of hair, his chest tight with dread. “My girl. My fine, sweet girl.”
“Woman,” she corrected.
“Woman,” he agreed. And held her away from him. “What is it? Tell me, before I cry.”
“Will you cry?” She seemed astonished.
“What? Why?” He searched her face. “Yes! You’ll break my heart.”
She nestled into his embrace. “Oh, good.”
“Good?” Was he being led around by the nose?
“Indeed!” She affirmed with a triumphant look.
“What in hell are we talking about?”
She lifted one elegant shoulder and did her twinkle at him.
He gave her one shake. “Stop playing with me. What is wrong with you?”
“I had to celebrate the night with you. I wanted you to come to me. How else to motivate you?”
“Oh, Eliza.” He felt drained of concern…but then stiffened when she flowed near and tempted him with her soft feminine body.
She nuzzled his throat. “Take off this stock. Let’s unbutton your coat. No uniform necessary here.”
He captured her hand. “Stop this at once.”
“No. I want you here.” She unbuttoned his coat. And peeled off his stock.
“I must not.”
“No, of course not. But you want to know why I sang off key, don’t you?” She undid the button of the fall of his trousers.
He clamped his hand on hers. “I do, but if you are not ill, then I should not be here.”
“Right you are. But we don’t care about ‘should’, only ‘want’ and ‘need’.” She yanked at his shirt and the tail slipped out, traitorous thing, from his waistband. Then she pulled it over his head.
Why was he allowing this?
But oh. When she ran her fingers down the center of his chest and began to kiss one turgid nipple, he knew. Of course he did. “Eliza?”
She traced the outline of his other nipple and then transferred her sweet mouth to that one.
He sucked in his breath. “We can’t do this.”
