Page 18 of Sharing Her Heart

Felicity froze, unsure what to do, but he was gone before she could react, walking away from the dining room and toward the door in the back.

“He’s a strange fellow, isn’t he?” John asked with a hint of amusement in his tone.

“Oh, no…” Felicity said immediately, panicking a little.

“It’s okay to admit it. He can be an enigma sometimes, but that’s what makes him special.”

She stared at him, noting how easy and carefree he’d been all morning. “So are we going to talk about it?” she blurts out.

He looks up with a frown on his face. “Talk about what?”

“You know what,” she replied indignantly, ignoring the tingling that swept across her back and face. “I’m talking about what happened last night.”

He faced her squarely, his expression serious but still warm. “Do you want to talk about what happened last night?”

“Yes… I don’t know…” Felicity stammered, feeling confused. “I mean… shouldn’t we?”

“That depends. Did you enjoy what happened last night?” he asked softly.

The tip of her ears turned impossibly hot as she flushed with embarrassment. “Of course I did. You know I did,” she hissed. How could he have missed the way she screamed out every time they made her orgasm?

“What’s there to discuss, then?” he continued, his lips curling with amusement.

“I don’t know… I just…” She couldn’t meet his eyes as she tried to think of a way to say what she wanted to say. “I’m straight,” she finally blurted out.

John cocked a brow. “Okay… Not exactly sure why you felt the need to announce that, but I’ll be sure to keep it in mind.”

“That’s not what I meant.” She looked at the floor. “I mean, I’ve never been with… you know… two guys… men…” She cleared her throat, wondering why she was finding it hard to say what she wanted to say. “I’ve never been with two men at the same time. I just…”

“Did you enjoy it?” he asked, and she looked up at him, slowly nodding.

“Yes, I did,” she answered softly.

“Is there a part of you that feels like you didn’t want it to happen?”

She paused for a moment, thinking about it, and eventually shook her head. “No.” In the moment, it all felt so right, so natural… So good. And even now, weird as it sounded, it all still felt right. “I mean, I feel like I should feel that way. But I don’t.”

“Then why question it or try to define what it is?” John asked. He got to his feet. “Come on, I’ll show you to the library. You’ll love it there.”

He led her down a long hallway and into a room that took her breath away. The library was nothing short of magnificent. It was vast, with towering, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that stretched up to the high ceiling, each shelf brimming with books of every size and color. Rich mahogany wood framed the walls and floors, and the faint smell of leather and old paper filled the air, giving the space a timeless, comforting feel.

A grand ladder on wheels was positioned against one of the shelves, its polished brass gleaming in the soft light filtering in from tall windows. There was a large, ornately carved fireplace on one side of the room, with two plush armchairs and a low table set before it, perfect for long evenings spent reading in front of the fire. Several antique globes and statues dotted the corners, adding to the charm and richness of the space.

In the far corner of the library, tucked away from the towering bookshelves, was a cozy reading nook bathed in sunlight. Three large windows surrounded the space, flooding it with natural light and offering a tranquil view of the gardens outside. Plush bean bag chairs in rich shades of blue and burgundy were scattered around, inviting anyone who sat there to sink in and lose themselves in a good book. The space felt like a hidden sanctuary, perfect for getting lost in a story.

Felicity stood frozen for a moment, awestruck by the sheer number of books. It was as if the entire world of literature was at her fingertips. "I think I just died and went to heaven,” she whispered in awe.

John chuckled. “I feel the same way every time I come in here.”

Felicity ran her fingers along the spines of the nearest row. “This is incredible. I’ve never seen so many books in one place outside of a public library.”

He smiled, watching her take it all in. "It’s one of my favorite rooms in the house," he said, walking over to a shelfand pulling out a beautifully bound volume. "Nathan and I built this collection over the years. There's something for every mood, every interest. Take your pick—you're welcome to any of it."

Walking over to a small desk near the entrance to the nook, he pointed at a leather-bound journal and a pen. "This is where you sign out any books you take with you," he said with a grin. "Just your name, the title of the book, and when you sign it out. You’ll sign it back in when you return it.” He flipped open the notebook, revealing page after page with only his neat handwriting filling the columns. "As you can see, Nathan doesn’t care much for the system."

Felicity chuckled, her fingers grazing the pages. "I solemnly swear I’ll follow the rules," she said, her voice playful but sincere.

John smirked, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "I’ll hold you to that. If you need anything, just hit this extension," he added, gesturing to the phone resting on the nearby table. "Dial 3, and I’ll come running. Or, if you get bored of the books, feel free to come hang out with me. We could play around in the studio if you want. I’ll be editing the new tape for the podcast later today."

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