Page 42 of Almost Love

“So we’re researching sex…”

“Yup. Cosmo’s got great positions and lots of tips.”

He fought back a smile and said, “Why do you know this?”

“I like being informed.”

“About sex.”

Clementine elbowed him and he coughed at the sudden shock to his side before settling back into the couch, his shoulder touching hers.

“How about porn?” he asked.

“What about it?”

“Do you watch it?”

“For entertainment purposes.”

“What?” A laugh followed, but he swallowed it back at the confused look on her face. “What do you mean?”

“It doesn’t turn me on. Sometimes I watch it to understand how bodies work. Like where does the dick go, why does it look that way, do all dicks curve to the left? And then vaginas, like…how many nerve endings are triggered when a dick is inside. How about the clit?”

Gritting his teeth, he closed his eyes and shook his head. “You’re killing me, Clem.”

“I know. I was messing with you.”

When he opened his eyes, he found her grinning up at him and he cataloged that as the fourth kind of smile she had.God, she’s fucking spectacular. This close, he could see the light smattering of freckles across her nose and the golden flecks in her brown eyes. She took his breath away in every situation, but like this with her delicious scent wrapped around him, Clementine ruined him.

“What are you doing to me?” he asked, the words coming out on a heavy exhale.

Her eyes sparkled at the question. “Apparently I’m good at seduction.”

“Your mereexistenceis a seduction.” His fingers itched to touch her, so he said, “May I touch you?”

She hesitated, eyes flitting between his before nodding. Steadying his breath, Oakley brushed his index finger along the length of her nose. She scrunched it up and he smiled, dropping his hand to cup her jaw.

“I thought you would touch me somewhere else,” she whispered.

“When you’re ready, I will.”

She set her laptop aside and shifted, turning her body to him fully. So he did the same thing until they were facing each other. She tilted her head and he let himself memorize the details of her face. His eyes dropped to her lips and with his thumb, Oakley traced her mouth. They parted against his finger and he pressed gently against the center of the bottom lip, her heavy breathing the only sound between them. He took a chance and slid his thumb forward, bumping against her teeth before she opened her mouth some more. Her tongue teased the pad of his finger and then lightly gripped the digit between her teeth. He swallowed hard, the sound audible in the silence, and she released his thumb with a whole new smile.

“I think you might destroy me,” she said softly, brown eyes searching his.

“I was going to say the same about you.”

Oakley knewshewould definitely wreck him. But he was more than ready for it.

“Why is your relationship with sex difficult?”

He stilled at the question and blew out a breath even though he was prepared for her to ask. He wanted to turn away, to brush it off and not talk about it, but Oakley knew that it wouldn’t be fair to her. Instead, he stared into her eyes and spoke slowly.

“I went through a pretty dark time in my early twenties and sex was like getting a hit of something to keep me going. A lot happened in those days that I don’t remember fully, but enough that it took me a while to be with someone else.” Rubbing the back of his neck, he finally broke eye contact and stared at his lap. “Talking about it is hard, but I promise that I’ll tell you more about it one day.”

She didn’t say anything for a while, so he looked up to find her watching him. “Thank you for sharing that with me.”

“Sex is so much more than two bodies coming together; it’s deeper than that too. So I understand your fears and hesitation.”

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