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“You honestly believe he’d be okay with that?”

She gives a tiny shrug. “I told him he could get it elsewhere.”

“And he was good with you going elsewhere?” Doubtful.

“We didn’t really cover that because it’s not an issue.” Her words grow clipped with defiance.

“Not an issue?” What the hell does that mean?

She squirms, making a weak attempt to pull away from me. “Sex isn’t really my thing, okay?”

My arm around her waist holds her securely in place. “Mmm…” I say as though considering her comment, but what I’m really doing is experimenting. As expected, her spine arches into me—not a lot, but enough for me to feel it.

I shift my hand from her ribs a few inches over until my thumb grazes the bottom globe of her breast.

Isa gasps and arches, pressing her ass against my cock.

“Why don’t I believe you, pet?”

She sighs with resignation. “Why are you doing this, Elio?”

“Because I want to know why you’re resisting me.”

“I don’t even know you anymore.”

“You’re comfortable enough to argue with me more than anyone else on this boat would.” I flex my hand a little more so that my thumb rises enough to flick over her nipple.

“Elio…” The breathy plea sears its echo into my soul.

“No reason to fight it, Isa. Every cell in your body is begging for my cock.”

Her whole body stiffens. Enough that I’m suddenly alert. “What?” I ask, not understanding.

“You’re just … making me nervous.”

“You think I’d fuck you without your consent?” My tone is sharper than I intend it to be.

“I … it’s not that.” Panic bleeds into her voice, and I have no idea why. She’s humping my thigh one second and trembling the next.

“What aren’t you telling me?” I demand.

Her jaw clenches with determination before she blurts, “I’m a virgin, okay? I’ve never … I’ve never had sex.”

Time stops.

She’s serious, and I’m stunned. For a second, I question my sanity.

She has to know that I know she’s lying. Even after twenty years, I still remember the feel of pushing past her innocence. I’ll never forget it. Yet she’s lying here genuinely nervous about having sex for the first time.

What the fuck is going on here?

“You’re … a virgin?”

“Yes.”

“You’re telling me at thirty-seven years old, you’re claiming you’ve never had sex—not even once?” I rise onto my elbow to see her face.

“No, I haven’t,” she bites out quietly, refusing to look at me. Her eyes blink several times rapidly as though she’s fighting back tears.