Page 14 of Ironside
I found myself tense, waiting for Ironside’s response. He was older than me by a significant margin. Would he bail now that he knew I’d never had sex before?
“Why are you looking at me like that, Lena?” Ironside said.
I swallowed hard.
“I’m—I’m waiting for you to leave,” I whispered.
His eyebrows shot up with a noise of disbelief. He slid his palm higher up my thigh, his touch warm and strong, grounding me, comforting me.
“Leave? Why on earth would I leave when we’re just getting started?”
“But—”
I broke off, searching his face.
“But what?” he prompted.
A beat of silence filled the air between us. I couldn’t bear to look at him, to see that earnestness in his eyes.
“It’s embarrassing,” I confessed, so quietly and so pained. “Everyone I know lost their virginity in high school. But here I am at thirty-two years old with my V-card still intact, and I don’t even know if I’ll ever be able to change that.”
Ironside cupped my chin and tilted my head to meet his eyes.
“Don't force your body to suffer pain just to fit in, petal. My first time was a shitshow because I caved to peer pressure at fifteen. I wasn’t ready. She wasn’t actually into me. But we were too impatient and we just wanted to get it over with, because that’s what everyone around us said we should do. I don’t recommend it.”
“But you have no idea how many people think I’m weird for still being a virgin at this age, Ironside,” I replied.
He shrugged.
“Tell them to go fuck themselves. It’s none of their goddamn business. It’s your body, your timing, your choice.”
Holy hell. That response just made him a thousand times hotter in my eyes. If that was even possible.
Ironside took my hand and pressed a kiss to my inner wrist. Then another kiss further up my arm. And another to my shoulder.
“There are plenty of ways we can get each other off, petal. Sex is supposed to be fun. It’s supposed to feel good. If it doesn’t, then we keep messing around until we find what works for us. All right?”
It sounded too good to be true. It sounded like a dream. I waited nearly a full minute while his words sank in.
“You’re not…disappointed?”
Ironside blinked with confusion.
“Why would I be? I get to have dinner with a beautiful woman over a glass of wine while we feel each other up. I asked you out because I like you, Lena, and I want to get to know you. If you thought your condition would scare me off, you’ll have to try harder than that.”
My throat tightened and my eyes burned with tears of relief. I usually left my dates feeling broken, unwanted, undesirable. But not with Ironside. I blew out a breath, trying not to cry so I didn’t ruin my mascara.
Ironside cupped the back of my head and kissed my temple.
“What did you expect me to say, sweetheart? Did you really think I would dump a pretty little thing like you just because you need to be handled with a bit more care and attention?”
“Yeah,” I admitted. “Something like that.”
“Oh, petal.” He sighed. “What kind of douchebags have you been dating?”
I managed a wet laugh, letting myself sink into his touch. It felt so good to be held.
“You’re with a real man now, petal,” Ironside added softly. “Let me prove it to you.”
