Page 75 of The Geography of Happiness

But he didn’t jerk back. Didn’t look up in horror. He kept his lips around my cock until I was finished and pulling him up my body so that I could see his face and apologise.

But Terry didn’t look shockedorupset. Instead, he wore a lopsided grin and looked so inordinately pleased with himself that I couldn’t help but chuckle. And with my come slick on his lips and running down his chin, he also looked about as debauched as a man could be.

“Fucking hell, Terry.” I kissed that ridiculous smile off his face and then shook my head in amusement.

“I did good, right?” His eyes sparkled. “I wasn’t sure that I could, but I wanted to try. I’m up for feedback.”

I snorted and brushed his damp hair back from his forehead. “You were great. I fucking loved it.” I held the sticky ends of a disobedient curl for him to see and cocked my head. “Shower before bed if you don’t want questions.”

Terry stared wide-eyed at the sight of my come in his hair and then gave a slightly hysterical chuckle. “Jesus, I guess it really did happen.”

I tipped his chin up, forcing him to look at me. “And you’re sure you’re okay?”

The punch-drunk smile disappeared, and Terry took so long to answer that I began to worry.

“I’m—I’m great, actually,” he finally replied, then followed it with a huge smile. “I’m perfectly fucking great.”

I ran my thumb over his cheekbone, and when it came away wet, I held it up for him to see. “So, what’s this all about?”

His grin never faltered. “That’s what happens when you blow a boy’s brains out with the best orgasm of his life and then let him return the favour.” He shot me a level look. “Besides, I could ask you the same thing.” He swiped under my eyes and there they were. The tears I was pretending didn’t happen.

I studied his fingers and shrugged. “I worked up a sweat, so sue me.”

He narrowed his gaze but for some reason didn’t call me on the lie.

Time to change the subject. “Best orgasm of your life, huh?”

Terry side-eyed me. “Don’t sound so smug.” He reached for his phone but there were no messages, so he snuggled back down. “Besides, it only goes to prove how pathetic my sex life was up until now.”

“Ouch.” I pulled him into my arms and he stretched out beside me on the couch, pulling the blanket over us both. “But exactly how miserable are we talking? I need details.”

“You really don’t.” He waggled his hand between us. “Let’s just say that the last time I had someone in my bed was the infamous failure-to-launch experience with that hookup I told you about.”

I blinked, then frowned. “But you said that was?—”

“A few years ago, yes,” he finished. “See? Pathetic.”

I had to know. “And before then?”

He grimaced. “You’ll only laugh.”

I folded him against me and kissed the side of his head. “Never.”

His arms snaked around my waist and he answered without looking up. “I’m holding you to that. It was a couple of years earlier, give or take. I ran into a woman I’d known in high school and we got together a couple of times. I don’t even know why. The fact I knew her made it not feel like a hookup, I suppose. But the sex was hardly spectacular and only made me feel lonelier. That’s why I think I’m probably demi. I seem to need a connection first. Like with Amber.”

I tipped his chin up. “But you weren’t in love with her, right?”

He sighed. “No.”

I smiled. “And I’ve only known you since Monday. Four days doesn’t really tick the box for having a connection.”

He snorted. “Does it feel like only four days to you?”

I stared at him, this unexpected wrinkle in my life who’d appeared from nowhere to mess with my perfectly ordered plans. “No.” I cradled his face and dropped my lips to his in a leisurely kiss. “I feel like I’ve known you forever. Like a closed door in my life has suddenly blown open and I’m like,oh, there you are. Like I’ve been expecting you to show up while at the same time stunned that you’re here at all. And now I don’t know what to do about you.” I jolted at the startling admission, even though I knew it had been coming.

Terry’s mouth dropped open and he pulled away, as stunned by my confession as I was. “What do you meandoabout me?”

My cheeks blew hot, a rare occurrence before Terry showed up in my life. “I mean that we like each other and we get on well, agreed?”

---