Page 37 of Mr. Scandalous

Eden wafted Kung Pow Chicken under his nose, urging him to inhale the peppery aroma.

They involved every sense organ in their picnic. Smearing honey and chocolate on their chests and then licking it off. Sucking sake through a straw and getting tipsy. Touching lips through the hole in a doughnut and then eating up the yeasty treat. When their teeth clacked together, they giggled like children.

All night long they kissed and ended up falling asleep in each other’s arms. They woke the next morning, spooned together and happily sated even though they had not had sex.

And on Thursdays they started calling each other for phone-sex night. This was when they slaked their desires, pleasuring themselves while they breathed hot and heavy over the phone, spelling out their sexual fantasies in explicit detail.

Eden could scarcely believe how far she had come in just two weeks, dropping her reserve and letting herself go. Soon, she’d be ready to take the next step and make love with Alec. The time had come. They only had two weeks left.

Eagerly she made plans for the upcoming Saturday. She bought a crotchless, black, opaque cat-suit that covered her body except for the mysterious slit in just the right location and a pair of slinky, can’t-keep- your-hands-off-me, black thigh-high boots. She stocked up on condoms, ordered champagne to be waiting in their room at the Grand Duchess and packed a bag of sexual toys.

For the rest of the week, she went around hummingTonight’s the Night.

* * *

“We’ve got to do something to get Alec and Eden together outside of the bedroom,” Jayne said to Sarah as they took their lunch break together. “Eden is so determined not to fall in love that she set up some pretty insurmountable stipulations.”

“Stipulations?” Sarah noshed her turkey sandwich and eyed Jayne.

“Eden has forbidden Alec to take her on a real date. They can’t meet each other’s friends or family and she insists they not go to each other’s apartments, and she’s put a time limit on their affair. Four weeks and no more.”

“Hmm, thatisa problem.”

“Eden’s just scared to really trust a man,” Jayne said. “I think it goes back to never having known her father and being abandoned by her mother.”

“Alec is scared, too. He’s so afraid that he’s going to miss out on something wonderful if he commits to one person. He wants to keep all his options open. What he doesn’t seem to realize is that if he slowed down and focused on one person or one thing, his life would be so much richer and fulfilling.”

“They need to get to know each other on a personal level for their romance to bloom. Any ideas on how we get them over hurdle?” Jayne arched her eyebrows and blew across a spoonful of clam chowder to cool it.

“I’m hosting Jill and Randy’s wedding shower at my house on Saturday afternoon. Any chance of getting Eden to Connecticut?”

Jayne made a face. “Saturday is her busiest day at the boutique.”

“How about I ask Eden if she could deliver Alec’s gift basket to the wedding shower?”

“Wouldn’t she just send Ashley?”

“Unless we enlist Ashley’s help.” Sarah grinned. “Get her to call in sick or something.”

“Eden could hire someone else to deliver it.”

“That drive would cost a mint.” Sarah shook her head. “It would cut into her profit. She’ll bring it.”

Jayne tapped her chin. “That could work, but what then? Eden delivers the basket and leaves.”

“You just get her to Connecticut.” Sarah winked. “I’ll take it from there.”

* * *

Because Ashley had called in sick and Eden had no one else to send, she closed the shop at noon so she could deliver the gift basket to the wedding shower at Alec’s sister’s home. She would be seeing Alec outside the perimeters of their game.

At a wedding shower.

Surrounded by his family and friends.

She needed armor for this trip. Something to keep her mindonsex andofflove and marriage and family. To that end, underneath her clothes she dressed in a black crotchless opaque body stocking that hid her scars, topped by a tight black skirt. She buttoned up a long black duster over

the whole ensemble and wore the black leather boots with three-inch heels.

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