Page 90 of Tame Me

He’s right, I didn’t look too closely at the time because I was cringing—and I was too busy feeling inadequate looking at her. But now I do look more closely. And, yes, his hair is longer than it was that night.

‘This photo was taken two years ago when I met Willow. I haven’t seen her since then, though according to that caption she was back in Queenstown that weekend. But I never saw her and last I heard she was modelling in Paris.’

Willow is even more famous than he is. The gossip piece focused on her, not the man escorting her. And she suits the name, what with her endless limbs and, oh, yes, I am jealous. I clocked the location—a cool bar in Queenstown—and, given the date of the article, I assumed the photo was taken that night. That he went from a quick canapé—me—to the sumptuous feast that was her.

‘So she wasn’t your girlfriend?’ I ask.

‘Not the night we were together,’ he says. ‘I don’t cheat.’

Now I feel even worse.

But Dain actually chuckles. ‘You really screwed up.’

I really did.

He inhales. ‘As penance I think you ought to be wholly honest with me.’

I glance up at him, confused. I’ve just confessed the worst.

‘Were you a virgin that night?’ he asks bluntly.

I shrivel—emotionally that is. If only I couldreallyshrivel right out of existence. How did he know? Did he guess? I’m mortified. ‘I...’

Can’t even breathe the words.

But he just waits.

‘Why does it matter?’ I mumble as I eventually nod.

‘Why didn’t you tell me then?’

I swallow.

‘You couldn’t, right?’ he says. ‘You couldn’t be that vulnerable.’

‘I’ve never regretted it. Not for a moment,’ I reassure him in an embarrassed rush. ‘It was amazing. You were...’ I trail off and look at him. ‘Are you even more angry with me?’

‘I’m feeling all kinds of things about you, Talia. But yeah, anger is one of them.’ He looks thoughtful. ‘And you’re jealous of my supposed lifestyle?’

My lips are suddenly dry and I lick them. ‘Do you deny your lifestyle is...uh...exciting?’

‘I don’t think it’s as extensive as what you’re thinking.’ He looks right into my eyes.

I don’t want to think about it too closely. ‘Oh?’

His gaze is unwavering. ‘I haven’t had sex in about a year.’

My jaw drops. ‘You mean...?’

No.Surely not.

He closes my mouth with a finger beneath my chin. ‘Yeah. I do mean.’ His gaze deepens. ‘Let me guess, you don’t believe me.’

‘I...’Am floored.

‘Yet it’strue,’ he says and he’s somehow even closer.

‘Why didn’t you?’ I blurt.

---