Experiment In Love

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Authors: Rita Clay Estrada
carried to the heavens and placed on soft fluffy clouds of complete and total contentment. She was pretty sure the emotional pain would come later, but for now, she lay quietly in the curve of his strong arms as they caught their breath, hearts slowing down gradually to beat in unison. His hand brushed away the small wisps of hair at her temple; his other hand stroked her side before coming to rest, possessively cradling her breast.
    She glanced up at him through her lashes, trying to gauge the depths of the man she had just given all of herself to. Did he know of her gift? Did he realize how much it meant, or was she just another woman in another bed in his life? She was afraid to know the answers, but not knowing was even worse.
    He was looking down at her with half-dosed eyes, a small, triumphant smile tugging at his firm lips. He shifted slightly, holding her in a tighter grip.
    “Why, Victoria?”
    She ran her hand across his chest “Stop being so analytical. What is, is . That’s all. The time was right.”
    “You’re moving into the townhouse tomorrow. I’ll take care of you from now on,” he said with satisfied conviction.
    “No,” she answered softly, but with equal firmness.
    “Okay, then you’ll pay me the agreed-upon rent.”
    “No.”
    “And have the place completely to yourself,” he continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “Except when I’m invited over for dinner or come by to take you out. Or in case something else crops up and you decide you want company for the night,” he teased, but there was a thread of strength in his words.
    “No.”
    “And we’ll take it easy, each learning the other gradually. We’ll build our relationship stone by stone until it has a strong, firm foundation.”
    “No!”
    He quirked one dark eyebrow. “You don’t want a strong foundation?”
    “I don’t want to move into your townhouse,” she said with exasperation lacing her tone. Was he obtuse or just playing at it? Didn’t he see that she wanted him to recognize her as a giver, not a taker? Didn’t he see that she needed his approval of her gift, and not his bed? Did she have to spell it out?
    “I don’t want to continue our relationship this way. This was just a one-time thing, Kurt.” She tried to explain, but it came out all wrong.
    “You mean you want this to be a one-night-stand?” His expression was one of mock astonishment.
    “No, I mean that I gave myself to you because I wanted to, not because I wanted to pay you for anything.”
    He turned serious at once. “I never thought of any other reason, darling. That’s why I don’t want to let you go. Not until we’ve had a chance to explore each other as people. Why not do that where I can help protect you? You’re much too trusting and vulnerable.”
    “I’ve taken care of myself since I was sixteen, Kurt. I think I can manage on my own,” she said dryly. “Besides, you have your business to think of. ‘Things to do and places to go,’ to quote a phrase. And so do I. I take care of myself; no one takes care of me.” The last sentence was stated with so much conviction Kurt obviously couldn’t think of an answer.
    Somewhere along the line, he realized, she had decided that being a mistress was not for her. Instead of irritating him, it somehow made him feel more protective toward her. She was totally different from most of the women he knew. Could that difference be the one defense that he would be unable to breech? His usually clear-cut thoughts were becoming clouded with emotion and it bothered him. He had never been uncertain before, especially where women were concerned…until now.
    He gave a silent grimace. They’d discuss it tomorrow. He would explain it to her until she agreed with him. But right now he needed to make her trust him, so he gave her a long kiss and then changed the subject. Better to lose this battle than lose the whole war…
     
    ***
     
    Victoria pushed back a strand of hair sticking on the back of her

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