She snorts softly, sobering just as quickly. “I’ll say something super clichéd, okay? Bear with me—and don’t interrupt.”
I frown, nodding against her head. My arms instinctively wrap around her waist.
I don’t know what she’s going to say, but I’ll be damned if I’ll let her voice it without my full support.
“It’s not you,” she says, biting back a soft smile. “It’s me.”
My face instantly drops to a blank look. There’s no way I believe that.
“No, no, just… listen,” she insists. “When that happened, I knew—knew—that I was wrong. I mean, eventually I realizedhowwrong. It was stupid of me to be naked in your room when—”
I open my mouth, but it’s snapped shut by her fingers slapping over my lips.
“—when you’d given me zero indication of your interest.”
I sigh through my nose.
“And then,” she continues. “Well,thathappened. I was already dreading being completely—uh—nude in front of someone, you know? And now I just… I keep wondering if a hand will start strangling me or… if I’ll be made into a spectacle in front of dozens of people.”
I groan, eyes squeezing shut.
“So I… I couldn’t necessarily get naked in front of anyone, Theo.Anyone.”
My heart sinks at what this means. At how utterly I failed her. How the mistakes that morphed into a hazy memory for me cost her her dignity. Her safety. Her peace.
Fuck. I’m probably the last person she needs around her, but somehow this angel is still clutching my shirt with one hand. The other drawing slow circles on my palm.
Wait.
Anyone. Did she just sayanyone? Does that mean—
My eyes widen dramatically.
“You haven’t—” My voice cracks. “You… have you not—fuck—wait. Are you a…”
“Virgin?” She smirks softly. “Yes, Theo. I’m a virgin.”
All the air leaves my lungs in a deep exhale. I lean back, eyes darting between her sincere yet amused ones. “You… you’re—”
“What?” She tilts her head.
I’m pretty sure she enjoys the sputtering mess I become around her.
I huff out a sigh.
“I know it looked like I was sleeping around,” she says, shrugging casually. “Especially considering the company I was keeping.”
Shaking my head, I wordlessly plead with her to stop talking. The shame engulfing me is only half the battle I’m fighting right now.
“Oh, wait,” she gasps. “Did you think I was—what—saving myself for you?”
Jesus.
“No, I just…” I blow out a controlled breath. “I didn’t expect that—give me a second.” I clear my throat, trying not to wither under her gaze.
She looks damn well pleased with herself. Having successfully stunned me speechless again.
“I really wasn’t,” she purrs, shifting closer—her hand sliding further up my thigh.
