Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 38908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
The hotel’s door was knocked on, and he got to his feet, walking to it. Opening the door, he saw Aria standing there. She wore a pair of jeans and one of her signature large shirts. She always wore large clothing, but he knew what kind of body she had beneath. Her hands were clenched together, and she was wearing a bag with a strap between her breasts. She looked incredibly sexy. He didn’t know what was wrong with him and why he was even acting this way.
“I’m not going to bite.”
They hadn’t ironed out all of the ramifications of her coming here or what they were going to do about it.
“You okay?”
“I don’t know what the hell is going on right now.” She took a step back, and it broke his heart to see her so undecided. He couldn’t help but wonder if he’d been the cause of this for her.
“If you don’t want to do this, you can leave.”
“You need to understand I’ve never done anything like this. I’ve never had sex with a stranger. I’ve never gone out drinking or partying until the other night. I have no idea what I’m doing.”
Tears were in her eyes, but she wasn’t running away from him. He didn’t know what to do or say to her. Words were not his thing, and right now, he was really struggling to keep his sanity. Her auburn hair was pulled up on top of her head in a messy bun. She looked so fresh, so innocent and pure.
“I’m going to go back inside. I’ll leave the door unlocked. We can talk more in the room. I’m not going to do this out here in case anyone comes. They don’t need to know our business. This is our business, and no one else needs to know anything else.” He slowly closed the door and stepped back, sitting on the edge of the bed, waiting.
This was all in her hands. He wouldn’t force her.
She could do and be anything she wanted, and none of that included anything with him. Running a hand down his face, he waited, unsure of what to do next.
He’d never been with a virgin. In truth, he expected her to run away, to leave him alone, to never give him a chance to explain anything or anyone.
Aria shocked him as she opened the door. Her head was bowed, and she closed the door, flicking the lock into place.
He stayed on the bed, watching her. Waiting.
“I’ve never done this.”
“I know.”
“Don’t be like that. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, and it scares me. This scares me. All of it. I’m not the kind of person to do this crazy stuff.” She leaned against the door, finally looking at him.
He stayed on the bed. “I hate to break this to you, Aria. I’ve never bedded a virgin. You’d be my first.”
“This isn’t funny.”
“I’m not laughing.”
“You don’t like me.”
This time he did laugh. “Actually, I do like you. I happen to like you a lot. I wouldn’t be here for anyone else.”
“You’re offering me your body, Max. You’re not selling your soul.”
“True, but that doesn’t make this any easier. It’s still hard for me. I know this is your first time. You’re probably worried, and you’re going to hurt. I’m not small, and I’m not boasting to make you feel good. I’m a well-endowed man. I’ve fucked my way through a lot of women.”
“I don’t need to hear this.”
“All of those women meant nothing. All they had in common was they were after the same thing I was. Light relief. Pleasure. Nothing of any real meaning to either of us. You’re different, Aria. You’re a virgin. Do you have any idea the kind of stress that places on a guy? If I fuck this up and get this completely wrong, you could hate sex.”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s not that big of a deal.”
“It just goes to show you don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.”
“I know my body. If you don’t want to do this, we don’t have to do this.” Both of her hands were spread out, and she looked ready to run.
Max got to his feet. He didn’t step close to her or even try to invade any part of her space. Grabbing the bottom of his shirt, he tugged it up over his head and threw it onto the floor.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m proving to you that this matters. That I’m not here to just get my rocks off. I have feelings. I care about this moment. To you, it may not mean anything, but it means a great deal to me.” He unbuckled his belt and pushed his jeans down. He’d decided to go without boxer briefs, as they often left him feeling a little too trapped for his own comfort.