Total pages in book: 176
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Understanding dawned, and his eyes widened a little. “No, I don’t think so. I, um …” he trailed off, his brow furrowing before he continued, “I like it.” He swallowed thickly. “When you flirt.”
Instantly, my face warmed. “Oh,” I breathed. “Good. I just don’t ever want you to feel awkward.”
His hand on my hip moved a few inches higher, the touch sending shockwaves through me. “I definitely don’t.” A pause. “What’s brought all this on?”
I hesitated to tell him about Aidan’s comment since I didn’t want to cause trouble with his friends. “It’s nothing. I just worry about these things sometimes. Silly, really.” I looked away, and his other hand came to my chin, tilting it towards him.
“I can tell there’s more you’re not saying.” His blue eyes were probing.
I blew out a breath. “Seriously, we should keep quiet in case—”
“Charli, out with it.”
Something about his low, authoritative command had me blurting, “It was Aidan. He said something about us, and it made me paranoid because Derek insinuated something similar.”
Rhys’ expression darkened. “What did he say?”
I frowned, worrying my lip. “He just acted like I was some seductress out to steal your innocence. He said I used him coming for me in the pool as an excuse to put my hands all over you.”
His expression clouded further, his body stiffening. “He’s such a dick.”
“I think he’s just jealous that I like you better than him. He obviously noticed we’ve been spending a lot of time together.”
Rhys studied me a moment, seeming interested in my statement about me liking him better. “Right,” he said at last, and I had no idea what he was thinking.
“Are you okay?” I whispered low. Aidan had come upstairs, and it sounded like he was checking the bedrooms.
In the dark, I saw a small, nervous flutter in Rhys’ jaw. “I’m fine. I’m just a bit pissed at Aidan.”
“For calling you innocent? It’s not a bad thing.”
“He was trying to mess with your head.”
“I don’t think so. Besides, I can hardly judge you for being a virgin when I’m one, too.”
He blinked, staring at me in a strange way. My skin flushed.
“You,” Rhys whispered, his throat working as he swallowed, then went on, “You’re a virgin?”
“Is that a big surprise? I’m only eighteen. It’s perfectly normal.”
“No, that’s not what I …” he trailed off then pressed his lips together before casting me an apologetic look. “I know it’s normal. Sorry. I’m not surprised, it’s just … I guess I hadn’t thought about it. All the boys have had sex. They know I haven’t and like to rib me about it sometimes, so it’s kind of a reflex to get defensive.”
I brought my palm to his chest as I replied very quietly, “You don’t need to be sorry.” I paused then smiled at him. “And I’ll bet your friends have had a lot less sex than they claim. People tend to exaggerate these things.”
“I don’t know. I’ve been going to parties with the boys for years, and they never have any trouble attracting girls.”
My hand on his chest moved up until my fingers curled around his shoulder. “Well, sure, but that doesn’t mean they’re actually doing the deed.”
“True. I’m certainly not an eye witness,” he replied deadpan, and I chuckled.
“Stop. I need to pee, and when I laugh, it makes it worse.”
“Sorry. You can go. It doesn’t matter if Aidan finds us. It’s only a game.”
“No, I want to win,” I argued. “I’ve got a mean competitive streak.”
Rhys gazed at me fondly, and a few moments of silence passed. My mind went over our conversation, and I remembered my half formed idea to have a fling with an Irish boy that summer. I’d never been particularly eager to lose my virginity. It was just something I figured would happen when the time was right and when I met the right person, and staring at Rhys, I suddenly felt like I had. If I was going to be with someone for the first time, I wanted it to be him. He was so patient and caring. Gwyn said her first time was awful and borderline traumatic. She’d slept with some stoner guy she met at a concert. I couldn’t imagine it being anything like that with Rhys. He’d be careful with me. And I’d be oh so careful with him.
“I’ve had a thought,” I said before fully thinking through the proposal.
“A thought?” Rhys questioned.
Nerves tumbled through me. “Well, you see, since we both have this virgin thing hanging over us, I thought, maybe …” I was glad of the darkness because my cheeks flamed hot.
“Charli,” Rhys said, his voice a husky murmur. His hand moved higher to my ribcage. My pulse pounded as I willed myself to finish voicing my idea.
“We could have sex,” I blurted. “That way, we wouldn’t be virgins anymore. We’d be doing each other a favour.” This wasn’t at all true. Generally, I was in no hurry to have sex. But I wanted to have sex with Rhys. I just didn’t have the courage to simply express that want since it was all tied up in the feelings I was developing for him. Putting it out there as a simple proposition allowed me to feel a lot less vulnerable. If he said no, I could hide how personally I’d take the rejection.