“I hope you don’t feel ashamed,” he says gently, pityingly.
And I hate it.
“It’s not as if I have a disease. I’m a virgin. Like you said, it’s not that big a deal.” I ungracefully flail until I’m on my feet once again. “You don’t need to be a dick about it.”
He shoots up to standing. “Ooh, I like sassy Josephine.”
“Well, I don’t like cocky Nico.”
He crosses his arms, his arrogance on full display. “You’re awfully touchy about the subject, for something you supposedly don’t care about.”
That sets my dormant temper loose. “Yes! Okay, fine. You win, Nico. I do care. I am touchy about it. I’ve never had sex and I want to, but no one seems to want to have it with me. Are you happy? You got the bridge troll to admit it, that no one will even give her a second look, so why would anyone want to take her pants off?”
“Hey, whoa.” He catches my hand. “Don’t be upset. I’msorry. I’m really sorry, Jo. Let’s talk about it.” He bodily turns me to face him with his hands on my shoulders. “And don’t call yourself a bridge troll. That’s fucking absurd, all right? If guys can’t see how beautiful you are, that’s their problem, not yours.”
I snort a laugh because I don’t need thisbeauty is in the eye of the beholderpep talk from one of the most beautiful men ever to exist in real life. He’s half Italian supermodel and half silver-fox millionaire, which equals one hundred percent gorgeous. Even without the hockey body and ability to literally charm the underwear off women.
He smooths one hand over the back of my head, asking, “What bothers you? That you’re a virgin or that I know?”
I sink into his hold, honesty tripping off my tongue. “Both.”
“Would it make you feel better if I forgot?”
“I know you’re excellent at pretending, but I’m not. I won’t be able to forget you know.”
He exhales long and noisily, pursing his lips as he considers me. “Okay, so… What if I help with the other bit?”
“What do you mean?”
“If you want to, we could have sex.”
I choke on my breath, and he slaps my back with a laugh.
“Well, okay then. You don’t have to die on me to get out of it. You could simply say no.”
I cough and clear my throat a few times. “It’s not that. It’s… Why? Why would you want to have sex with me?”
He’s careful with his words as he replies slowly, his eyes unblinking. “Because I like sex. I told you already.”
Except his words don’t sound right. For the first time, he sounds forced in this game of pretend. As if he’s lying.
“While we’re doing this, we might as well have some fun, right? I could teach you some things, and you could keep me company on long, lonely nights so the front office will think I’m on my best behavior.”
By the time he finishes his explanation, he’s back to his usualchipper self, but the doubt in his earlier words has already implanted in my brain.
“I don’t believe you.”
“No?”
“No. I think you’re just trying to make me feel better.”
He takes a step toward me, so I take one back. And another and another until I’m up against yet another wall.
“So what if I am? If being a virgin bothers you so much, I’m volunteering my services.”
“What a saint.”
He places his palms on either side of my head. “Mm-hmm. You want me to bless you?”
