Free Living in Sin (Living In…) by Jackie Ashenden Page B

sound bored and like he couldn’t wait to get away?
    It made her feel powerless. Made her aware that he was the one in the driving seat, not her. Yet another thing like this heavy achy feeling between her legs, the heavy feeling that just wouldn’t go away, that she wasn’t in control of.
    God, how she hated it.
    “I guess I could do something,” she said, an idea forming in her mind. A crazy and probably downright stupid idea. But shit, if she had the nerve to go through with it, that would wipe that cynical smile straight off his face. “I mean, I know you said no touching each other but…” She steeled herself. “You never said anything about touching ourselves.”
    The atmosphere gathered tight, the look on his face not changing and yet somehow his features hardening into granite. “You think I haven’t had that offer before? Some sweet young thing touching herself up for me? Come on, I thought I said original.”
    “You think I won’t do it?”
    “This isn’t Truth or Dare, love.” That lazy, bored note had entered his voice again. “And I’m not your boyfriend. I mean, really, do you even know how?” He wasn’t even looking at her, reaching for his tumbler as he pushed himself out of the chair. “I’ll get myself another drink while you make up your mind.”
    Anger shot up inside her. He didn’t care. He really didn’t. Wonderful. This seduction thing was going so great. Perhaps she should quit now while she was ahead.
    You’re going to give up just like that? Is that it?
    No, of course she wasn’t. She’d never given up in her life and she wasn’t about to start. It was just clear that she would have to form a new strategy.
    She stared at him as he stood at the drinks cabinet, pouring himself another measure of scotch. Wide, powerful shoulders, lean waist, strong thighs. Everything a man should be. Making her ache. Burn.
    She could spread her legs, undo the zipper of her jeans and touch herself while he watched, that would be easy. But that’s exactly what he was expecting her to do, wasn’t it? With the subtle challenge in his voice and the cynical look in his eyes. Like he’d already pointed out, he’d had many women do that very same thing, she wouldn’t be any different.
    But she wanted to be different. She wanted to be the one who surprised him. She wanted to be the one who challenged him.
    She wanted to be the one who seduced him so completely he would never remember anyone else.
    Lily slid out of the chair and began packing up the chess set.
    “What are you doing?”
    She didn’t look up, sliding the board and the chessmen away into her satchel, before grabbing her coat. “I’m leaving, what does it look like?”
    There was a silence.
    Lily shrugged her coat on, slinging her satchel over her shoulder and straightening. He was staring at her, his surprise evident.
    About fucking time.
    “If you think I’m going to sit there touching myself for you while you give me the bored once-over, you’re shit out of luck,” she said staunchly.
    The surprise vanished. He arched a brow. “Does that mean you’re giving up this whole seduction farce?”
    “No.” She began to move toward the door.
    “You’ve still got at least fifteen minutes, Lily.”
    “Yeah, I know. You can add it to my hour next week.” She put her hand on the door handle. “Don’t worry, I can show myself out.”
    He moved toward her, just one step. And she was positive it was involuntary. “Are you sure?”
    She smiled, because somehow this wasn’t ending as the desperate failure it had started out being. Leaving like this was a victory, she could feel it. Could see it in the frown on his face. “Quite sure. See ya next week, Kahu.”
    Then she walked out, making sure to close the door very, very quietly.

Chapter Six
    Lily turned the bath taps off and stripped. The water looked so goddamned good and despite the two-hour lesson she’d just had, she was already feeling cold.
    Fucking cancer. She felt the