Ally smiled impishly. “And then what?”
Sophie let out a breath of air that she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “He kissed me. And it was not our first kiss.”
“What?” Ally’s eyes turned into saucers. “You had kissed him before?”
“Yes, after my audition. I’m not quite sure how it happened, Ally, but it was…enjoyable.”
“Enjoyable? Your first kiss? If it was merely enjoyable, you definitely need to experience more.”
Sophie warmed at the lie she had just told. The kiss had been way more than simply enjoyable. It had been a thrilling, heavenly, more than she’d ever anticipated it might be. Just the memory made her glow—at least she felt as if she were glowing on the inside. She opened her mouth to say so, but Ally continued speaking.
“My dear, it must’ve been more than enjoyable if you allowed him further liberties in the alcove.”
Shuddering, Sophie nodded. “It was more thrilling than I could ever have imagined.”
“Tell me what happened in the alcove, then.”
“It started with more kissing, even more rapturous than our previous kissing, and then he…began to undress me.”
“And?”
Soph
ie fidgeted with her napkin, kneading the linen with her fingers. Her nipples tightened and her core throbbed. Would Ally be able to tell she was aroused? “I knew I shouldn’t be doing it. I knew I should stop him. But God help me, I didn’t want to. I wanted him to undress me. I wanted him to see me nude. I was so…wanton! I was not ladylike at all, I fear.”
“Succumbing to your baser urges doesn’t mean you’re not ladylike. We ‘ladies’ are equipped with a certain organ, the sole purpose of which is sexual pleasure. My guess is he introduced you to yours.”
“It was a place near my…private opening. He touched it, and…I can’t even explain the feeling.”
“That is called your clitoris.”
“My what?”
“Clitoris. The word originated in the seventeenth century. An Italian anatomist claimed to have discovered it in the sixteenth century. He called it amor Veneris vel dulcedo, the love of Venus.”
“Love of Venus?”
“Yes, I have no idea what that was supposed to mean. I don’t personally think any man discovered this organ. It was probably discovered by a female millennia ago. It was only just named in the seventeenth century.”
“What is it exactly?”
“Most seem to think it’s the female version of the cock…er…the penis. But unlike the latter, the only purpose of the clitoris is sexual arousal in women. The cock, as you know, has other functions.”
Sophie’s entire body burst into flames. If only a hole could open up and swallow her. “Ally, this conversation is getting…uncomfortable.”
“Dear, there is absolutely no reason for you to be uncomfortable. I am well versed in these things, and I’m happy to share my knowledge with you. Discovering your clitoris is a beautiful experience. That organ will give you intense pleasure for many years.”
Sophie shook her head and heaved a sigh.
“Now tell me,” Ally said. “What exactly did Mr. Newland do to make you climax?”
Sophie closed her eyes. If she was going to tell this story, she couldn’t look at Ally. “Well, it all felt so good. It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what happened. He put his mouth on my…nipples. And then he put his hand inside my drawers, and…”
“I see what happened. He was massaging your clitoris when his hand was inside your drawers. That’s how most women climax for the first time.”
But what of the spanking? That had also brought Sophie to a climax, and she didn’t know how to tell Ally. Was there something wrong with her? She had been beaten on the bottom as a child, and then she had watched in horror as her father beat her mother and Ally. She had cowered in a corner, letting them take the punishment for her. How could a smack on the buttocks feel good to her? She trembled, still squeezing her napkin. She was ill. Ill in the head. God help her.
“So tell me,” Ally continued. “Do you intend to see more of Mr. Newland?”