Page 93 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 8
He sat back down on the couch. “I had the misfortune of Blackbeard learning I was a genie. He was a terrible master. And then I ended up being a slave in Haiti.”
Huh. Plot twist.
“I made a deal with a plantation owner where I would use magic to harvest all the sugar if he agreed to free all his slaves.”
I already knew that Tanner was on the right side of the civil war. But this made me even more certain that he was a good lad.
“Meanwhile Nigel was the plantation owner’s butler. Then we spent some time in New Orleans. But I was run out of town by a voodoo witch. I spent the 1740s being passed around by Indian medicine men...”
“Like a sex thing?”
Tanner laughed. “No. Not a sex thing. They had me do magic for them.”
Makes sense.
“Nigel followed me every step of the way, wrestling bears in the wilderness and doing whatever it took to survive. Until eventually he was able to free me from the Indians. That was the first time I was grateful for his company.”
Nigel was oddly strong, but it was still strange to picture such a small man wrestling a bear.
“Then we made our way to Quebec and became fur traders with the French, which in 1765 finally gave me the opportunity to go back to Morocco with the Larache Expedition. But by that time, Sapphire was long since dead.” He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
I pictured the scene I’d just seen in my head. “Wait.” I stared at Tanner. “Are you a virgin?”
“Technically yes.”
Holy shit.Tanner acted like the most experienced person I knew. With his sex clubs. And the nonchalant way he talked about sex. And the things he could do to me with his tongue...
But he’d never experienced sex himself.
The horrors.
I needed to free this man immediately.
But first... “I’m sorry about Sapphire. And that you lost your truest love.” I couldn’t help it. I was jealous. I’d felt Tanner’s emotions in that scene like I’d lived them myself. I’d been totally engrossed. I hadn’t even touched his wiener once. Althoughgetting blown had felt amazing... He’d loved her. And he’d lost her.
Tanner raised his eyebrow. “My truest love? Ash.” He shook his head and grabbed my hand. “I’m not going to lie to you. I loved her. I think a piece of me will always love her.”
I nodded.
“But I was so young back then. I didn’t know what I really wanted. Hell, I barely knew myself. I’ve had over 300 years to learn from my mistakes. To figure out who I am and what I want. And what I want is you. You’re my truest love.”
“I think it’s just the red hair thing,” I said with an awkward laugh. I wasn’t sure why I was trying to deflect what he was saying. I loved everything he’d just said. But what I was about to have to do...with other guys... It was so fucking awkward. It was already tearing me up inside.
“It’s not just the hair. Which, yes, I do love. But it’s so much more than that. You make me laugh. Even though you’re not as old as me, you feel like a kindred spirit.”
“I’ve often compared myself to having the ligaments of an old man.”
Tanner laughed. “You’re an old soul. Like me. You’re weird and wonderful. And unique. I’ve never met anyone like you. It’s not the red hair that makes you rare. It’s your spirit.”
“Speaking of spirits...what’s your spirit animal? I think I’m a panda. Because I like to sit and eat. Quite the opposite of astarving harem girl. I broke a dress once. It practically exploded when I pulled it on. Just like a panda in a dress.”Gah!Why was I making this weird?! He was being so incredibly sweet and I was comparing myself to the world’s laziest animal.
“I love your curves.”
“I knew you were into pet play.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “Ash. I loveyou. For you. He leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss against my lips. “I love you,” he said again and kissed the side of my jaw. “I love you.” He placed a hard kiss against the side of my neck and I moaned. “You are the rarest of treasures.” He sucked on the side of my neck, marking me. “My hidden gem.”
Fuck.I pushed on his chest to stop him. “I need to find true love a second time before I explode.”
