“How long was I trapped?”
“I’m not sure, but a few hours at least.”
“It felt like a year.” Moving my head back to lay it on his chest, I added, “Let’s not talk about it anymore. It makes me want to cry.”
Mason made a sound of agreement and was quiet for a moment before he whispered, “Can I ask you something?”
“Go ahead.”
“I know it’s none of my business and you don’t have to answer, but have you slept with Victor?”
His question came out of nowhere and made me raise my brows and look up at him again.
“He said that you rejected him at the welcome reception because you had your period, and it made me wonder if you’ve slept together before.”
The right side of my lips lifted a little. “First of all, I didn’t have my period, it’s just an excuse that always works with men, and no, Victor is…” I thought about how to say it but knowing that Mason wasn’t Victor’s biggest fan either, I decided on the truth. “Victor is bossy and self-obsessed. I guess you can’t really blame him since he’s gotten special treatment since he was three and became famous for knowing the names of the entire solar system. People adore him and treat him like a king because he’s so smart and handsome.”
“Handsome?” Mason wrinkled his nose up. “You think Victor is handsome?”
“You don’t?”
He scoffed out loud. “Fuck no!”
“Well, your sister and Freya do, so maybe it’s just a girl thing, but my point is that there’s not a single person in our society who doesn’t know his name. In my opinion, being one of our greatest celebrities has made him an ass.”
“You can say that again.” Mason tucked his right arm under his neck. “So, you never slept with him?”
“No.”
“How many…” He stopped himself and sighed out loud. “No, it doesn’t matter.”
“How many men have I slept with?” I felt him stiffen under me and asked, “Are you doing cultural research?”
“Yeah, something like that.”
“Well, some people love having sex and have it often. As long as they keep to the rule of not having it with the same person for more than three times then no one minds. Others try sex and realize that they prefer to do it with themselves or not at all. I belong to the last group.”
“So, you tried it?”
“Yes, first with a girl but that didn’t speak to me at all. Later I tried sex with a man, but we got in a fight midway because I didn’t like it. He said I was a horrible lover.”
“He said that?”
“There’s no need for you to sound so angry. He was right, you know.”
“Maybe he was the horrible lover. Maybe he didn’t make you feel at ease.”
I shrugged. “It’s not a big deal to me. My friends have encouraged me to try it again, but I have sex with myself and that’s better than any of the experiences I had with others. Take it from me; you’re not missing out on anything. Sex is way overrated.”
Mason blinked his eyes. “I doubt that.”
An idea hit me and made me turn my head and look up at Mason. “I could prove it to you.”
CHAPTER 12
Sex Sucks
Mason
“What did you say?”
Nuzzled close against me, Belle raised her head from my chest. With complete seriousness in her large honey brown eyes, she repeated, “I could prove it to you.”
“You want to prove that sex sucks?” The idea alone made my cock stir in my briefs.
“Mhmm. You Nmen have this idea that sex is something it’s not. Aubri told me that your father’s generation risked their lives in tournaments to get a bride. I’m guessing they imagined sex would be worth it. I could let you try it with me and then you’ll see for yourself that it’s nothing special.”
“But you just said that some people enjoy it. I already know that I’d belong to that group.”
“Oh… right.” She sunk back. “If you find a good lover that might be true.” Chewing on her lower lip, she added with a sigh, “It’s okay, I’ll find another way to repay you for saving my life. Maybe I can paint you a portrait or something.”
“Belle, look at me.” Lifting her chin up, I willed her to meet my gaze. “You owe me nothing! Do you hear me? I didn’t save your life so that you would have sex with me.”
Despite my holding on to her chin, her gaze lowered. “I know. You would have done it for anyone.”
I let go of her chin, not liking the undertone of sadness in her voice. “Belle, one more thing, don’t believe that guy who told you that you’re bad at sex, you’re not!”
Her eyebrows drew together as she turned her face away. “You can’t know that.”
Brushing away a strand of her hair, I smiled a little. “I could prove it to you.”
Her eyes locked with mine in a flash. “How?”
The warning signs flaring in the back of my mind were easily pushed aside when I lifted her higher on my body and cupped her gorgeous face. “What if we had sex and never told anyone?”
“I can keep a secret,” she assured me.
Brushing my hands through her soft locks, I felt my hands shake. The intimacy of being half-naked with Belle was already blowing my mind. If she was serious about having sex with me that would make this the best day of my life. “You know I can’t marry you,” I whispered.
“I know. I can’t marry you either.”
“Okay.” My heart was racing so fast it made my voice breathy.
“Okay,” she replied and kept looking deep into my eyes.
“Tell me how it works again. You French women are put on some kind of pregnancy prevention, right?”
“Yes. Until we decide we’ll do our duty and carry a child.”
“So, it’s safe for us to be together?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “If you’re sure you really want to.”
A half-choked sound came from me. “How can you even ask that question? I would be fucking honored to be with you.”
Belle smiled, but then she bit her lip. “The thing is, though…”
“Yes?”
“My limbs feel like they’re made of lead and I’m drained of energy. I don’t think I would be much fun tonight. Maybe we could wait until tomorrow?”
I swallowed hard, disappointment tasting bitter in my throat. “Of course. Whatever you want.”
“Thank you, Mason.” She leaned forward and pressed her lips against mine, catching me by surprise. “You’re so sweet.”
No one had ever called me sweet unless they were provoking me to a fight. Yet hearing it from Belle didn’t offend me at all. While I struggled to get my brain to work, Belle slid down from my body and lay next to me. Taking my arm to reach around her, she asked, “Will you spoon me again?”
My cock was stone hard and as I held her from behind, I closed my eyes, unable to do anything about my poking her butt.
For a long moment we lay in silence. Her scent was in my nose making my desire for her unbearable. She smelled of feminine shampoo and fresh air.