consumed by Sandra Sookoo

her skirts with one hand. White lace from a petticoat greeted his hungry gaze. Ava grinned, then tugged him down the steps, following a brick-laid path leading to the rear of the house. “She has no sense of humor and refuses to talk about anything that doesn’t pertain to husbands, raising children, or keeping a proper house.”
    “Do you have no use for these skills?” He stuffed his gloves into a pocket of his coat. For the duration of their time together, he intended to employ as much sensory perception as possible. He wanted to feel her skin on his, but her kid gloves thwarted his plan.
    “Not at the moment.” Her grip on his hand tightened as she guided him down a garden path, lined on both sides with evergreen hedges. “Back in my time, I was very career oriented. I loved working, loved competing against the men, and seeing where each job could take me.”
    “And now?” He couldn’t imagine a world where men and women held the same positions or worked side by side. Society must have grown by leaps and bounds in a hundred years or so. How fascinating it must be to see the advancements.
    “I miss it. If there’s no hope of getting back there, I guess I’ll have to make my own way here, but—” She slowed and faced him. Her pale skin and pastel outfit stood in stark contrast to the eight-foot evergreen shrubs. “I refuse to be trapped in some sort of weird domestic, slave-type situation. It’ll be my way or nothing.”
    Domestic slave? His mind tripped over images of Ava tied to various pieces of furniture in barely dressed scenarios, available to do his bidding on a whim. Heat invaded his bloodstream. He fumbled at his too tight neckline. “I do not doubt it for a moment.”
    “Besides, I haven’t found the right guy, haven’t really connected with someone so deeply I knew it was right from the start or would want to give up and share my life with him.”
    “I understand.” In his mind, he hoped he would be the man to hold that honor. As she slipped around another curve of what he now recognized as a maze, he shook his head and followed. “Where are we going?”
    Ava glanced over her shoulder. “To the back of the maze I checked out last night. If we stick to one side of the hedges, Mrs. Altier can’t see us.” Disappearing behind yet another turn, the vegetation muffled her next words. “If you look carefully, you’ll see her standing at the attic window.”
    Doing as she suggested, he chuckled when he saw she was correct. The lace curtains in the window twitched, falling into place as if an errant current of air had moved them. “She’s only concerned for your virtue.” He yelped as Ava yanked him into the heart of the maze.
    “My virtue? Yeah, that hasn’t been a problem since my sophomore year in college.”
    A grin curved his lips. “You are not a virgin?”
    “Nope. Shocked?” She settled herself on a stone bench, then patted the empty spot next to her. “Come, sit.” Wicked intent sparkled in her eyes.
    “Honestly, no. It merely means I will not be taking advantage of you.”
    “I like the way you think.” When he followed her dictate, she continued. “I refuse to let anyone tell me I can’t jump a guy’s bones.”
    “I presume that charming phrase means initiate sex with a man?” Her speech patterns pulled him deeper into her web, and again, regret sat heavy on his chest that he wouldn’t have more time with her. “Is that the reason you brought me out here, to jump my bones?” The fact that she wasn’t shy about discussing sex sweetened the pot. There’d be no asinine hints and flirting, no wondering if he’d hurt her or dealing with histrionics after the deed was done, and no whining about him leaving until he returned with a consolation gift.
    He and Ava could simply enjoy each other’s bodies. And still, his cock remained asleep. Hellfire and damnation! He glanced into the sun-streaked sky. Please, one more time…
    She scooted closer to him. Their knees