Free Darkest Desire by Tawny Taylor Page B

around the problem.”
    Malek cleared his throat. “It seems they have.” Being this close to Lei was killing him. But that was nothing new. His balls were so tight he was gritting his teeth. And his blood was simmering so hotly in his veins he was sweating. But there was no way in hell he was putting an end to his suffering. It would be her choice, not his.
    After his short visit with Jodi—a total waste of time—he’d come to one conclusion. He couldn’t give up on Lei yet. He was going to keep pushing her, keep winding those little threads between them. That was the way he’d win her: one delicate silken thread at a time.
    He said, “You know, my brothers and I have always planned to build three houses on this property, one for each of us. I’m about to meet with the architect to begin work on mine. Maybe I should talk to him about building back here?”
    â€œYou should.” Lei made a small frame with her hands. “You should put a huge wall of windows facing the water. It’s a million-dollar view. Especially in the fall, when all the trees have changed.”
    â€œThat sounds like a good idea. Do you have any other suggestions? I don’t know anything about designing houses. That’s why I’ve put it off for so long.”
    â€œI have plenty of ideas. I love to read books about home design. It’s another hobby of mine.”
    This could definitely work for him. From the sparkly eyes he could tell it was more than a hobby for her. It was a genuine passion. He hoped someday her eyes would sparkle like that for him, about him.
    â€œWould you do me a favor, then, and meet with my architect? I’m afraid if I don’t have someone help me, I’m bound to design the ugliest house on the street.”
    The sparkles dimmed a little. “Oh, I don’t know. You should build the house of your dreams. Not mine. But I could loan you some books for inspiration.”
    He was inspired already. He didn’t need any damn books. “I’ve looked at plenty of books. But those are just pictures. I don’t know what I want, what I like.” He turned on the charm. “Please, Lei.”
    She met his gaze, then huffed out a little sigh. “You are a hard man to say no to.”
    He hoped that statement would apply to lots of other things in the future. He amped up the wattage on his grin. It was getting easier and easier to be this way with Lei, to relax and let down his guard and have fun. He liked the man he became when he was with her, even if he was a little softer, a little more pliant.
    Brittle things cracked under pressure. They broke. Like concrete. In contrast, elastic, flexible things stretched and held better, depending upon the situation.
    This situation called for flexibility. And patience. Lots of patience.
    â€œI’ll meet with him I guess,” she said.
    â€œThank you.” He took her hand in his and gave it a small squeeze.
    She didn’t flinch.
    His gaze hopped from their hands to her face several times before he whispered, “Lei, I want you to let me touch you.”
    Her hand moved a tiny bit, but she didn’t pull it completely away. “Malek, you know that’s hard for me.”
    â€œI do know. But that’s why I think it’s important for you to work through this. I want to help you.”
    â€œWhy?”
    Malek shrugged. He couldn’t tell her the truth, that he might be falling for her and wanted to heal her pain, to make her whole again. If he so much as uttered those words, she’d run. “I feel it’s what you want. You do want to feel comfortable being around people, being intimate, don’t you?”
    â€œMaybe.”
    â€œAnd you do trust me.”
    â€œMore than anyone else . . . except Rin.”
    â€œAnd you know, as a dom, that I do have some experience helping people push through certain limits. You do the same thing for your submissives,