Her hair is silky smooth under my fingers, and the look of single-minded concentration on her face as she works me with her hands and mouth is as endearing as the act is hot.

That she’s enjoying it makes it even hotter.

Her ardor—unexpected in a virgin—could make me forget myself, forget this is her first time. Her eagerness to learn, to do what I like, to give me everything she’s got makes my cock harder than it’s ever been.

Strangely, it has the opposite effect on my heart.

My sweet Uma is a natural. She takes her cue from my reactions, doing more of what makes me groan with pleasure and less of what doesn’t work.

Her hands and her tongue quicken, and for a split second, I consider letting myself come right there with her lips still around me.

But she’s too green for that.

I take a deep breath and still her. With more control than I think I am capable of, I withdraw from her mouth.

When my mind clears enough to permit coherent thought, two things become evident.

The first one is that I don’t give a shit if what I’m feeling for Uma is just crazy lust or something bigger. It doesn’t matter. Whatever it is, I want more of it.

I want more of her.

The second realization is more pragmatic. I had better remember where I put that condom.

Because if I don’t, I’ll take her without one. Barring sudden death or full paralysis, there’s no way in hell I’m making it through the night without filling Uma’s sweet little sex.

“Don’t move,” I say as I rummage through the closet drawers.

“Bingo!” I turn to her with not one but two condoms in my hand.

I am the king of the world.

Uma stands up, and for a long moment, I just stare at her. All of her.

“You’re the most beautiful creature I’ve ever laid eyes on,” I say, meaning every word.

She smiles, blushing a little.

When I’ve had my fill of looking, I take a step toward her and cup her breasts. The contrast between the softness of the flesh in my palms and the hardness of the nipples prodding them is incredibly erotic.

I point my chin to the pillow. “Lie down.”

Uma stretches out on her back.

I slide a condom on and position myself over her, holding myself up on my forearms.

Her black hair fans out on the pillow, glossy and smooth. I nuzzle it. It smells so good. It always smells good. Lifting my head, I take in her delicate nose, her glistening lips, her expressive eyes.

They hold nothing but tenderness and blind trust. So much trust that I begin to second-guess myself. I shouldn’t be doing this. Of all the women in the world, Uma is the one forbidden to me. She’s out of bounds, she’s the worst possible choice for what I want from a woman at this point in my life. There’s still time to backpedal.

Get up and leave, Zach, right now, for heaven’s sake—

She wraps her arms around my neck and spreads her thighs, pressing up against my erection. “Make love to me, Zach. I want you. I’m ready.”

Game over.

I press hot kisses to her face. “I want you more than you know.”

Craving a taste of her “readiness,” I almost go down on her again, but she wraps her legs around the back of my thighs, locking me in place.

Wicked girl.

I reach between our bodies and stroke her folds. She’s ready all right. Ready for me. This beautiful, strong-willed woman wants me to claim her body, to be her first ever lover. I’ve never been anyone’s first before, and I wasn’t expecting to ever be. But Uma came along and chose to bestow that privilege upon me.

Who am I to say no?

With guilt and doubts retreating from my heart, the glee that’s been there all along expands, filling the vacuum. My mind almost melts with the rush of knowing that I’m about to bury myself in Uma’s tight, wet heat… I hope to God she’ll enjoy it as much as I will.

“Promise me you’ll tell me if I’m hurting you,” I say. “If you’d rather I stopped.”

“I promise.”

My heart hammering in my chest, I press against her entrance.

Slowly. Gently.

First timer.

Her fingers dig into my back. She frowns a little, as I apply more pressure. I thrust. She flinches. I expect her to ask me to stop, but she doesn’t. She pushes against me.

Emboldened, I plunge into her.

She lets out a groan of pain, her eyes watering.

I still and search her face. “Mon amour…?”

“It’s OK,” she murmurs, smiling weakly. “Not half as bad as my sister had painted it.”

Thank God. “Can you take more?”

She nods.

I lever myself on outstretched arms, and we both watch as I push a little deeper into her. Then a little more. And then more. I kiss her between thrusts. So tight. So hot. Her groans turn into soft whimpers, and she writhes beneath me, clutching me with her arms and legs.

When I’m sheathed inside her, I search her face again. Uma’s eyes are closed, and her expression has shifted from pained to relaxed.

Are her cheeks flushed?

Is my little ginger candy enjoying her first time?

I withdraw a little and push in. She gasps. Another withdrawal and thrust. A throaty moan. Soon, we settle into a rhythm that she seems to enjoy. I strain to keep it slow and gentle when there’s nothing I want more than to sink in to the hilt, as deep as her body will allow. As if that would somehow brand her as mine.

Only mine.

I startle. Why am I feeling that way? I’m not the possessive type. Besides, I have no right to be possessive with Uma. She’s free to go back to Nepal if that’s what she wants. She’s free to make love to whomever she chooses.

I don’t want her to.

She opens her eyes. “Why did you stop?”

I say nothing and just stare at her face.

“I’m doing great, if that’s what you’re worried about,” she says before nodding with feigned aplomb. “You may resume.”

My lips curl up. “Thank you. May I go faster?”

“Yes.”

I give her an are-you-sure look.

“I need you to go faster,” she says.

God help me.

She shifts, spreading her legs wider and tilting her hips to give me better access.

I withdraw almost fully and plunge into her in a long, deep stroke. She moans. Her voice is husky and sexy as hell, the last trace of pain gone from it.

That’s all I needed to hear to give in to what my body demands. No more holding back. She said she needed it, and I’m going to give her exactly what she asked for.

As I pound into her, my thrusts deep and hard, she bucks and our bodies slap against each other. My ears ring, and my vision goes blurry. Control slips away, but I resist. I don’t peak yet.

Uma closes her eyes and presses the back of her head into the pillow. Each time I drive in, her lips part on a gasp and the sounds she makes grow louder and wilder. She’s letting go completely, abandoning herself to the pleasure of our joining.

Come for me.

It’s preposterous to expect a woman to climax the first time she has penetrative sex, but seeing how incredibly receptive Uma is, she just might.

I want to take her there.

Leaning on one forearm, I pet her sweet little breasts, glide my hand down her belly and rub her between her legs.

She arches her back. “Oh my God! Zach, please…”

“Please what?” I whisper against her temple.

“It’s too much—”

“You’re hurting?”

“No. I’m loving this.” A moan escapes her lips as I drive into her. “But, with your hand, it’s too much, too… intense. More than I can bear.”

“That means you’re close.” I brush a kiss on her lips. “Just relax into it, chaton, and let yourself come.”

She peers at me as if deciding if she can trust my promise and nods.

I take her mouth again, harder this time, pushing my tongue between her lips at the same time as I plunge into her heat. I do this again, and again, and again, until she cries out and her muscles spasm around me.

A few more jerky thrusts, I climax, too—hard and sweet—and collapse on top of her.

Fevered words tumble from my mouth as I roll off to my side, so I won’t crush her. I have no idea what I’m saying, but it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that she’s smiling.

She looks happy.

Ten or maybe twenty minutes later, I fetch a towel from the bathroom and wipe her legs. Before I cast it aside and lie down next to her, I glimpse dark smudges on it and remember the implications of what we just did.

Uma touches my hand. “Hey, don’t look so glum! It was totally worth it.”

My heart lightens when I see her smile, and I stretch out beside her. She nestles her head in the crook of my arm. I stroke her face softly, delving my fingers into her thick hair.

After a few moments like that, all my thoughts and worries retreat. The only thing that remains is a feeling of profound satisfaction. Peacefulness.

Contentment.