Page 12 of My Mountain Man Valentine
I consider the space. We’re surrounded by trees, and the break where the rocks are allows the night sky to peek through, but it’s too cloudy to see any stars. “Being able to see the stars, but failing that, fairy lights hanging from the trees, a fire pit with smoldering embers to make s’mores, a few more cushions. AndI wasn’t joking about the chocolate cake. I’m not fussy about the main course, although I am partial to melted camembert cheese dip, but dessert, that’s different. I like chocolate. Chocolate cake, chocolate brownies, chocolate cheesecake…”
He raises his eyebrows. “All at once?”
“Why not? I love dessert. It’s the best part of the meal.”
He shakes his head. “And here I was thinking you were a sensible teacher.”
I bite my lower lip, because I am a sensible teacher. But I’m about to do a very un-sensible thing.
“It wasn’t really a first date.” Ethan looks up from where he’s lying on the blanket propped up on one elbow. “It was more of a hook up.”
Ethan’s eyebrows pull down his brow until they meet in the middle. “What do you mean?” he growls.
I play with the fringe of a cushion, my cheeks heating at what I’m about to confess. “I met him on a dating app. It was just going to be for one night. I don’t usually do that,” I add hastily. “Not that women should be judged if they do, but I’ve never done it before.”
“You’ve never met anyone on a dating app?”
“No.” I shake my head, and I can’t meet his eyes, “I’ve never hooked up with anyone. Ever.”
Silence hangs in the air, and I dare a glance at Ethan. He’s studying me intently, his expression unreadable in the dim light. The shadows make his face even more handsome, and I take a deep breath and run on before I lose my nerve.
“I’ve tried dating before and never met anyone I really liked, and I’m twenty-five now and I don’t want to be a virgin my whole life, so I arranged a hook up.”
I trail off and watch Ethan. He hasn’t moved a muscle, and his gaze remains firmly on mine.
“You were going to lose your virginity tonight?”
I nod. “Yeah. It was time.”
“You’ve never been with a man before?” His breathing is ragged, and his eyes shine. He’s attracted to me, and that spurs me on to do what I need to do next.
Rolling onto my hands and knees and keeping my ankle elevated, I crawl over to where he’s lying on the blanket.
“I’d still like to lose my virginity tonight.”
He sucks in a breath and sits up just as I reach him.
“Oh no no no.” He puts his hands in the air. “Whatever you’re thinking, get that thought out of your head. You’re vulnerable and injured and under my care.”
He didn’t say he doesn’t want me, and that makes me bold.
“You’re single and you’re attracted to me, and we’ve got the entire night together on our own. What else are we going to do?”
I edge closer to him and let the blanket fall off my shoulders. His eyes dart to my chest, and I push my breasts out so they strain under my top.
“Lucy...” His voice is croaky. “Your first time should be special. You should save it for someone you love.”
I run a hand down my neck and over my breasts and down my torso, and he follows it with this gaze.
“I don’t want to do that. I want to experience what sex is like. I read about it in books, and I’ve never experienced it myself.”
My hand moves down between my legs. He swallows hard, and the Adam’s apple in his throat bobs up and down.
“If you don’t help me, Ethan, I’ll have to go back on a dating app and find someone else to hook up with.”
“Don’t do that.” His voice is a growl loaded with desire. He wants me. I just need to convince him I’m not a delicate flower that will break from use.
Maybe that’s what he thinks. All people see of me is the prim schoolteacher. They don’t see the passion that burns insideme, the needs I have that need to be fulfilled, the need to be manhandled and thrown about and made love to.
