“Well, there’s also—” Here he really did blush. Beet-red, if she were any judge. “It’s a matter of…propagation of the species.”
Well hell, the man really was highly embarrassed about their discussion. “You mean, ensurin’ we don’t make us a baby, accidental-like?”
If anything, he blushed harder. “Yes. And I would appreciate it if you didn’t poke fun for being concerned about such things.”
Raising her hand to her mouth, she covered a smile that wouldn’t seem to quit. “I’m sorry. I just never expected to ever have this conversation. With anyone.”
Back stiff as a board, he fixed his gaze somewhere north of her ear. “Yes. Well. It is a concern that should be addressed.”
“Oh, I agree.”
Glancing at her, he glared.
Capturing his hand, she brought it to her lips. “You don’t need to worry. I grew up in a burlesque hall. I knew how to take care of those kinds of things before I was even sure what the different parts on girls and boys were for.”
Brows still drawn, he stared at her. Then he exhaled. “I’ve destroyed the mood, haven’t I?”
“Not entirely.” Leaning up, she kissed him, as sweet as she could manage. “Have I rid you of your worries?”
Under hers, his lips formed a smile. “Yes.”
Brushing his mouth again, she asked, “Will you come upstairs with me?”
Deepening the kiss, he wrapped his arms about her. Finally, they broke and he rested his forehead against hers. “Yes.”
***
LLEWELLYN’S HAND IN HERS, Alice walked along the corridor. Excitement bubbled inside her, but this time the excitement was because of the man following her. Soon, she would feel him against her, skin to skin. Soon, she would feel him inside her.
Raucous laughter drifted from below them. The Diamond still seethed with customers, the shouts and cheers growing softer as they moved farther from the saloon. Customers knew nothing of the passage from the theatre to the living quarters, and all of her employees were enjoying the fruits of their efforts before the bar. They’d encountered no one, and she was mighty glad of that. Llewellyn’s concerns for her reputation had bled to her, and now she was possessed of a small amount of worry as well. However, she didn’t possess enough to stop her from doing this. With him.
They reached her rooms and, entering first, she stood aside. Passing her, he looked about where they’d had their first proper meet, where he’d proposed he buy the Diamond.
As she closed the door, a small smile tugged at her mouth. Who would have thought they’d come to this? She certainly wouldn’t have, not in a passel of years. Only Seth had ever been in her bed, and to invite this Englishman to share with her what she’d only ever shared with her husband was an undertaking she’d not contemplated.
Brows drawing together, she watched Llewellyn grip the back of the chair he’d sat in during their first meeting. What if he was disappointed? What if she did something odd-like? Or worse, what if shedidn’tdo something? God, maybe she hadn’t thought it through completely. She knew hardly anything of him, beyond he was pretty and he set her heart racing. Surely there should be more?
But not every lover could be like Seth. Though she’d been sent to Ironwood as his bride, and they’d wed not long after her arrival, it had taken another year before Seth had shared her bed. He’d been busy building the Diamond’s business, but he’d also wanted them to know each other before they made their marriage true. However, back then she’d been a sixteen-year-old girl who’d just lost her mother and had travelled halfway across the country to wed a stranger. Seth had been right to insist they wait. He’d been right about a lot of things.
But she was no longer a girl. She was nine-and-twenty, and a widow these last five years. She’d run a business, created a Spectacular. She knew her own mind, and she knew what she wanted.
She wanted Llewellyn in her bed.
Panic faded. Well hell, that was just a bushel worth of worry she didn’t need. She had made her choice, and she would not allow fear to stop her. She was tired of pretending she wasn’t lonely. Tired of seeing others take those they desired to their beds. She wanted passion and fire, and she wanted Llewellyn. It was as simple, when all was said and done. She would take him as a lover, and they would enjoy each other for as long as it lasted.
Pushing off the door, she walked to him and trailed her fingers over his shoulders.
His muscles tensed beneath her touch. Clearing his throat, he turned to face her. “Have you changed the configuration of chairs?” The smile he wore was a little frayed at the edges.
“No.” Linking her hand with his, she tugged him gently in the direction of her bedroom. Desire curled low in her belly. She was leading him to herbedroom.
He followed, though his feet seemed to drag a little. “Are you certain? Much seems different in here.”
“Nothing has changed.” The overstuffed armchair before her bed seemed a good place to start. She’d often looked at that chair and wondered what delights could be undertaken.
Blood a steady thrum through her, she pushed him into the chair and went to the dresser. The second drawer down contained the contraceptives she’d not had occasion to use since Seth’s passing, and had replaced only to ensure the Diamond’s girls were protected if they chose to keep company with a man. Throwing a few of the packets onto the bed, she sauntered back over to him, stopping to stand before him.
He avoided her gaze. “Alice, are you sure?”
