“Having two men intrigues you?” Gray asked.
She flushed.
“Don’t be embarrassed. Would it surprise you to know that a lot of men fantasize about sharing their woman with another man?”
She cocked her head, intrigued by his statement. “Really? Do you?”
He shrugged. “There’s something primitive, not to mention erotic and arousing, about allowing another man to possess what’s yours, to fill more than one of a woman’s orifices. Simultaneously.”
Her face grew even hotter.
“You’re turned on by that,” he observed.
“What woman wouldn’t be?” she blurted.
“What else did you see at The House?”
“The spanking.”
“You liked it.”
She shifted in her seat. “It wasn’t so much the spanking. It was his control over the other woman. His authority. It was so dark and sexy. It started a yearning in me that made me feel like I was turning my skin inside out.”
“Yet when you took her place, the spanking did nothing for you,” he said quietly.
She shook her head. “How did you know?”
He smiled gently. “It was obvious. I could see your disappointment and your frustration. You needed more than what he was giving you.”
“Yes,” she whispered. “It wasn’t real, and I knew it.”
He leaned forward, reaching for her chin, cupping it in his hand. Their gazes met and locked. “This will be real, Faith. I don’t play games.”
She shuddered delicately as the huskily rendered promise slid over her body. “I know.”
They sat in silence for a while, sipping at their drinks. Faith relaxed and let go of some of her nerves. The evening had been perfect. The idea that they had an entire week to explore each other gave her a thrill. She couldn’t wait to discover if Gray was truly the man who could give her everything she’d dreamed.
At one point, Gray set his drink down and looked over at her again. She could sense the forthcoming question. She looked inquisitively at him.
“Are you on birth control?” he asked bluntly.
“Yes,” she said calmly.
“My last sexual encounter was over six months ago,” he said. “I’ve had a physical since then. And there’s the fact that I’ve never not worn a condom when I’ve had sex with a woman.”
She shifted a little uncomfortably. “Well, my last checkup was a couple of months ago. The guy I was seeing until recently had blood tests before I would sleep with him. But we also used condoms.”
Gray nodded. “My question is how you would feel about us not using them.”
A whole host of colorful images flashed through her head. The idea of taking Gray into her body, skin to skin, was extremely arousing.
“You’ve never not worn a condom?” she asked.
“No. And if you’d prefer, I can have the results of my last set of blood tests faxed down tomorrow morning. I’m not some horny teenager willing to say anything to get into your pants.”
She smiled. “I believe you. And the thing is, I’d love not to have to mess with condoms.” She wrinkled her nose. “Without a good amount of lubricant, they’re extremely uncomfortable for me. But I have to be honest. The last time I had sex was right before you and I met for the first time. We used condoms. We’re both clean, but you deserve to know the situation you’re getting into,” she said plainly.
“I very much want to feel every delicious inch of your pussy,” he said in a husky voice.
An uncontrollable quiver rolled over her body.
Gray looked down at his watch, and she knew their dinner was over. So many things bubbled up. Desire. Excitement. Curiosity. Fear. Her hands shook as she bunched them together in her lap.
“Are you ready?” he asked softly.
She nodded and stood when he got out of his seat. He touched his hand to her back and ushered her out of the restaurant.
The warm, salty breeze hit them as soon as they stepped out. In the distance, intermixed with the sounds of passing traffic, the soft music of the ocean filled the night.
“Let’s get back,” Gray said close to her ear.
She nodded, and they climbed into the truck.
CHAPTER 29
W hen they returned to the beach house, Gray laid his keys on the table and watched as Faith walked to the French doors and looked out. She was nervous. Her body language screamed uncertainty.
He walked quietly to the bathroom, leaving her for a moment. He knelt by the huge sunken tub and flipped the lever for the stopper. Then he turned the bathwater on and ran his fingers under the tap to test the temperature. When he was satisfied with the heat, he rose and walked back into the living room.