A noise halted her thoughts.
He must have eyes like a cat to be able to walk through the darkened room with no need for a light. All she could see was a black shadow standing in the doorway. Was he trying to frighten her?
She was beyond fear but well into anger.
The shadow halted just beyond her footboard as she sat up.
“You needn’t come any closer,” she said. “I’ll not welcome you into my bed.”
“You’re my wife.”
“You might as well say, ‘You’re my dog. Or you’re my horse.’ Would you talk more to me if I were your dog or horse, Montgomery?”
“You’re angry.”
She punched her pillow into place, then leaned back against it, glaring at him.
“Yes, I’m angry. I’m very angry. Go away.”
Instead of leaving the room, he walked to the side of the bed.
“Why?”
Instead of just sitting there waiting for him to pounce, she slid from the other side of the bed.
“You might have a legal right to be here,” she said. “You don’t have a moral one.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
She walked around the end of the bed until she neared him.
“You don’t talk to me, Montgomery. You don’t say a word to me all day long, and I’m supposed to welcome you into my bed as if I’m grateful for your attention? Any attention?”
“I have to talk to you?”
He sounded so astonished, she poked him in the chest with her finger.
“Yes. You have to talk to me.”
“What do you want me to say?”
“I want you to answer my questions,” she said.
“Take off your nightgown.”
“Did you not hear a word I said?” she asked.
“Take off your nightgown, and I’ll answer your questions.”
She knew what happened the minute she was naked around him. She shook her head. “No. You answer one question, and I’ll unbutton my nightgown. One button.”
He folded his arms and regarded her, a black shadow that was probably frowning at her. She didn’t care. She wasn’t retreating.
“One question? One button? That’s a little steep, isn’t it?”
“Then go back to your bedroom,” she said. “I’m not changing my mind.”
He moved to the bedside table and lit the lamp. The sudden yellowish glow in the room made it as bright as day. She wished he’d allowed them to remain in the darkness.
