Page 79 of Caged By Dance and Desire

“Andrei. Please. This is a you issue.” I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “You’re worried I think you’re too young for me? Okay, Edward.”

“Why are you calling me by another man’s name?”

“It’s a pop culture reference. You know what, never mind. I’ll have Theland hunt down the books.” I settled against him, closing my eyes. Andrei’s hands began to drift around to my core and I slapped them under the water. “No. I’m sore. I have to rehearse in the—in a few hours. Leave me alone.”

He obeyed, but his sigh drifted through the room.

When finally he pulled us out of the bath, drying me off because I was sleepy enough to forget drying and go straight to bed, he bundled me into his arms and his bed, pulling me back against his chest and draping a hard thigh across my legs.

“Anah?”

Half asleep, I made a noise.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

That woke me up enough to focus. I knew that tone. “What do you mean?”

He waited, saying nothing else, and I buried my face in the pillow,notwanting to have this conversation. But. . .not as afraid of it as I’d been before. “You want to have The Discussion.”

Andrei caressed my hip. “I hear capitals in your words. Don’t lie to me, darling. I feel your sorrow, your discontent. Not from tonight, but undergirding any thoughts you have of sex.” He paused. “You climaxed. I would have knownthatif you hadn’t.”

“It hurt a little. It usually does.” I blew out a breath. “It’s me, not you. My body. . .”

His fingers dug gently into my hip. “Your body is perfect. And if you need more foreplay to ready yourself, then we’ll work on it. It’s not uncommon with lovers under a great deal of pressure.”

I pursed my lips. “Phase One: Show Sympathy and Understanding.”

He paused, then rolled me onto my back so he could stare down at my face. “Excuse me?”

“They start out kind and reassuring until they realize how muchworkI am, and start taking it personally. Which is about when the verbal abuse or silent treatment or cheating or plain sexual callousness begins. . .and then when I walk away.”

Andrei’s eyes narrowed.

“I have a condition that makes sex and menstrual cycles very painful. I use birth control to control the symptoms, but it isn’t a panacea. Sex will always be difficult for me, and it has nothing to do with your. . .prowess.”

“The condition?”

Hesitating again, I finally said, “Endometriosis. It’s a mild case, but. . .” I blew out a breath. “Don’t worry about it. It’s not your problem. If you’re happy, I’m happy.”

I could endure some pain and discomfort, especially if I occasionally came to a peak.Thathad never happened before.

Steel entered his voice. “Your health isn’t my problem? If I wasn’t aware of how much damage I need to undo from the ones who came before me, I’d be insulted.”

“Please don’t do this, Andrei.”

He sat up, dragging me onto his lap. I closed my eyes, heart sinking. Forcing myself to relax, to trust him. Even if he was displaying classic Phase One signs.

“Don’t concern myself with my bonded’s health and pleasure? I’m not one of your former mortal lovers.”

Oh, boy.

Phase Two: Insist You Are Not Like All the Others.

I opened my eyes, placing my hand on his chest. “Yes. It doesn’t matter how good you are, my body is always going to experience resistance. I don’t want you to get hung up on it. What you did tonight was perfect. You followed my lead. It doesn’t need to be any more complicated than that.”

We’d save the low libido days discussion for waaay later.

“And if I get hung up on it?” he asked.

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