Page 52 of The Genius
“I liked the feeling of you sliding in and out of me, but I didn’t like how I lost control.” She fixated on her hands again, avoiding my eyes. “Or maybe I did. I’m still analyzing that part. It was a new side of me and I’m not sure I liked it.”
I loved that side of you.My blood pumped a little faster, just from our talk about sex. She was damn right, she’d shown a new side of herself, and I hadn’t been able to get her sweet moans and kisses out of my mind since it happened. Wetting my lips, I asked the big, pressing question. “Do you need to do more research?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Are you planning to sleep with other Nmen than me?”
Shelly blinked her eyes and lifted her hand to twirl a lock of her hair. “I hadn’t thought about that. That’s a good point. A scientist always needs a wide number of samples for comparison.”
The sides of my neck tensed up and heat spread to my face as anger flared up inside of me. “Is that a joke? You’re not going to sleep with a bunch of men for your research, are you?” The thought alone made me want to smash any other Nman who came close to her.
“It wasn’t in my plan. I’ll think about it.”
“Look, if you need to do more research, I’ll help you, okay?”
She arched a brow. “You’ll find more Nmen for me?”
“No, of course not. You know what I meant, Shelly.”
Her head fell to one side and the edge of her mouth lifted. “You said I shouldn’t assume, so why don’t you spell it out for me?”
“If you need to do more research on sex, you can experiment with me.”
She straightened up a little and narrowed her eyes.
I cleared my throat, my pants feeling tighter, and my eyes noticing the curve of her breasts. “I’m serious, I wouldn’t mind having sex with you again.”
Shelly pulled back a little, like she wasn’t sure I was serious, so I added, “Only if you want, of course. I told you I enjoyed it, and it would be different now that I know you’re not a robot.”
“But you said you would have never done it if you knew it was me.”
“Right.”
“Well, you know it’s me now, so what changed?”
“For one, we already had sex and the fact that you’re not fifteen anymore is finally sinking in. I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I think about that day all the time. You’re beautiful and I’d have to be dead not to want you.”
Shelly took a few seconds before she answered. “In three weeks you’re going to be in a tournament.”
“True. So that gives us time to experiment all you want until then.” I shifted in my seat. “I got the message loud and clear that you don’t want to marry me and you’re going back to the Motherlands soon anyway. In a way the timing is kind of perfect. I could help you with your research and you could…” I trailed off.
“I could help you practice so you’re ready to impress Louisa in bed, is that it?” Shelly’s voice was low and her stare was direct. This had sounded so much better in my head.
“I didn’t mean it like that. Just forget that I asked.” Getting up from the couch, I stood for a second, before I muttered, “You can take my bed tonight and I’ll sleep here on the couch. Just give me a minute to change the sheets.” Without waiting for Shelly’s reply, I walked down the hallway, angry at myself for having brought up sex in the first place. What the hell had I been thinking?
My movements were rough as I made the bed ready for her. I had brought Shelly here to give her a safe space after the traumatizing events she’d been through tonight. So what had possessed me to jump on her with my suggestion for us to have sex again? It was a miracle she had done it the first time. To think she’d do it again was like hoping it could be summer all year round.
“Marco.”
I pivoted around to see Shelly in my doorway. Her pretty features were molded into a serious expression and her hands formed into fists down by her side.
“I have conditions.”
She had my full attention.
“If we have sex, you can’t come inside me.”
My Adam’s apple bobbed in my throat. “Shelly, you don’t have to, really…”
