Page 76 of Kiss an Angel

“Are you sure?”

She wasn’t sure at all, but she put the tube back in her mouth and closed her eyes, praying she wouldn’t flinch.

Crack!

She screamed as the noise exploded in her ears and a fierce current of air lashed her face. Her ears rang from the sound. Tater opened his mouth and bleated.

“Did I hit you? Damn it, I know I didn’t hit you!”

“No . . . no . . . it’s fine. I just—” She bent over and picked up the tube she had dropped, noting that a small piece had been sliced off the end. “I’m just a little nervous, that’s all.”

“Daisy, you don’t have to . . .”

She put the tube back in her mouth and closed her eyes.

Crack!

She screamed again.

Alex’s tone was dry. “Daisy, your screaming is starting to make me nervous.”

“I’ll be quiet! Just don’t get nervous, whatever you do.” She picked up the tube—much shorter now than it had been earlier. “How many more times?”

“Twice more.”

“Twice?” Her voice squeaked.

“Twice.”

This time she placed only the barest tip between the very edge of her lips.

“You’re cheating.”

A trickle of perspiration slid between her breasts as she repositioned it. She took a deep breath . . .

Crack! Another vicious air current whipped a lock of her hair against her cheek. She nearly fainted but somehow managed to swallow her scream. Only one more. One more.

Crack!

Slowly, her eyes eased open.

“You’re done, Daisy. It’s over. All you have to do now is style for the crowd.”

She was alive and unmarked. Stunned, she turned to him and spoke in a hoarse whisper. “I did it.”

He smiled and tossed down his whip. “You sure did. I’m proud of you.”

With a great whoop, she ran toward him and leaped into his arms. He caught her automatically. As he drew her close against him, a slow sizzle coursed through her body. He must have felt it, too, because he jerked away and set her back on the ground.

She knew he was unhappy over her refusal to make love with him since that afternoon of sweat and sex that had so deeply disturbed her. Her period had given her an excuse for a while, but that had stopped several days ago. She’d asked him to give her a little time to sort her thoughts out, and he’d agreed, but he hadn’t been happy about it.

“There’s just one more trick,” he said, “and then you’re done for the day.”

“Maybe we should wait till tomorrow.”

“It’s an easier trick than the one we’ve just done. Let’s get it over with before you lose your nerve. Go stand back where you were.”

“Alex . . .”

---