That had been some conversation. A hurried negotiation over breakfast while he answered emails and munched on toast. I should have realised. Realised that if he couldn’t give me his attention for something so important, our marriage was doomed and there was no saving it.
“The book said that we should each tell the other our deepest sexual fantasy, and then we’d act it out. Piers said he’d go first. He…he wanted me to dress up and meet him in a hotel room. Like a prostitute. Trashy outfit, slutty shoes, a coat over the top. And when it was over, he gave me money and kicked me out. I’ve never, never felt as worthless as I did that day.”
“Sweetheart, I’m so sorry he did that to you.”
“Thirty freaking pounds! That’s all I meant to him.”
I loved Alaric’s soft kisses. The fluttery ones that danced over my cheeks.
“You’re priceless, Beth.”
I wanted to believe that. I really did, but… “It gets worse.”
“How can it get worse?”
“Well, it was my turn, wasn’t it? So I confided in him. I told him one of my deepest, darkest fantasies, and he laughed. Said I was disgusting and he wasn’t a fucking faggot.” I quickly remembered Alaric’s sexuality. “Sorry. I’m so sorry. That’s just what he said, and with such venom.”
“From that comment, I can guess what you want, and I’ll give it to you. Not today, but I’ll give it to you. What else?”
“What else? Nothing. That was it. I knew that was the beginning of the end, and I never slept with Piers again.”
“Piers is your past. This is your future. I meant what else did you want to do? You said you told him one of your fantasies?”
“Oh, I can’t…”
“How can I make them come true if I don’t know what they are?”
“We’ve only just met.”
“Then we should start as we mean to go on, don’t you think?” Those soft brown eyes locked onto mine. “If it doesn’t involve kids or animals, I’m probably gonna be good with it.”
“Well, one of them sort of does involve animals.”
Alaric raised an eyebrow, and I covered my face with my hands. He gently removed them.
“Beth…”
“Fair’s fair. You have to tell me one of yours first.”
“Okay. I want to nail my secretary over my desk. Think you can help with that?”
“Yes, Mr. McLain, sir.”
“Fuck. Tomorrow I’m buying a desk. Your turn.”
I hurriedly shook my head to clear the image of myself sitting on Alaric’s blotter with my legs spread. If I’d still been wearing my knickers, I’d have been able to wring them out by now.
“I want a man to catch me unawares in the hay barn. To bend me over a bale and take me from behind while we’re still wearing our clothes. Then we just walk out as if nothing happened.”
“Seems as though we’re gonna have a busy day tomorrow.”
“Are you serious?”
He wrapped my hand around his solid cock. “What do you think?”
“I think it’s your turn.”
“Mile-high club. Commercial flight.” His eyes rolled back as I stroked. “I can’t take this any longer.”
I glanced between us. That thing had to be nine inches at least. “I’m not sure I could either.”
“Beth, you’re killing me, but at least it’s a pleasurable death.” Before I could blink, I was underneath him again. “Are you sure about this? Bare?”
“I’m certain.”
I didn’t ask whether Alaric was clean. I knew he wouldn’t risk hurting me. And weirdly, his “arrangement” with Ravi made me feel better because if they were taking care of each other, then they weren’t hooking up with random people they met in bars.
Alaric stretched me to the point of pain as he slid slowly inside, and I began to wonder whether fantasy number one was a good idea after all. But he gave me a moment to adjust, peppering me with those sweet, sweet kisses that sent shivers through me before he started to move. Oh, fuck again.
Earlier when I’d snapped at Priscilla, when I told her she should get out more if she thought Piers was decent in bed, I feared I’d been bluffing because I really didn’t know any better. But now I knew I’d been telling the absolute truth. At this rate, I’d need to soundproof the ceiling. And the floor, and probably the walls too. By the time I fell back on the mattress, I’d found a new religion.
“I love you,” I gasped, then regretted it as Alaric stiffened, and not in a good way. “Uh, too soon?”
“When you know, you know. I love you too.”
A warm glow spread through me.
“Say it again.”
“I love you, Beth.”
“Again.”
“I love you.”
Piers had made me believe I was unloveable, but thanks to Alaric, I’d seen the truth. Felt the truth. The problem had been us, not me. But now I was part of a new “us,” and I was free to become the person I’d always wanted to be.
“It’s your turn again,” he told me, pulling me closer so our hips pressed against each other. The tip of his tongue rimmed my ear before he murmured, “Tell me your deepest desires.”
Uh, perhaps not.
“I don’t need fantasies anymore. I’ve got reality.”
“No, I think you should confess.”
“You might hate me. I don’t want to ruin this.”
“Does it involve spanking?”
“No.”
“Rope?”
“No.”
“Candles?”
Candles? “No.”
“Tell me.”
So I did. I leaned forward and whispered my darkest thoughts into his ear, and his eyebrows shot into his hairline. Oh, shit. Had I broken us before we really even started?
Alaric blew out a breath. “Not quite what I was expecting. You’re a dark horse, aren’t you, my sweet?”
“Please, forget I said it.”
“Forget it? Never. But maybe I’ll just file it away for the moment.”
Thank goodness. “It’s your go again.”
Now it was Alaric’s turn to look nervous. “I’m not sure it’s entirely appropriate
