Page 105 of Beyond the Cottage

“It’s a shit idea,” he said.

“Not if we only do it once. Just one time, to get it out of the way. After, we’ll move on as friends.”

He indulged in picturing it.

Then her full implication sank in.

“Hold on,” he said, eyes narrowing, “To be clear, you intend to fuck me then pretend it never happened?”Exactly like at Isobel’s?

“That’s not how I phrased it.”

“Yet it amounts to the same thing.”

“You’re over-thinking again.”

“And you haven’t thought it through at all! This will come with a price tomorrow, one I don’t wish to pay.”

She yanked her wrist from his hand and crossed her arms. “I’m not asking you tomarryme, Ansel. I can more than handle acasual lay. I prefer it, actually, so don’t fret I’ll get sappy on you after.”

A little growl rumbled in his throat.

Would it meananythingto her? Or was he just another lay to be gotten out of the way? And why the hell couldn’t he care as little as she did?

“How modern,” he said. “Is this how you initiate all your friendships?”

“Quit being a dick.”

The jealousy piqued by her non-answer disgusted him. He hadn’t even fucked her, and he was already a pathetic, possessive jackass.

She sighed. In a move surely calculated to pummel his final defenses, she swirled her palm around his heart. “This won’t be a big deal, Anse. I promise.”

A snarl tore from his chest.

Fine, then!

No big deal. Gretta didn’t give a shit, so why should he? If she wanted it so bad, he’d fuck her brains out until she couldn’twalkproperly. Her pussy would feel him for days, long after their journey ended. A little something to remind her it happened.

She squeaked as he threw her over his shoulder and dumped her on the pallet. Knocking her knees apart, he reclaimed his place between them.

“You’re absolutely right.” He shrugged off the remains of his shirt. “You want a casual, one-off lay? Fine by me.”

He opened his trousers one button at a time until he was exposed. She stared at his cock, pupils dilated.

He nodded at her pants. “Your turn.”

She undid a button. When she finished the rest, he flipped her to her stomach and yanked her pants to her knees, and she gasped.

Straddling her ass, he leaned in until his chilly smile brushed her ear. “Brace yourself, Gret. I’m going to fuck you like a villain would.”

She straightened her arms above her head, gripping the pillow. As he pushed two fingers inside her pussy, her hips rose to drive them deeper. She was already drenched. He swirled his fingers, coaxing a moan from her.

“I’m beginning to see how you like it,” he drawled. “And I never was any good at denying you.” He wet his cock with her arousal, making sure she heard it. When he was nearly as slick as her, he looped an arm under her hips and positioned himself. “Now let’s get this out of the way, shall we?”

Chapter 37

He plunged in deep, and Gretta cried out. Fully seated, he went so still she felt his pulse in his cock. His size made it a tight fit. She stared at the rug, panting, trying to comprehend that Ansel was inside her.

They were doing this. It was done.

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