Page 93 of Seduction Under the Southern Stars

He rolls his eyes. “I’m glad I managed to meet Edmund before I left. Hopefully we can keep in touch now on Zoom from time to time.”

“I’m sure he’d love to.” I hesitate. “Do you think you’ll come back and visit at all?”

He meets my eyes.

“I didn’t mean—” I begin.

“I know,” he says.

We’re both quiet for a moment.

“My life is in the UK,” he continues.

“I know.”

“I’m working on the new Sutton Hoo dig, and it’s going really well.”

“I’m so pleased,” I say, meaning it.

His eyes fill with pity. “Lora…”

“Don’t,” I say sharply. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

“It’s okay. Obviously, it would be great if we could catch up every now and again, but I think we both know that won’t be good for either of us. My life is there and yours is here.”

“Yes, I know.” I take a deep breath and release it slowly. “You’ve shown me that it’s possible for me to have a physical relationship now. It’s helped so much. And maybe, going forward, it won’t matter if I haven’t known the guy for a long time. If I can just take it at face value, maybe I will be able to have sex with another man now, for pleasure.”

I’m just thinking aloud, but as I look at his face, I stop speaking.

“Don’t glower,” I say, amused.

“I think you should become a nun,” he says.

I giggle. “No, I’m going to have sex with a hundred men now you’ve taught me how to do it.”

He puts down his coffee cup, takes mine from me and puts it down too, then picks me up in his arms and falls back onto the sofa with me. I laugh, trying to get up, but he tightens his arms around me and waits until I stop struggling.

“Don’t tease me,” he says. “I’m feeling like a Neanderthal right now.”

“Ooh.” I kiss his nose. “I was going to say, I really appreciate the way you let me take control. It definitely made it much easier that first time. But next time… can we be less like spotted hyenas?”

That makes him laugh. “You want me to take charge?”

“A bit. Maybe ten, fifteen percent more grrr.” My heart races at the thought. I want to experience that. I want him to be the one to drive the action. But I’m still a little nervous about how it will make me feel.

He strokes my hair back from my face. “You’re sure?”

“I want to explore sexual dimorphism with you in a safe, positive way.”

He chuckles. “That’s a very Elora answer.”

“Does it make sense?”

“Absolutely. I can do that.”

I wrinkle my nose. “So what does it entail?”

“Ten, fifteen percent? Ah… I handcuff you to the bed?”

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