Page 52 of Ride With Me

He gives me a tentative smile and exits my office first. I grab the take-out box from the counter on our way out as well as the big blanket—hopefully Ollie will want to share—then get Ollie settled on the big lounger.

I kneel next to the fire pit and open the gas line, then grab the matches from the opening in the stone base.

“That’s awesome,” he whispers.

I can’t help but smile as I straighten and walk to sit beside him.

“I’m glad you think so, Ollie.” I place my hand on top of his on the cushion, then I lower my eyes to see him flip his hand over to hold mine. It’s mostly to give myself time to think about something to say. I should probably make normal, first-date type conversation, but I’m drawing a blank.

Then it comes to me. The simplest, most cliché thing to ask.

“So what do you do for?—”

“I’m a virgin!” he blurts in a shout.

I’m too stunned to react beyond letting my mouth drop open. Okay, so I guess sex is on his mind? That’s good, right? Or is he scared of me? Thinking I’m going to take advantage of him?

Jesus, please no.

“Sorry,” he mutters angrily. “God, I’m such a fucking idiot.”

“Hey, hey.” I squeeze his hand to try to get his blue eyes back on me. “You’re not an idiot. Why would you be an idiot for being honest?”

“It’s just—” He clamps his mouth shut and shakes his head then takes a deep breath. “I just really like you, and I thought it was better to tell you now than for you to be turned off by my lack of experience later.”

“Good. Your experience—lacking or not—would never be a turn off for me.”

“It wouldn’t?” he asks quietly and with so much hope in his wide eyes that it melts my heart.

“No, sweetheart.” I take a chance and raise my arm to wrap around his shoulders. I scoot closer and grab his hand with my free one. “I don’t think there’s anything about you that could turn me off, honestly.” I decide to be as honest as he is, and as vulnerable. “I’ve never been this attracted to anyone in all my life, Ollie. What happened last night, the way I acted, it’s not something that I’ve ever done before. I—” How can I even put it into words when I still don’t understand it myself?

“I get it,” he says with a nod and tips his head up.

It’s now.I know it’s now. The perfect moment. I lean down just a little and slightly nudge the tip of his nose with my own. He raises his chin and captures my lips with his.

Softly, tenderly, but unmistakably passionate.

God, he’s a good kisser. He doesn’t rush us, he lets it rise. He teases my lip with his tongue just after I do the same, and when I do it again he opens for me instinctively. I bring my hand around his back to cup his cheek, to deepen the kiss.

I stroke his tongue slowly as my other hand moves to his thigh, and that’s when he pulls away.

“Sorry, sorry,” I apologize.Stupid,I tell myself. He just told me he’s inexperienced and I just dive right in for a grope? What the fuck is wrong with me?

“No, don’t apologize. I don’t want to stop,” he tells me, sounding breathless. He takes my cheeks and turns me to lookhim straight in the eyes. “Ireallydon’t want to stop,” he emphasizes, his eyes trailing down to my pulsing lips.

“What’s up?” I ask, very stupidly. He kissed my brains out, that’s my excuse. He chuckles once, but keeps smiling at me.

“I don’t know if Derek told you this,” he starts and I think I know where this is going already. “But I have epilepsy.”

“He didn’t tell me,” I murmur. “Will you tell me about it?”

“Yeah.” Again, he sounds unsure and like he’s getting ready for rejection—I know the signs now that I’ve seen them. “So, I have seizures sometimes. Almost never in the last few years, but it was really bad when I was a senior. I was mostly in the hospital for three years and well... I didn’t go to college. I can’t drive because I might get a seizure out of nowhere and I’ve never even had a job before today.”

His eyes are starting to get misty, and though I don’t know exactly why that is, I tighten my arm around him and press us closer.

“That’s why you wanted to work for Hawk?” I wonder aloud.

“No,” he says with a watery laugh. “I was running away from home and he found me on the highway.”

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