Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 46279 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46279 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
But what if that tips her over the edge? What if, after hearing that, she decides she has no choice except to get as far away from me as possible?
“Tell that to your face,” she hisses, with some of her hunger-inducing snappiness. “You looked like you were going to be sick when I told you.”
I take a step forward, reaching out and touching her shoulder. “I don’t give a damn if you’re a virgin. It doesn’t make me want you less.”
She bites down, looking at me closely as though trying to tell if I’m lying to her. I’m not sure how to explain how I care without explaining how much I care, without delving into the full extent of my need.
“Really?” she asks.
“Really,” I snarl.
“But…,” she lets out a huffing breath. “I shouldn’t have let things get this far. I’m sorry, Felix, I am…but I don’t think I can go any further tonight. It’s my fault for letting things get so intense.”
A reverberation moves through me. The predator nestled deep inside of me, deeper than instinct – so deep it goes right down to my core – howls in rebellion as though telling me to fuck her and fuck her right now. Fuck her hard, so savagely, her body can’t help but swell with my seed.
“Oh,” I say.
I don’t even mean to, but the word’s out before I can stop it.
My woman must be more on-edge than I realized. The second I make the noise, her expression drops, and she steps away from me, shaking her head.
“I want to go home,” she whispers.
“Fiona….”
“Felix,” she snaps. “I don’t want to make a big deal out of it, but this is all too much right now. I need time to process this. It’s all so much…you wanting me, being together, and now I’ve led you on and….”
“You haven’t led me on,” I interrupt.
“Please. I’m not saying I don’t want to see you again. But I need time. I’ve never told anybody that before. Maybe we can see each other tomorrow?”
“Not tomorrow,” I snap, much harsher than I intended.
She flinches as though I’ve just slapped her. “Oh, okay.”
“I have….”
I can’t tell her the truth. It’s like there’s a physical block in my throat, stopping the words. Even as I try to force them out, they die and turn to ash.
I wish Fiona didn’t have to know this aspect of me.
“I have something to do,” I say.
“Somebody to see?” she asks.
She tries to make her tone playful, as though she’s not invested, but the quiver at the end tells the true story. I know this would be the best moment to tell her the truth, so I can dispel any ideas about another person.
“It’s an important anniversary,” I say. “I’m going to spend the day with my mother. It’s not what you think.”
“Oh… right. But you can’t tell me specifically what?”
“Do you think I’m lying?” I growl.
It’s not anger at her, not quite. It’s more like the beast inside of me is revolting at having the chains once again applied, like he’s snarling and trying to burst out of me, desperate to be free.
“Well, it is quite vague.”
I stare at her for a long moment, wishing I could draw her into my arms and make this all better. But talking about the anniversary, even alluding to what happened with my dad, brings out a coldness in me I can’t easily push away.
“The day after tomorrow?” I ask.
She shrugs, turning her face away. “Sure, whatever you think is best.”
I sigh. Things are awkward between us in a way that’s difficult to define, difficult to believe, considering what we just did.
I can still taste her on my lips. My body is still hungering for her, yelling at me to claim her while I have the chance.
She’s my virgin.
“It’s nothing you need to be worried about,” I tell her. “Remember when I told you something happened when I was a kid, and I’d tell you on the third date?”
She nods.
“It’s something to do with that,” I go on. “It’s… it’s difficult for me to talk about.”
“It’s difficult to tell people I’m a virgin too.”
“Trust me, Fiona, this isn’t the same.”
She looks at me with her youthful eyes. An atmosphere falls over us as though we’ve reached a stalemate. I can tell she wants to push for more information, but something is holding her back. Perhaps it’s the darkness that touches my voice every time I speak about this.
“Okay,” she says. “But the day after tomorrow?”
“Definitely. And I meant what I said. I don’t care that you’re a virgin. It doesn’t make me want you less.”
She nods, biting down, but it’s easy to read her and see she isn’t fully convinced.
“Shall I call a cab?” she says quietly.
I almost ask her to stay, but it’s clear she needs some space. Every movement is skittish, like she’s on the verge of erupting into an argument or tears or something else altogether.