She sniffed and tried to straighten up, but he pulled her head back against his shoulder. “Yes, sir.”
“Bear,” he said softly. “My friends call me Bear.”
* * *
She fingered the bear claw around his neck. “Is that why you wear this?”
He covered her hand with his own. “No. It’s the other way around. I killed this bear when I was young, and the men have called me by it ever since. Of course, it’s also short for Barrett, so it suits me, I suppose.”
His talk of himself seemed to help, because she calmed down, her breath smoothing out, her head becoming heavier against his shoulder.
“You think all coupling is bad now?” he probed.
She gave a wry bark of laughter, the kind with tears behind it. “I know it’s not bad—at least not for others—but I simply cannot—”
“Easy, lady,” he said, rubbing her stiffened back. “I will not force you. But I also will not release you from this marriage or your obligation to me as my wife.”
She sat up and twisted to look him full in the face, her expression questioning.
“Daisy, I propose we make a bargain.”
She looked wary.
“I give you my word, I will not couple with you. Not until you ask—nay, beg me to.” And he did intend to make her beg. Bringing a lover to the edge while denying her release would have her on her knees eventually.
She made a scoffing sound. “I’m quite certain I would die first.”
“Aye,” he said, “You have proven your willingness to die. But wait—I have not finished. You will offer me your body, that I may teach you the pleasure of passion, and that you may learn to pleasure me—all without engaging in the actual act of consummation.”
Her brow furrowed in confusion. “I do not understand.”
“There is more than one way to find pleasure with a woman or a man. I propose to leave out the one that gives you trouble, if you will allow me to teach you the others.”
Her blue-green eyes widened, but the wariness had gone. She studied him, as if measuring the meaning of his words. “Will it hurt?”
He gave a decisive shake of his head. “Never,” he promised. He opened his mouth, ready to launch into a long treatise on pleasure, but she nodded her head.
“Yes.”
He hid his surprise. “Yes? You will agree?”
“I know not why, but I do trust you, Sir Barr—I mean, Bear.”
He kissed the top of her head. “I’m honored. There is one more small thing you must promise me.”
“What is it?”
“You will not pleasure yourself. You will only come to me to learn of pleasure.”
She gave a short laugh. “You need not worry about that.”
He lifted a brow. “You do not pleasure yourself?”
She lifted her chest. “Certainly not. Do you?”
He chuckled. “When I cannot find a suitable partner, yes.”
Her smile faded and though it was probably wishful thinking, he hoped she’d been jealous to think of him with other women.
