After a long moment of silence, she turned back to him, finally summoning the courage to ask the question uppermost on her mind. “Case, do you have a mistress?”
Case choked on the wine he was drinking. He stared at her incredulously. “What on earth makes you ask a question like that?”
She was glad he couldn’t see her face clearly in the darkened atmosphere. She was sure her cheeks were flaming. “Well, I thought to ask you a question about them, that is if you have one,” she added hastily.
“I can’t wait to hear this.”
“You needn’t laugh at me,” she said tartly. “I’m embarrassed enough without you making things more difficult.”
“What is it you want to know?” Case attempted to don a more serious tone.
“Well I just wondered if they liked...well that is if you are any good at...well do theyenjoysuch a thing?”
He burst into uncontrollable laughter. “Are you questioning my sexual prowess?” he gasped, wiping the tears from his eyes.
“No! I mean yes...or sort of,” she sputtered. “I want to know if you...” She broke off again in abject mortification.
Case seemed to take pity on her and stopped laughing. “What is it you want to know, Jilly?” He was struggling to keep a straight face.
She twisted her hands nervously as she mustered the courage to go on. “I merely wanted to know, if in your experience, women, in general, enjoyedit.”
Case nearly chuckled again. “Yes, Jillian, I would say they enjoyed it very much in fact.”
She cocked her head. “Would you say they enjoyed it because of the way you did it, or do you think they would have enjoyed it as much with anyone?”
“Jillian!” he said in a strangled voice. “How the hell did we get onto this subject?” She looked at him expectantly, waiting for his answer. He cleared his throat. “I am only answering this because I don’t want you asking some other poor unsuspecting man about his prowess in bed. I would say the women I have been intimate with would enjoy it with many different men. Damn, but my ego is taking a beating,” he muttered. “But, I like to think I am a generous partner when it comes to giving pleasure.”
“Have you slept with many women then?
“Jillian, enough!” he protested. “I am not telling you how many women I have been involved with.”
“Have there been that many?” she asked in surprise.
“Jillian,” he growled.
“Well how else am I supposed to find out what I want to know?” she grumbled.
“Perhaps if you told me precisely what it is you want to know, and we dispense with the interrogation of my sexual exploits, then I could help you.”
“I just want to know if it’ssupposedto be enjoyable,” she said in exasperation.
“If done correctly, it is very enjoyable.”
“Define correctly.”
Case sighed. “How did I know you were going to ask that? Jillian, your experience with Penroth was not indicative of most experiences. Most people indulge in love making because it is pleasurable. Granted, some view it as a duty, a chore to be performed for the purpose of procreation, but even then it’s not all bad, just not wonderful.”
“How doyouview it?”
“This is a damnable conversation,” he muttered. “Quite beyond the pale.”
“Our friendship is quite beyond the pale,” she pointed out. “Are you going to answer my question, or do I have to go ask some other poor unsuspecting man about his prowess in bed?”
“I view it as a pleasurable act. I may later view it as a chore if I find the marriage bed not to my liking,” he said wryly. “What’s got you so curious all of a sudden?”
“I just wanted to know,” she replied. “And it isn’t like I have anyone else to ask.”
“I don’t know whether to feel honored or just damned unfortunate.”
