Zara

“Okay, so I have never done that before.”

My face buried in his chest made my words muffled and barely audible. But when he stiffened and leaned back to look into my eyes I knew he’d heard me.

I was still on my knees in the sand leaning against him between his spread legs. He quickly tucked himself in. That motion along with my mortification caused me to hastily sit back on my heels.

“Come here.” He gripped my upper arms, pulling me onto his lap. Distractedly, he brushed the sand off my legs while staring into my eyes. “You’re joking.”

“I’m not.”

The blank expression he gave me wasn’t helping my embarrassment. I looked away, but he immediately caught my chin to bring my gaze back to his. “Zara, are you a virgin?”

“Not exactly…” My dangling words had him tilting his head in confusion.

Without warning, he stood with me in his arms and carried me toward the house. “Spike, come.”

Marshmallow jumped at his command, and followed closely behind. Once inside, Lance slammed the door shut with his foot and sat on the couch with me still sitting on his lap. Marshmallow stood staring at us, looking put out. After an annoyed grunt, he hopped on the couch and shimmied his way between our chests.

We exchanged a grin before Lance shifted him to the cushion. Undeterred, he circled once and settled his entire body against Lance’s thigh.

Lance shook his head with a chuckle. “Anyway, back to what you said outside. What do you mean, ‘not exactly’? You either are or you’re not.”

“I mean, I’m not a virgin, but I’ve only had one sexual partner.”

He cleared his throat before asking, “Just one?”

“Yes.” Our age difference hadn’t seemed to be a problem up until then, but if he felt that I was too inexperienced, young, and naïve that wouldn’t bode well for me. The more he remained silent the more I worried. “What are you thinking?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never been with anyone who wasn’t…”

“Experienced?” I finished his thought.

He shook his head. “Promiscuous.”

It was my turn to ask the questions. “How many women have you been with, exactly?”

“I never kept count.”

Yikes.

He smiled shyly at my reaction.

“Hundreds?”

“No!” The skin around his nose pinched tightly in a grimace. “Thanks a lot.”

“Sorry. But look at you. It’s not too far-fetched. How is it you’re single?”

“I never had time for a serious relationship. It’s always been just sex and nothing else. Until now.” My eyes moved to his throat as I watched him work a swallow. When I looked back up, he was staring at me apprehensively. “Does that freak you out?”

“Which part?” I asked with obvious humor.

“Let’s start with the ‘until now,’ because the other part means nothing.”

“I wouldn’t say it freaks me out.” I placed my hand on the curve of his jaw. He leaned into my touch, bringing his upper body and face closer. “What happens if you get bored with my lack of experience?”

“First of all, that won’t happen. Second, I’m a great teacher. And third…” He closed the distance, kissing me flush on the lips before continuing. “If that blow job was your first, you’re a natural.”

“Um…thanks?” I laughed at his compliment. “Maybe I should rethink the tourism profession and go for hooker?” His mouth flew open in shock. “I’m joking.”

“That’s not funny.”

“Sorry.” I flexed my fingers on the scruff covering his face and kissed his jaw. Before I could pull away, he held my head with one hand and crushed his lips to mine. The kiss progressed, and he lifted his pelvis just enough for me to feel that his excitement was progressing along with the kiss.

Apparently, my lack of experience was not limited only to the cruder of sexual acts. Never had a kiss brought me so dangerously close to coming. Each time his tongue skimmed against mine, I felt the muscles in my body clench, nerve endings jolted to life. And it wasn’t limited to my crotch. I felt it in my thighs, my knees wobbled, my belly tightened. Even the hair at the back of my neck stood at attention. Every single part of me came alive when Lance kissed me. I could only imagine what I’d feel when the time came to finally have sex. It was no longer if, but when. I secretly hoped it’d be tonight. The setting was perfect, and it’d be a shame to waste such romanticism.

Like a cruel joke, the faint ringing of a phone traveled through the bungalow. Lance either hadn’t heard it or chose to ignore it. When it stopped for a few seconds only to repeat ringing, I pulled away.

“Lance, your phone.”

It took him a moment to comprehend what I said. Once he realized it, he said, “Oh shit.”

I stood, allowing him to jog into the bedroom to retrieve it.

The bungalow was small enough that I heard him say, “Hi, Mom. Is everything okay? Yes….No, I’m fine….Yes, I promise I’m fine….I don’t know yet….I’ll call you tomorrow….Okay. Love you, too.”

When he emerged, I asked, “Is everything okay?”

“Yes. My mom had a bad dream about me and was just checking in.”

“She must miss you.”

“Terribly.” He suddenly looked off, like something was wrong. I assumed he’d tell me if he wanted me to know. I watched as he walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge. He pulled out a plate full of chocolate-covered strawberries with a spicy smile. “Ready for dessert?”

He walked over to where I stood, lifted one off the plate, and ran the tip across my bottom lip. I opened, anticipating that he’d feed it to me. Instead he took a bite himself, and chewed softly.

“Delicious.”

“Are you going to share?”

He swallowed with a nod, leaned in, and kissed me. The flavor of chocolate and strawberry was potent on his tongue, but getting that tiny taste combined with the abbreviated kiss was nothing but a tease.

When he pulled away and took another bite of his strawberry, it was clear he wasn’t going to share.

“You’re mean.”

“Oh. Did you want another taste of me?” he asked, amused, while taking another slow bite. Chocolate clung to his bottom lip, tormenting me to take a lick.

Deciding to tease him, I shook my head and walked toward the couch. “I’m good.”

Marshmallow and I squealed in tandem when Lance slammed the plate on the table, sending the dipped fruit scattering on the wood top, only to fly over and immediately assault me with tickles.

“Okay! Okay! I’m sorry!” I pleaded in between gasping for air.

“Say, ‘Yes, Lance. I want another taste of you.’ ”

“Yes, Lance. I want another taste of you.” It was absolutely true. I did want more, much more.

His fingers halted at my declaration. “The U.S. government better hope you never fall into enemy hands. All they’d have to do is tickle you.”

This was true.

Somehow, I ended up spread out beneath him on the couch with Marshmallow excitedly trying to get in on the action. He climbed onto Lance’s back, kissing his ear and neck while Lance did the same to me.