Page 23 of Beneath the Sapphire Sky

The last was said quietly, her beautiful eyes looking anywhere but at him.

“I’m not saying no, B. I just want to make certain that you’re sure.” He frowned. “What do you mean, you need the practice?”

She fidgeted with the sleeve of her costume. “You know I can count the number of guys I’ve been naked with on one hand, and have a few fingers to spare.” Belligerent anger radiated from her and flashed in her eyes. “I’ve never quite gotten around to… that.”

That?

“For the love of cheese! Do I have to spell it out for you? I’m thirty-two next month and I’ve done everything but the damned deed, and I’m over it.”

Everything but the …

Good God.

“You’re still a virgin?” he breathed.

She held his gaze. “Yes.”

“But, what about Zane?”

She blinked, uncomprehending. “What about him? That was ages ago. Like I said, we did stuff, but when it came to actual penetration it just…” She held up her hands. “It didn’t work. It was awkward and I wasn’t comfortable with it being him.”

Zane, the bastard, had told everyone within earshot of how good she’d been. It had eaten at him for months.

Lying prick.

“How did I not know this? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Why would I? It’s rather pathetic.”

He shook his head and grabbed her shoulders. “It isnotpathetic! If it wasn’t right, it wasn’t right. Simple. It’s not like it’s a milestone you have to tick off in a book by a certain age.” He lifted her chin with a finger. “And you want it to be me?”

She nodded. He searched her eyes in the dim light. No apparent apprehension or doubt.

Tenderness washed through his blood. They’d been friends forever, sitting next to each other the very first day ofkindergarten all those years ago. He’d forgotten his favourite crayon and had been upset about it. She’d given him her whole brand-new pack and told him to choose a new favourite.

Shewas his favourite. She always had been.

“Yes.”

Relief flooded her face. She threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you,” she whispered into his neck.

Dante closed his eyes and tightened his arms around her. He’d do anything for this woman. She’d just offered him heaven and wasthankinghim? He almost laughed at that.

“Small problem, B. I don’t have anything with me.”

She pulled back. Her mouth widened in a sexy grin. “I do. Back in the room.”

A surprised laugh burst out.Fair enough.

She grabbed his hand again and walked down the outside pathway that led to the road. She strode out onto the pavement, the heels of her high boots clacking sharply in the cool night air. She glanced around then jumped onto the road, pulling him behind.

They reached the opposite kerbside. Dante jerked her around to face him. He gripped her chin and bent forward.

Finally, after all this time, he would get to kiss her, and she would know he meant it. Not like the last supposed joke kiss, as amazing as it had been.

Her lips parted. He wasn’t sure who gasped louder as their mouths tangled. Awareness coalesced with rising need. She touched her tongue to his lip and he almost lost his mind.

Not here. Not in the middle of the street, dammit!

---