This Darkest Man by Sinden West Read Free Book Online

sip of wine, and it seemed like he was thinking carefully about
his answer. “She was…troubled.”
    “I’m
sorry. Whatever ‘troubled’ means, it can’t have been much fun growing up with,”
I told him, and hoped that I sounded genuine.
    He
met my eyes for a second, that serious look had reappeared, and then he seemed
to shrug it off and took a breath. “I’ll grab some bowls. Which cupboard?”
    I
pointed and he pulled two down and placed them beside me so I could pour the
soup in. The electricity flickered off again, but it was still dusk and Clay
effortlessly located the candles and matches like he’d lived here forever. As
the candlelight illuminated the wine, it appeared the exact red of the garnet
in the silver ring. I wondered what mysteries that ring held, and hoped that
any secrets were innocent.
    “Have
you read many of the books here?” Clay asked as we dined together.
    “Nearly
all of them.” I took a sip of my wine. “I used to have a stutter when I was a
kid and my aunt would make me stand in the parlor after dinner each night and
read passages until I managed to get them right.”
    He
frowned. “She sounds like a witch.”
    I
let out a laugh. “That’s what the local kids always called her. Actually
though, I think it was her way of trying to help me. My parents didn’t really
have the time.” Or the inclination, I silently added.
    “What
did she make you read?” he asked, draining his glass before topping up his and
then mine.
    “Edgar
Allan Poe mostly. I think I still remember most of them off by heart.”
    “Creepy.
Or so I hear. I’m not really one for reading.”
    “Really?
That’s surprising considering you have a PhD in history.” I remembered the “Dr”
before his name on the book jacket of one of his books that he’d brought with
him.
    He
caught my eyes and looked suddenly serious before relaxing into an easy smile.
“Fiction, I meant.”
    “Oh,
okay.” I reached for my wine. “I’ll show you the family bible tomorrow. It’s
locked away in a desk because it’s so old and fragile. It goes back about a
hundred years and has the family tree recorded in it.” I should have really
shown it to him long before this, but secretly I just wanted to stretch out his
time with me as much as possible. I nearly cringed at how needy I was being.
    “That
would be great, Mattie.” He eyed my glass and grinned. “Anyway, drink up. I
love when you’re drunk. You’re so uninhibited. It’s great.”
    “Am
I?” That didn’t sound like me.
    “Yeah.
You’re this demure, shy thing during the day, but at night you turn into a
wildcat.” He made claw like motions with his fingers.
    I
laughed. “Stop teasing.” But I didn’t mind because he was kind, not like Josh
and his mocking. I drank up just like he said.
    “It’s
not teasing. It’s truth.”
    When
my glass was empty, he gently took it from my hand and placed it down on the
table. “Will you undress for me?” he asked. “Slowly, in the candlelight so I
can see every curve and contour of your body.
    I
could see the lust in his eyes, and it empowered me. I felt desirable and
worshipped by what I saw there. I stood slowly, and started to slide my clothes
from my skin. I wore a black bra and panty set courtesy of Erin. It had never
been worn before, and as I had slipped on the delicate garments that morning, I
had paused to admire myself. Suddenly, I saw a woman instead of that
downtrodden little girl who did whatever she was told and believed those around
her when they called her ugly and stupid.
    As
I stood in just the bra and panties, I boldly moved forward to where he was
seated and positioned myself between his legs as I rested my hands on his
shoulder. I could feel his hard muscles beneath his clothes and I desperately
wanted to feel his bare skin.
    “Your
turn,” I told him softly with a seduction that surprised even me.
    “Gladly.”
A half smiled played on his lips as he started to strip on my command. I bit