"She smiled as she poured tea into his cup. "I hope you find your rooms comfortable?" "Quite." He took a too-hasty sip of tea and scalded his tongue. "The view is to your liking?" He had a view of a brick wall. "Indeed." She fluttered her eyelashes at him over the rim of her teacup. "And the bed. Is it soft and... yielding?" He nearly choked on the bite of cake he'd just taken. "Or do you prefer a firmer bed?" she asked sweetly. "One that refuses to yield too soon?" "I think"--he narrowed his eyes at her--"whatever mattress I have on the bed you gave me is perfect. But tell me, my lady, what sort of mattress do you prefer? All soft goose down or one that's a bit... harder?" It was very fast, but he saw it: Her gaze flashed down to the juncture of his thighs and then up again. If there hadn't been anything to see there before, there certainly was now. "Oh, I like a nice stiff mattress," she purred. "Well warmed and ready for a long ride."