Page 64 of Rivals & Revenge

He nodded. "A virgin. I've never been with someone who was—pure."

"So, I'm like a trophy for you. The virgin you get to bed." I asked, suddenly defensive.

He blew out a heavy breath, his eyes lifting to mine. "No. Not a trophy. A prize to be sure, but not a trophy."

"Look Tierney," he said, pronouncing my name with that suave posh accent that sent pulses of heat straight to my core.

"A woman's first time matters. When you look back on this, I don't ever want you to regret it—to regret me." His voice softened on the last words, allowing me to see his vulnerability in this moment.

My own defenses that had been raised impossibly high since the grove, lowered. For weeks, I had seen strong, powerful, self-assured, cocky and downright pissed off, but this was the first time I saw vulnerable; he was baring his throat to me.

Chapter 35

AHREN

"I'm sorry. I just—" she started, her entire being deflating as the fight left her body. "I just thought that was my card to play. You know. My secret to keep or reveal."

I nodded, but kept my mouth shut. I had overstepped, more than I realized. While I didn't want her angry with me, I was having trouble regretting something that was helping us move forward.

"I guess I was hoping maybe you wouldn't know." She rambled, ripping a piece of the crust off and squishing it between her fingers. "What I mean is, I can't imagine you'd really want a woman you need to train."

A wicked smile curved my lips. "See, that's where you're wrong."

Shock painted her delicate features as her eyes snapped to mine. The way she stared at me, lips parted, chest heaving, was a testament to her innocence. Any other woman would have known she was sexy as fuckin this moment and used it to get what she wanted. Instead, the lethal beauty before me seemed shocked that I would pay her any attention at all.

"I wouldn't mind training you—not one bit." I brought the cup to my lips, slowly dragging my tongue along the rim before taking a sip.

She swallowed hard, seemingly lost for words as she watched.

"If you want, we can talk about sex. I can answer all your questions. Hell, we can go play around if you want. But I don't think all that is necessary."

"You don't?" her brows scrunched together adorably.

I shook my head, swallowing the last bite of food before continuing. "Your body knows what it wants. Instinctively, you heat and ache and shiver in all the right places when we touch. Right?"

Her head bobbed wordlessly.

"Then all of that will take care of itself when the time is right. I do think we should be clear about whatever this is that's happening between us."

A dry laugh bubbled up through her lips. "Relationships are my special weakness."

"I'm not sure that's true. If anything, I think we are on pretty even ground."

Her lips parted, and I raised my hand to silence her. These words were difficult enough. If she interrupted, I might never gain the courage to speak them.

"I've been with a lot of women, but rarely the same woman twice and even then, almost always by accident. Hell, I think my longest relationship is Connor, and I’ve never even fucked her."

She snorted, "That surprises me. You're both beautiful people. Why didn't you?"

I shrugged. "She saved my life and nursed me back to health. In the process, she gave me a healthy amount of shit." I laughed, remembering how much her razor sharp wit had both irritated and intrigued me.

"I'd never had anyone who wasn't afraid to tell me to fuck off. "

"Well, then you're in luck. Because, I too, am not afraid to tell you to fuck off."

We shared a laugh, the moment of levity smoothing out the rougher edges of the conversation that hadn't quite gone the way either of us planned.

Reaching across the table, I wrapped my hand around hers. "What I do know is that I'm going to do things to your body—make you feel things you didn't know were possible. Absolutely fucking drown you in pleasure."

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