Page 33 of Hard Wired

He was adjusting his clothes. “Can we please start over?”

“I’d rather not. This was a mistake.”

“Okay. I’m not sure what just happened, but if you don't want to do this, then we don’t have to.” Dominic stood, rubbing his hands against his jeans. “Not like I go around forcing myself on women.” Annoyance was sneaking into his voice.

“I told you, it’s not your fault. Nobody was forcing anyone. You’ve been perfectly nice.”

“I wasn’t really going for nice.”

“You’re right, my apologies. No one should ever accuse Dominic Crane of being nice.”

“Did you just now remember who I was? You forgot you were fooling around with a mobster wearing an ankle monitor?”

“Trust me, I didn’t forget that for a second.”

Why wouldn’t he let this go? She’d been trying to give him a hand job, and she’d had every intention of finishing him off regardless of her own limitations. But he was being whiney and petulant.

Sylvie checked the programs running on her laptop. The diagnostic hadn’t finished yet. Dammit. She couldn’t leave.

He crossed the room, going after her. “Was that the whole point of this? You wanted to even some score between us?”

She whirled on him. “Jesus, how conceited are you? How many times do I have to say it? This is notabout you.”

“Then what is it?”

“Nothing.”

“Would you just tell me what I did?”

“I can’t have an orgasm,” she shouted.

Oh my god. I just said that out loud.

“You can’t…” He blinked at her. “Really? You’re serious?”

She covered her face with her hands.

“Okay,” he said quietly. “I think I get it now.”

“I promise you don’t.”

“I do have some experience. I know it’s not as easy for women as it is for men. It’s not a big deal.”

Dominic had followed her to the table. She felt the warmth of him just inches from her back.

“I decide what kind of deal it is. It’s my problem, not yours.”

“Who said it’s a problem? Not everyone’s built the same way.” His hand rested on her arm, kneading the muscle. “Why don’t you show me how you touch yourself? Show me so I can learn. I think that would be hot. I could touch myself, too.”

In spite of her embarrassment, her blood heated again at his suggestion. But there was no point. Sylvie shrugged away from him. “You don’t understand. I can’t have an orgasm. Not with anyone.”

“Not even… Are you saying you’ve never had an orgasm?”

“That’s what I’ve been saying.”

Sylvie sat in one of the hardbacked chairs by the table. She begged her computer to hurry up so she could get the hell out of here.

Why on earth had she thought messing around with Dominic Crane was a good idea? She didn’t even know this man, and now he was privy to intensely private information about her. Even Ethan had no idea about her issues.

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