He followed her, lying down on the bed beside her and smoothing a hand over the flat of her stomach. “For something more exciting than we’ve ever shared before?” he prodded.

“ Oh, please don’t misunderstand,” Elaine pleaded, a blush heating her cheeks despite the fact that she was already hot enough to warm the whole abbey in the dead of winter. “I love the way you make love to me, but-”

“ But variety never killed anyone, right?”

She laughed, a deep, throaty, unfamiliar laugh. “I suppose not, when you put it that way.”

Owen trailed a spiral with his fingertips over the flat of her stomach, and it twitched in response. “It didn’t kill me-even though I felt like that was exactly what you were doing to me. You’re quite the enchanting seductress, my love.”

“ You’re not cross with me for taking command like I did?” she murmured, her breath faltering under his explorative fingers as they moved lower, nearing the join of her thighs.

“ Cross with you?” He flicked a tongue over her nipple and then blew cold air over it as his fingers quested ever lower.

Elaine gasped.

“ I might be a little cross that you saw fit to discuss our private affairs with your friends.”

Blast, she should never have done that. She should have told Judith and Vivi to go jump in a lake, but that was between herself and her husband. Elaine opened her mouth to apologize, but he beat her.

“ But I can’t stay cross with you for long, since that discussion led to this. Tell me, did they suggest you take me into your mouth, or was that your own brilliant idea?” Owen’s fingers finally met her curls, delving between her folds and searching for her button.

“ Oh,” Elaine cried out, her hips lifting to meet him as he touched that wicked spot. She’d have to remember to thank Vivi for mentioning such a thing to her, however fiercely she blushed while doing so. “They suggested it,” she admitted when he met her gaze.