Page 119 of Sinful Escape

He groaned into the phone, and all I wanted to do was wrap my arms around him and give him the hug of all hugs.

I had a sudden urge to travel down to his tiny town of Manarola. All going well, I could be there by this time tomorrow.

Would he think that was creepy? Stalkerish? After all, we’d only known each other for twenty days.

Twenty days. Wow. I felt like I’d known Roman for years.

“Anyway, Red, I have to go. Papa needs help in the kitchen. He’s making limoncello. God help me.” He laughed, and although I laughed along with him, I sensed he was putting on an act.

“Oh. Okay. I’ll see you on the first of August. In London.”

“I’ll be there.”

We said our goodbyes and a wave of excitement flushed through me at how good I felt. I was going to help Roman reach that precipice. I’d help him stand on that edge, with love for his ex on one side and freedom on the other. Once he was there, I’d hold his hand while he tipped over that harrowing threshold and into emotional freedom.

For the first time in my life, I knew how special it was to help a friend. Usually, it was Zali helping me. It was time to give back.

I plugged my phone into the charger, and my eyes snagged on the notes I’d made on the back of that letter.

First orgasm in a shower

First time a naked man had cooked for me

But they were just the tip of my firsts for this month.

Charged with excitement, I grabbed a notepad from my drawer and flipped to a fresh page, and as the last twenty days replayed in my head, I listed all the firsts I’d experienced.

Pierre

1. First time I’d torn my shirt open

2. First time my breasts had been sucked

I frowned at that, questioning its truth. Sadly, it was. Not once had William put his tongue to my breasts.

3. First time I was topless in public

I giggled at the flashback of me racing through the antique shop. It was a wonder my bloody boobs hadn’t knocked a priceless statue over.

Luca

4. First time a smoking-hot man truly looked at me naked

I wasn’t talking a little peek either. Luca had gazed at my flesh until I’d clawed at the tartan rug. He’d devoured me with his gaze. Like I was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Was that true? Did he think I was beautiful?

Pierre had also called me beautiful. As had Isabella, the hairdresser, and Nina from the castle. Oscar had too. But there was one more person who’d called me beautiful, she was more important than all of them. Me. I’d felt both beautiful and sexy as I’d crossed the plush carpets on the arm of my classy James Bond at the Monte Carlo.

A warm glow washed through me. I’d never felt so . . . so complete. In control. So certain of myself in my whole life.

Returning my attention to the growing list, I wrote:

5. First oral sex

Hmm . . . Luca’s hot tongue on me and in me. Why on earth hadn’t I done that before?

6. First time with a younger man

7. First time a man had undressed me

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