Page 41 of The Teacher and the Virgin

A car horn blared from the street, but otherwise there was silence. God, he was going to start the car and take me home. Maybe even undo the locks and push me out onto the pavement.

“So, you think I'm a man whore,” he said finally.

I was thrilled the interior was dark, otherwise he'd see my cheeks heat. He must have recognized that I had no intention of responding, so he continued, completely at ease.

“I haven't been with a woman since I met you.”

I whipped my head around to look at him. The long strands of his dark hair were less groomed than at work and I ached to run my fingers through them. His jaw was darkened by the start of beard.

“I don't believe you,” I replied, leaning against the door to get as far from him as possible.

“Don't believe the rumors.”

“I don't listen to office gossip.” There was enough of it to go around and I knew better than to find truth in any of it. My source was much more reliable. Hell, she set up Carter’s dates for him. Tori. My friend Tori was Carter’s personal admin assistant. That bitch knew everything—and she told me.

He flicked a glance at me, then at a couple that got into the car next to ours. “All right, who have I been with then?” he asked. “You're friends with Tori and she knows more about my day than I do.”

Exactly!“The blond at the Harris ball,” I said.

He thought for a moment about the event back in January.

“My sister.”

His—

“The company Fourth of July party.” There was no way he had two gorgeous sisters, one blond the other a red head.

“Evelyn Patterson.”

I rolled my eyes. At least he wasn't denying there had been a woman with him.

“My best friend's wife,” he added. “You've met Colin Patterson before. Tall guy, we played golf together… with Ford, as part of that charity event back in August. As for the picnic, Colin was on call for the holiday and was pulled in for an emergency C-section. He's an OB. He felt bad that Evelyn would be alone so she came with me.”

Oh.

“When else, Emma?” I saw the cocky smile I knew all too well quirk the corner of his mouth. He didn't look the least bit like a man caught with his pants down, more than once. He looked too confident, as if he really was telling the truth.

“Last week, the Milkin merger reception.”

“My next door neighbor,” he replied immediately. After the car next to ours left, it was quiet again. The car was like a cocoon, quiet and close. His clean scent was stronger now and with him looking at me directly, his eyes seemed almost black. “And before you say I fucked her, I didn't. She's a lesbian and doesn't find my equipment all that exciting.”

I couldn't help it, my mouth fell open.

“Then why?” I asked, before I thought better of it.

“Why do I find escorts who are already claimed or completely disinterested in me? Because the woman I wanted to ask was sitting outside my brother’s office. I had to take a date, as you're well aware, so I found women to accompany me, but that's all.”

“Then you really didn't—”

I couldn't finish my sentences around him.

“I didn't fuck them. I haven't fucked anyone. Hell, I haven'ttouchedanyone since I saw you. I’ve just been waiting, Emma, waiting for you to finish school. Being a fucking gentleman.” His hand gripped the steering wheel so tightly I feared it would break. “Until you forced my hand.”

Oh. Holy shit. The whole V-card thing.

He turned to look at me and I melted into the seat, my whole body on fire for him. “Your body is mine, Emma. I don’t share.”

Normally, the whole caveman vibe would turn me off. But coming from Carter, it had the opposite effect. I felt wanted, desired. The idea thatIhad been the reason for his sexual dry spell was overwhelming. Me! I wasn't anything special, not in comparison to those gorgeous women who'd escorted him to the events, especially now in my yoga pants when I was nowhere near a gym. But he hadn't touched those women. Certainly not his sister, definitely not the wife of a friend. He might be the hottest guy I'd ever seen, but he didn't have a chance with a lesbian.

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