Page 27 of Icebreaker
“I’m not asking for a body count, but how much experience do you have?” I forced my hand to remain still on his waist.
“I’d give myself a one out of ten.”
“What’s the one for?”
“Because I got my first kiss the other day.”
I pulled back and looked at him incredulously.
“Your first kiss?” My tone unintentionally spooked Ellie, and he pushed on my shoulder to get out from under me.
“There’s nothing wrong with it.”
“Listen to me,” I said sternly and held him still against me. “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with it. I suspected it was, but I wasn’t sure. And I know it’s dumb, but I fucking love that. I’m the only guy who’s kissed you. I’m a little surprised because you’re fucking hot as hell, but I still fucking love it.”
Ellie studied the buttons on my shirt intensely. “So, yeah, I’m pretty shy. Plus, my dad loves me, and I know it, but I didn’t really wanna push my luck when I lived at home. It’s silly because Iknowhe’d never toss me out, but I was never able to get the intrusive thought out of my head. After I got here, I didn’t know how to talk to anyone, and you can’t hook up if you don’t talk to people.”
I kept the fact that that was wholly untrue to myself. Ellie was too innocent for glory holes and bathhouses.
“Apps not for you?”
“This is so dumb… Like seriously dumb.”
“Whatever you’re about to say is not dumb.”
“I really wanted my first whatever to be with someone who actually was interested in me and not just a hookup, not that there’s anything wrong with that,” Ellie hastily added. “I just didn’t want that to be my first time. If it hasn’t happened by the end of my senior year, I’m going to download Manhole and get it over with. There’s a year before my deadline.”
“Thank you for letting me be your first kiss.”
“But now the seal is broken, and I have a list.”
I drew back to get a better look at his face. Ellie’s eyes dance with mischievousness. Ordinarily, he was quiet and serious, and I’d only seen glimpses of the cheeky boy he kept carefully hidden away.
“Tell me something on your list that you’d like.”
“Bren…”
“Try again, kiddo.”
“Daddy B, this part is embarrassing.”
I kissed the column of Ellie’s neck, and his chest heaved. “Gotta say it if you want it.”
“A hand job,” Ellie blurted out.
“That sounds like a helluva an idea, baby boy.”
I pulled Ellie back underneath me and continued my exploration of his body. There was little chance anyone would find us since this part of the trail was on private property, but I didn’t want to take Ellie too far outside his comfort zone. If he lacked experience, easing him into the water was better than dumping him into the deep end and hoping he’d swim.
“You don’t have to if you don’t want to. It’s practically first base,” Ellie added hastily. The sweet boy, who always put others before himself, was giving me an out. But it wasn’t needed and damn sure wasn’t wanted.
“I. Want. To.” I punctuated my words with firm kisses on his soft lips. “If you change your mind, tell me.”
“That’s not going to happen,” he panted.
I stilled my movements and encouraged him to look directly at me. “If you change your mind, what do you do?” I paused and allowed my words to sink in before I repeated myself.
“Tell you, Daddy B.”
