She thinks she's blown it when he bridles at her ask, pulling her hand away.

"I am keeping your warnings in mind." He should not have given them if he had not wanted her to pay attention to them. "I will not do him the disservice of encroaching upon his private places until I am sure I can offer him something substantial."

She takes his arm again for the walk back down, subtly squeezing his bicep. She lowers her lashes at that definition, shooting him a smile. "But let us not think of your past for now. I like you, you clever flirt. You and I can sate ourselves together and find out if all this between us has ever been more than a mutual admiration."