Page 92

“When was your last check-up?” he asks.

My eyes widen. “West.”

“It’s a normal question with someone you’re dating.”

“Okay. But…” I glance away from him at the waiters around. There’s only a few other tables occupied, and they’re a fair bit away. “You answer that first.”

West’s hand presses flat against the table, big and tan against the white wood. “Fine. Ask me, then.”

I clear my throat and force my eyes back to his whiskey ones. There’s amusement there. He’s enjoying this, just how awkward and uncomfortable it’s making me.

“When was your last check-up?” I ask.

“Why do you want to know?”

I groan. “West.”

“Come on. Press me on it.”

I toy with the edge of my napkin. “I think it’s good practice. Generally speaking. When dating someone.”

“Mhm. Well, I’m clean.”

I smile at him. “Great, thank you.”

“No, trouble. You should never accept that response.”

“Why not? I got what I asked for.”

He shakes his head. “He could be lying to you.”

“So I need to press him on it?”

“Yes.” He narrows his eyes at me and makes his voice hard. “Don’t worry about it. I’m clean.”

“Oh. Right. And how do you… know that?”

“No symptoms.”

I dig my teeth into my lower lip. “West, I can’t demand someone show me a clean bill of health to their face!”

“Of course you can. Argue with them. Never accept their word for it.” His voice is dark and just shy of deadly. “You should definitely not let him come inside you without a condom if he doesn’t.”

“You’re making this too hard,” I say. “How would you even handle this conversation?”

He reaches for his glass. “Well, first of all, I wouldn’t be having it halfway through a first date. A little presumptuous.”

That makes my lips twitch, despite myself. “Good call.”

“And I’d start with…” He puts down the glass of red and looks at me directly. “Let’s talk birth control.”

My eyes widen. “Oh.”

“Opens the conversation. I’d make it clear that I use condoms, always,” he continues in that deep, rasp of his voice. “Protects against all kinds of… consequences. Even if going without is more pleasurable.”

I think of his hardness beneath me when I was draped over his lap. I think of what he might look like and that big hand rolling a condom on.

“Okay. Yeah.” I blink a few times. “That’s good.”