First Time For Everything

He didn’t look angry.

He didn’t look trapped.

He looked like a man who’d been thrown a huge curveball he had no idea how to catch.

And Jax realized it was the second time in their relationship where it was up to her to be the one to remain calm and not fall apart. Her heart squeezed in her chest, softening at the adorable sight of a flustered Blake, the vulnerable look on his face endearing. Jax was thrilled with the out-of-control demeanor from the man who had an irritating tendency to be rational every moment of the day.

And his description of their activities wasn’t entirely accurate, so Jax said, “Well, we didn’t use a condom every time.”

“Yes, we did.” Blake stared at Jax as he passed by. “I was there, remember?”

She squelched the urge to roll her eyes. “Of course I do.”

Jax opened her mouth to go on, but Dr. Murphy chose that moment to join the discussion. “Then the pregnancy is most likely due to a condom failure,” the doctor said.

“Condom failure?” Blake almost looked offended. “I didn’t skimp. I chose a quality product.”

Jax was amazed Dr. Murphy managed to maintain a straight face. “I’m sure your condoms were of the finest quality,” the doctor said soothingly, and Jax pressed her lips together to subdue a smile.

Blake finally stopped pacing and turned to look at the physician, who wore a forbearing expression that screamed, “Lord, save me from the clueless male.”

Jax cleared her throat, determined to finish her previous statement. “But as I’m sure you remember,” she said drily, looking at Blake, “the first time we...” Jax shifted her gaze to Dr. Murphy, who was eyeing her patiently, and searched for a delicate way to phrase the particulars of the story. “The first time, we got caught up in the moment,” she finished with a defeated shrug.

For a brief second, the reasonable, rational lawyer returned, and Blake didn’t flinch at the overshare. “But I didn’t finish until the condom was in place.”

“But if there was unprotected entry during the excitement phase,” Dr. Murphy went on matter-of-factly, and Jax fought the urge to cringe at the clinical description, “it’s possible this could be the result of pre-ejaculate.”

Blake’s expression was that of a man who was used to being in control...but was now in way over his head. Drowning, in fact.

Jax’s heart twisted a little harder. He really was adorable when he was suffering and under the gun.

“In the literature, there is some debate as to whether or not the fluid in pre-ejaculate contains sperm,” Dr. Murphy continued, and Blake looked as if he’d just been scooped up and plopped down into the nether regions of hell, but the good doctor went on calmly. “Some studies failed to find any, yet others confirm their presence. In a limited quantity, of course.”

Jax cleared her throat and finally found her voice. “Of course,” she said. “Interesting information. Makes you wonder what other kinds of studies are going on.”

Apparently Blake wasn’t appreciating the amusement in the moment.

Obviously unperturbed, Dr. Murphy continued with her no-nonsense tone of voice. “But it is entirely feasible that, if an orgasm occurred prior to entry, there would be viable sperm left in the urethra to be released with the pre-ejaculate.”

Jax sat up straight, the news surprising. She knew without a doubt that Blake had not been fooling around with another woman before he’d come to her, so to speak.

She sent Blake a wide-eyed look. “Okay, but if he had an orgasm before our first time together, then he did it without me,” Jax said.

The impassive look on Blake’s face was impressive. “My last relationship ended well over six months ago,” Blake said firmly. “Jax is the only woman I’ve had sex with since.”

Dr. Murphy’s cool demeanor didn’t change. “But that doesn’t discount the possibility of masturbation,” she said, and Jax coughed, choking back a shocked gasp.

Jeez, Dr. Murphy isn’t pulling her punches anymore.

Jax forced the smile from her mouth, expecting an instant denial from Blake. Instead, the tint of color in Blake’s cheeks was obvious, and realization slowly dawned.