I woke up to a room that wasn’t mine, and it wasn’t the spare room in Carly’s place, either. I blinked, trying to swim through the dull ache in my temples. The light from undrawn curtains pierced my eyes, and even though I didn’t remember a wild night out, I had a hangover of sorts.

“Morning,” Nick said next to me in a deep, sexy voice, and it all came crashing down on me. Last night had been amazing. The dinner with Nick had been perfect, and we’d had more wine than I usually had. That explained the headache. It had been enough alcohol to break free from my inhibitions and do what I had been wanting to do for a while now. To lose my virginity.

I couldn’t have chosen a better person to give it to, either. Nick had been everything I always thought was amazing in a man back when we had been in school together. Now, everything I had liked before, I loved now. He had become more himself in a lot of ways, but the core of him, the part that was so smoldering hot, was still there.

We’d had sex last night, and it had been a dream come true, something I had wanted for so long. And I had stayed over. And I hadn’t brought a toothbrush to take care of my morning breath.

Shit.

I pulled the sheets over my mouth, and Nick’s brow furrowed in confusion.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “The plan wasn’t to stay over.”

Nick shook his head, smiling. “Hey, it’s a first for me, but I’m not worried. When you’re the one in my bed, I’m happy to spend a little more time with you.”

His face paled a little when he realized how he’d made it sound.

“I mean, of course, it would be you. I don’t have women in my bed all the time. I just mean—” He sighed, stuck.

I laughed. “It’s okay, I get it. But thank you for clearing that up. When I stay over in another man’s bed, I prefer it to be yours too.”

We laughed because even though I hadn’t taken offense to his words, it was more likely he would end up with someone in his bed than me staying over in someone’s bed. I had only lost my virginity now, and even though I had done a lot with men before, it had hardly been cause to stay over.

Nick smiled and leaned down to kiss me. I held my breath and offered my mouth, not letting him use tongue because I was shy and embarrassed. I’d had wine last night, so God knew what a sight I was.

“Have I told you how sexy you are in the morning?” Nick asked.

“Stop,” I said, smiling. “You’re sweet, but I’m sure I’m a mess.”

“A hot mess,” he said, and I couldn’t help but blush because no matter how I painted it, he made me feel amazing. Being with him made me feel amazing.

“I’ll be right back,” I said and slid out of bed. I walked naked to the bathroom, and I felt his eyes on my body. Let him look, I thought. I felt good about myself. I went to the toilet. When I wiped, I was wetter than usual. Maybe it was what happened after sex. I wouldn’t have known. I felt amazing now that I had done it. I felt like I had finally grown up.

When I was done on the toilet, I swished with a bit of his mouthwash and made sure my breath smelled minty before I walked back to the bed.

Nick shamelessly stared at me, and I noticed his dick was happy with what he saw too. I climbed back in under the sheet, and Nick rolled onto his side, pulling the sheet over his hips to cover himself up. I appreciated it. I could easily go for round two right now, but I wanted to spend quality time with him before doing it again. I needed that. I had just lost my virginity, and I didn’t want to push it.

“You know, I had a great time last night,” Nick said. “I really enjoyed myself, and I’m not only talking about the way we ended things off.”

I blushed again. Was it never going to stop around him? He had seen every inch of me and had me in compromising positions, and still, I blushed when he complimented me.

“I had a great time too,” I said. Spending time with Nick had been surprisingly relaxing despite the classy restaurant he had taken me to and that we had both been dressed up. I had been more comfortable around him than I had been on some other dates in jeans and a T-shirt.

We spoke a little more before Nick sighed.

“I have to get to training,” he said. “We have an early one scheduled for today.”

I nodded. “That’s fine, I have to get back too. Carly will wonder where I am.”

“I’m sure she can guess,” Nick said and flashed a devilish smile.

I blushed. Again.

“I’ll drop you off on the way,” Nick said.

Half an hour later, we headed out to his car. I wore the little lace dress I had worn last night. He had put on sweats and a T-shirt. He looked great, muscular, and I flashed on his body last night, how good he had looked without his clothes on. He had muscles that rippled under his skin when he moved, and when he towered over me, I felt small and delicate. Nick wasn’t a very tall person, but he was well-built, not too chunky. Perfect.

When I tiptoed toward my room, Carly appeared in her robe.

“Look who’s doing the walk of shame,” she said.

I shook my head and ducked into my room, but Carly followed me, a grin on her face.

“Come on, you have to tell me everything.”

I laughed. “Let me shower first,” I said. “I have some things to wash off my body.”

Carly pulled a face. “Classy for a woman who just lost her virginity.”

I pulled a face at her and closed myself in the bathroom.

When I finished in the bathroom, freshly showered with my teeth brushed and my hair combed, I sat on my bed, and Carly joined me. She had gotten dressed too.

“So? Tell me,” Carly said. “Was it amazing?”

“Which part?” I asked.

She looked pointedly at me, and I giggled.

“Yes,” I said. “It was fantastic. I can’t believe that’s what I’ve been missing out on.”

“There are some pretty shitty ones, too, honey. I’m happy your first time was a good one.”

“I don’t have much to compare it to,” I said.

Carly shrugged. “When it’s bad, you’ll know.”

I laughed. “Well, he was great. And we fell asleep before I could drag myself out of bed and get dressed. I had too much wine, and you know what that does to me.”

“Oh, I know,” Carly said. We’d had enough sorority parties and dorm parties and every other student party I could remember, and I hadn’t handled my alcohol very well. I was a lightweight, and I had always been out of my league when it came to who I was drinking with.

“He’s really nice, Carly,” I said. “I mean, I can’t tell you where it’s going to head or anything, but he’s everything I always thought he would be. No, more. Because he could be a real jerk before, and he doesn’t seem to have any of that left, now.”

“And you don’t think you’re a little starstruck?” Carly asked.

I shook my head. “I knew him before he was famous, remember?”

“From what I heard, the guy had been a god from the start. Get to know him a little before you make up your mind about how accurate you were before. It’s not bad to have a crush, but they’re not always realistic.”

I chuckled. “Says the girl who was still stuck on the same guy after he ditched you.”

Carly shot a fiery glance at me. Brad hadn’t fought for her when she had needed him to, and as a result, they had broken up for years before they had found each other again. Carly had been heartbroken over him for the longest time because he had been such a jerk.

“This is not the same thing. You had a fantasy crush on the guy. Brad and I had dated for a long time before we had broken up.”

I shrugged. Maybe she was right. I sighed, insecurity setting in.

“What’s up?” Carly asked.  You’re not regretting it, are you?”

I shook my head. “No, not at all. But Nick really doesn’t recognize me. He has no idea who I am. I let things go really far last night, and I don’t know what to do about it now. It’s not the same as running into each other at the party, you know?”

Carly nodded. “I hear what you’re saying,” she said. “And I think you should tell him.”

“But what if he doesn’t want me anymore?” I asked.

“Then, he’s not the guy for you. But secrets have a way of getting bigger and worse, and before you know it, they bite you in the ass. Don’t go there with him, not if you like him this much.”

I sighed. She was right, of course. Carly had always been very realistic with her advice. But saying it was something I had to do and doing it were two very different things.

My phone beeped with a text. I unlocked my screen and smiled.

“That smile can only mean one thing,” Carly said.

“I want to take you out on Friday. I want to see you again. Nick,” I read out loud.

Carly squealed. “He likes you!” she cried.

I couldn’t help but smile and agree. It seemed that he did like me if he wanted to see me again. A part of me that I had pushed very far down was glad it hadn’t been a one-night stand. I had prepared myself for the worst, but I was so relieved it hadn’t come to that. Not after my first time.

“So? What are you going to say?” Carly asked.

“Yes,” I said. “Or does that come across too easy? I don’t want to look overeager now.”

Carly shook her head. “I don’t think it comes across wrong. He’s a nice guy, and he’s doing it the right way.”

I nodded and typed my reply.

Sounds great. X

Not too much. I was happy with the text.

“It can’t be so bad to tell him who you are if he’s serious enough to take you out on another date,” Carly said. “Better that you get it out there now than you sit on it, and it bothers you. If you tell him straightaway, then you can relax and know where you stand and enjoy your time with him.”

I nodded. “You’re right,” I said. “I should just tell him.”

But I was hesitant. It was so easy to say I had to do it, but what if it did push him away? What if he decided he didn’t want to see me? I liked him, and I wanted him to take me out on dates and show me a good time. I didn’t want him to reject me solely based on who I was in my past. If he was that type of person, Carly was right. I wouldn’t want to be with him. But he had been my crush for years, and I finally had the chance to make my dreams a reality.

Did I want to risk it all ending again so soon?