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“Do you have something caught in your eye?Here, let me look.”He tried to guide me to where, undoubtedly, the light would be better.

I felt my face heat.“I’m fine, Jeremy.Honestly.”

He stopped the movement.“Yeah, okay.”

“So you’ll take me to bed?”

“Yeah.”He blew out a breath.“Going to be really honest here, Phillip.I’ve never been with a virgin before.”

I mulled that over in my mind.“Your first time?”

“Greg Mullins.Captain of the football team.Not his first rodeo.”

“And no one since?”

“Not that anyone ever admitted.I just… Have sort of tended to pick guys with experience because soon after I got started, I was one of those guys.I mean, I’ll be honest and say I enjoy sex.I can also say I’ve gone months without it and been okay.I might miss it, but not enough to go out searching for it.”

I tried to take in what he was telling me.No serious relationships, but he enjoyed sex.

Will I enjoy sex?

He moved to the bedside table and pulled out condoms and lube.“I’ve been tested, but I want you to feel safe.I’m going to get tested again, even though I haven’t been with anyone.”

“You want to go bareback.”

He nodded.“Yes, I would eventually.”He eyed me.“I’ve never done it before—with anyone.I grew up when AIDS was very much a death sentence.My parents drilled condoms into my consciousness, and although I’ve met a couple of guys over the years who made me reconsider, I never went that extra step.Which assures me that they weren’t the right person for me.”

“Ah.”Because what else could I say?He wants you to know you’re different.You’re special.No one’s ever been in his heart.Not like you.“Okay.”

He moved back toward me.“So you think you’re ready?”

I stood a little taller.“I know I am.”

“That’s great.One last thing.Possibly the most important.You might be giving me your consent now, but you can take it away at any time.You saystopand everything stops.No anger.No recriminations.No hesitation.We stop, if you want, then we discuss, and we move on.”

“I don’t want to stop.”

“But you need to know the option’s there for you.”

“Yeah, okay.”Which made me love him even more—if that was even possible.I believed him.I doubted I’d ever want to stop, but I appreciated that option being on the table.

“Now…do you think we can get undressed?Because as adorable as these new pajamas are, I’d love to see you out of them.”

James had helped me pick a pair that I hoped connoted maturity.Off worked just as well.I unbuttoned my shirt.

When I was done, Jeremy gently slipped it from my shoulders.Then he carefully laid it on a reading chair.

I sort of liked that he had two oversized chairs clustered near the window that faced the backyard.I envisioned days when we curled up and read books.Reading more was definitely on my priority list.

Jeremy ran his fingers down my chest until he reached the waistband of my pajama bottoms.

I nodded.

He slowly grasped the elastic and tugged them down.

Cold air hit my semi, and I giggled.

As he lowered the pants to the ground, he gazed up at me.He tapped my left foot.