Page 10 of Stripped Down at the Fair

I’d been gifted in the chest area, which wasn’t all that great until I got older and my hips filled out too. But even as ateenager, guys didn’t seem to like that as much. At least not the guys in my school. Dustin seemed to appreciate them just fine.

“Now what?” I asked. “Do I just get in bed?”

I felt so awkward, but he knew I was new to all this. Seconds ticked by as I waited patiently for him to answer.

“What do you want to do?” he finally asked.

Oh, crap. That was a good question. He was putting the ball in my court.

“I want to feel your hands on me.”

The words flowed out of me like they were the most natural thing in the world. Was that how I felt? Yes, definitely. Since when did I have the courage to say it to a man? Especially a man like Dustin?

“Well then, get under here,” he said.

Warmth spread to the area between my legs at his words. It had little to do with the words themselves and everything to do with the way he said them.

Funny, but my hands weren’t trembling as I pulled back the covers and climbed in. Somewhere along the way, I’d gotten my nerves under control. His nearness did that.

I immediately felt intense warmth. Heat was emanating from him. Was that something I brought out in him? I sure as hell hoped so.

Whatever the case, I’d barely gotten under the covers when his arms went around me, pulling me toward him. And that was when I truly felt like I’d come home. Like this was what I’d lived my entire life to experience. Everything up until now had just been preparing me for him.

His hand moved up my lower back as his lips touched mine. I closed my eyes, my entire body sighing as I savored my first real kiss. It started out tender at first, but I deepened it. I couldn’t get enough of him. It would never be enough.

God, I hoped this wasn’t a one-night stand because there was no way I’d walk away unscathed. I was already falling for Dustin, and if he didn’t feel the same, it would definitely break my heart.

6

DUSTIN

Go slowly.

The two-word mantra ran through my head over and over as I pressed my lips to hers. It was our first real kiss, and I wanted to make it exactly what she deserved. But that was a lot of pressure.

When Cate deepened the kiss, it told me I was on the right track. It also told me she wanted me as much as I wanted her, which was comforting to realize.

It was a gift just being here with her—let alone having the privilege of being her first time. I almost felt like thanking every man who’d come before. Men who hadn’t realized what they were missing. Thanks to their idiocy, I now had this amazing gift lying next to me in bed.

My hands slid over her back, but I restrained myself from going further. She wasn’t touching me yet. Her left hand was on my right bicep, but she wasn’t moving her fingers along my arm. I wanted to let her set the pace. She had to be comfortable before I’d take it to the next level.

Suddenly, she broke the kiss. “We forgot something important.”

Oh, crap. Unless it was an emergency, it was going to have to wait, whatever it was.

“What’s that?” I asked.

“Protection. I’m not on birth control. I mean, you know I’m safe, but I don’t think you want me getting pregnant.”

Where had she gotten that idea? Wait—did I want her getting pregnant? I didn’t…right?

“I have condoms,” I said. “They’re in my drawer over there. Do you want me to get them?”

I couldn’t make out her expression as she said, “Not yet. I mean…you wouldn’t put that on yet, would you?”

She was so innocent to all of this, and I was looking forward to showing her the best physical pleasure she’d ever had. I’d show her every day for the rest of her life if she let me.

“No,” I said. “We can wait a little longer.”

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