The Elliotts: Secret Affairs: The Forbidden Twin. Susan Crosby

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СКАЧАТЬ were important, especially for John, personally and professionally. And while Scarlet had a reputation, such a liaison with John would be beyond her usual outrageousness. How could they get past that? Not to mention him coming in contact with Summer.

      And also not to mention she was probably a kind of substitute for her sister, a way to end his curiosity about her. Why else would he have come on this strong? He would certainly want closure; she would, in his shoes. Since he’d missed out on a physical relationship with Summer, having one with Scarlet could give him closure. Of sorts.

      The thought that she and Summer might be interchangeable in his mind made her a little sick to her stomach. But maybe he wasn’t thinking that way at all. Maybe she was just imagining it.

      So, now what? It seemed to Scarlet they needed to let the attraction burn in a controlled environment or it might be a bank of embers forever, taking on too much importance as time passed, always waiting to flare.

      She had an idea ….

      “Do you still want lessons?” she asked, burrowing against him, not wanting to see his face.

      His arms tightened around her, and he drew a long breath, as if she’d awakened him. “Lessons?”

      “Last time you asked for help honing your skills.”

      “You said I didn’t need lessons.”

      “Not in bed. But you could learn something about being more romantic if you want to woo a woman into bed … in the regular way.”

      After a long, drawn-out moment of silence, he rolled to his side with her, then propped himself on an elbow to look her in the eyes. His were filled with humor. His dimples deepened. “Woo?”

      She shoved his shoulder as he laughed, apparently at her use of such an old-fashioned term. “You have to admit you could use lessons.”

      His smile faded some. “I admit it. Instinct doesn’t seem to be serving me well. Except—” he slid a hand down her back and pulled her closer “—where you’re concerned.”

      “Only in regards to sex, then.” She knew he didn’t return her feelings.

      “No stronger instinct, is there?”

      She shrugged.

      He stroked her hair, tucked it behind her ear. “So, you’d be willing to advise me on how to properly woo a woman? What would that entail?”

      Lots of time together. Lots of touching. Lots of—”Lessons,” she said instead.

      “Homework?”

      She hadn’t thought about that. He would have to experiment on other women, to see if the lessons worked. That would never do. “You’ll practice on me. If you can make me fall under your spell, then you know it can work on any woman.”

      “She says humbly.”

      “I’m not being egotistical. I’m just immune to the games of most men.”

      “What happens if you do fall under my spell?”

      She had no answer for that. She’d dug a ditch she couldn’t climb out of, however.

      “Seems to me this is a game with potentially disastrous outcomes,” he said.

      “Or fun ones.” She laid a hand along his face. “It’s very selfish, I suppose, to want this.”

      “But if we’re both in agreement, what’s the harm?”

      “We’re adults, after all.”

      He said nothing for a few seconds, then seemed to relax. “When would we start?”

      “Sometime when we’re dressed.”

      He grinned. “In the meantime …” He hooked a leg over hers, bringing her closer then kissing her until she forgot everything but the feel of his mouth. “Will this be part of the wooing?” he asked, dragging his lips along her jaw.

      Huh? Oh. He was talking to her.

      She didn’t answer immediately. She understood that he was trying to figure out what the parameters of their relationship were going to be. She wanted more than sex, but she knew that was all she could have. Too much stood in their way, especially how quickly they got together after the breakup. Should she settle for only sex? Would the desire fizzle in time?

      “I’m enjoying this as much as you are,” she said truthfully, testing his own expectations. “Although we both know—”

      He put a hand over her mouth. “We do. And we don’t need to talk about it.”

      She moved his hand away. “I wouldn’t have guessed that you were an avoider of truth.”

      “It’s my superhero role. That’s why you never see me in tights and a cape, and only in suits.”

      “Oh, that’s why. I did wonder.”

      “When do we start Woo University? Tomorrow?”

      So, they weren’t going to define their relationship yet. Maybe that was a good thing for now. “Why wait?” she asked.

      “I’m not done registering for class yet.” He rolled on top of her, bent to kiss her. “Haven’t finished uploading from my hard drive.”

      She laughed. Who would’ve thought the man could be so playful? “You’re not what I expected.”

      “In what way?”

      “In every way. You always seem so serious.”

      “You’d never seen me naked.”

      She smiled. “I guess it does make a difference.”

      He nuzzled her neck. “You’re not what you seemed, either.”

      Her body tingled from the feel of his warm breath against her skin. “How?”

      “Less bold.”

      “I thought I’d been plenty bold.”

      “Sexually, you have been.”

      “What other way is there?”

      He didn’t answer. The hand that had been roaming over her body stilled. “Do you really want to spend our time analyzing this?” he asked, pulling away, locking gazes.

      No. It was a time to enjoy him, to make memories. He would change her life—she knew that without a doubt—but her obsession could finally end and she could move on, once and for all. Her relationship with her sister would never have to be tested, nor would Scarlet give the publicity hounds something to sniff out. If Summer could change, so could she.

      “No,” she said, looping her arms around his shoulders and pulling him down to kiss him. “No analysis necessary. Although I do plan to study СКАЧАТЬ