Page 37 of Vanessa’s Bravery

Cole recalled that Gabriel had mentioned that his first wife had slashed his face with a knife when she’d seen him naked on their wedding night. Obviously, that hadn’t been the right way to go about it. He was smart enough to learn from other people’s mistakes. Telling Vanessa a few things first was probably the better way to go. Tell it was.

Cole unlocked the door to his condo and ushered Vanessa inside. The moment the door fell shut behind him, she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. Her kiss felt even better than her previous ones, because he knew now that she wasn’t doing this for money. Finally, he understood why she’d tasted of innocence that night in the brothel. She was an innocent, not when it came to sex, because she certainly knew how to turn a guy on, but in her heart there was something pure, he could feel it.

Vanessa’s hands were already on his clothes, and as much as he wanted to continue the kiss and toss her on the nearest flat surface to bury himself in her, he had to tell her his secret. She deserved to know what she was getting into. Cole snatched her hands and pulled back, severing the kiss.

She stared at him in surprise, her lips turning into a pout.

“Hold that thought,” he murmured. “I wanna make love to you just as badly, but I need to tell you something first.” He let go of her hands.

“Tell me what?”

Cole filled his lungs with air. If he made a mistake now and scared her with what he planned to tell her, she could leave and refuse to see him again. So much was at risk.

He raked a shaky hand through his hair. “Maybe you should sit down.”

She narrowed her eyes, suspicion coloring her face. “You’re married, aren’t you?”

“Married?” He shook his head vehemently. “No. I’m single, and I’m not dating anybody apart from you.” Fuck, at least he hoped they were dating, and that they would continue to date after he’d told her the truth.

“Then what is it?” She motioned to the boxes in one corner of the living room. “Are you leaving San Francisco. Is that it?”

“I’m not leaving. I’m here to stay. That is if you still want me after what I have to tell you.” He knew he was stalling. What man wouldn’t if he was in the same situation?

Vanessa took his hands into hers. “Of course I want you. I thought I made that perfectly clear.”

Her eyes were big like saucers, and around the green of her irises, a golden hew shimmered seductively.

He exhaled. “I’m crazy about you. I want you to know that. This is not easy for me, but you have a right to know. The reason I didn’t fuck you in the brothel, and then last night here in my place, was because I’m not built like other men.”

Frown lines appeared on her forehead. “Of course you’re not built like other men. You’re a lot taller, a lot more muscular.”

“That’s not it. My, uhm, sex organs are not the same as a regular man’s…”

She rolled her eyes. “I’ve felt your cock, Cole, and trust me, your cock felt perfectly normal, even though you’re bigger than other men. So can we have sex now?”

He lifted his palm to stop her. “That may be the case, but that’s not all of it. There’s more.”

“More what?”

Cole swallowed hard. “Have you ever heard of a satyr?”

Vanessa’s face turned serious, but he couldn’t tell what she was thinking. “Go on.”

“I know most people think satyrs are just part of mythology, but there is an actual medical condition that some men have that can be explained by the myth.” He studied her face for any clues that indicated that she was ready to bolt. So far, it appeared she was still listening. “Anyway, this gene mutation manifests in the male sex organs.” His throat suddenly felt like sandpaper. “As in multiple sex organs.”

Vanessa sucked in a barely audible breath of air, but she didn’t say anything.

“Vanessa, I have two cocks.”

There was a second of silence around them, and neither one of them breathed.

“Show them to me,” she demanded and reached for the waistband of his pants.

Fuck! He hadn’t expected that reaction. Did she think he was making a joke, and wanted to call his bluff?

“Don’t you wanna know more about satyrs, and what you’re getting into?”

To his surprise, a soft smile formed on her lips. “Cole, I know everything about satyrs; I grew up as one. So will you let me undress you now?”