“ No more missish shyness, then,” he said. He pinched her nubbin gently between his fingers and she would have shot off the bed, if not for his arms holding her in place-not to mention the cravats keeping her legs bound to the bed. “I plan to keep you leg-shackled like this for quite some time-until you beg me for mercy. And then I might release you and use the ties on your arms instead.”

Leg-shackled. Audrey chuckled. She’d always thought the phrase rather unusual and obscure, but it took on a new meaning at the moment. “You promise you don’t find me squeamish? Not a prude?”

Lodge rolled his thumb over her center and she let out a ragged whimper.

“ Not a prude in the least, my love. Now I’d say you’re more of a vixen.”

They made love twice more early that evening before sending their regrets down to the other house guests, saying they wouldn’t make it down for supper. They were too busy in other pursuits, after all, to attempt to be polite company.