Perhaps it was too good to go unremarked upon,my worthless libido says.
The silence stretches, and she gives me a narrow-eyed stare. Slight irritation begins to infect her gaze. “Well…?”
“Well what? I have nothing to say.” Outrage flashes, and she bristles like a furious—but cute—guinea pig. I already made it clear I don’t remember what happened last night. Is she probing to test me, or is she just trying to take advantage of the fact that I don’t have full information? If I had all the memories of last night, I wouldn’t be so guarded. Since I’m feeling perverse, I add, “Maybe the kiss wasn’t memorable enough to leave a lasting impression.”
She gasps, then glares at me like I’m the most awful person ever. “You know what? I think I was far superior to you. You were just, you know,okay, despite having a lot of experience compared to me. It was my first time kissing somebody.”
She might as well have sucker-punched me in the solar plexus. “First time?” I choke out. “How old are you?”
“Twenty-nine. And what’s up with the reaction?” Her tone is aggrieved.
“You’re twenty-nine and never kissed anybody until now?”How can that even happen?
“Basically. Also, not now. Yesterday.”
“Are you telling me…” There’s only one—almost unbelievable—conclusion. “You’re a virgin?”
She nods. I search for any sign of deception or amusement, but she’s dead serious. What the…?
“Why do you want to give your virginity to me?” I ask, even as my dick hardens. Sexual excitement that she wants to be with me for her first time and be mine electrifies my blood. Something must be defective, because I’ve never cared about such things as virginity. I expect a woman to be experienced, especially at our age. But being Lareina’s first feels as special as being the first to step into a field of freshly fallen snow.
“Well…youaremy husband. And you’re anokaykisser,” she says primly, her chin tilted up.
“There are words other than ‘okay’ to describe my kiss. Heart-pounding, magnificent, carnal, orgasmic—”
She ignores me and continues: “But if you’re awful at sex, we’ll stop. I’ve abstained for twenty-nine years. I can go for another six months, then divorce you and get myself a proper man with satisfying technique.”
“Awfully eager to divorce, aren’t you?” Is this some kind of reverse psychology?
“Well, I can’t be with a man who doesn’t satisfy me in bed. You said a marriage of respectful indifference, not sexual frustration. I mean, we aren’t even in love with each other.”
“Okay. What ifyoucan’t satisfyme?”
She stares at me wide-eyed. It’s obvious that the thought has never occurred to her.Talk about confidence…Or is it arrogance? “Then six months later we divorce.”
“Well, I haven’t gone without for that long.” A lie. I’ve gone for months without a woman every time I broke up because just thinking about their obsessive clinging destroys my sexual appetite.
Lareina finishes the berries. “I don’t think I’ll be a problem, since you thought a simple kiss was amazing. But if you’re worried about your prowess, you can always audition.”
“Audition?”
“To prove yourself worthy.” She holds my eyes in challenge.
Does she think she can play with fire and remain unscathed? I toss the napkin on the table and stand, then stalk toward her.
Her tongue darts out, swipes over her lower lip before disappearing. She tilts her chin higher and looks at me with eyes dark with anticipation. “You can try kissing me again.”
“Kissing is anemic.”
Despite the hotel shampoo and soap, there’s a faint whiff of lemon and something sweet and hot coming from her. She exhales, the warm breath just the tiniest bit shaky. Her long, thick lashes flutter a little as she stares at me. I put my hands on the arm rests, caging her. The pulse in her throat throbs, and I lower my head, brushing the tip of my nose against hers. A tremulous inhale; her throat works as she waits for my next move, and I enjoy her subtle responses. Her lips part. The heat from her body is sweet and intoxicating. I angle my head, press kisses along the taut line of her pixie-like jaw.
“Are you going for my chin?” Her voice shakes, the pulse in her neck beating wildly.
I chuckle. “Who says the mouth is the only place a man can kiss a woman?” I rain kisses on her hot cheeks, then smooth forehead and cute nose, and she lets out a soft whimper.Get a proper man with satisfying technique, indeed. I have no idea how the kiss went yesterday, but the one right now is going to be seared into her mind, and she won’t eventhinkof using shitty sex as a reason for divorce. I’ll make sure of it.
She shifts a little, angling her face, chasing my mouth. Instead of giving her what she wants, I kiss the corners of her gorgeous eyes. Amazing how beautiful they are, how expressive.
She tunnels her hand into my hair and tugs me down. Triumphant, I run my tongue over her lips.
