““Her newly revealed skin was white and luminous, her body tender and abundantly curved... He closed his eyes briefly, striving to subdue this violent passion. When he opened them again, Vivien had moved away from him and hastily climbed into bed, pulling the linens over her nakedness. Her bashfulness was so genuine, so... well, virginal, that he wondered if this was what she had been like long ago, before embarking on her career as a courtesan. "Don't cover yourself," he murmured. "Your body is too beautiful to be concealed." The bedsheets did not lower an in inch. "I'm cold," she said breathlessly, her cheeks flushed. "I'll warm you," he promised with a quick grin, stripping off his coat.””
