Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 123435 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 617(@200wpm)___ 494(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123435 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 617(@200wpm)___ 494(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
“Worried she’ll fall in love with you, huh?”
“Kind of, yeah. Do you remember what happened in high school with Lindsey Gerlach?”
“I’m pretty sure our entire graduating class remembers,” he says dryly. “What did her friends spray-paint on your locker again? Stupid asshole?”
“Selfish prick,” I correct.
“Eh. I’ve been called worse.”
I reach for my glass. “Anyway, I didn’t want Cassie catching feelings. And now we’re becoming good friends, and honestly, I kind of learned my lesson the last time I hooked up with a friend.”
Alana and I haven’t even spoken since she ended it. Granted, it hasn’t made for any awkward group gatherings, but that’s probably because I barely attended any parties this July. I’ve been too busy with work. Still, the idea of screwing up my friendship with Cassie bums me out. I don’t want to lose her. I would miss talking to her.
“But—” I add.
He chuckles. “There’s always a but.”
“The other night, we kind of had a moment …”
“Of course you did. What’d you do? Make out?”
“Nah, it was a phone sex thing.” I omit the details, especially the window element of the scenario. He doesn’t need to know all that. “But yeah … it came up a couple of times that night, the virginity thing, and now I can’t stop thinking about it.”
“About what? Popping her cherry?”
“Yes,” I groan, then slug back nearly half my beer. It’s so hard to articulate. I mean, I’ve watched porn. I’m sure some of that porn featured virgins, but the actual genre—virgin porn—isn’t my thing. I prefer experienced women. I like women who know their way around a man’s body.
And yet the idea of being the first guy inside of Cassie gets me going something fierce. I wonder if there’s an anthropological reason behind it. Some recessive caveman instinct in us, a primal urge backed by science. Except this urge never existed in me before.
Another possibility occurs to me. Maybe it’s not the fact she’s a virgin that’s making me crave her on such a deep level. Maybe it’s because she’s beautiful and funny and so damn easy to be around.
Maybe I just … like her.
Shit.
“I know it’s not a good idea, though. It’s a lot of pressure. I don’t need that kind of pressure, right?”
“Christ, no. You never want to be a woman’s first. You’re literally going to be someone she remembers for the rest of her life. But what’s your legacy gonna be? Best-case scenario, she’s got you up on a pedestal because you rocked her world. Likely scenario? She’ll be nervous, which’ll make you nervous, and then you’ll fuck it up and ruin the experience for her because you’re both so uncomfortable. Either that, or you come too fast because she’ll be so tight—” He breaks off abruptly. “Speaking of fast.”
Our waitress is back, holding a platter of wings. “Do I even want to know?” Nicole asks politely.
Evan blinks. “Nope.”
I offer an innocent smile. “Nothing to see here.”
“Why do I get the feeling you’re up to no good?” Her narrowed eyes shift between us.
“Who, us? We’re choir boys,” Evan says. “You know that.”
“Yeah, sure.” Snorting, she plants his chicken wings in front of him and wanders off.
Evan wastes no time pulling the plate closer and snatching up a sauce-drenched wing.
“So, now that we’ve discovered you have a deflowering kink,” he says between bites. “What are you going to do about it?”
“Nothing,” I say glumly.
“Nothing?” he echoes. “Well, that’s no fun.” He wipes his chin with a napkin, then slides out of the booth. “Be right back. Gotta hit the head.”
He’s only gone a minute before Nicole returns to check on our booth. She eyes Evan’s empty side. “Where’s Hartley? He abandon you?”
“Nah, he’ll be right back.”
“Pity. I’m almost done with my shift.” One eyebrow flicks up. “I would’ve kept you company.”
Well. This is interesting. Nicole and I haven’t interacted much, but I’ve seen her around the Bay, and I can’t deny I’ve always enjoyed the view. Tall. Curvy. Pouty lips and shoulder-length dark hair.
“Guess we need a raincheck,” I say lightly.
“Yeah? How about Friday?”
“You asking me out, Nic?”
“Something like that. I’ve seen you around for years.” She purses those full, red lips. “Maybe it’s time we got to know each other better.”
A faint smile tugs on my lips. Yeah. There’s no mistaking her intentions. She’s not asking me on a date—she’s looking to hook up. And the more I think on it, the more I realize it’s exactly what I need to clear my head. I haven’t gotten laid since I met Cassie. If I don’t find an outlet soon, all that pent-up sexual energy will explode and push me right into Cassie’s bed.
So, why not? Indulging in a no-strings hookup is a surefire way to stop myself from corrupting Cassie and blowing up our friendship. I can’t keep jerking off before seeing her. That’s not a viable long-term solution. Eventually my dick is going to require a lot more than my tired hand.