Page 18 of Virgin's Night with the Greek

‘Issued an indecent proposition? Or had a one-night stand?’

‘Both.’

‘That makes two of us.’

Interesting, but possibly irrelevant right now. ‘I’ve never actually slept with anyone before either.’

He stared at her in the shadowy darkness, a flicker of astonishment darting across his face. ‘You’re a virgin?’

‘I am,’ she confirmed with a nod. ‘It’s no big deal, obviously. But I thought you should know. In case I do something wrong. I assume you’re not.’

‘Not since I was sixteen.’

That came as no surprise. He’d probably been as irresistible then as he was now, at the age of thirty-one. How many women had there been in the intervening fifteen years? Why had he never married any of them? Unimportant questions, both of them. All she cared about was the here and now. ‘Does my inexperience put you off?’

‘No,’ he said, but she caught a glimmer of doubt in his eyes, which suggested otherwise and needed to be speedily addressed.

‘I hope you’re not going to back out because of some antiquated notion of virginity and its value and force me to find someone else.’

‘I should.’

‘Why?’

‘Do you really want your first time to be a one-night stand?’

Yes. That was exactly what she wanted and all she could ever have with the mountainous emotional baggage she carried. Even if she didn’t have a giant stumbling block when it came to love, it wouldn’t be fair to expect someone to commit to her when her life revolved around her menstrual cycle, when for approximately five days in every month she had to take to her bed, when staying positive was a battle she didn’t always win, when she might not be able to ever have children.

Should she tell Leo about the physical baggage she also came with? Despite her conviction that sex with him would be fabulous, there was the chance it might not be and he perhaps ought to be alerted to that possibility. On the other hand, disclosing her virginity and persuading him it didn’t matter was turning out to be risky enough. What if her endometriosis—on top of everything else—proved to be a tipping point and he simply figured that she was too much hassle?

No. She wouldn’t do anything to jeopardise the night ahead, and that level of emotional intimacy wasn’t necessary or appropriate for a one-night stand anyway. Of course everything would be fine. And if it wasn’t, well, really, how bad could it actually be?

‘I don’t much care how it happens,’ she said, clearing her head of these discombobulating thoughts and focusing instead on eradicating any reservations Leo might have. ‘I just want fireworks. Our kiss on the dance floor suggested that you can provide them. Not all women get to say that about their first time.’

‘You’re basing a lot on a kiss.’

‘I’ve had dozens of kisses. None of them like that. Have you ever had any complaints?’

‘Not to my knowledge.’

‘I didn’t think so. I know you’ll give me what I want, Leo. I trust you to show me stars.’

One agonisingly long second ticked by, then another.

‘Would you really find someone else?’ he eventually asked with an assessing tilt of his head.

Of course she wouldn’t. She’d never met anyone who affected her the way he did, who transported her to a level of pleasure where pain couldn’t possibly exist. She certainly wasn’t willing to take a risk on this with just anyone. But she wasn’t having him back out now, and the way he’d seen off his brother earlier suggested he had a competitive, possessive and possibly even jealous streak.

‘Absolutely,’ she lied, mentally crossing her fingers. ‘I’m twenty-four. It’s beyond a joke.’

He seemed to consider this for a moment, undoubtedly weighing up the pros and cons, then said in a voice that was low, gruff and sent delicious tingles to places she didn’t know she had, ‘Everyone deserves fireworks.’

Relieved beyond belief, Willow inwardly grinned. Excitement churned through her. Her heart pounded. This was going to be, without question, the most exciting night of her life. ‘They do indeed.’

CHAPTER FIVE

ANYQUALMSLEOmight have had about bedding a virgin had vanished the minute Willow mentioned having to find someone else. The thought of it had boiled his blood and once again, the wordshell, nohad flashed through his head. He didn’t know why. Possessiveness wasn’t his thing. He’d never once warned Zander off anyone, and he didn’t get a kick from the thought of being the first man to show Willow what her body was capable of. He wasn’t that unreconstructed a male.

Perhaps the strength of his reaction was down to the certainty that he—and only he—could provide the fireworks she wanted. As unlikely a pairing as they were on paper, their chemistry was exceptional and unique. Or maybe it was because the fact that she trusted him made him feel he could take on the world. Either way, it didn’t much matter. The deal was sealed.

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