“Come with me, Betty, just a moment. We have some business to discuss,” Max said, propelling her into the hallway.

He pulled her so quickly her flowing silk skirt threatened to become trapped between her legs. They stopped in a softly lit corner, and he faced her, the intensity in his eyes filling her with a mixture of dread and excitement.

“A moment,” she whispered with a note of warning. She felt herself swaying toward him. “What did you want to discuss?”

“Just this—if you want to be kissed in public, come to me.” He put his arms around her waist and pulled her up so that she had to grasp his shoulders for support.

“Max. Max …” she said desperately, shaking her head.

“I love your voice. Say my name again.”

“Maximilian, don’t—”

He kissed her, backing her against a soft quilt hanging on the wall. Betty struggled with her emotions for the length of time his hot, deliciously insistent mouth took to turn her into a conspirator. About two seconds.

She forgave herself for surrendering. He had a way of curling the tip of his tongue along the edge of her upper lip that no woman could resist. He brought a rough power to her that she’d never felt before. He didn’t treat her roughly in the least, but she wanted to struggle within his arms and provoke the same struggle from him. He had trapped her, but he wasn’t forcing her.…