Page 72 of Snow Balled

A small mirror over the dresser reflected my black balconette bra. It was one of my favorites, and the only one I owned that worked with such a low-cut dress. That’s why I’d packed it in the suitcase.

I’d gone into the strip poker game fairly confident I wouldn’t be showing my underwear to anyone, but would it have been so terrible if I had? It was true, I hated the idea of anyone seeing my body without my permission. Like when I was sleeping or filming an intimate scene. But if I chose to show myself to someone—orsomeones—I trusted, was that really such a bad thing?

Tristan seemed to think so. He also seemed to think that being a virgin was a terrible thing. Or at least a reason to be locked up in a tower away from everyone else.

But why the hell was that his decision to make? He wasn’t my mom. Or my agent or a director. The more I paced around the little room, the angrier I got. It was his reaction that made it seem shameful. When I told him I didn’t like kissing, he’d been eager to show me what I was missing. But when he found out I was a virgin, he’d apparently decided that I must remain one for the rest of my life.

Carter had been forward and suggestive all night, but he hadn’t reacted the way Tristan had. I walked over to the bed and picked up his grey shirt, holding it to my nose. It smelled good. I pulled it on over my black bra and panties, letting it hang open like a robe without a belt.

Carter had known all along I was a virgin, and he hadn’t treated me any differently for it. Nor had Drew—or had he? He’d pretty much treated me with kid gloves from the start.

But I wasn’t a kid. I was a grown woman.

And I was far too old for someone to send me to my room.

24

SIERRA

When I emerged, the guys were still sitting around the coffee table. Carter was just wearing jeans, since I still had his shirt. Drew was fully dressed, and Tristan had his jeans on but not his shirt.

They didn’t even notice me at first. Instead, they were intent on their discussion. Which, surprise, surprise, was about me.

“Bad idea all around,” Tristan was saying.

“Why?” Carter demanded. “Why can’t a group of adults go on a date and have a fun evening together?”

“Because she wasn’t ready for that,” Tristan said.

“She looked ready to me.”

Tristan was angry. “This is a huge deal for a woman. It’s not something she should decide on a whim.”

I stepped over to them. “Oh good, now there’s a committee of men discussing my sexuality. Remind me again what country we’re in?”

Drew looked stricken. “We’re just worried about you.”

“Then talk to me, not each other.”

“She has a point,” Carter said.

Tristan reached out and touched my arm. “We’re so sorry for the way tonight turned out. We feel awful.”

Carter snorted. “Will you stop speaking for the group? That works when you’re sourcing bamboo flooring, but not for something like this.”

“Can it,” Tristan said. “You’re the last person who would understand what she’s going through.”

“I understand that you’re not her dad. You’re not her keeper—and she doesn’t need either to tell her what to do with her own body,” Carter said as I stared at him.

There was something very unsettling about a world in which he made sense and Tristan was being irrational.

“I’m not trying to tell you what to do with your body,” Tristan said to me.

“Me either,” Drew said. “But I’m really sorry that we upset you.”

This was getting exasperating. “The only thing that upset me was when you found out I’m a virgin and decided I needed to be sequestered in my room.”

Tristan took a deep breath. Ordinarily, the sight of his sculpted pecs rising and falling would’ve been a turn-on, but right now, that was the farthest thing from my mind. “You’re right. I apologize for that. We were just trying to protect you.”

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