I pull out onto the Strip, still trembling.

That was close. Maybe the closest I’ve ever been since that night, years ago. I just want to get home and sort out all these emotions, find a way to get rid of this nervous energy.

Just my luck, though: there’s some kind of traffic stoppage in front of me, and I get only a block from the Millennium before things crawl to total stop. I don’t know what happened, but there are cop lights up ahead of me, so it could be a DUI check. It looks like I have no choice but to sit here. I’m not concerned since I’m totally sober. I only had two drinks tonight, the last one a couple of hours ago.

Of course, while I’m sitting there I immediately start thinking about Maddox Ramsey again. It was such a thrill going out with a man that handsome, that fun, that famous, that outright sexy. Honestly, his wealth was way down on his list of attributes.

His taste remains on my tongue and I can’t help but think about that gorgeous cock of his. Large, but not absurdly so. Just enough. Just… perfect.

A fresh little burst of wetness flows into my pussy and I realize I’m still very excited. I don’t always get excited when I’m with men because I know at some point I’ll have to call a halt to things, and then explain why. I literally cock-block myself.

Then it occurs to me that for the first time, I’m irritated with myself for doing so. I didn’t really want to stop this time. I realize with fascination how desperately I want to be with Maddox.

To get naked with him. To open myself up to him.

To have him inside me.

And afterwards, to do the things that lovers do: snuggle and talk in whispers in the dark. Share little secrets and giggles. Then make love again. Repeat until the sun comes up.

I’ve never had that.

I understand that life isn’t fair, but this is something I’ve yearned for. Now with Maddox Ramsey, I may have finally found a man I can trust to protect me as he ravishes me.

The thought sends me into a near-panic. I’ve been waiting for this forever, and now I’ve gotten explicit signs from my body, physical signs of excitement, telling me it’s ready for this, that it’s finally prepared to give it a try. My body wants him, my brain wants him… hell, even my heart wants Maddox.

In that case, what the fuck am I doing here? Why did I ever leave his suite?

My mind swirls in a typhoon of thoughts and emotions.

Is this it? For real? Is this the night it finally happens?

Should I really do this?

Am I too late?

Without waiting for an answer from my beleaguered brain, I spin the steering wheel all the way to the left and screech through a hasty U-turn. Then I high-tail it back to the Millennium. I need to go through with this before I change my mind.

Less than three minutes later I’m in the elevator with the button pushed for the Millennium Presidential Suite. A few seconds pass after the car arrives at the top, then the doors open, and I see Maddox standing there, barefoot and shirtless, a pair of light gray linen pajama pants riding low on his hips. His lack of underwear is obvious, so I quickly look up to his eyes.

“We need to talk.”

I’m sitting on the indigo leather couch of his suite’s living area when Maddox returns from the minibar with two bourbons. I accepted his offer of a drink because I have a little speech half-prepared and some liquid courage will help it along. It might also dull whatever bit of physical pain awaits me, though I have a feeling my excitement will override that.

“Before you say anything else, let me make sure you’re aware of how happy I am that you came back.”

“For physical reasons?” I ask, taking a sip of the golden nectar.

“I’d be lying if I said no. But I’d also be lying if I said that was the only reason.”

Perfect answer, Mr. Hot Guy.

“Here’s what I have to say…” I begin, then quickly freeze as my eyes fall. How do I say this without making him run? Even after a deep breath I still can’t continue.

His hand gently takes mine, and I look up to see that shirtless torso. Jesus, this man is sexy as fuck. If I don’t go through with this, I’m going to hate myself for months. Years, maybe.

“What is it, Tempest?”

When I see the look in his eyes, I know instinctively that my early impulse wasn’t misguided.

He’s the one. This is the man.

“Maddox…”

I feel tears well up. Goddammit. Regardless, it’s now or never.

“Maddox, I’m a virgin.”

He laughs softly, then immediately apologizes when he realizes I’m not joking.

“I am so sorry. I guess I just supposed with your image… you know, the tattoos, the attitude, this incredible body…” His eyes roam downward, then they come back to meet mine again. “How is this possible? You said earlier you weren’t religious.”

“When I was fifteen, I was sexually assaulted.”

He sucks in a breath in surprise.

“Almost,” I amend my statement. “It didn’t actually happen. But it would have if my older sister hadn’t come out to my family’s RV looking for me.”

“Someone you knew?” he asks, his voice soft and tender.

“My boyfriend. He was eighteen.” I breathe and try to relax. Another sip of bourbon helps. “We were playing around, making out in the RV. My parents were out of town for the weekend and it was just my sister and me. I let him take my clothes off. It was all so new, so exciting. I was just a kid, you know? But he refused to stop when I asked him to.”

A tear slides down my cheek, then another on the opposite side. Maddox tenderly wraps his arms around me and pulls me to him. His gesture feels only sweetly sympathetic, with no hidden agenda. I relax a little, having finally gotten through the worst of it.

I wipe my tears away and pull back as I continue. “Anyway, if my sister hadn’t come knocking when she did…”

“Tempest, you don’t have to go on if you’d rather not. I understand.”

I wave him off. “That’s pretty much it. My trust in guys was shattered at that point. I really loved him, in a teenage crush kind of way, then he turned into a monster. I’ve never felt comfortable enough with any other man to… you know, to sleep with him.”

Still holding my hand, Maddox nods. “It’s okay. Obviously, we don’t have to. I’m happy that you came back to spend more time with me. I wasn’t done getting to know you.”

I laugh sarcastically. “Well, you know me now.” I take another sip, then proceed with the next step. “Maddox, I came back because I want you to be the one. I really like you and I had so much fun tonight. I think I’m ready to try.”

His eyebrows lower in a sign of concern. “Are you sure? I’d hate to think you felt obligated in any way.”

“I’ve shot down many men before. Trust me, I would shoot you down, too, if I wasn’t comfortable with the idea.”

He leans over and kisses my forehead. My face is inches from his chest and when I smell that cologne again, my body tingles in anticipation.

“I want this,” I say. I place a hand on his broad chest, running my fingers over the light sprinkling of brown hair.

“Okay, but if you change your mind at any point…”

“I won’t. I’m nervous as fuck. We’ll have to go slow, and none of that hair-pulling porno shit, okay? Be gentle with me.” I laugh anxiously and say, “If you fuck this up, you’ll be depriving future men of their chance.” Turning serious, I add, “But I want to be with you, Maddox. Badly.”

“Me, too, Tempest. I’m glad you changed your mind. You can trust me.”

In that moment, I know I can. He’s a man I can trust implicitly.

Thirty minutes later, I’ve grown impatient. Making out on the sofa with Maddox has been incredible, but I’m ridiculously excited and ready for more. I put my hands on his chest and push him away. When I stand, I see the front of his linen pajama pants has a huge wet spot and I know he’s as turned on as I am.

I grab them by the sides. “Lift your butt.” Then I tug and get them down his legs and toss them aside. There’s that beautiful cock again, the head slick with pre-cum. I reach behind my back and unzip my little sheath dress, letting it slide off my body.

That’s it. We’re both naked. My panties came off ten minutes ago when I wanted to feel some part of him inside me. Maddox obliged with a finger, then a second one when my response demanded it.

I take his hand and head to the bedroom. I lie on the bed and scoot back. When he climbs up, my hand is on his rock-hard cock, letting him know it’s time. I’m tired of waiting and eager to know what he’ll feel like inside of me.

“Hang on, baby,” he says. “Let me get a condom.”

Jesus, I hadn’t considered this. I don’t want him to wear one. But I’m not on the pill.

“You said I can trust you,” I say. “Are you okay? Tested and all that stuff?”

“I am,” he replies, “recently. And I haven’t been with anyone in a few months.”

“Then don’t wear one,” I say impulsively. “I want to feel you. And I want you to feel me. Is that okay?”

Maddox smiles. “It’s perfect. I’ll hold back.” I know that’s far from foolproof, but dammit, I want the sensation of him inside of me, skin-to-skin. It’s important to me for my first time doing this.

He lowers his body on top of mine, hovering so that only our thighs are touching. I open my legs wide for him, my bare pussy slick with excitement.

“Hey,” he says softly. I meet his gaze. “This is totally selfish, but I’m glad you waited. I’m glad I’m your first.”

I kiss him tenderly. “I’m glad, too. I’m not even afraid. Much.”

When I feel the head of that cock nudge my slippery folds, I’m immediately anxious again. He’s big, and I’ve never had anything in me anywhere close to that size. I remind myself that if “normal” women can do this, so can I.

“Ready?” he whispers.

I bit my lower lip and nod consent.

Just when I expect him to push his way into me, he instead lowers his head to my neck and kisses it softly, then leaves a trail of those kisses to my ear. Taking the lobe between his teeth, he gently nuzzles it. I moan quietly and immediately feel a surge of wetness to my pussy.

Then he enters me.

He proceeds slowly, so much so that I’m ready to beg him to just put the damn thing in. His approach works perfectly though, because I remain excited and eager even when it starts to hurt a bit. Then he looks me right in the eye as he pushes through and takes my virginity.

Maddox Ramsey has just become my first fuck.

He kisses me again, then whispers, “Everything okay?”

“Perfect,” I reply, the smile on my face confirming it.

Then we’re fucking. I’m fucking. Just like other women do. Sure, I let Maddox do most of the work, but that’s because I’m new at this and unsure of myself. I don’t want to do anything stupid, so I just lie there while he thrusts in and out of me. I mean, I’m not totally a cadaver; I wrap my legs around him, caress his shoulders.

And his cock feels so wonderful, so amazing inside me. Sweet Jesus, I love this.

I look into his eyes, my hand on his cheek. “Hey,” I whisper, “you’re fucking me.” A huge grin takes over my face.

“I am,” he says, and he looks equally happy.

We rock together like that for a while, then his thrusts slow but he remains inside me. Filling me, stretching me in the most delicious way. My psyche has been equally penetrated, split wide open, and I know Maddox has helped me begin the healing process.

“Let’s take a little break,” he tells me. “We don’t want to overdo it on your first time.”

He slowly withdraws from me, and my body misses him immediately. The feeling of having a man inside of me finally, after all these years of thinking I might not ever be capable of letting it happen, is a powerful emotion-bomb.

“You still good?”

I manage a quick nod, just before the tears come out of nowhere.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, obviously concerned.

“I’m just happy.”

Monumentally relieved, too, but I don’t tell him that.

“I have an idea,” Maddox says, kissing my forehead. He climbs out of bed and turns on the Jacuzzi tub, then leaves the room. Seconds later he returns with a tray. I barely notice it, though, because I’m inspecting his naked body, in particular that delicious cock hanging between his legs.

Bringing the tray to the bed, he removes a silver lid with a flourish to reveal a generous slice of strawberry cheesecake. I’d forgotten all about it.

For the next half hour, Maddox and I sit in the hot water, the jets of the tub relaxing our muscles while he feeds me little bites of cheesecake. I’ve had Micio’s cheesecake before, but for some reason, tonight it tastes like it was baked by angels and faeries.

Luxuriating in the bubbles, I slide my toes along his. “Hey Maddox, earlier you said I was dangerously beautiful. So I’m potentially a psycho killer or something?”

“No, it means that you’re the kind of woman a guy could fall for. Fall really hard, in fact.”

I nestle into his hard body, more content than I’ve been since… well, maybe ever.