Improper. It piqued her curiosity. Especially in light of the past two evenings’ pastimes.
She was still undecided when Evan pulled her aside to outwait the lingering diners, took her arm, and led her to his office.
His words from earlier repeated in her head…if you had experienced even a fraction of the pleasure I have from sex… You give me control for this… I need to see every woman I know enjoy her body and her sexuality… Everyone should enjoy life, and especially sex.
Those few minutes of seeing Beth in the stables showed Althea that enjoyment, even ecstasy was indeed possible. What if it wasn’t her body, but her lack of knowledge, even after Beth’s coaching? Then this sophisticated earl with a reputation as an expert in the subject, who was beyond beautiful, had echoed Beth’s sentiments and lured her toward capitulation.
Her concerns about her reputation were somewhat assuaged by both Beth’s and Evan’s assurances of the secrecy of this party. Although she thought her fears might have been silenced more from her desire for this gorgeous, intelligent man who seemed so relaxed on the surface but held his cards close to his chest. And who better to teach her than a master of the subject?
Ha. You’re making excuses for yourself now.
She debated silently as he led her to the settee he’d directed her to earlier, then scooped her ankle and lifted her leg to the low table again.
When he offered her a drink, she started, realizing she had inadvertently—or subconsciously?—accepted his invitation. She gave a mental shrug and succumbed to temptation. Her shoulders relaxed, but her breath came faster with anticipation. Her fingertips tingled.
“Sherry, please.”
He brought a sherry and whisky over and settled in a chair at a right angle to her perch on the settee.
“Right, then,” he said. “Have you ever played Truth or Dare?”
Well, hell. Life with Beth had sometimes felt like one long truth or dare, not that she’d change it. She loved her cousin dearly, even when said cousin was trying her patience and her personal boundaries. Those experiences meant she had an idea of what an adult version of that game might entail, given that her host’s reputation rivaled that of her cousin’s.
It is simply more acceptable because he is a man—a titled one at that.
“Yes.” She angled her head at him, her competitive streak emerging. “I must stipulate that you have had the afternoon to think up creative options, so I am at a disadvantage.”
“Fair enough. How could we adjust for that?”
They both thought for a moment.
“I may reject a truth or dare each round,” Althea proposed, “and you must then offer a less outrageous option.”
“I don’t know if I can do that.” Evan brightened. “What if every dare I give you, I must also take?” When she shot him a dubious look, he added, “Come now. That is remarkably fair. Indeed, what could be more so?”
“Fine. I am willing to try it.”
“Excellent. Please, ladies first.” Evan threw a hand out, palm up in invitation.
“Right. Ah, truth or dare?”
“Let us begin with something benign. Truth.”
“Oh. Er…” She quickly rifled through questions. Where is the most outrageous place you’ve had sex?No, no sex, especially as he’d likely get to that soon enough. How quickly do you think you could make me orgasm?No, darn it!Self-conscious about the amount of time she’d spent dithering, she blurted out, “What was your first successful investment?”
Evan smiled. “That would depend on your definition of success. To me, it was the summer I was ten. I found a girl not much older than me selling strawberries in the market when my housekeeper let me tag along. I begged the housekeeper for the fruit for a tart or pie, but she informed me it wasn’t in the budget. I negotiated all our purchases that day and had enough left for strawberries for a tart. In fact, I accompanied the housekeeper for the rest of the summer break until I had to return to boarding school. It was an excellent tradeoff of my time for pie. None of my money was even involved. Of course, it did not hurt that the girl seemed to find me cute, and I managed my first kiss before summer’s end.”
Apparently, he could even bring a finance question around to kissing. She had to think this through. Realizing she was halfway through her sherry, her nerves having caused her to take frequent sips, she put it down on the table. She needed all her wits about her for this.
“Right, then. My turn.” Evan squinted at her. “Truth or dare?”
“Truth, please.”Eh, I sound prim again.
“Tell me what you liked least about your husband.”
Darn it. If he had asked about marriage, she could have generalized. Or said “sex” as they’d already discussed her lackluster sex life. But he asked about her husband. She would not malign the dead, especially someone she had loved.
“Dare, please.”
