Page 40 of Body Shot

But they’re all still completely focused on Jordan, who’s now playing “My Girl,” by the Temptations, and everyone is singing.

“No one has any idea what we’re doing,” I say softly. “Don’t worry.”

“Anders.” Her eyes are on mine now, and I’m not sure what I see there.

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“I…thank you.”

“No.” I shake my head. “Never thank a man for sex. It’s mutually pleasurable. We’re not doing each other a favor…we’re enjoying each other.”

“But you didn’t…” She bites off what she was going to say, as if it’s hard for her to say those kinds of things.

“Not now, no, but I will. Either at a later date with you or by myself. It’s okay for me to pleasure you. Mine will happen.”

“I didn’t…fuck. I thought my girlfriends were exaggerating about how good it feels. I really did.”

“Not an exaggeration. And what you just experienced was probably a very tame orgasm. When I get you off with my mouth, you’re not going to be able to be quiet.”

She dips her head shyly. “That sounds…fun.”

“It will be. You’ll see. Everything we do together will be fun.”

“Even before that night we slept together, Seth never made me feel like you do. He never managed to… get me there. And it made me think there was something wrong with me.”

“There wasn’t a damn thing wrong with you,” I insist. “The problem was him being both inexperienced and selfish.”

“You really believe that?”

“He was a boy,” I say quietly. “I’m a man. Your pleasure will always come before mine.”

“It’s hard to remember why I was ever nervous when I’m with you.”

“I don’t want you to be nervous when we’re together.”

“Well, whatever you’re doing, it seems to be working.

“We’re just getting started, sweetheart.”

“I don’t know when we’re going to be alone.”

“Then let’s make a plan.” I wait, letting her mull it over. At the end of the day, she has to decide if this—if I—am worth the effort it will take for us to make time for each other.

“I have to talk to Hana.”

“Speak of the devil.” I look up as Hana pads over to us.

“Hey, you two,” she says with a smile. “Claudia, would you mind if I went out for a nightcap with Aiden?”

“Oh.” Claudia nestles closer to me. “No. Not at all.”

“I’ll probably be back late, so don’t wait up.”

“I won’t.”

“See you later.” She waves and makes her way back over to where she’d been sitting with Aiden,

“That was easy,” Claudia says, shaking her head.

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