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“No, Alexandra, that is not what I’m talking about. I have no problem with your enjoyment of erotica. Clearly I’ve enjoyed your knowledge of the art of pleasure. Whether you learned from reading erotica or by any of the ways men learn it—of which there are more than a few—really doesn’t make a difference to me.”
“Then what—”
“I think you exercised poor judgment in selling your writing to The Ruby. The distribution of such literature is illegal, as you well know.”
Ally opened her mouth.
“Stop right there. I am not finished. You’re going to tell me it is a common misdemeanor and that most close their eyes to it. And you would be right. Yes, you exercised poor judgment in selling it. I stand by that point, but that is not the reason for my mistrust.”
“Then what in the world are you upset about?”
His face reddened. “Are you really going to stand there and make me spell it out for you?”
Confusion muddled Ally’s head. If he wasn’t upset about her writing for The Ruby, what was going on?
“I’m afraid you’ll have to, Evan. I don’t mean to be ignorant, but I haven’t the faintest idea what you could be talking about.”
“Damn it, Alexandra! You brought my business into this.”
Ally dropped her mouth into an O. “Evan, I don’t know what you mean.”
“Somehow you managed to get my business to print The Ruby. I don’t know how you did it, but do you realize I could be arrested for publishing obscene literature?”
Ally’s heart fell to her stomach. Evan owned a printing business? Yes, he had said something like that before… Here, in London? Or at home, in Bath?
“I don’t understand…”
“Do not act so innocent. Who else could be behind it? You are my new stepsister, and you write for The Ruby. Who else would have taken it to my business?”
She shook her head, confounded. “You need to back up a few steps. How is your business involved?”
“You really are something. My business is printing that rag—for free, no less. And it’s all your doing.”
“It’s not. I swear. You know of my involvement. It’s a servant at our home in Mayfair. I know nothing else, I swear to you!”
“Please, spare me the sinless act. Who else could have taken The Ruby to my printing house?”
“Why, I have no idea, but I promise you I will find out.”
“No!” Evan pounded his fist on the mattress. “You will stay out of this from now on. Once I am able, I will take care of it. In the meantime, I will have some trusted employees look into the matter. I should have taken care of this days ago. Instead, I had to follow you here to London. If I had known you were behind this from the beginning, I would have let you come to London alone and get into all the trouble you wanted. I would not have cared.”
Ally looked down, swallowing, and then up to meet Evan’s gaze. His eyes were misty as though he wanted to cry. Her heart shattered.
“Evan, I love you. I would never do anything to harm you.”
“I do not wish to hear it, Alexandra. Leave my chamber now, please.”
“But—”
“I said now!”
She looked down the length of his bed. His arousal was still apparent. He was not as immune to her as he would have liked her to believe. He could not make love to her. He wouldn’t want to. Even if he did, he wouldn’t have the strength. But she had the strength…
She grasped him through the coverlet.
He winced, a small groan escaping his throat. “Alexandra…”
“Please, let me.” She removed the cover and unbuttoned his night shirt. His cock stood proudly from its golden nest. So beautiful he was, perfectly sculpted. A pearl of clear liquid emerged from the tip. She leaned down and licked it off.
