Page 72 of A Spot of Tea and Sorcery: Vol. 6

“Your skin . . . it’s the softest, silkiest . . .”

“Mmmm, you were saying?”

“Your delicious neck . . . your delectable shoulder . . .”

“Yes?”

“Just let me . . . I need to . . .”

“Oh, Nigel, tell me what you—oooh! Isthatwhat you had in mind?”

“Luna, may I?”

“If you like.”

“And here?”

“Yes, please.”

“What about here?”

“Oh gods.”

“And . . . here?”

“Oh, gods . . . Oh, gods . . . Oh, gods,yes!”

“Nigel?”

“Mmmm?”

“I was wondering—oh!—when you were readingThe Rake’s Redemptionlast night—hmmm!—That is to say, did you happen to make it to—ooooh!—chapter fourteen?”

“Chapter fourteen. Is that the one where Lord Rupert and Delphinia . . .”

“Yes, that’s the one. Well, there was this one part where he . . . where he used his . . . Well, it all seemed very strange to me.”

“I think I might know which part you’re referencing.”

“You do?”

“Did it involve Lord Rupert’s wicked tongue?”

“Maybe. Um, Delphinia seemed to enjoy herself rather a lot, but I admit, I find that passage a bit confusing. Doesn’t seem like it should work that way, does it?”

“Would you like me to explain the mechanics to you, my dear?”

“Oh, you’re familiar with that whole business, are you?”

“I may have picked up a thing or two, perhaps.”

“And the way it is in the story . . . that’s a real thing?”

“If the man in question knows what he’s doing.”

“Like Lord Rupert?”

“Yes.”