“Pathetic?” he offers, scrunching up his nose.
“I was going to say resourceful.” I bite my lip, because maybe he’s onto something. One of the worries I have about sex, once I find a partner I want to share the experience with, is that I won’t know what the hell I’m doing. “Maybe I should . . .” I catch myself before the rest of the words tumble from my mouth.
“What was that?” He tilts his chin with his gaze.
My face heats with the fire of a thousand suns and I can’t look him in the eye.
“Opal. Oh, Opal . . .” The way he says my name only makes this more embarrassing. “Are those naughty thoughts going through that gorgeous head of yours? Because I’m gonna need you to share.”
I scoff and meet his gaze. “I’m not telling you anything.”
“Come on, please? I’ve always wanted to get inside you.” He coughs and clears his throat. “Your head, that is.”
“Mmm hmm.” Eying him suspiciously, he only laughs.
“I swear it. Tell me, Opal. I’ll keep your secret.”
Reaching for another pillow, I turn onto my belly and tuck it under my chest. At least laying side by side I don’t have to meet his gaze unless I want to. Which I can feel this instant. I rest my cheek on my hand and prop it up with my elbow so I can witness his reaction. “I’m sure you may have guessed, but I’m a virgin.”
Leighton might be a musical genius, but he’s still an eighteen-year-old man. Eyes wide as saucers, I can almost watch my words as they process through his brain. “You’re . . . oh, okay . . . that’s cool.” Interesting. He hadn’t guessed.
“Cool?” I raise a brow and roll my eyes.
“Sorry. No. That was totally lame. It’s more than cool, just . . . unexpected.”
“What did you think I was gonna say?”
“I was thinking you didn’t know how to give a proper blow job or something.”
“Oh, yeah.” I don’t know how to do to that either.
“You haven’t . . . have you?”
“No. I mean I’ve touched a . . .” I clench my eyes shut. God, I can’t even say the word.
“Dick. You’ve touched a dick.” He chuckles.
“I even helped.” I make a jerking motion with my hand and Leighton bursts into a fit of laughter.
“You helped him masturbate?” He settles himself back on his side, still smiling. “That’s nice. Guys like that.”
“They do?” I squint, because I’m not sure that’s how Hunter Anderson felt. It was more a consolation for me not being willing to go all the way at the time.
“Yeah, well, being a guy and all, I can only speak from my own experience. But yeah, I like that. A lot.” In this light his eyes look more intense than ever, the brown hue dark and captivating. “So, is it a religious thing? Are you waiting for marriage?”
“No, not exactly. I don’t know.” I’ve never talked so candidly about sex with a guy, especially one I find so attractive. “Maybe I’ve built it up in my head. Made this more than it should be. I’ve always wanted my first to be something special. Maybe not the man I’ll marry, but someone who could be.”
“Oh.” His gaze drops to where his hand presses into the mattress. Maybe I’m imagining it, but I swear there’s a tinge of disappointment in his response.
“That’s dumb, isn’t it? Maybe I should just get it over with. Like a Band-Aid.”
His gaze snaps to mine, eyes wide, and he shakes his head. “No, Opal. No. Never equate sex to a Band-Aid.”
I roll my eyes and let loose a chuckle. “I’m being serious.”
“I am, too! But hey . . .” He waits until I meet his gaze. “You deserve special. Hold out for that. Your first time should be something you cherish, with someone you trust. I mean, I’d volunteer, but I’m out on both those accounts.”
“You want to sleep with me?” The question slips out.
