Page 97 of Fragments

Ren stiffens. I feel it happening before he shifts his face off of my shoulder to look at me. “Was she your girlfriend?”

I don’t know why the obvious jealousy in his tone warms my chest, but it does, and I can’t help choking back a grin. “No. She wasn’t my girlfriend.” He breathes out slowly. “I mean, I did love her. Ido. But I’m not sure if it’s that kind of love.”

“Shouldn’t it be easy to tell?” He blinks, looking very curious.

“I have really no idea,” I mutter. “I was starting to think maybe relationships… weren’t for me. Like, I never got that feeling, ya know? I was waiting for it to come, but it didn’t…”

“Maybe you just hadn’t met the right person.” He tilts his head, vibrant blue eyes calling me out.

A chuckle puffs from my lips. “Really?You, of all people, are saying that? You’re monogamy-repellant. Would you even knowhowto have a relationship?”

His gaze narrows. “Well, Bridget Jones, not all relationships have to bemonogamous. Some people believe in freedom of love and sex, outside of the archaic social constructs that have been drilled into our heads for a millennia.”

“Jesus…” I cackle, and he grins. “Tell us how you really feel.”

“I’m just saying. People act like loving sex makes you an evil harlot, but the human body is designed to enjoy sex. It’s not just for making babies.”

“I guess you’re the expert on that,” I tease.

“Pretty much,” he sneers. “Not that you’d know this, breeder, but sex still feelsreallyfucking good without a vagina involved.”

A gulp follows my forced laugh. The sex topic tends to make me a little jittery.

“Yea, well… I wouldn’t know either way.” I chew on my lower lip.

My hand is getting kind of sweaty, but he refuses to let go of it.

Ren straightens, turning his body to face me. “What do you mean?”

My eyes dart to his, then down to my lap, awkwardness coiling my muscles.

God, this is humiliating.We don’t talk about sex much, so the fact that I’ve never had it hasn’t come up yet. I mean,Rentalks about sex all the time, but I usually just listen and nod along. I have no contribution to the sex conversation, outside of a few measly makeout sessions, a couple boob-grabs, and some phone sex with random internet girls, which is pretty much the same as masturbation, in theory.

Am I really going to tell the most sexually active person I’ve ever met that I’m a virgin?? He’ll probably never speak to me again.

“I… It doesn’t matter.” I yank my hand out of his.

“If it doesn’t matter, then just tell me.” He scoots closer, and I back up.

“No.”

“Come on…please?” He pouts. “I wanna know what’s got you all clammed up.” He grins, walking his fingers up my leg. “It’s pretty adorable.”

I smack his hand away. “Cut it out.”

“Lex…” He flutters his lashes, and I shake my head. “Luthor…”

“Ugh.” I roll my eyes. “Just drop it, please.”

“Not a chance.” He grabs me by the thighs and yanks me fast until I crash onto my back. Then he quickly climbs on top of me, straddling my hips.

My eyes are wide, chest pumping frantic breaths. “Ren! Get off me! What are you—”

“Tell me what you’re hiding.” He leans over, trapping me beneath him on the bed. I try to fight him off, but he snatches my wrists and pins them down. “Or I’ll have to kiss it out of you…”

What??

“Dude… stop,” I whimper, my blood rushing like a waterfall in my ears. “I thought we said no more kissing…”