She just about choked on her own saliva.“Um.I don’t know how to answer that.Do you like sexual spankings?”
“I like giving them.”
“Okay,” she said, clearing her throat.“Do I get to return the gesture?”
Surprise filtered over his face.“We’ll see.”
She bit her bottom lip, trying not to laugh.Guess he wasn’t expecting that.“Okay, we have established curtesy and consideration for one another.I like cooking so do you have any food allergies or things you dislike?”
“No allergies.I dislike peas.”
“That’s it?”
“I’m a simple man.”
She lifted one eyebrow.“Now that is a flat out lie.”
Amusement danced on his face.“What about you?”
“Me?I don’t like lying.”
“That’s good.I hate liars.But I was inquiring to allergies and foods you dislike.”
“I’m not allergic to any foods, but I do have an allergy to penicillin.I’m not overly fond of onions and garlic.”
“Wise.Garlic breath is hard to get rid of.”
Kleya never thought she’d find James Roarke charming, but here she was, being thoroughly charmed.“Mutual respect.No lying.Communication.I think that’s a good start to our marriage.”
“Speaking of which, I know we’ve only just met, so I will understand if you want to put off the consummation of our marriage until you’re ready.”
Sex hadn’t been on her mind until right then, and now her brain imagined what he’d look like naked.“Um, no that’s okay.But can we not call it that?Consummation sounds a little medieval.”
“Very well.Sex.On our wedding night.”
Heat flooded her cheeks.“Yes.That’s better.”
He cocked his head.“Kleya, are you a virgin?”
“Yes,” she answered, holding eye contact.“I’m not ashamed of that.It had been drummed into my head, when I finally understood the concept, to not sleep around.”
“I wouldn’t have cared,” he said.“Views about a woman’s virginity are archaic, something thatismedieval.”He paused, staring at her.“Although, I’ll be honest and say I quite like the idea of being your only man.”
“I take it you’re not a virgin.”
“No, I’m not,” he replied.
“Well, at least one of us will know what to do.But that adds a lot of pressure on you.”
He cocked his head.“Pressure?”
“Since you are experienced, you better make the sex good because I expect lots of orgasms.”
James threw back his head and laughed.
Then a man wearing a white chef’s coat entered their room, his own smile a practiced façade.“Mr.Roarke!So lovely to see you again.Miss Dane, how is your mother and father?”
She never did care for Chef Pierre.Every time she met him at a gala, a predatory look shone in his eyes and made her blood run cold.However, manners had been instilled in her by tutors who liked using rulers to discipline.
