But then her devil put in an appearance, wearing fishnet stockings and a crimson bustier. Of course her personal devil was asexy devil. “Who has to know?” it whispered. “And as for red hair, you used to like it. A lot.”
And the devil was right. She spent the four years of high school crushing on Chad Taylor, wide receiver for the football team. But after she lost her virginity in the back of his Tundra, word had spread faster than a speeding ticket. It didn’t take long before the entire gang in Jock Hall taunted her every passing period. Even Chad.
Scratch that. Especially Chad.
Chad, who’d told her she was “beautiful,” “such a cool chick,” then went and made up the nickname “Eager Beaver,” bragging about how she loved to gnaw his wood.
Chad with the red hair that put her off from gingers forever and ever amen.
Screw Chad. Screw the past.
She’d made it a point never to feel guilty about pleasure. And she wasn’t going to start now.
“Come on,” she said, tugging his hand as her invisible angel did a face-palm.
“Where?” His question was barely a whisper.
The hammering in her chest grew. “My bedroom.”
“I can’t,” he said, just once but it was enough. He meant it. He withdrew his hands.
“What’s wrong.” She stepped back as a growing horror took hold. “Wait. Oh God, you have a girlfriend, don’t you?” Shit. She’d just kissed a guy as the other woman. Her worst nightmare. After her dad’s cheating antics, infidelity was an unforgiveable sin in her book.
“Girlfriend?” His face darkened. “No.”
Now she was lost. “Then what’s the problem? You were the one who just kissedme. Or at least half kissed me.”
“I don’t do this,” he said in a flat tone. “You got to understand something. I never do this.”
“What? Kiss?”
“Yeah.”
She frowned. “I don’t understand.”
He paused. “I don’t kiss women.”
She peered into his midnight blue eyes. The shadows beneath them were pronounced. His harsh features seemed to be even more severe, more brutal. “So you’re... gay?”
“No.” He made a frustrated sound in the back of his throat. “I’m—”
“Bi. Aro. Ace.”
“A virgin.” Patch snapped his lips shut, swallowing hard. “I’m a fucking virgin, all right?”
“Oh.” Her body stilled, her heart maintaining an even, steady thump. “I see.” Later she would marvel at the fact. The fact she kept her cool, didn’t betray even a slight hint of surprise.
He could have announced that he slept in a tinfoil hat and believed the president was an alien lizard disguised in human form and she would have been less dazed.
“No one knows either. No one but you.” His look turned defiant, proud even as his fingers drummed against the side of his thigh in agitation.
“Why?”
“Long story.”
“I have time.” She narrowed her eyes. “I mean why me? We just met. Why trust me with this kind of a secret?”
“Don’t know.” Again his eyes searched her face with that peculiar intensity. “Guess I’m self-destructive. Isn’t that why I’m here? Because I’m out of control? Making bad decision after bad decision. Here’s yet another example.”
