Bianca Clairmonte's first husband not only introduced her to sex without emotional entanglements like love, but also to 'improper' sexual activities. By inviting others into their bed, he destroyed her reputation while they were still married -- and made her think her own value or power lay in her sexual prowess. As a widow, she has continued to take lovers without discretion, and now her father and brothers are threatening to have her declared unfit. To win back enough of her money to escape to the Continent, she designs a wager Lucius 'Hawk' Hawkins. After one month together, the one who begs the other to stay loses. Hawk has loved her since her engagement party to his best friend Oscar five years ago, and sees this as an opportunity to teach her that is has more power than just her sexuality. (Although the logic of doing this by dominating her sexually seems a bit off.) Meanwhile, one of Bianca's former lovers has gone a bit mad and decided he must possess her -- or no one else can.

Taboo is better, and the plot more engaging.

A LOT of very explicit sex: female masturbation; BDSM; anal intercourse ( )