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He started to kick at the covers, but Alia’s hand came over his, holding him in place.

“I—I should tell you I’ve never actually done it.”

“What?” His brain went fully numb because she couldn’t actually be saying what he thought she was saying. “Done what?”

“It. Sex.”

“Are you serious?” He had already turned off the lights, but now he wanted to snap one on so he could see her face. “How old are you?”

“I told you there weren’t many prospects in my village.” She pushed his hand off her stomach.

“I’m just surprised.” Astonished. “There were tourists, though. Weren’t there?” In her house.

“Exactly. People with lives they had to get back to. I couldn’t follow them. I had to stay and look after Yaya.”

He dropped onto his back, aching with such acute sexual need he could hardly breathe while he tried to fit this piece into the fuller puzzle. It didn’t. She was so sensual. How had she never taken a lover?

He’d never been with a virgin, not that his partner’s sexual experience had ever mattered to him one way or another. He only knew that a first time held a certain power. He still remembered the young divorcee who had initiated him with a special fondness.

How would it feel to be her first?

The thought riled his dark streak of possessiveness. When he claimed something as his, he fought with his life to hang on to it.

This marriage was temporary, though. In a few weeks, she would move on with her life and have other lovers and there was no reason that thought should tighten his abdomen and put knives in his blood.

“We’ll table this for now,” he decided.

There was a long beat of silence, then, “Pah.” She rolled away.

“What?” he asked, equally frustrated. “You’re mad that I don’t want to have sex? Men are allowed to change their minds, too.”

“Why would I be mad? We’ve established that you get to make all the decisions in this marriage. There’s no reason sex should be any different.”

Oh, that spiky attitude of hers pleased him way too much.

He rolled toward her, coming up on his elbow and setting his hand on her hip.

“Sex will complicate our annulment, agapi mou. But if you need an orgasm, I’m happy to give you one.”

“Oh, please.” She wriggled to her edge of the bed so his hand fell to the mattress between them. “I can do that myself if I want one.”

“Great.” He was so turned on by the idea of her self-pleasuring, he had to throw off the covers and rise from the bed. “You have three minutes.”

He walked into the toilet stall and took the edge off his own hunger in a few efficient strokes, then leaned on the cool wall afterward, trying to catch his breath.

When he came back to bed, he should have dropped off to sleep immediately, but he lay awake for hours, listening to her tense breaths while his pulse thudded in the tip of his fresh erection.

CHAPTER SIX

Alia slept fitfully, trying to keep to her side of the bed while peeking several times to make sure Spiro hadn’t left her alone again even though she kind of wished he had.

If you need an orgasm, I’m happy to give you one.

She had been tempted to let him, even though she’d been angry. And hurt and confused and horny. She had never, ever let anyone touch her the way he’d caressed her. Not just kissing her, but sucking on her nipple in a way that made her wet all over again, thinking of it. He knew it, too! He’d fondled her, seeming to know her body as well as she did. Better, maybe, because she’d been sweaty and lost to sensation, willing to let him do anything.

She’d been deep in the throes of passion when he’d pulled back and suggested getting a condom.

Maybe she shouldn’t have told him she’d never been with anyone before. It had felt like information she should share so she had. His rejection had stung, making her feel like there was something wrong with her for not having had sex before.