“Strip,” the stern woman ordered.
He wanted to balk, that would certainly have been natural for him, but he knew that would anger Juliet again, and she’d likely send him packing if he did. Then he’d have nothing of what he really wanted from her.
He began to remove his clothes. Such a natural act, getting undressed, he hardly thought about it every night when he got ready for bed, but now he was conscious of every little step along the way to his nakedness. He loosened his tie first, and laid it across a chair close by, then unbuttoned his shirt. When he removed his shirt, revealing his muscular athletic build, he was pleased to note a hint of appreciation on Kate’s face, though there was no indication at all that Juliet was taken with his “lady killing” build. Maybe it was better that w
