Page 44 of Christmas at Hart's Ridge

“Yeah. Sorry. I just…” She blinked. “I forgot I was here. What time is it?” She was already reaching for her phone. “9:15. My mom called twice.”

She was looking everywhere but at me. I propped myself up on one elbow and watched her proceed to freak the fuck out.

“Where is my bag? Did I leave it at Goat’s last night? Oh, god, I—”

“Your bag is hanging on the doorknob. Your clothes are in the bathroom.” And then, because I needed to know where her head was at, I forced the question out of my mouth. “Having regrets, Red?”

She finally looked at me. Frowning. “Regrets?”

“About last night.”

I scrubbed a hand over my unshaven jaw, the movement snagging her attention. She stared for a moment. Her plush lips parted, her kaleidoscope eyes turned glassy. A blush bloomed on her cheeks and she ripped her gaze away, swallowing hard.

“I’m don’t have regrets.”

“Really? Because last night you were bound and determined to end your virginity as quickly as possible and now you’re…” I studied her. My guess was aroused, annoyed, and a little shy. But this wasn’t the time for me to be making guesses. It wasn’t worth the risk of guessing wrong. “Help me out here, Red. What are you?”

She bit her lip, refusing to meet my eyes. “Anxious,” she admitted.

Anxious? I didn’t like the sound of that.

“Are we going too fast?” I asked. “We can slow it down.” That might actually kill me, but whatever.

“No, we’re not going too fast,” she snapped, making me grin.

“Too slow?” I suggested.

She rolled her eyes.

“Out with it, Red. What is it?”

She hesitated, tracing the seam of the comforter with her fingers.

“Bethany,” I said sternly.

She sighed. “You’re too good,” she muttered.

“I’m too good?”

“Yeah. At sex.” She heaved another sigh. “Like, you knew things about my body thatIdidn’t even know, and I’ve lived in it for twenty-five years. You have so much more experience than me.”

I was quiet as I absorbed this. I knew my reputation, and I knew Bethany knew my reputation. I had never been ashamed of it. But I suddenly realized I had no idea how she felt about it.

“Is that a problem?” I asked.

“Yeah, it’s a problem, Luke!” She punched the pillow between us with her tiny fist, glaring fiercely. “You havemoves. Skill. You know what to do. I have no moves, Luke. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. Let’s face it, this is probably going to be great for me, but it’s going to suck for you. And I—” She turned her face away, blinking rapidly.

I stared at her. And then, even though it was the wrong thing to do, I burst out laughing. I couldn’t help it.

“Come here, Red,” I ordered.

She jerked away from me but I grabbed hold of her and rolled her into my arms, so she was against my chest like she had been this morning.

“Listen to me, honey. There is no way that being with you could be anything less than spectacular. All you have to do is put your hands on me, look me in the eyes, and say ‘Fuck me, Luke,’ and it will be the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You got that?”

She mulled that over. “Because even bad sex is good sex?”

“No, Red. Bad sex is bad sex. Good sex is good sex. What makes good sex phenomenal is the chemistry of the people involved. You and me, Red? Our chemistry is off the charts.”

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