Page 87 of Elijah

“I was drunk,” I snapped. “And I apologised.”

“I still told you and I don’t care, so answer the question.”

“Why does it matter?” I clutched the swatch of fabric which was covered in cats and dogs holding balloons, to my chest and eyed her warily.

For all she was rude and brash at times, Claudia had the knack of reading me and telling me things which I didn’t always want to hear, and I certainly wasn’t sure I wanted to hear her opinion of my first time having sex with Elijah.

“It doesn’t matter as such,” Claudia replied. “I’m just curious. So, go on.”

Knowing she wouldn’t let up until I told her, I let out a long exhale. “Three weeks. I was seventeen and my parents were out and we got carried away.”

“And you were a virgin?”

I was about to protest again, but knew it was pointless.

“I was, he wasn’t. He was gentle and sweet and he made sure we were safe and that I was okay.” I paused, screwing up the fabric in my hand. “We had a shower together afterwards and then he took me for a burger and to the cinema. The next day he brought me a mix CD that he’d stayed up until one in the morning making.”

I smiled recalling how two days later we’d had sex for the second time and Elijah had been just as sweet and gentle, but had given me two orgasms in the space of ten minutes.

Claudia nodding caught my eye.

“What?” I asked.

“It’s obvious. You’re first time with Elijah was pretty much perfect as far as losing your virginity goes. It was with the man you thought you’d spend the rest of your life with.”

“And?”

“And,” she sighed. “You’re wondering whether Leon might be the one to mend that broken heart of yours.”

“And what?” I asked on an empty laugh. “I’m worried that my first time with him won’t live up to my expectations of our relationship.”

“Nope,” Claudia said, giving me the softest smile I’d ever seen her give. “You’re worried it will and might even surpass it.”

Then with another smile, she carried on typing, our conversation seemingly over.