Page 130 of Her Beast

“I’m not justanyone.”

His lips twitched into a faint smile. “No, you’re not,” he agreed, his warm look makingherwarm. “You’re more important and therefore I don’t want you to see me even more than most other people.”

She scowled. “Do you believe I am so superficial?”

He paused, as if he actually needed to consider her question before answering.

Julia gasped. “I can’t believe you need tothinkabout that!”

“Some people—well, some people, no matter how nice or good they are, cannot stomach deformity of any sort.”

“I am not that sort of person!”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. But I hardly know you, Julia—we’ve not even been acquainted a month.”

His words stunned her. Not the least of which because they were true. Whatdidthey know about each other besides the strong physical attraction between them?

But then one didn’t need to know—or even like—another person to have sexual intercourse, did one? She’d given her maidenhood to Matthew—a man who had the intelligence of a turnip, albeit a very, very handsome turnip—and hadn’t even known his last name.

She’d practically forced poor Solomon into bed and she’d never had a conversation with him that hadn’t sent her to sleep.

Soon she would be engaging in the sexual act—for the rest of her life—with Sebastian, who was not only a stranger, but who loathed her.

Julia looked up into Malcolm’s patient gaze. “I might not know a great deal about you, but I like what Idoknow.”

“I like what I know about you, too,” he admitted. “I never meant to imply that I didn’t.”

“Then why do you think I shall cringe or wince or be disgusted?”

“Trust me, you couldn’tnotdo those things.”

“I’ll have you know—”

“Actually, let me amend that. I don’t care what your reaction would be. I won’t undress or show you my face becauseIwould not like it.”

“Showing yourself to me?”

“To anyone.”

She chewed her lip, and then blurted. “Do you ever show yourself toher?”

“Her?” he looked comically perplexed.

“The woman you’ve been with—the blond one,” she clarified, when she recalled that he’d been withtwowomen on one occasion.

His stern features relaxed. “Oh—you mean Maisie. No, of course not.” He laughed, but there was no amusement in it. “And I assure you that she isextremelygrateful for her blindfold.”

A nasty serpent slithered around in her belly at the sound of the woman’s name on his tongue. “Does she know you are here with me?”

“What?”

“Does she?”

“No—not that she’d care if she did.”

“But—”

“I don’t think you understand, Julia—I pay her to be with me.”

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