Page 21 of The Incubus's Angel
Palming his face with both hands, Ren peeks at me from behind barely spread fingers. “I came in my pants like the virgin I am.”
I don’t know why, or maybe I do, but that makes me happier than I should probably be. Not the virgin part, that doesn’t bother me one bit.
“From watching me?” I clarify.
Ren slumps down in his desk chair, far away from me but still open to having this conversation. “More than that,” he admits. “Ifeltyou. As an incubus, I can sense sexualenergy. And I guess, if my name was being said, it’s almost like you gifted me your pleasure. I felt it throughout my body. It was incredible.”
That new piece of information sets my heart racing, but I try my best to keep my face and voice neutral and not to let the intrigue I feel shine through. “Are you saying you can tell when I’m horny? And that my orgasm gave you an orgasm?”
“Yes.”
I sit back and fold my arms across my chest, feeling really good about myself. “That’s pretty cool. I guess I found my new superpower. My only superpower actually.”
Ren tilts his head to the side. “It doesn’t freak you out?”
“Nope. It just makes me excited. Can you tell?” I tease lightly. Sensing he’s coming out of his anxious spiral, I let one of my Ren fantasies play through my mind, seeing if Ren can sense a spike in my arousal.
“I… Oh. You’re not lying,” he breathes out, eyes roaming over my face before flitting down my body and back up again.
I lean forward, letting my nonexistent cleavage draw his eyes. “Nope. The thought of you getting off to me is really hot. I mean, especially because I maybe got off to you too.”
Ren’s breath catches. “So you did say my name?”
“Yeah. Sorry,” I say, not sounding sorry at all. My brain is still scrambling to make sense of all the admissions over the last few minutes, but I like the thought of us being mutually attracted to each other, and what that could mean for our Tuesdays together.
Raising his hands, Ren pleads, “Please don’t apologize.”
I realize we both might need a few minutes to ourselves to digest all of the information we just shared, so I quickly forma plan. “Okay. Here’s how this is going to work. My offer still stands. I’m very happy to show you how to touch someone and explore how you want someone to touch you. I’d like to help you recharge. But first, I’m going to give you a moment to gather yourself and think it through. You can think about how you potentially want things to work between us. While you do that, I’m going to prepare the pastry cream and decorate the cake. After I’m done, we’ll go out and have a little picnic. If you’re still keen on exploring things with me, we can chat about rules and boundaries there, and if you’re up to it, we can even have our first lesson. But it’s totally up to you. I’m willing and here if you want me. No hard feelings if you want to use the agency instead. I support sex work. My offer still stands to help you pick someone, but I want to offer myself as an option for you too.”
Ren listens intently to every word I say and gives me a grateful nod once I’m done. “Thank you. This is a lot to process. I didn’t expect this to happen today.”
My lips tip up into a small smile. “Neither did I. Can’t say I’m mad, though. My hand has been my only company since I got here and it’s been getting one hell of a workout. Would be nice to have someone else doing a bit of the work for once. And now, I’m going to stop rambling and run away to the kitchen where I can hide my face and pretend I didn’t say all of this. Is my face red? I’m sure it is. Okay, bye.”
Chapter 10
Ren
Idon’t move from my chair the entire time Maisie spends decorating the cake in the kitchen. So many thoughts, so many possibilities, so many different outcomes run through my mind as I consider everything she said.
My heart is banging away in my chest, going so hard I fear it might crash through and land on the stone floor in front of me. Though, underneath all my nerves, there’s a thin thread of hope.
I’m awkward around new creatures. And this would only just be exacerbated in a sexual setting. Leaving Starry Hill and going into the city is nerve-racking enough, and invitingsomeone onto the island seems even more challenging. How much more difficult would it be to do it all with a stranger? Who would most likely see me—allof me—naked…
But Maisie is here. She wants to help. She’s patient. She’s so kind. And heartachingly beautiful. She understands me in a way very few others do. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if we tried something small? Just once?
“Are you ready for our picnic and some cake, or do you need more time to brood?” Maisie asks with a teasingly sweet lilt to her voice, pulling me out of my funk enough to bring the tiniest hint of a smile to my lips.
“I’m ready,” I say without realizing I had already made the decision. I want Maisie to guide me, to teach me how to make her feel good.
We gather everything and set up our picnic right next to the house, choosing to sit on opposite sides of the blanket with the pretty cake positioned in the center between us.
Maisie hums as she inspects her latest creation. “It looks pretty good, doesn’t it? Oh shit, does that sound arrogant?”
I shake my head. “It’s just the truth. The cake looks delicious. Give me a second. I’ll be right back. And don’t touch the cake,” I add over my shoulder as I race inside.
When I join Maisie again on the yellow plaid blanket, I hold up the reason for my quick disappearance. “Had to get my camera. Is it okay if I take a picture of the cake? I’ll send you a copy.”
“Really? That’ll be wonderful. Thank you, Ren,” Maisie practically gushes, her eyes gleaming with such transparent appreciation it sends an electric shock to my heart.
