Page 47 of Mending Fate
“You have.” Her smile was the most beautiful I’d ever seen. “But it’s always nice to hear it.”
“I love you more than words can say.” It was my turn to lean forward and kiss her. I kept it brief, feeling as if she had more to say.
“I love you too.” She squeezed my hand. “I’ve been wanting to ask you this, and it seems like the right time to do it. There have been strides in dealing with dyslexia, even in the time since you were in school. Some techniques, tips, and tricks. They might be able to help you read and write better. I know you have your own system, but maybe these could be incorporated into what you already do or when you’re in a situation where something you would normally do just won’t work.”
For a moment, I remembered all the frustration and shame I’d dealt with every time I was in a situation where I thought my secret would get out. But then I reminded myself that I didn’t have to hide any of it from Lumen. And maybe I didn’t need to hide it from anyone else either. The first step, though, had to be accepting help.
“Would you be the one teaching those to me?”
She lifted my hand to kiss each of my fingers. “I can if you want. I wasn’t sure you’d be comfortable with me in that role.”
“I’d prefer to have you do it.” I winked at her, suddenly realizing the opportunity that had dropped neatly in my lap. “After all, lass, there are certainincentivesyou can offer that I wouldn’t accept from anyone else.”
She flushed and laughed. “Why do I have a feeling you already have a few things in mind?”
“Aye, I do.” I leaned in and took her lip between my teeth, giving it a tug. “We should probably start right away.”
Twenty-Seven
Lumen
I’d been tryingto figure out all week how to approach the idea of me giving Alec some ideas about how to help deal with his dyslexia. Who knew he’d give me a perfect opening? And then a perfect way to ensure he didn’t blow it off when we scheduled a time to work on it. I should have known he’d want to get started right away. With the exception of dealing with relationship matters, he didn’t procrastinate.
“You know, I’m trying to decide if you’re a workaholic or just a glutton for punishment,” I said.
“It all depends on who’s giving out the punishment.” His eyes gleamed as he leaned toward me, his hands sliding up my legs to my thighs.
With Evanne back, things with Keli on track, and his secret about his dyslexia out in the open, it was like a weight had been taken off his shoulders. He still wasn’t a laid-back sort of guy, but everything about him just seemed…lighter.
“You don’t strike me as the kind of guy who’s into getting spanked.”
He laughed, and the sound twisted all sorts of things inside me. “No, lass, but I like the idea of having a go at your arse.”
I ran my fingers through his hair and leaned toward him until our lips were only a hair’s breadth apart. “Maybe my ass could be one of your rewards. Not tonight, but it could be something that you can look forward to.”
“I love the way your mind works, lass.” His hands slid higher. “What do I get tonight?”
I moved his hands off my lap. “You have to earn it.”
“What will I earn?”
I thought for a moment. “The first thing we need to do is go through what you’ve done so we’re not repeating anything. How about for each thing you tell me, I’ll take off an article of clothing?”
He raised an eyebrow. “And if I lie just to get you naked?”
“We’ll work on the honor system.” It was my turn to wink at him.
He chuckled. “Then I need to be on my best behavior.”
Ten minutes later, I knew what he’d tried, what worked, and what didn’t, and I was naked. And his hand was slowly moving up my thigh…until I slapped it.
“Hands off.” I pointed at him. “You haven’t earned it yet.”
“And how, exactly, do I earn it?” He ran a finger along my shoulder and then across my collarbone.
“That’s not hands off.” My protest wasn’t even half-hearted. His touch made me feel like my skin was on fire. In a good way.
“You’re altogether too tempting.” He pulled his hands back.