Page 50 of The Rogue and His Flower

“This you, this person now. I could grow tolikehim.”

“That’s good to know. I’ll do my best, but I can’t promise I won’t fuck up.”

She wipes at her eyes, sniffling a little. “I expect you too, but I guess what I’m saying is that I’ll try and do better too.” She chuckles then, side-eyeing me.

“What is it?”

“Did you really pity-fuck Clarissa?”

“Put it this way, I regret ever sleeping with her.”

“Why? I assume you enjoyed it. You like sex after all.”

“Because she hurt you, that’s why.”

She looks up at me, her eyes searching mine. “Thank you, Dalton.”

“For what?”

“For making this night almost bearable.”

“It’s not over yet,” I say. “There’s still my speech to go.”

“You have a speech? Oh God, I’m not sure I’m ready to hear it.”

“Yeah,” I reply, swiping my hand through my hair. “My father wrote it. That's why he wanted to speak to me earlier.”

“He wrote your speech?” She blows out a breath. “Now, I’m even more concerned.”

I check my watch. It’s almost nine pm. “We should probably head back inside soon. I imagine people will be wondering about our absence.”

“Can’t we stay a little while longer?”

“Tongues will be wagging. I wonder what whispers will be going around right now,” I muse.

“Given your reputation, they probably think we’re fucking,” she mutters, laughing a little.

“Chance would be a fine thing,” I reply, the ache in balls reminding me of how long it’s been since I’ve had sex.

She laughs again. “Are you alright?”

“Alright?”

“In that respect. You clearly have uncontrollable urges.”

“I won’t lie to you and say that abstaining from sex hasn’t been the hardest fucking thing I’ve ever had to endure,” I reply, shaking my head ruefully. “But I have a hand, I use it.”

She snorts, dropping her gaze to our entwined fingers. “I’m not sure you should be admitting that whilst holdingmyhand.”

“What do you take me for, I’m not a complete animal. I do wash, Daisy,” I reply, laughing with her.

“I don’t know, you certainly act like one at times.”

“Touché,” I reply.

“Seriously though, this can’t be fun for you. Ialmostfeel guilty.”

“Are you offering to relieve me of myurges, Daisy?” I ask her, cocking a brow.

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