“She leaned over and the table and reached for the discarded dice, depositing them in a small leather dice box. As she straightened, she felt Sebastian's hand skim gently over her corseted back, and the hairs on her nape lifted in response. "The hour is late," he said, his tone far softer than the one he had used with Cam. "You should go to bed---you must be exhausted after all you've done today."
"I haven't done all that much." She shrugged uneasily, and his hand made another slow, unnerving pass along her spine.
"Oh yes, you have. You're pushing yourself a bit too hard, pet. You need to rest."
She shook her head, finding it difficult to think clearly when he was touching her. "I've been glad of the chance to work a bit," she managed to say. "It keeps me from dwelling on...on..."
"Yes, I know. That's why I've allowed it." His long fingers curved around the back of her neck.
Her breath shortened as the warmth of his hand transferred to her skin.
"You need to go to bed," he continued, his own breathing not quite steady as he eased her closer. His gaze drifted slowly from her face to the round outline of her breasts, and back again, and a low, humorless laugh escaped him. "And I need to go there with you, damn it. But since I can't... Come here."
"Why?" she asked, even as he secured her against the edge of the table and let his legs intrude amid the folds of her skirts.
"I want to torture you a little."
Evie stared at him with round eyes, while her heart pumped liquid fire through her veins. "When you---" She had to clear her throat and try again. "When you use the word 'torture,' I'm sure you mean it in a figurative sense."
He shook his head, his eyes filled with light smoke. "Literal, I'm afraid."
"What?"
"My love," he said gently, I hope you didn't assume that the next three months of suffering was to be one-sided? Put your hands on me."
"Wh-where?"
"Anywhere.”