Page 54 of The First Time

He smiles. “Not only did you just admit we’re fooling around, but you were willing to admit it might just be more than that.”

“I don’t know if I’d go that far.”

That makes him laugh more. “We’ll see about that, Freckles. For right now, let’s just enjoy the evening.”

“And how do you suppose we do that?” my voice hitches a bit seductively.

He raises his eyebrows as his eyes look me up and down. “I have a couple of ideas. First, let’s talk. How was your first week back at work? Did you and Zane move passed our awkward encounter?”

That makes me laugh this time. “Oh gosh. It did lead to a conversation I’ve never had with him before.”

He seems curious. “What kind of conversation was this?”

I cringe at the thought. “He made me tell him everything we did in Italy.” His face doesn’t give way to his reaction. “Are you mad?”

“Mad? Why would I be mad?”

“I don’t know. Some people don’t want their personal details shared with others. But it’s Zane, he would’ve locked me in his office until I spilled.”

“I believe that,” he says with a smile. “And I don’t care if you tell him. You guys are close, you should be able to talk to your friends.”

His response throws me a bit. He’s so different when we aren’t at each other’s throats. He’s so supportive and—nice.

“Thanks. He was so worked up when I told him how long it had been for me. He was beginning to worry about me.”

He sits up straighter. “What do you mean? How long had it been before me?”

Crap. I just put my foot in my mouth. I feel like my cheeks are turning red.

“Like before I opened the restaurant or something. I don’t know. I couldn’t even remember the last time, honestly.”

His eyes widen. Did I just scare him? I mean, I know it’s out of the ordinary, but I was focused on work.

Suddenly, he stands up and looks down at me.

Is he going to kick me out? I can’t believe I told him. Here I am, willingly telling the man I’m sleeping with that I’m basically a born-again virgin.

He puts his hand out. “Do you want me to leave?” I ask faintly.

“Leave? No, just come here.”

I take his hand reluctantly, then follow him down a hallway. I’m not sure where the hell we are going until we are all of a sudden standing in what appears to be his bedroom.

His large hand takes my face and holds it gently. His arm encircles me, his hand landing on the small of my back. A mere touch from him sends warm shivers through my body.

He presses his lips against mine gently, making them burn with fire. His mouth moves slowly, taking his time with his exploration.

He pulls away, eyes looking drugged. “I’m sorry I didn’t know that it had been that long, Freckles. I should’ve been gentler with you.”

He seems torn up about this, and it actually makes my heart feel like it’s cracking open.

“I love everything we did together. I have no regrets,” I tell him honestly.

His thumbs rub up and down my cheeks as he closes his eyes. His forehead falls to mine.

“This time, I’ll make love to you like I should have our first time together.”

Make love? I swallow hard, trying to process what’s happening. An undeniable magnetism is building between the two of us.

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