The Tour Guide's Secret

"Stop crying," I said. "I didn't tell Gwen."

The moment she heard that, Joanna's sobbing came to an abrupt halt. She looked up at me and cautiously asked, "Really?"

I nodded.

In the next instant, her soft body pressed tightly against mine, and her light, youthful fragrance enveloped me at once.

She clung to my neck excitedly and hopped up, hooking her legs around my calves. Her face glowed with joy as she kept thanking me over and over.

A faint sound slipped out of me before I could stop it. My expression changed instantly when I felt the reaction in my body, and I quickly shoved her away.

Joanna had felt it too. She stood off to the side, and her face flushed a deep shade of red.

"Duncan, I didn't mean to."

I rubbed my temples in frustration. It really wasn't her fault. Gwen hadn't let me touch her for months. A man in his prime was bound to have needs.

With a woman like Joanna suddenly pressing herself against me, it was only natural for my body to react that way.

I waved it off awkwardly.

"It's not your fault. I won't tell Gwen about this. And if anything like what happened at dinner today happens again, tell me. I'll step in. Don't let anyone take advantage of you."

Without waiting for her reply, I hurried away, worried she might say something else that would only make things more awkward.

Back in the room, I was still burning with pent-up desire. There was no way Gwen would take care of it for me, and I definitely didn't want her to realize I had started falling for her cousin.

Just as I was about to take a cold shower to calm myself down, I looked up and saw Gwen stepping out of the bathroom.

She was dressed completely differently from usual, wearing a black camisole that clung to her figure.

I swallowed hard without realizing it.

"Gwen, what are you—"

Before I could finish, she stepped forward, wrapped her arms around me, and pressed her lips to mine. At the same time, she took my hand and guided it along her soft body.

I flipped the script, pinned her wrists above her head, and pushed her down onto the mattress. I was ready to go all the way, to release everything I had been holding back for months.

However, Gwen suddenly shoved me away.

I fixed my hazy gaze on her, clearly not understanding what was going on.

She stood up calmly and adjusted her clothes. "Darling, let's have a child. Only then can our lives move forward."

I had no idea how we had suddenly landed on this topic. Even if she wanted a baby, wasn't that supposed to start with the two of us actually sleeping together?

"We don't have to rush," I said, holding back my frustration as best I could. "I've never said otherwise. Maybe it's just not the right time for us yet."

After all, no man could stay calm after being interrupted at a moment like this.

"No," Gwen said firmly. "I've found a faster way to get pregnant. If we light this scented candle and bring in a woman who's naturally fertile, it'll work in a single try!"

Her expression turned frantic, almost unhinged, as she stared at the scented candle in the corner.

I frowned. She couldn't seriously be falling for some kind of folk remedy, could she? The notion of a "naturally fertile woman" just made it sound even more ridiculous. It didn't make sense no matter how I looked at it.

Just as I was about to speak, a knock sounded at the door.

"She's here. We're going to have a child soon," Gwen said excitedly as she looked at the door.

Before I could even process who it might be, a clear, almost angelic voice came from outside, instantly freezing me in place.

"Gwen, Duncan, are you there? Did you need me for something?"

It was Joanna.

As soon as I saw Gwen heading for the door, I tried to get up and stop her, but I realized I was too weak. I couldn't even lift my legs.