Page 18 of Bearly Breathing

“What’s that?”

“First, you should know I’m twenty-seven years old.”

“Okay-”

“I’m not done yet. I’m twenty-six years old, and I’ve been waiting my whole life for something special to happen. I admit, I thought about having a vacation romance on the plane over.”

“Yeah?” he swallowed, she followed the small movement with her eyes, continuing before she ran out of courage.

“I’m through waiting.”

“Uh huh.”

“Twenty-seven and virtually untouched.”

“Wait, you mean you’re a virgin?”

“Yep.”

“How is that possible?”

“Not for lack of trying,” she laughed and felt her cheeks heat up.

“Excuse me?” he coughed into his napkin and she continued before she lost her nerve.

“In high school, there was Steven. He was shy and cute, and the one time we got into some heavy petting his mother walked in, and you can guess what came next.”

“Poor Steven.” She couldn’t be sure, but she swore Marcus’ eyes glowed when he said that.

He looked as if he wanted to tear poor Steven’s head off. She took a sip of her wine and lifted an eyebrow. He nodded, and she went on.

“Then, in college, I tutored Judd, a football player with a habit of well, being early to the party, if you catch my drift.”

“Awe, that’s too bad for Judd.”

She tilted her head to the side and nodded. He seemed tense. But he nodded again despite looking as if he wanted to say, fuck off Steven and Judd.

“After Judd, was Thomas, a music major. He had some strange ideas about women and let’s just say I told him to take a hike before we got to third base.”

“Poor Thomas,” his voice got even deeper.

“A few dates here and there in the years that followed were not promising. Then there was Gary, who I told you all about.”

“Oh yeah, Gary. I’d love to meet him in a dark alley.”

“Anyway,” she laughed, “now I have a problem.”

“What’s that?”

“I’m tired of waiting. I want to make something special happen.”

Marcus swallowed again, and Leya bit her lip. What the hell?You waited long enough already. Much longer than any of her old friends from school or anyone at her former job.

This vacation was supposed to be her turn to run wild before starting her new life. She got the wardrobe, onto the next experience.

“What are you saying?” He asked in that deep, sexy voice of his. The one that made goosebumps break out all over her body.

Oh, but the man definitely had a voice. A dark, deep timbre that made her mouth water and her core ache.

“What I am saying Marcus, is that I want to make that something special happen with you.”

“Check please!”

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