She looks equal parts mortified and defiant, like she's deciding whether to take it back or own it.
I pick up a bottle very slowly. Take my time opening it. Take the shot.
"Lickable," I say.
"I had a lot of tequila."
"You said lickable."
"Bennet—"
"What exactlywouldyou do to me? I’d like to dive into that statement."
She points at me. "We're not talking about that."
"You brought it up."
"I rescind it."
"You can't rescind it. It's out there. It's in the room." I gesture at the air between us. "It lives here now."
She grabs a pillow and buries her face in it, making a sound that is somewhere between a groan and a laugh. I watch herand feel warmth moving through my chest that has absolutely nothing to do with the whiskey. I adjust myself while she's distracted.
This weekend is taking a very interesting turn.
"For what it's worth," I say, turning a bottle in my hands, "it's not cultural or religious." I glance up at her. "Something happened when I was younger that made it hard to let people close enough. Left a mark I haven’'t figured out how to get past."
She's lowered the pillow from her face and is watching me with quiet attention.
"That's the baggage part," I say.
"And the sad part?"
"Same story."
"And the embarrassing part?"
"I'm a twenty-eight-year-old billionaire who just told you he's never had sex." I gesture to myself. "Take your pick."
She is silent for a moment as she studies me. I’m sure she’s looking for some sort of tell that I’m lying. Wondering if I’m playing her, giving her a line.
"Whoever she was," Blaire says quietly, "she was an idiot."
She holds my gaze and doesn't take it back.
I pick up two more bottles and hand her one.
"Your turn," I say. "Choose."
"I'll see your inexperience and raise you this." She meets my eyes. "I've never had an orgasm with a partner."
My mouth drops open. "Not ever?"
"Nope." She pops the cap. "I've only ever been with Colt, and he was not interested in my pleasure. Not even a little. Never fingered, licked, petted. Not even a nipple. Our sex life was me bent over something and him railing into me until he was done.Each and every fucking time." She shakes her head. "God, I feel pathetic and disgusted even saying it out loud."
I open my mouth and close it again because what I want to say about Colt Monroe right now would derail this entire day and probably result in a felony.
"The boy," I say carefully. "From high school. You mentioned—"
