Pushing off from the door, Kell crossed the room toward her. Raven held her ground, but he only went to the hearth and bent to stir the fire.
“You were purposely flaunting your mistress directly under my nose,” she said tightly, “and I won’t stand for it.”
That drew a quick, challenging stare from him.
Raven flushed at his measuring appraisal, and she hurried on. “You agreed we would try to preserve the appearance of being in love. And publicly lusting after Miss Walsh is hardly the way to do it.”
“I trust,” Kell responded in a drawling voice, “you don’t expect me to live like a monk. I believe I mentioned that I’m not overly fond of celibacy.”
“No, but you might try to contain your passion for that woman and keep out of her bed.”
His eyebrow shot up. “Are you perhaps demanding fidelity from me, vixen? That was not part of our bargain, nor is it exactly fair. You have not been any kind of wife to me thus far.”
“And you have been no kind of husband!”
His gaze raked her. “If you don’t want me to seek my pleasure with Miss Walsh, perhaps you would care to take her place.”
Raven felt her heart skip a beat. “What exactly are you suggesting?”
“That you see to my pleasure yourself. You are perfectly capable of assuming the duties of a mistress, or at least fulfilling the carnal obligations required of a wife.”
Their gazes locked and held.
“So, love,” Kell murmured tauntingly, “are you willing to be a proper wife to me?”
Was she willing? Raven asked herself. She wanted Kell; there was no denying it. And she wanted to keep him from his beautiful hostess’s bed.
She stared back into his impenetrable eyes, the tension stretching like a taut cord between them.
“Very well,” she murmured.
“What did you say? I couldn’t hear you.”
“I said I was willing!”
He let his gaze slide down her. “You agree to satisfy my sexual needs?”
“Yes! Although I can’t imagine it will be easy to satisfy a libertine of your vast appetites.”
Her muttered comment was meant as an insult, but Kell returned a tolerant smile. “I expect you will be a quick study. After all, you have an unusual depth of knowledge gleaned from your erotic journal. And experience with your fantasy lover as well.”
Annoyed by his reminder, Raven frowned. Perhaps it had been unwise to tell Kell about her fantasies; certainly it was if he meant to throw her confessions back in her face.
“Well, what are you waiting for?” he asked as she stood trying to think of a suitable retort. “You just agreed to satisfy me.”
“You want me to-Now?”
“Why not now? What better opportunity to show me that you are serious? You can start by undressing me.”
“You cannot undress yourself?”
His smile was one of amused patience. “Where would be the satisfaction in that? I will find it much more pleasurable if you assume the honors.”
Biting back an oath, she reluctantly went to him and helped him out of his coat. Then she removed his waistcoat and untied his cravat. The open throat of his shirt revealed a glimpse of bronze-hued skin lightly sprinkled with hair.
“Please me, Raven,” he commanded softly when she hesitated. “Take off my shirt.”
Obediently she slid her hands beneath the fine cambric to touch his flesh, finding it warm and silky. With his help, she raised the shirt over his head but found herself distracted by the elegant patterns of dark hair on his chest.