She shook her head. “Not quite, Your Grace. I am certain I can do it by myself.”

“Fine, if you insist.” Edwin settled back and watched her, a sensual smile on his face.

Ava attacked her chemise next, and his eyes traced every inch of skin she bared. Soon enough, her undergarments joined her dress on the floor.

She now stood in front of him as naked as the day she was born.

Edwin released the breath he had been holding. “Ava,” he rasped.

His eyes raked over her body, dark and heavy with desire.

Ava had never felt as desirable as at that moment, knowing that the only thing holding her husband back from ravaging her was a simple word—please.

To further taunt him, she turned around to give him a proper view of her.

“What are you doing to me, Ava?” he whispered. His chest rose and fell rapidly, his self-control hanging by a tiny thread.

Ava smiled. She wanted to know just how further she could taunt him before he gave in to his desire.

She cupped her breast in her hand and squeezed it lightly while holding his gaze.

Edwin groaned. “Are you on a mission to frustrate me?”

And yet he did not break.

Ava shrugged, feigning ignorance. “I do not quite understand what you mean. However,” she whispered as she trailed her other hand down her stomach to her mound, “I remember one fateful afternoon when you taught me to touch myself.”

“Ava…” His eyes never left her body, not once. They traced every single movement.

“If I begin touching myself now, how long would it take for you to finally come here?” she asked, smiling softly.

“Do you want me to come over to you?” he asked, his eyes flashing.

“Hmm.” Ava made a show of considering his question.

Her eyes landed on the sofa in his room, and an idea came to her.

She strode over to the sofa and sat down.

Edwin twisted around, following her movements. Knowing that he was so excited aroused her even more.

Ava raised her left leg just high enough to give him a view of her sex and lay down on her back. “I wonder,” she continued, placing a finger on her bud, “if this will push you to finally come to me.”

With her other hand, she touched her breast again. Pleasure shot through her as she gently rolled her nipple, making her gasp, and she turned her head to watch her husband’s face.

His eyes were dark with desire.

Ava smiled at him as she rubbed her finger lightly on her bud, just as he had taught her. She let out a moan and closed her eyes.

She heard a huff and opened her eyes. Edwin had risen from the bed and was now approaching her.

She giggled. She had won in the end.

Edwin had scarcely gotten to her before lifting her from the sofa and pressing her body against his. Ava wrapped her legs around him as he carried her to his bed. He laid her down gently on the mattress before quickly divesting himself of his clothes.

Ava’s heart pounded in her chest. She was not nervous. Rather, she was excited.

She had been waiting for this moment for so long, and now she was happy that it was finally happening. There were no secrets between them anymore, no danger lurking nearby.