“But…didn’t you say he looked like a model?”
“Leo. I couldn’t keep dating him when, after our second date, I had sex with another guy.”
He glanced away. “So you ended it because of me?”
“No,” I said. “We weren’t a match anyway. We’ll be better off friends.”
He didn’t say anything for a minute.
“Is that why you wanted to talk?” I asked. “Because you saw us holding hands?”
He looked down at his cup. “Maybe,” he mumbled.
I waited for him to go on.
I’d almost finished my tea when he spoke. “I was jealous,” he admitted. “I thought he was going to become your boyfriend and…”
“You left without saying goodbye,” I said quietly.
“I know. I’m sorry. I panicked.”
“Because you had sex with a guy?”
“Because I had sex,” Leo clarified. “I still can’t believe I’m not a virgin anymore. But…I really liked it, and I don’t regret it.”
“No?”
The relief must’ve been clear on my face because Leo laughed. “You saw me. I was…” his cheeks pinked. “…shameless.”
“You did look like you were enjoying yourself,” I agreed, “but then you left, and you didn’t text me or call —”
“I know,” Leo said. “I’m sorry. I freaked out, but it wasn’t because of you, Winnie.” He placed his cup down on the coffee table. “That was my first time doing anything. I had my first kiss and lost my virginity in one night. That was the first time someone else had seen me naked — apart from my parents when I was a kid — and it was the first time I’d ever…finished…in front of someone. But,” his hand inched across the couch so his pinkie brushed mine, “you were perfect.”
“Leo,” I said helplessly. “You know I want you.”
“Yeah?” His cheeks were still pink.
“Don’t be surprised. I wanted you from the very first night. I went home with you —”
“I know,” he said, squeezing his eyes shut. “I wish I could go back in time and shake myself, because I had you in my bed, but I was too dumb to make a move. Then I had you in mybed a second time, the night you stayed over to help me, and I convinced myself that you just — that I just —” he cut himself off with a frustrated noise. “I don’t know how to do this stuff, so I’m probably doing it all wrong.”
“You’re not doing it wrong at all,” I told him gently. “Apart from the time you ran away, but you’re here now.”
As we’d talked, we’d moved closer together, and now I could see every detail of his eyes. I’d never paid much attention to grey eyes before, but his were the colour of a summer storm, ringed with deep blue like an ocean at night. His lashes were dark brown and surprisingly thick.
“Can you forgive me?” His voice was softer than a whisper.
I lifted my chin in the barest nod. I knew what was coming before it happened. Leo leaned in and kissed my lips, slow and almost…uncertain.
Part of me knew I should resist. There were very good, practical reasons why I shouldn’t kiss him, and they were somewhere deep in the back of my mind. But I couldn’t remember them; they probably weren’t that important anyway.
Two minutes later, we were on my bed. It was still light outside, which meant that the reflective coating outside the window would prevent anyone from looking in, so Leo didn’t ask me to close the blinds. I saw his eyes darken in perfect detail as we kissed and slowly took off our clothes. His toned chest and abdomen contrasted against his surprisingly delicate collarbone and his light pink nipples.
I watched him watch me as I took my shirt off, and he splayed one hand out against the centre of my chest and dragged it down to the hem of my grey jocks, where my arousal was clear.
“Winnie?” Leo murmured against my lips.
I hummed to show I was listening.
