Page 140 of Collide
“I know you haven’t had sex…” He pauses, searching for the words. “But have you done anything else…before me?”
I hesitate. My fingers twitch slightly against his chest. The question is fair. But the answer? It’s mortifying.
“There was one guy,” I admit.
His hand stills for a moment on my back, then starts moving again, encouraging me to go on.
“I was maybe seventeen. I don’t even know if itcountsas anything. He had no idea what he was doing. Said he wanted to finger me, but…”
I bite the inside of my cheek, heat rising to my face.
“He kept rubbing the side of my groin—like, nowhere near where he should’ve been.” I snicker softly. “I don’t even think he knewwhereto put his hands. I started chafing with how hard he was going.”
I close my eyes at the memory. The second-hand cringe still lingers.
“I wanted to say something,” I add, voice quieter now, “but I didn’t know how to correct him without making it worse. So I kind of let it happen.”
Alex doesn’t speak right away.
Then he chuckles softly. “No, I don’t think that counts.” His voice is warm with amusement. “Then what happened?”
“He asked me to give him head,” I admit, burying my face slightly into his shoulder.
“And what did you say?”
“I told him I couldn’t…because of my braces. Then I bolted.”
Alex’s laughter is instant, full-bodied. His chest shakes under my cheek as he throws his head back. I feel the sound before I hear it. I laugh too, mortified and delighted.
We settle again into the silence. A breath shared.
“It doesn’t exactly inspire lust,” I murmur.
His hand stills on my skin. “So what does inspire you, Elena?”
The word lives in my throat, blooming warm and bold. I throb just thinking it.
“You,” I whisper.
His breath catches.
“When you look at me,” I add, voice thick. “When you touch me.”
He shifts beside me, the heat between us rising as his hand trails up my thigh. Fingers light but deliberate.
“Like this?” he asks, his voice raspy, soaked in hunger.
“Yes,” I breathe, biting my lip. “Like that.”
“What else?” he asks, fingers gliding higher, teasing.
“I like that thing you did. With your…” I trail off, shy again.
“Tell me,Älskling,” he murmurs, mouth grazing my ear. “Don’t be shy—not with me. Not about this.”
“Your mouth,” I squeak, laughing softly into his chest. Heat floods my face.
“Oh, dirty girl.” He laughs low, wicked and velvety. It rolls through me like thunder.
