Page 67 of Dearest Beast
“The ones I make are quite popular,” she told him.
“I’d imagine.” He turned over the information in his mind, staring at her. “So you’re telling me that I nearly destroyed my back carrying a box of penises?”
“No one asked you to carry it yourself,” she pointed out. “I believe at least two laborers hauled it out of my house. But yes, wooden ones,” she affirmed.
Before he could stop himself, he started to laugh. Harder than he’d laughed in, well, as long as he could remember. So hard he was wiping his eyes.
“I’m not sure it’s that amusing,” the woman said, folding her arms. “They’re very important.”
“Clearly,” he teased. “After all, they’ve rendered you… How did you term it precisely? Ah yes, quite ‘accomplished,’ with the masturbatory arts.”
“Their primary purpose is as medical supplies,” she argued. “Besides, it’s important to have a good understanding of anatomy for my business, and thus most of my skill was acquired in the name of research.”
“You keep telling yourself that,” he quipped, unable to stop grinning at her, probably like a fool.
Before either could say anything else, they burst into simultaneous laughter. It was inappropriate and ridiculous and yet completely somehow just right. Like her. Exactly like her.
“Does this mean you’re willing to engage in sexual intercoursewith me now?” she asked, when they were able to take hold of themselves, drawing closer yet again.
“What if I tire before you’re satiated? Will you toss me over for the trunk of penises?” he asked, wiping his eyes a little. “I presume there are a great deal more of them than there are of me.”
“Perhaps. Though I suspect you can rise to the challenge,” she told him, rather brazenly gazing down his body, though he couldn’t help but notice the way her chin and hands shook just a touch, belying her nervousness.
Guilt squeezed Roger’s gut. This was wrong. Completely wrong. No matter how much he wanted it and how much she claimed to. He needed to put this all to a stop lest someone got hurt.
“Are you sure this is truly a good idea?” he whispered, reaching out and stroking a stray lock of her hair.
“No,” she said. But she didn’t pull away. “I recognize that it’s a terrible one.” She stepped back from the bed, finally doing what was right and sensible for both of them. Except instead of turning and leaving, she curled her lips in a sly sort of smile, which had to have been the damned most attractive thing he’d ever seen. “But there’s nothing I want more. And thus, I’ve decided to take control of the situation so that at least it can be accomplished rationally and with proper boundaries.”
“Boundaries?” he managed to ask, his mind barely functioning over the lust coursing through his veins.
“The entanglement shall be limited to while I’m here, so it shall not interfere with your future betrothal,” she explained. “I promise, no one will know. I’ll tell no one when I leave, and you can go on to obtain your new bride unabated, while I return to my practice. We can both have everything we want.”
Roger stared at her, temptation battering his senses.
What she said was… logical, at least on the surface, but therehad to be… danger. Strong emotion clouded reason. It was why he’d always strived to be prudent, careful, patient. To not act in the moment. Except now he could not seem to force himself to behave as he should.
He swallowed. He was not going to be able to say no to this, was he? And he didn’t want to. Not in the slightest.
“All right.” His voice was shaking, not with trepidation but with raw lust. “I can agree to that.”
“Good,” she said. “Let’s get started.” Before he could ask what she meant, she grabbed the bottom of her chemise and pulled it over her head, tossing it onto the floor and standing in front of him nude.
She was glorious.
He’d only seen glimpses the last time, but being permitted to see all of her… He was near overwhelmed. Smooth skin, soft, round hips, perfect, pert little breasts ready to be nipped and sucked once more, and what had to be the most tempting round arse ever created. He was in trouble. Complete trouble, but there was nothing to do except enjoy the mayhem.
Rising, he threw off the covers. Miss Adler wanted to play. Well, then, let the games begin.
Rebecca stared at the man before her for a long moment, her heart pounding in her ears. What she’d said was true. This was a terrible idea. A mistake. No matter what boundaries she was attempting to erect.
This would not be the resolution of the frustration-filled lust with a near stranger that she had experienced all those months ago. He was not a stranger.
No matter how much she fought it, she couldn’t find a way to loathe him. Not completely, at least.
Instead, he was a fascinating set of contradictions her mind could not cease attempting to sort. Yes, he was selfish and self-centered and spent far too much time chasing shiny objects and polishing his own surfaces.
But actions were more significant than words, and his actions during her time in his home had shown that he was loyal, intelligent, and thoughtful. And a father who loved his children. Making him… enticing somehow.
