Page 92 of The Witch is Back

He’d never stopped to question whether she would be a virgin or not. To be honest, he hadn’t wanted to think of it, her with another man, and he’d known that was a touchy subject, since he was the one who’d left. For a good reason. Their engagement contract was technical, so until it had been officially locked down, she had been free to date. Technically.

But she hadn’t. Or if she had, it hadn’t got so far as the bedroom.

He knew the satisfaction he felt placed him vaguely in the same category as a caveman, but just knowing he was her first lover was shockingly powerful. It made him want to...hell, he didn’t know. Do things for her. To her.

And the fact that she’d trusted him with that gift? It went a long way toward healing old hurts.

He’d been honest earlier when he’d told her to keep her secrets. The more he knew her now, the more he was sure she couldn’t have betrayed him then. And the few things she was keeping from him would only be sweeter when she grew to trust him again and shared them voluntarily.

Her eyes were wide now, the brown dappled with black as she stared up at him. Her hair was tousled, her cheeks flushed, and she looked adorable.

Unable to resist, he dropped a kiss onto her nose.

She startled, eyeing him. “What makes you think—I mean, maybe I might be a bit rusty, but—I mean, why would you say it was my first time?”

“Apart from the fact that you’re rambling again?” He stroked a free hand down the side of her body, ostensibly to calm her but also because she had the softest skin. “You were tight. And your reactions...”

Her eyes flashed up to his. “I did it wrong?”

The chuckle flowed out of him and continued even when storm clouds gathered on her face. “It’s okay,” he soothed, still laughing. “Practice makes perfect. We’ll just do it again.” He kissed her neck. “And again.” Her cheek. “And again.” Her lips, and this time he lingered, nudging her to kiss him back.

Annoyed, she resisted at first, but as naturally responsive as she was, it took only a few seconds before she sank in, opening her mouth for long, lazy kisses.

When he broke away, it was with some difficulty. He looked into hazy eyes. “You were incredible, Emma. I just wish you’d told me.”

Pleasure at his words dimmed. She didn’t meet his gaze, instead focused her attention on his chest. Her hand reached up and she traced the line of his pec as if needing to occupy herself. “It wasn’t important.”

“It was to me. I could’ve...” He struggled. “Gone slower. Been less rough. Or something.”

Her smile was faint. “I liked it.”

His chest grew two sizes. He wanted to pound it, but best to wait for a private moment.

He settled where he was, enjoying her petting. Their intimacy. In no rush to run away, he was content to be close. But then, he reasoned, Emma always had been his place to rest.

“Why me?”

She still didn’t look at him, her busy fingers now stroking over his nipple. Sensation was uncurling in his belly, but he didn’t let it distract him.

“Emma.”

She lifted a shoulder. “It never seemed right before.”

“And it did with me?” That chest-pounding was looking more and more likely.

“We are going to be married. It was sensible that the first time be with my husband.”

Disappointment popped the caveman feeling. He put it away to examine later. For now, he wanted to keep it light. To see her smile again. “Sensible and wild at the same time. A whole new Emma.”

“Darn straight.” She finally looked at him, and there were the brown eyes he craved. They were careful as she flattened her hand against him. “I’m guessing it wasn’t yours?”

Alarms rang and he shifted. “I know this is your first time, but this isn’t exactly pillow talk.”

She didn’t smile, just continued to stare at him.

He sighed, stroking her, needing the contact. “Honesty, right?” He forced the words out. “No. It wasn’t my first time.”

She didn’t stiffen, just nodded. “You’ve been with lots.” Her expression was pure Switzerland, neutral to a fine point. He couldn’t tell what she was thinking, and he wouldn’t invade her privacy by seeing if he could catch any impressions at the top of her mind.

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