"No, it is not!" Livia cried.
He sank onto the edge of the bed as though his own amusement had defeated him. "I am sorry," he said again, though his shoulders still shook. "Truly. It is a terrible situation. Horrible. Grave, even." Pun intended.
Livia scowled at him. That nearly finished him, he doubled over once more. "Okay, now you are mocking me," Livia said, there was no real bite in her voice anymore.
"No, I swear. I swear." Richard raised both hands in surrender, still trying to compose himself. "Alright… see? I'm done. Completely serious now."
Livia gave him a long, suspicious look.
"Truly," he added, straightening slightly. "I think it might actually be a good thing. A way out, at least. Marrying someone… well… closer to the grave, as you so delicately put it. And besides, trust me, at a certain age, the cock just doesn't rise to the occasion like it used to. You might not even have much to endure. Perhaps just… a little tickle."
