“Please? I’ll never ask for another definition again.”
“I highly doubt that.”
“All right, I will continue to ask for definitions. But that’s evenmorereason to tell me. I won’t stop! Surely, there is some limit to the number of filthy words out there.”
“I should hope,” he gritted out.
She wasn’t ready to let it go, however. Staring up at the ceiling, she thought of Philippa and what she would do in this scenario. Harriet was good at persuasion, and Philippa at men. Combining their powers had always proven successful when dealing with unwanted creditors and callers. Philippa insisted that the key to men was to behave entirely in opposition to one’s aims.
“I’m sorry to have asked. You’ve already taught me so much. I’ll simply ask Mr. Dawkins when I return to town.” Harriet gave herself credit for how even she kept her voice. She’d played the part with flawless offhanded indifference.
Alexander fell right into her trap.
“You will not,” he growled, rolling to face her. She adored how deep and gravelly his voice became at night.
“Whyever not?” she asked, feigning innocence.
“I won’t have my wife asking another man what a bloodygodemicheis.”
“My, how utterly imperious you sound!” Harriet goaded.
He said nothing, clearly stewing in whatever emotion made a man start a sentence with “I won’t have.”
“Do you think Mr. Dawkins knows its meaning? Or is it more esoteric?” Harriet asked, trying to keep the delight out of her voice. She knew she was close to getting what she wanted.
“Fine! Fine! I’ll tell you what it means.”
“Wonderful!”
“Don’t you dare celebrate your victory. It’s in poor taste.”
“I was under the impression you liked women in poor taste,” she teased, gleeful at his defeat.
He ignored the comment, breathing deeply through his nose a few times before speaking. “Agodemicheis … It’s …”
“Yes?” Alexander shot her a sharp look at her impatience.
“It’s another word for dildo.”
“Right.” This was rather upsetting as Harriet had no idea whatthatword meant. Although the pause he took before uttering it made her certain she’d like to know. She wasn’t sure how to play her hand to getanotherdefinition out of him. Harriet bit her lip, considering her next move.
“God above!” he exclaimed after glancing over at her. “A dildo is a toy that resembles a … Oh hell, why do I care? It resembles a cock. And ladies, and I suppose certain gentlemen, use it to pleasure themselves.”
“Oh, Alexander, this isfascinating! You don’t happen to know the origin of either word, do you? No, never mind, of course you don’t. One uses agodemichealone?”
“Not, uh … not necessarily. A partnercoulduse one with you.”
“Does it feel the same? As a real cock?”
Alexander choked a bit and then coughed, though he recovered quickly. “I don’t rightfully know.”
“Of course.”
“Are we finished?”
“I’m sorry if I’ve embarrassed you.”
“Believe me, you didn’t.”
