Surrounded by Pleasure by Mandy Harbin Read Free Book Online Page A

was
actually available. Maybe finding out she wasn’t really a challenge by being in
a relationship or some kind of loose woman who’d fuck anything that moved
because of an unorthodox relationship they’d just leave her alone.
    Seemed to have worked for Toby. As soon as she’d told him
she was a virgin, he’d lost interest immediately. A heavy feeling settled in
her chest, and she didn’t understand why. Unless
that’s what real rejection feels like .
    “No. No.” Mikaela stood, stalking around the room. “Let
me think.”
    What in the world was there to think about? Krista had
only been here a day and had already screwed up any chance she had at finally
discovering what sex with a living penis felt like.
    After several minutes of Mikaela pacing the room, she
finally turned. “I got it. Just tell Toby you don’t want anybody else knowing
about your virginity. That it’s a personal thing and you don’t want everyone
knowing about your personal life.”
    “Even though I like that idea very much,” Krista began, because
she definitely didn’t want people talking about her sex life, “how does that
help, exactly? Not that I want Toby to believe I’m in a relationship, but you
said it yourself. No man will not have sex with his girlfriend if they’re in an
open relationship.” She rubbed her head and looked away. “Besides, I don’t
think he really cares anymore.”
    Mikaela came over and sat next to her. “I think you’re
wrong. If I know Toby, he stopped because he does care. At least about not taking advantage of you.” She patted
Krista’s knee. “We just need to convince him to keep quiet about the news, and
you need to show him you’re sure about taking this step with him.”
    “I was already out of my comfort zone last night when we,
er, last night,” she finished lamely. “I’m not sure how to convince him that
it’s him I want.”
    Mikaela clutched Krista’s shoulder. “Answer me this one
question. Is it Toby that you truly want? I mean, I figured you wanted him over
the other two guys, and I admit I wanted you to cut loose while you were here
and have some fun. But I didn’t know you were a virgin. So, when I ask if it’s
Toby you want, I mean would you still pick him if you were at some random bar
and he was there with a hundred other guys all vying for your attention, or is
it a case of getting the pick of the litter, so to speak?”
    Krista chuckled at Mikaela’s terminology, but then
sobered as she considered her answer. She knew she was here on business, but
she also understood there’d be men around. She did pack accordingly, bringing
the new lacy underclothes and whatnots, hoping she’d get laid. But the truth
was she was attracted to Toby, and she didn’t see that attraction being a
product of convenience. “Yeah,” she finally answered. “Yeah, I think I’d still
pick him out of a crowded room. There’s just something about him. I can’t
explain it, but I want to get to know him, and I want him to be my first. I’m
just at a loss of what to do now.”
    Mikaela smiled. “Don’t you worry about that. If it’s Toby
you want, then it’s Toby you’ll get. As of tonight, you’ll let your preference
be known to all the guys, and Toby will not be able to resist you.”
    Dubiously, Krista asked, “How so? What am I doing
tonight?”
    “ We’re crashing
the guys’ poker game with a little game-playing of our own.”
    Trying to soak up some of Mikaela’s enthusiasm, Krista
hoped the gamble would pay off.
     
    * * * *
     
    Toby sat in the den around the card table with his
brothers, nursing his beer and fighting the urge to get something stronger to drown
his sorrows. Last night had been magic, electrifying, and over way too soon. He
wanted Krista as much as he needed his next breath. He knew it’d been years since
he’d been with a woman, so he tried to blame his insistent need for her on
that. But it just felt like an excuse. He’d long ago grown accustomed to