Page 72 of Gin & Jewels

“Everything okay, princess?”

I jumped slightly as Brad spoke. “Just getting some water.”

I heard him move, and then he turned on the lamp next to the couch. “Need some help?”

“No, I can do it.” I went into the kitchen and got a bottle of water from the fridge. He followed.

“Feeling okay?”

“Yeah. Thank God for pain meds.”

He grabbed a bottle too. “Try to get some sleep. Rest is best for healing.”

I started to leave the kitchen, but then stopped. “Would you lay with me until I fall asleep?”

He gave me a small smile. “Of course.”

I started for the bedroom, but then stopped and turned back again. “Wait. Is your mom going to be okay with this?”

“What have I always told you?”

I tilted my head because I was confused.

He grinned. “I’m a grown-ass—”

“Man.” I nodded with a smile. “But it’s her roof.”

“True.” He draped his arm around my shoulder and started for the bedroom again. “But this will make her happy. She’s already ecstatic you’re my girlfriend.”

My heart fluttered. I liked hearing him call me his girlfriend, but as we lay in the bed with his arms around me, I realized that I wasn’t just his girlfriend. I was hisvirgingirlfriend. And not only was I his virgin girlfriend, but he was mypreviously-an-escortboyfriend. I had no idea what I was doing in the bedroom because I’d never done anything before, and now I was dating someone who probably knew every kama sutra move there was. What if he dumped me because I didn’t know what to do? What if I was so horrible that I repulsed him?

“Brad,” I whispered. “Maybe this isn’t a good idea.”

He rose onto his elbow, but I didn’t turn over. “My mom won’t care.”

“Not about that.”

“Then what about?”

I took a deep breath and then turned onto my back. I could barely make out his face in the darkness, but I knew he was looking down at me. “I was just thinking that …”

“Hey, it’s okay. You can talk to me about anything.”

I took another breath and figured that since we were in the dark and he couldn’t see my face, I could lay it all out there. “I’m a virgin.”

“Yeah …”

“And, well, you’re not.”

“And you’re worried because you think I care?”

“Or that I’ll suck.”

I heard Brad chuckle. “Sucking is part of it.”

“What—”

“I’m kidding, princess. Don’t worry about it.”