Page 20 of Nerdy Dirty Valentine

I understood this was a high compliment. His words, the sincerity behind them, moved me. Too much. It made my heart slam against my ribs.

“As long as I’m a bestseller.”

A joke. I fell back on that, as usual. If I didn’t joke, I might blurt out something I’d regret.

“You would be.” His smile slipped a little.

God, I didn’t want that, either. I slid my hands to his. I couldn’t not touch James. Couldn’t drag my gaze from his. He stared at me for a long moment.

James pulled his hands away. “And I’d be the forgotten classic on the back shelf. The one never… opened.”

The wordvirginwas not said, but it was clear to me. Unsurprising, given all James struggled with his body image.

“Undiscovered books might be my favorite.” My voice trembled. Despite my attempts to play it cool, I couldn’t manage it. Not with James.

His eyes widened for a second. Then, understanding lit his face, what I was offering, standing there.

“Thank you. I never expected—but thank you.” He reached for my hand this time and awkwardly brought it to his lips.

Soft lips pressed on my knuckles.

“Sure, no problem,” I said gruffly.

It was just a little sex thrown in with our friendship. I could handle this.

I liked sex and could never have enough friends. Everything would be fine. We’d explore what James needed until… I let him go after Valentine’s Day.

But could I let him go then? My stomach felt both hollow and achy at the thought. I already knew that I didn’t want to.

CHAPTER

SEVEN

James had come over many times before, but this time was different. We wouldn’t be dancing or decorating. And while I didn’t mind James wanting to explore my body like a book, I worried he’d want the contents, not just the sexy cover.

And that he’d find the contents lacking.

So I did what anybody nervous about a hookup would. I showered, shaved, prepped, bought condoms and lube. My heart rose with the idea that we would need all of it, but I’d be fine if we didn’t. James had asked for slow, and I could do slow.

James knocked, and my pulse jumped.

“Hey.” I grinned stupidly at him.

“Hello.” He grinned back.

I motioned for him to enter. We stood there, looking at each other.

“I’m not sure what to do,” James breathed.

“Just tell me what you want, and I’ll do it. Order me to kiss you everywhere.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Sure you can. You want it slow, we go slow. You want more, we do more. Do you hear me? I want to taste your lips, and suck on your tongue, and lick your nipples. I want to tease you, tauntyou, but on your say-so. Your commands. And you can touch me and tease me back.”

James exhaled sharply. “How is that fair to you?”

I rested my hand on his shoulder and tugged him closer.

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