Page 76 of The Lady Has a Past


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“No. There were other reasons.”

“Such as?”

“I just wanted it to happen with the right man.”

“And you picked me to run your grand experiment?”

She gripped his shoulders. “Yes, I chose you. Because you are the right man. In fact, you’re perfect. Just what I wanted. Don’t panic. I don’t expect you to propose because of what happened. I thought I made it clear I don’t plan to marry.”

“I am not in a panic,” Simon said through set teeth. “I’m annoyed. Irritated. Angry. There’s a difference.”

“I think you’re in a panic. It’s the only explanation for this sudden mood swing.”

“That is not true. Being mad accounts for my current mood.”

“All right,” she said, trying for a soothing tone. “Why are you angry?”

“Because you used me, damn it.”

She stared up at him, shocked. “No.”

“Yes, you did. You were curious, admit it. You wanted to experience sex and you used me to get that experience.”

“That is not true. If I wanted to have sex just for the sake of experience, I’ve had plenty of other opportunities. I was engaged, remember?”

“Why didn’t you carry out your big experiment with him?”

She felt herself flush. “He told me he didn’t want to risk getting me pregnant. He said there would be gossip if we suddenly had to move the wedding date forward. I realize now that he was trying to figure out how to avoid marrying me.”

“He panicked.”

“Yep. I seem to have that effect on men.”

“I am not panic-stricken, damn it.”

“I thought you wanted me as badly as I wanted you,” she whispered. “Was I mistaken?”

“No.”

“Do you regret having sex with me?”

“That is not the point, Lyra, and you know it.”

“You wanted a reckless, fast, modern woman. Preferably a divorcée. Okay, I failed to meet the last requirement, but you have to admit I fit all your other criteria.”

“I can’t believe we’re having this argument.”

“Are you going to finish this? Because, if not, you should remove yourself from me and my bed.”

His eyes got a little hotter. This time the fire was unmistakably sensual.

“That sounds like a dare,” he said.

She framed his face in her hands. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure it’s good for you.”

“Is that so?”

“My mother explained to me that it’s easy for a woman to fake an orgasm. She said sometimes a wife does it just to make sure her husband doesn’t feel that he failed. My sister, Vivian, assured me that there was no real trick to it. Just a few gasps and a moan or two. Men fall for it every time, she says.”