Page 9 of Crossing the Line
“Are you on the pill?” he asked.
I lied and said I was. I didn’t want anything to stop the forward progression of something that I’d always dreamt of—Hercules Lord being my first.
Then his heaviness was on top of me and his face close to mine. His scent overpowered my senses. And the taste of his kiss—I was so overstimulated that I had to take deep breaths through my nose to keep from passing out.
When it happened, it hurt—burned like fire racing through me. But after a few gentle pumps, it wasn’t so bad. Treasure thinks it didn’t hurt as much as it should have with a man Hercules’s size because I was so aroused. I showed her how big he was by pressing my two thumbs and forefingers together to form an O.
Suddenly, I remember something. Hercules has been frowning at my face for a few seconds.I was clinging to him like a scared kitty. He knew…
“You knew I was a virgin, didn’t you?” I ask.
His eyebrows pull together then release as he stares ahead. I wait for him to say something. But now the city is doing all the talking. Car horns, brakes, and the general rumble of indecipherable noises rise like the city’s personal theme song.
“I thought so, maybe, when we started. I know I’m pretty…” He turns his toothy, alluring smirk on me, and I skip a breath. “Robust.”
I snicker, blushing, and nod. “I actually woke to pee, and I saw the blood I left on your pristine white sheets and panicked. I mean, obviously, if I was a virgin, then I lied about being on the pill. I was really ashamed about that. I didn’t want you to see me as a liar, I guess.”
He’s silent for a while, and I feel as I did that night—like I’m about to pass out. Then he graces me with a courteous expression. “It was okay. You know?” His smile makes me simper.
“Thanks. But I was young and easily embarrassed about those sorts of things. Now I get that I should’ve stayed and dealt. I mean, I was playing with fire. No condom. No pill. I could’ve gotten pregnant.”
He grunts thoughtfully. “We could’ve dealt with that.”
I jerk my head back. “Oh yeah? How?”
“I would’ve been with you every step of the way, PG.”
Wow, the thought of that…I tilt up my head and take in his gorgeous profile. “You mean through nine months of pregnancy?”
“And beyond.”
That makes me feel good, but I scoff anyway. “Our families would’ve torn each other apart.”
Hercules tosses his head back to laugh. “Maybe, but if we had a child, that might’ve forced them to get along.” He winks at me. “Like we get along.”
I fold my arms closer to my chest, feeling the tightness in my shoulders.Why do I feel so exposed?
“So, PG, are you married? You’re not wearing a ring.”
Oh… he checked.I shake my head.
He grunts, intrigued. “Do you have a boyfriend?”
“No.” I grin, preparing him for my impending stab at humor. “Besides what looks like a very incestuous relationship with your cousin, do you have a girlfriend?”
His eyebrows furrow as he grimaces as if a bitter taste has invaded his mouth. “No,” he finally says.
I tilt away from him. “Are you sure?”
He chuckles. “I’m sure. But how are you single? A woman who looks like you, with your credentials.”
I find that funny. “My credentials?”
“You’re obviously beautiful—sexy, even. But you’re profoundly smart too. Kind. Down to earth.”
“What about you?” I ask. “You’re tall, strapping, handsome, insanely rich, and it shows. And you’re also kind, gracious, down to earth…”
We pass a restaurant. I turn after hearing a table of women giggling. I was right. They’re reacting and admiring Hercules’s assets.
