Six weeks earlier

Nox reached for the lapels of the robe and teased them apart.

“Hey, Mrs. Witt,” I reminded.

“Do you know how badly...” His husky tone was thick, sending tingles through me. “...I wanted to look under your robe the other night?”

I rested my hands on his arms, making no effort to stop him from doing exactly what he wanted. “No, how badly?”

He loosened the sash from around my waist. As the tie fell dangling in ...