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“I do too,” I admitted quietly.
She studied me for a long moment and I shifted, looking away. She had a keen, matronly gaze that seemed to cut right through me to my core.
“You haven’t had sex, have you?” she asked, her voice gentle.
I shook my head.
“I wouldn’t have it pierced until you start having sex,” she said. “If you wait for your wedding night, do your nipple for your engagement. Once you learn what you like, then maybe then you can let Merrick pierce your clit.”
Heat shot down my spine and I flushed. The sauna felt like it was a million and ten degrees.
“You mean Osian,” I said quickly.
“What?”
“Osian will be my fiancé.”
It was her turn to be embarrassed. She waved a hand, searching for words.
“Sorry, I just got confused because you said Merrick’s name earlier,” she said. “Of course I meant Osian.”
“It’s fine.”
There was a short, uncomfortable silence and then I decided to take the plunge and ask her how she met Vincent. We talked about their age gap briefly. It didn’t seem to bother her at all. Then we had mimosas while we had our hair and makeup done.
Before we parted ways in the hallway, she paused in her doorway.
“Don’t do anything for a man you don’t want to,” she said.
“What do you mean?”
“It…you don’t seem all that thrilled about Osian. I’d hate to see you pressured into a marriage you aren’t happy about.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I just need to get to know him better. He seems nice enough.”
She nodded and I unlatched my door, stepping inside.
“A little age gap isn’t anything to be afraid of,” she called, disappearing into her room.
I was about to call back that Osian wasn’t much older than I, but then I remembered I’d already told her that. So what was she talking about?
Merrick didn’t return until late that evening. He apologized for his lateness and disappeared to get dressed in his room. I sat at the table and waited for him in my little black dress and pink handbag.
The room smelled like his cologne.
Rich, like dark oak.
He stepped out, clipping his cuff links. He wore a dark blue suit that fit his body perfectly. Of course it did—only custom-made everything for Merrick Llwyd.
My stomach twisted as I remembered Adele’s mistake. I knew it was an accident, what she’d said, but that didn’t take the mental image out of my head.
Merrick on his knees in front of me with his hands on my thighs.
Parting them.
No, that was not a helpful thought. I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head, jumping to my feet. When I opened them, he was staring at me with a crease between his brows.
“Are you…alright?”
