Words of Lust Read Online Free Page A

and The Professor had a date.
    When they had a date.
    “Wow. Tough question. I mean, de Sade’s twisted and his stuff is dark and off-the-charts sadistic. Nin is more, hmm, cerebral, and of course hers is the female perspective. Lawrence is okay. Maybe Henry Miller? He’s really macho and graphic, but he taps into the male sexual soul. Anaïs Nin was actually Miller’s lover, and their letters are steamy too. But there are some erotic romance novels out there, too, that are incredibly hot. Luca mentions them and compared a few of them to the classics. How popular fiction today replaces what was literary fiction in the past.”
    “I thought you were all about the highbrow stuff.”
    “A girl can be widely read, dude. Don’t make fun of romance novels or I’ll have to hurt you.”
    “Truce, okay? So since I want to impress this professor when we have our date, you think I should read some Henry Miller?”
    “If you can take the heat, dude.” She smiled and he tweaked her spiky hair.
    “I’m a very deep guy, I’ll have you know.”
    “How about I email you my curriculum reading list for this semester and you can pick one? I’ll even put a check mark next to the easy ones.”
    He nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”
    “I’d loan you some copies, but I don’t want to get them back with the pages all stuck together.”
    He tried to ignore that his baby sister was talking about him jerking off.
    “Not to worry. I’ll pick up my own—but way to talk, gutter mouth.”
    “I didn’t say a thing. It’s all in the interpretation. The French even have a saying for it, honi soit qui mal y pence. ”
    “And what does that mean, smarty-pants?”
    “Basically, dirty is in the mind of the beholder.”
    “Gee, thanks.” He pulled up in front of the 83rd and East End Avenue apartment building that was part of the Wharton student housing. She loved the small studio single because, she’d said, after growing up with four brothers and sisters, she’d kill for privacy.
    “You want me to talk you up to Luca? I’ll put in a good word you’re the least ignorant of all my brothers.”
    “Don’t strain yourself. Besides, I can read. I’m not a complete slacker.” He may have sounded a bit testier than he’d meant to and she leaned over and hugged him with a smile.
    “Seriously, dude. I just want you to wow her. We can’t have Mom fixing you up anymore. It’s embarrassing.”
    He remembered the New Year’s Eve bash Denise had finagled an invite to and shuddered. “Yeah, put in a good word that I’m loyal, a dedicated son, good with his hands...” He flushed as she grinned maniacally.
    “Trust me when I say that’s what every woman wants to hear.” She grabbed her purse and gave him a smacking kiss on the cheek.
    “Geez, cut the sex talk, little sister. You’re skeeving me out.”
    “Can’t take a joke anymore, can you, big bro? Must be you’re getting old.” She leaped out and slammed the door of the truck as he hollered back.
    “You don’t know when to stop, do you?” She ignored his bellow and ran up the steps, waving as she disappeared inside and he pulled into traffic wondering when his kid sis had grown into a woman who read dirty books and made snarky comments about masturbation.
    Traffic at that hour was manageable as he headed back over to the West Side and his loft in the Meatpacking District. He’d bought it just as the district was getting all hip and trendy and while he wasn’t fond of the obnoxious crowds from the bars and clubs, he loved his space in the historical section of the city. There were some great old buildings and good restaurants. His loft itself had been a huge project of his own design he’d undertaken with gusto. It was worth the annoyance to be able to escape into his private space, cook, listen to his tunes and have a beer while looking out into the distance at the water.
    He made a quick detour to the indie bookstore in his area and drifted up and down the aisles,