Page 96 of Hometown Halftime

He nods. “Yeah, but that ended over a year ago. And then, I don’t know, it was like I didn’t like anyone for a while. No one did it for me, so the time passed and I still haven’t…” He thinks for a moment. “I just haven’t done it.”

I clear my throat and cautiously ask, “Do you want to do it?”

“Yeah, I do.” He drags a hand through his hair. “Do you realize what it’s like being a twenty-two-year-old man that’s not having sex? I think I have carpal tunnel at this point.”

I stuff down my laughter. “Riley, you’re sweet, you’re a gentleman and—don’t hold this against me—you’re hot. You could make it happen if you wanted to.”

Silence slips back in, and I can feel his hesitation. There’s something he wants to say, but won’t. I can’t stand the silence, and I don’t want him to shut down.

“Riley, talk to me. Don’t—”

“What if you were my first?”

Chapter thirty-nine

Kinsey

I probably look like a deer caught in the headlights.

I think that’s allowed. Riley just asked me to take his v-card.

“Uh, Riley,” I stutter. “Why would you want me to be the one? If you didn’t do it with your girlfriend, then why me?”

He looks deep into my eyes as he answers, “Because you’ve quickly become one of my favorite people. And there wouldn’t be so much pressure, because we both know I leave in a couple of months. Maybe it would be easier if I did this with a friend, with someone I feel comfortable with. And judging by our few encounters, I think we both like each other. Don’t you feel the chemistry between us?”

Do I feel the chemistry… I internally scoff at the words. Of course I do. Every kiss leaves me wanting more. And I won’t admit to how many times I’ve imagined my vibrator was him, imagining what his body would feel like on mine.

“I feel it.”

“Am I the type of guy you would sleep with?” he asks.

“You are.”

A flash of tension passes through his features.

“Are you sleeping with anyone else?”

“No. No other men for this gal at the moment,” I say, looking down.

He moves toward me on the couch, his knees touching mine. We’re face to face and fuck, I can smell him and I can hear his shallow breaths. His eyes are dark and earnest, and I know if he keeps this up, I’ll march him right up those stairs and rip his pants off right now.

He sweeps my hair behind my shoulder as he shrugs. “I know I don’t really have anything to offer you in return, but damn it, Kinsey, you turn me on more than any other woman ever has. I’ve never felt like crossing that line was a need until you came along. Every time I’m with you, you make me…wonder things.”

I suck in a breath. “Like what?”

His thumb sweeps across my cheek. “Like what your skin would feel like against mine, what sounds you would make, what it would be like to learn your body. Learning what you like, what makes you shake, what would make you come.”

Holy shit, for an inexperienced man, he knows how to say things that could turn me into a puddle on the floor.

I close my eyes and nod. “That sounds nice.”

“Kinsey, look at me.”

I open my eyes and, fuck, he’s so handsome and tempting and, damn it, where did my willpower go?

He leans toward me, a mischievous grin forming on his perfect lips. “Truth or dare.”

I sigh. “Dare.”