Page 23 of Hidden Heart

“Why?” He pulled her chin upward until she put her eyes back on his.

“I was afraid,” she said in a soft voice.

He wrinkled his brow.

“I would have failed,” she clarified.

“So, you didn’t try?” he asked in a firmer tone.

Did she hear disappointment? “It was a really bad senior year. When it was over, I needed a job to pay the rent. The paralegal job came along, I wasn’t horrible at it, so I stuck with it.” She shrugged.

“What happened senior year?” He asked, releasing her chin.

She shook her head and forced a laugh. “Nope. One question asked and one question answered.” She leaned into him and brushed her lips across his, giving him her bestcome get melook. It was his turn to laugh and shake his head.

“Fair enough,” he said after a long pause. “I want a shower. Come help me get cleaned up.” He stood from the couch and offered his hand.

She accepted and let him pull her toward the bathroom.

They showered together in silence, taking turns washing each other. He insisted on shampooing her hair for her, taking his time with the chore. She relished in the moment. Being taken care of didn’t happen to her very often, and it wouldn’t last forever.

Once they were cleaned up, they slipped into bed. She knew she should get dressed and go home, but he snuggled her close, and unfamiliar contentment crept up her spine and settled in her mind.

She would allow herself one night, and one night only.

Chapter 6

Royce’s eyes fluttered open from the sunlight streaking across his face. Realizing it was Saturday, and he didn’t have to go into the office, he grabbed the pillow beside him and covered his face. Then he reached out beside him, and cool sheets greeted him. He tossed the pillow aside and sat up.

No Jessica. The clock told him it was only seven in the morning. Maybe she was an early riser. He tried to give her the benefit of the doubt.

He knew there was more to her past than a few bad love affairs. She’d been hurt somewhere deep within her causing her to guard herself in such a way. He’d taken a risk pushing her about her career, and she hadn’t disappointed him. Perhaps the residual feelings from sex had loosened her tongue. He decided to try again for more information right after her next orgasm…right after breakfast.

Jessica’s beauty captivated him, but her personality gave her a glow. Any woman could put on makeup and make herself pretty, but Jessica didn’t need to do anything. She gave him the vibe of loyalty and honesty. She may have told little lies to hide her emotions from him and anyone else taking the time to peek in, but at her core, she was an honest person. She worried about the people in the case she was working on. The asshole she worked for couldn’t care less about them, but Jessica took it personally. She wanted the best for them; even if was out of her hands.

He’d worried about driving her too hard with their game the night before. Her eagerness and willingness were as much of a turn on as her beautiful breasts. The pins he’d chosen for their play gave the lightest pinch, though he wondered if she would have been open to taking the harder ones. She’d surprised him with her boldness with asking to suck him off and then topped it off with the condom. Thinking about it woke his dick up.

He jumped out of bed to find her.

She sat in the living room, fully clothed, fondling the riding crop.

He paused in the doorway to drink her in. Her braid fell down her back, and she wore the same clothes as the night before. He made a mental note to ask her to bring a bag next time, or he would shop for her. Once he got her out of her clothes, he’d check her sizes.

She balanced the rod on her palms as if to check its weight, then brought the flapper to her nose and sniffed the leather. He watched her run it over her jaw and imagined himself performing the same act.

She stood from the couch and put her foot on the coffee table, lightly tapping her jean-clad thigh with the flogger.

“Good morning.” He stepped into the living room, stopping her experiment before he sprang through the thin fabric of his pajama pants. His presence startled her, and she fumbled with the crop before dropping it onto the coffee table.

“Hi.” She stuffed her hands in her pockets, a rosy blush settling on her face.

“I worried you ran away again.” He kissed her on the cheek and picked up the crop. “Are you curious about this?” He touched the flapper to her nose.

She shook her head and stepped back.

One of his eyebrows rose. “Did you hate it last night?” Had she rethought the scene after the arousal had worn off?

“No,” she admitted, taking another step.

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