Page 52 of Virgin's Stolen Nights with the Boss

‘Just get in, Carmen.’

‘But I want to go to Santa Monica.’

‘I’ll take you to Santa Monica,’ he said tersely. ‘And you and I are going to have a talk on the way.’

‘We have nothing to discuss.’

‘Carmen,’ he warned, ‘get in now, or we will have this discussion right here at the bus stop. Either way,we are going to speak.’

Carmen looked at the curious faces behind her and then acquiesced, sliding into the passenger seat. One-nil to Elias. But she stared rigidly ahead and tried to breathe only through her mouth and not her nose.

Damn him for smelling so fantastic! Not woodsy or citrussy, just soapy, and so devastatingly sexy that Carmen knew she would do last night all over again—even with the accompanying aches and pains.

‘Are you okay?’ he asked.

‘I’m fine.’ She glanced over. ‘I still don’t want to talk about it.’

‘You don’t want to talk about anything,’ he pointed out. ‘You don’t say where you’re from, you’re posing as a stable hand when you’re clearly—’

‘Iama stable hand here,’ she protested. ‘I wanted a break from riding professionally back home. I came here to clear my head and try something new.’ She picked at the hem of her skirt. ‘But I missed the horses. I’m not lying. I’m not a wanted felon, or married or anything...’

‘I had worked that last one out,’ he snapped. ‘If you were, it must have been a very unsatisfactory honeymoon.’

He drove fast, oblivious to the glorious ocean beside him, and Carmen guessed he wanted this conversation over and done with.

‘You should have told me,’ Elias started.

‘So you’ve already said.’

‘I’m guessing you’re not on the Pill?’

‘Actually, I am,’ Carmen said. ‘I like to know when—’ She halted, because this was not the type of thing she discussed with anyone.

Ever.

Sebastián had gruffly attempted to tell her about periods when she was younger, but Carmen had pointed out to her brother that she did work with animals and knew how bodies worked, thank you very much.

‘That’s good,’ Elias said, and she felt him turn and glance at her. ‘At least one of us had our head on straight...’

‘You think?’ Again, she came out fighting. ‘We should have used a condom. I’m going straight to a clinic,’ Carmen said. ‘Not today, though.’ She gave a hollow laugh. ‘I’m a bit sore. God knows where you’ve been...’

‘Carmen,’ he said. ‘You don’t have to worry about that.’

‘Oh, please!’ she responded tartly, but was a little stunned when the car slowed and he pulled over.

Perhaps he wasn’t entirely oblivious to the view, because he looked out to the bright blue of the ocean for a full moment before turning to face her.

‘Listen to me. I’ve never had sex without a condom before.’

‘I have two very corrupt brothers,’ Carmen said. ‘And I’ve worked in stables for a long time. I know the rubbish men say—’

‘Well, in this instance it’s true. I don’t have unprotected sex.’ He took a tense breath. ‘Ever.’

‘Then why does it sting when I wee?’ she asked accusingly.

‘Because I was rough. Because it was new.’

She liked it that he didn’t blush, or back off. He went on to tell her that she was just bruised and sore, and that it was normal to be, especially as it was her first time.

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