Page 28 of Vienna Betrayal

He accepted the half empty bottle, but instead of capping it, he tipped it, pouring a bit of water onto a washcloth she hadn’t noticed.

“Give me your hand.”

Alexander wrapped his fingers around hers and with the other hand brought the damp towel to her wrist, gently wiping the flesh that had gotten sweaty from the cuffs.

Damn it, he was being so tender. Emotion tightened her throat as a slimy, sick feeling pooled in her stomach.

He carefully wiped the damp cloth over her palm and fingers, all the while cradling her elbow with his other hand.

The tender care made her throat tight with emotion. How could she manipulate him, lie to him, after he’d so tenderly cared for her?

He’s just a good Dom. Good Doms perform aftercare. That’s all this is.

Maybe when he wasn’t touching her, she’d be able to believe those words. She’d have to, because one way or another she was going to get what she needed from him.

“It’s been a long time since a scene, a partner, made me feel this good,” she murmured, and this at least, was true.

“Good?” He laughed softly, and it made his chest rumble against her back.

“Perverse thing that I am, I do consider sitting here on your lap with my ass on fire ‘good’.”

“When was the last time?”

“Too long ago, apparently.” Alena shifted, cuddling tighter against him. “But now…you woke the dragon.”

“Pardon?”

She sat up, pressing both hands against his chest as she twisted, bringing them face to face, so close their noses almost touched. “You go a long time without something—good sex, good wine, good food. You get used to it. Then you have it again, and that need that had fallen asleep—the dragon—wakes up. That’s when you realize you can’t have just one nice meal, one excellent bottle of wine, one night…” Alena let the word trail off and looked away.

“One night that reminds you why you need this,” he said softly. “And all it does is make you desperate for more.”

“Yes, the dragon is insatiable.” She’d hoped he’d laugh, but he remained serious.

“Tomorrow is the last night.”

“Do we…I mean since we…” Alena didn’t have to feign nervousness. She gave Alexander a moment to save her from her own stammering, but he, predictably if disappointingly, was silent.

“Do you want to scene with me again tomorrow night?” Her question hung in the air, heavy and expectant.

Alexander’s lips quirked and he nodded.

“And I want to amend my list.”

He frowned. “You shouldn’t decide now.”

“I know what I want, Alexander.” She used his name deliberately, to remind both of them that the scene was over.

“You do. You chased me.” He sounded bemused.

“Next time, don’t run away.”

Alexander’s gazed moved over her face with a seriousness that was at odds with the playful note she was trying to strike.

“We should not plan for tomorrow. I have undue influence in this moment.”

“I asked you to scene, not the other way around.”

“You are naked in my lap.”

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