Feeling rather proud of herself as she parked her truck back by her house after Aaron had taken her to retrieve it, Natalie debated the ice cream in her freezer.

If she concentrated, she could still taste him on her lips. She didn’t want to lose his flavor. That was definitely the girliest thing you’ve ever thought. She wondered about this new side of herself. Being lovesick didn’t sound too appealing, but being into a guy was a normal thing for a woman to feel.

Bliss danced under her skin. She even seemed to have some kind of small flying creatures in her stomach, not something she’d ever experienced before. Luke was right. It was different this time. It was different because she refused to let what had happened with her uncle ruin this for her.

Power surged through her. She could leave it in the past now. She would leave it in the past. She’d taken the bull by the horns and hadn’t thought about those months when she was eleven for that entire kiss. Take that, Uncle Mick! Even thinking of his name shot bile to her throat. Nope. Not tonight. Nothing was going to ruin this night.

When her phone rang, she leapt across the sofa to answer it. Okay, so maybe she was just a little lovesick. She gave herself a pass. This was a guy she’d had a crush on since she’d first seen him in Saddlebacks. A man who knew all the things she needed to learn. And heaven help her if he wasn’t the sexiest thing she’d ever laid eyes on.

“Hello.” She remembered to actually answer the ringing phone in her hand.

“Hey, baby.”

The deep gravel of his voice sent the butterfly-like things in her stomach into overdrive. “Hey.” She inwardly mocked her own singsong voice.

“You okay?”

“Yeah. I’m really, really good.”

“I’m glad you are. I may need to spend all night in a cold shower.”

“Sorry about that.”

“Stop apologizing. I’m just teasing you.”

“I know. Can I tell you something?”

“You can tell me anything. I wish you’d tell me everything.”

“I wish you’d stop asking me about everything, but in a way this kind of has to do with that.”

“We’ll talk all night long if you want.”

Natalie knew he would. If she really wanted to rehash all of the confusion and shame, he’d listen and he wouldn’t judge. He’d do everything he could to help her understand, but that was the very last thing she wanted. Nothing was going to overshadow what they’d just shared. Even if it wasn’t mind-blowing sex, it would be someday. She just had one question about it all she wanted an answer to.

“I shouldn’t have liked that.” There. She’d said it.

“Shouldn’t have liked me kissing you?” Disappointment was laced in his response.

“No, the kissing was great. I’m supposed to like that and I did. The hand thing is what I shouldn’t have liked.”

He bound her hands. Sick fucking bastard. Aaron doubled down on his resolve to brutally tear whoever this sorry excuse for a human being was limb from bloody limb just before he put a bullet through his skull.

She was safe in her house alone and had questions about what they’d just done. His vengeance would have to wait for a few minutes anyway.

“Sweetheart, there are absolutely no rules about what you should or shouldn’t like. Never think there are. When it’s just you and me the things you’re curious about or the things that turn you on, they’re perfect, just like you are.”

“I’m not perfect.”

“By my estimations you are and we’re going to slowly explore all of the things that make my girl fly when she’s in my arms. I know it’s hard to do but try to leave all of those rules you’ve got in your head about what you should or shouldn’t want outside the bedroom door, okay?”

“I don’t know what I want exactly.”

“I keep telling you we’ll figure it out.”

“I have another question.” Her tone turned accusatory.

His mind immediately conjured up ways to get out of the inevitable question she was about to ask. “Shoot.”

“Who taught you the things you like?” And there it was. A blur of European and Middle Eastern sex clubs flashed through his mind. Prostitutes. Nameless, faceless women he’d had no business drowning his sorrows in joined the parade. He’d never deserve someone like Natalie. How had he ever thought he would?

“I have a lot of experience I wish I didn’t have. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” She sounded sincere.

“No, it’s not.”

“I figured you’d say something like that. I just wanted to know where you get all of your experience.”

“All over the fucking world, but, Nat, I swear what we’re doing, this means a lot to me. You mean a lot to me. I’ll do right by you. I was a stupid kid back then. I didn’t know what I was doing. I never knew how much I’d regret. You shouldn’t have given me another chance, and you did. I won’t do anything to fuck this up.”

“I’m really not upset you slept with other people. Still a little irked you kissed my sister once.”

“Thought we agreed never to talk about that again.”

Natalie laughed. “When did we agree to that?”

“That time I begged you never to bring it back up. You know it was her idea.”

“You told me you were loopy on some kind of depression meds and that you’d just gotten to town.”

“I was but she caught me staring at you that night at the bar. She might’ve mentioned that you kind of liked me and that if I kissed her you’d likely take notice. That’s why I agreed.”

“Are you lying to me?”

“I swear, Nat. Ask Holly.”

“I don’t really care enough to do that. It’s just one of the things I try not to think about. I’m oddly glad you know how to teach me everything I’m missing out on. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

“That’s not really an option. You sure you’re good with everything. Want to ask me anything else?”

“Will you tell me about the guys we’re having dinner with tomorrow night? I don’t want to get off the phone yet.” How the hell is she even talking to me? How did I get this lucky?

Never fucking deserve her. Ever. “I told you we’ll talk all night if you want. Get in bed. I need to know you’re warm and safe then I’ll tell you about the Sevens.”

“Do you think someday I could sleep with you? You know, after we have sex or whatever?”

“I’m not a great sleeper but you can stay here anytime you want, sweetheart. I’ll hold you all night. We can do that before we have sex if you want. No rules, remember?”

“Why don’t you sleep?”

“Sleep is complicated.”