“What do you want from me?”he asked.
“I, I want… I want you to show me things,”I said.
“Show you things?” He kissed me once more on the other corner.
“Yes,” I said. “Show me how it feels to be touched.”
“Certainly we’re not discussingbedposts?”he asked.
“I... What if I am?” I asked.
He craned his neck.
“I thought to do it,” I said. “To explore the sensation… The other night. I was alone, but I… I don’t know how or where to start. I… I’ve never touched myself,” I said.
He watched everyhumiliatingsyllable.
I groaned. “I, I don’t understandwhyit-I just. You’reexperienced, sir, and I’m… I’m sofrustrated!”I said. “I don’t know what it is you do to me! Even when I’m notwithyou, it’s well into the night. Andnightafternight. I’m-”
“Frustratedis a good word for it,” he gave. “I’m quite familiar with the state.”
“I don’t mean to say… I’m not ready for… sex,” I said.
“Sex?”he asked. “Yes. That is a far leap from where we are.”
“It is?” I asked.
“Yes. And you are very fortunate, Swan.”
“I… am?” I asked.
“Aye. There aremanythings between kissing…” He pressed his mouth to the crook of my neck. “And sex,” he finished. He was far too pleased.
“Thereare?”I asked.
“Yes. Plenty of things, my Swan.”
“Then that’s what I want,” I said. “I want you to show them to me. All of them.”
“I could, but... What you’re asking?” He rested his forehead to mine. “We can’tundo it once it’s done, and it willchangethis; it will changeusforever.”
“I feel safe with you,” I said.
“…You shouldwait,”he told me.
“For what?”
“For your wedding night,” he said. “For yourhusband.”
I shifted on my feet. He was between my legs, and though we hadn’tactuallycrossed the line, I couldfeelthe anticipation to do so pulsing off of us like the calm before a quake.
I wanted him.
“Would you have killed those men had they tried to hurt me?”I asked. “The ones in the alley?”
“Yes.”
“...Then I don’t want to wait,” I said.
