“You’re one to talk,” she teased. “Mr. Hero.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not a hero.”
“You are. At least, you are in my eyes. Not many people would put their life on the line to help someone else. That takes courage. And courage is sexy.”
“Mm.” I smirked to myself, enjoying the turn of the conversation. I wanted to focus on this woman instead of my shortcomings. “So, you think I’m sexy?”
“I-I,” she stammered, and I could just imagine her blushing. “I didn’t say that.”
“But you were thinking it.”
What was wrong with me? I shouldn’t be flirting with Olivia. She was…well, she lived on the other side of the country. And she was…so much better than me. She deserved more than emails and phone calls from a broken man. Yet I couldn’t seem to stop myself.
“So…what’d you think ofInsatiableso far?” I asked, clearly a glutton for punishment.
“I just started it when I got home from work. But so far, I love it.” I heard some noise in the background. It sounded like she was opening and closing cabinets.
“Did you get to the pool scene?”
I heard her sharp intake of breath, and my pulse spiked. Not just about the scene—though it had been hot. But Olivia’s reaction to it.
“Yep,” she chirped. “It was…yeah. I mean, perhaps a tad unrealistic, but hot.”
“Unrealistic?” I tilted my head to the side. “How so?”
“Um.” She cleared her throat, and I sensed her nerves through the phone. “You know—the fact that she, um, climaxed so many times.”
I frowned. “What’s unrealistic about that? He fingered her. He licked her clit. And then they had sex.”
Her laughter was breathy and nervous. “I, um… Okay.” She swallowed.
“Have you… Do you have a hard time climaxing?” I asked.
“I’m not talking about this with you!”
“Okay. Okay. Geez,” I teased, not wanting to embarrass her. But, really…I wanted to know. But then a second thought occurred to me. “Olivia…are you a virgin?”
“No.” Her tone was defensive, and I felt bad for pushing her. But not bad enough to stop. God, I was a bastard.
“I’m not a virgin, but I’m not all that experienced either.” She huffed. “Romance novels set unrealistic expectations.”
I arched an eyebrow. “Do they now?”
“Butterflies at first sight? Kisses that make your toes curl? Mind-altering sex? It’s called fiction for a reason.”
“I didn’t take you for a cynic,” I said, surprised by this rare side to her.
“I prefer realist,” she sniffed.
“If we had sex,” I said, enjoying her shaky inhale. I could just imagine the same sound echoing through my bedroom as I pushed inside her. “I guarantee you’d be singing a different tune.”
She barked out a laugh. “Someone’s awfully cocky.”
I lifted a shoulder. “Just stating the facts.”
After that, our conversation turned to other topics, but I couldn’t get what she’d said out of my mind. In fact, it was rare that Olivia wasn’t on my mind. And as I fell asleep that night, I wondered if I’d ever get to meet her. If I’d ever have the chance to change her mind about sex. Because if it were up to me—I’d prove to her that toe-curling kisses and mind-blowing orgasms were, in fact, very real.
Chapter Seven
