The Clever Fox: Part Two (The Pleasure Hound Series) by Ines Johnson

stopped her brushwork. She looked at the painting with the same awe he was sure shown on his face at each of his creations.
    Adom’s eyes came to rest on hers. “Yes. It is.”
    A smile spread across her face as her fingers hovered over the canvas. He hadn’t heard the question in her voice, but it appeared as though she took his affirmation as a confirmation of her soul.
    “How did you know? About me?” Her eyes searched his. “All this time, something’s been aching to get out of me, and this…” She pointed to the painting. “You could you see this when I couldn’t see it myself? This is who I’m meant to be. I didn’t realize how trapped I was until you tied me up.”
    Adom let out a small laugh. The ropes had worked for her in freeing her creativity. He only wished they would work in the political arena. Adom looked around. “Where’s Emet?”
    Her eyes never left the painting. “He stayed behind at the chambers.”
    “What happened today, my lady? With the bill?”
    She tore her eyes away from the painting of her true self and gave Adom her full attention. “It passed.”
    There was no look of triumph on her face. Her eyes, glowing with pride and awe a moment ago, looked sad. Like a curtain of night had been pulled down over her brightness.
    “There was an amendment,” she continued. “Emet and I came to a compromise. Bonded pairs can elect to have the insemination procedure only if one or both males agree to it.”
    “That sounds wonderful.”
    She shook her head. “My Mother didn’t think so. She withdrew my sponsorship in the Sisterhood and turned me out of the house. I’m a discard.”
    Adom’s mouth couldn’t work to form a coherent sound. He’d never heard of such a thing.
    “But, Emet said that I might stay here.”  
    Adom gulped audibly. Had he heard her correctly? Lady Alyss, under his roof, within his reach at all hours of the day? The hope in his chest dared not ask her to repeat herself because the dream was too sweet.
    Lady Alyss watched the undulation of his throat and her darkened countenance turned cloudy. “He thought you might need me. For the paintings. At least until the gallery opening. Then I would find my own way, my own place. It can’t be too hard,” she looked away from him, straightening her shoulders. “Mothers discard their sons all the time.”  
    Lady Alyss was high bred and used to everything being handed to her. He knew she wasn’t a woman used to asking for favors or help.
    “Stay as long as you like,” he offered. “Stay forever.”
    She turned back to him with a look in her eyes that had his cock twitching madly in his pants. Adom took a step back, away from her desires and his own. Where was Emet?
    “Why don’t we get started on the next painting?” She stood and reached for the laces on her dress.
    Adom’s eyes riveted to her fingers which worked the laces as he tried to work his tongue to stop her.
    “I’m finished,” he finally managed. His voice was louder than he’d intended and she jerked back at the force of his pronouncement.
    “Finished?”
    He wobbled his head in a semblance of a nod and then pointed to the covered canvases in the corner.
    Alyss looked over her shoulder at the canvases, her fingers still on the laces of her dress. Adom spied the swell of one lush breast peaking through the fabric. He took another step back. But it was really more like half a step, and he wondered if the half counted because he hadn’t set his heel down.
    Alyss turned back to him, her hand still taut on her laces. “There’s nothing else you’d like to work on?” Her eyes darted over to the rig, the meaning of her words crystal clear.
    Adom swallowed. He looked to the door. Where was Emet? The blood was rushing from his brain and going southward.  
    “Nothing at all?” Her voice was a plea. Her tone begged him for the ropes. Did she have any idea what begging did to him?
    But he couldn’t.
    At least not without Emet present to help