At that, he snorts, almost choking on his bite of bread. “God, no. They’re going to love you.”
Biting my lip, I tip my head down and try not to grin like a fool. I’m not used to anyone thinking their family will love me. Liam’s family tolerated me at best, and after he passed, they wanted nothing to do with me.
This is…new. And a little scary.
“Anyway, I want to make sure you’ll be okay here,” he goes on.
“I’m sure Easton will come by to check on me,” I remind him. He’s been in my texts all day asking me a thousand questions about how I’m feeling and how I’m recovering. I knowmy two- and three-word answers aren’t going to satisfy him for very long.
North laughs softly, then sets his bowl to the side and takes mine. I almost want to protest, though I’m not really that hungry, but he replaces the dinner with his body, carefully sliding over me until he’s straddling my stomach.
It’s entirely unexpected, but also completely wanted. My hands fly to his hips, and I love the way he’s so careful with me without treating me like I’m not capable of doing this.
“You are so fucking beautiful,” he murmurs.
My entire face goes white-hot. I know I’m not unattractive, but I’m also not used to hearing that. Not the way he says it.
He’s not trying to flatter me. He actually thinks I am.
Swallowing thickly, I surge up and meet him in a kiss as he rocks down on me, his hard cock brushing against my stomach. His weight is so fucking comforting, I feel like I could do this forever.
“I can’t get enough of you,” he murmurs against my lips. “It’s wild to think this was what I was missing all this time.”
“We should have been doing this a lot sooner. With a lot less anger,” I answer back.
He snorts. “Yeah. But if I’d known sex felt this good, I might not have waited until I met you, and that’s not something I’m willing to give up.”
It takes a moment for his words to process in my head, but when they do, I freeze. “I…what? What do you mean?”
“I told you I was a virgin,” he says.
“No.” I laugh, the sound tense and almost hysterical. “No, you did not.” I would have remembered that.
He said something like he hadn’t done this before…or hadn’t done this much. But I in no way thought he was a virgin. If I had, I would have handled all of this differently. I would not have let his first time be so…so angry.
Sohateful.
“Leo. Sweetheart. You’re panicking,” he says, touching my chin.
My breath feels tight in my chest, and my hands are shaking. “Were you seriously a virgin when we first…you know. Did that.”
“That?” he repeats, wrinkling one side of his nose.
“Yes,that!” My voice starts to shake. “You were so pissed off, and I was irritated and horny, and I think you wanted to shut me up—and kissing was pretty fucking effective. But that should not have been your first time, and…ohgod. I fucked up!”
“Leo.” His voice is soft, like he’s soothing a wild woodland creature, and I kind of feel like one right now. “Leo, please breathe. You’re turning red.”
I force myself to suck in air. The last thing I need is to work myself into a fucking seizure over this. My head feels a little swimmy, and it might be past the point of no return, but I do my best to calm my heart.
North cups my cheek and draws my gaze back to him. “Hey.” I blink up into his gaze, and his lips stretch into a smile. “You with me?”
I swallow heavily and can’t seem to make words, but I can nod. So I do.
“It’s true. I was a virgin when we met. I never really had the chance to explore relationships when I was younger. Not with my mom the way she was, and taking care of my little sisters was a twenty-four-seven job. Once they got older and my mom was better…I don’t know.” He lets out a small, embarrassed laugh and flops onto his side, putting a little space between us. “I felt like I wanted to wait until it felt right.”
I almost laugh again. “And that felt right to you? Hate sex? God.” I slap my hand over my face. “I didn’t even touch you then. I just let you get me off like some kind of selfish asshole?—”
North does what he does best and kisses me quiet. I protest for a moment, but it’s too easy to give in to his lips and tongue. My breath comes a little easier after that, and when he pulls back, he knocks his forehead against mine.
