Page 71 of Seduce

“Is it because of the restraints or something else?”

“Something else.” This didn’t make sense. Why did it bother her so much if Damon saw her books? The man had seen her naked, for goodness sake.

“Why did you pull the comforter up?”

Tessa blinked at the question. “I was getting cold.”

He tilted his head. “Are you sure? I would have thought you were hot.”

“Shit.” He was right. She’d been hot, yet she was trying to hide from him. Her fingers curled around the fabric.

“Let it stay.” His hand covered hers. “For now. Tell me more about what’s in the drawer.”

“The restraints and my vibrator,” she whispered.

“I don’t see you being embarrassed about that. What else?”

Tessa ducked her head. She needed to tell him. Honest, open communication. Taking a shaky breath, she raised her head and looked at him. “Books.”

“Books? Why would you be embarrassed about books?”

Tessa didn’t answer, and Damon’s lips curved up into a smile.

“I’m super curious now. May I?”

“I guess.” Fear welled up in her. Would he think her a freak?

Damon stood, walked over to her dresser, and waited.

“Bottom drawer.”

He opened the drawer, pulled the restraints out and set them on top of the dresser, then pulled out her stack of books. After pushing the drawer closed, he sat on the mattress with the books in hand.

“These look like typical erotic romance books.”

“Oh?” In her mind they weren’t. Well, not quite true; they were erotic romances, but they went a little further than most.

He set them on the bed and picked the first one up to read the back cover copy. Tessa waited barely breathing.

“Sweetie, I don’t see why you were embarrassed.”

“May I?” She held her hand out for the book. Damon placed it in her hand. Tessa flipped the pages until she came to the first scene in the book that caused her to squirm every time she read it. “Here, read this.”

Damon took the book and began reading. Tessa nibbled on her lower lip, her tummy churning and her heart pounding. He flipped the page and kept reading. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad.

More pages, and then he looked over the top of the book. Their gazes clashed. His were alight with desire. He closed the book and lowered it to the mattress.

“Please explain to me why you’re embarrassed by the book?”

Tessa stared at him. “You read part of it.” She shifted.

“It’s a very sexy, sensual scene.”

It was, but… “Damon, he takes total control of her, and she likes it. From the moment they meet, he’s all dominant male: downright overbearing and an asshole. He forces her to do his bidding in and out of bed.”

“Is that how you see it?”

Tessa hesitated. Damon wasn’t upset, he was asking her questions and not jumping to conclusions. “I see it, but what does it say about me that it makes me excited.”

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