Tank: I will never think of eating the same way again. Thanks for that.
Ash: I get the whole Slot A, Slot B, but the rubbing? I mean, she’s not a fucking genie. Don’t rub her that hard, bro. There is no prize for rubbing. But yeah, totally, thank God, because, duh, sex.
Junior: I’m disappointed in humanity—no, scratch that, just you guys. Bro, don’t slot her. Is that even a word? Like, don’t just… thrust, you know this, right? Are we really having a sex talk with the guy who seduced his tutor?
Valerian: Ah, Dad was so pissed, best day ever.
Me: She was hot, that was different, slotting someone isn’t actually an action, sorry…
Maksim: Just because you don’t know how…
I rub my hands down my face.
Me: Can we focus? She’s on the phone.
The guys are eerily quiet, probably because they know I’m ready to crunch mine in my hand.
Valerian: Okay, forget my original advice. What’s the end goal here? Are you fucking, or are you making love?
Ash: I cannot believe you actually know the difference!
Junior: Someone paid attention in sex ed.
Maksim: Because our teacher was hot, I’ve never paid closer attention to anyone holding up a doll in my entire life.
Tank: I should hope not because that would be a completely different conversation.
I start to actually panic.
My palms sweat.
I have one minute, maybe two, and I’m losing all my cool because I want it to be good for her, and I want her to enjoy it. Then I feel like a complete dick for even wanting that much. It’s too much. I don’t deserve hours of our bodies together, and that wasn’t the plan, but now… now I have this insane need to prove to her how good it could be.
Maksim: Del is a good person. Period. She’s had it rough and has been able to keep a lot of dark secrets in the name of saving her family and ours… take it slow. She deserves slow even if the guy with her isn’t the one she’s currently on the phone with.
Me: Slow.
Ash: Go slow.
Junior: No rubbing.
Tank: Kiss her on the mouth, don’t be a dumbass.
Valerian: And most definitely rub a bit… exactly where she needs it, craves it. Listen to her body because she won’t be using her words—you know?
Me: Okay. Okay. I gotta go, but, thanks guys.
Maksim immediately sends a duck emoji.
Valerian does the same.
Followed by Ash and Junior.
I smile even though it was the worst advice my brother could have possibly given.
At least I have them. Even if I don’t have her, I have the best friends anyone could ever ask for—even if they should be institutionalized.
I shove my phone back in my pocket and hear the door open behind me. Immediately I’m clenching the railing waiting for her to say something—anything that’s going to put me at ease.
“King…” she whispers my name in such a sultry way that I almost groan. “I think, I think I’m ready.”
“For dinner?” I don’t turn around.
“For…” She’s quiet. “…it.”
I almost laugh. “It?”
“Are you really going to make me say it out loud?”
“Absolutely.” I smile and turn, crossing my arms. “But let’s make sure we have some rules.”
She nods. “Okay.”
“When you’re in my arms, my bed, pressed against me—you’re mine. I can’t control where your head goes, but you better believe I’ll be trying my hardest to make it difficult to even remember your own reflection. I thought about it, and I won’t take this fast as if you’re just some girl I fuck in order to take over an empire. That’s not fair to either of us.” I lift my chin. “Now, take off your clothes.”
Her eyes widen.
I smirk. “What? Suddenly not so brave anymore?”
I back her up into the room, then shut the door behind me and cross my arms.
She looks up at me, defiance in her gaze, and peels her cream sweater over her head, dropping it to the floor. She’s in a white corset that’s tucked into her jeans; it’s shoving her breasts up so high I want to bury my face between them and die.
Her hands go to her hips.
I gulp.
“What?” She taunts. “Suddenly not so brave anymore?”
I love her. I will love her tonight. I’ll show her with my hands what I can’t say with my mouth.
I grab my black T-shirt, toss it onto the floor, and kick off my boots. She’s watching intently as I start to unbutton my jeans.
“Wait!” She holds out her hand. “Maybe we should turn the lights down or something.”
“Nah.” I drop my jeans to the carpeted floor and kick them off. “Then I wouldn’t be able to see that blush on your cheeks.”
Her eyes are wide as she chokes out, “No um, underwear?”
I shrug. “It’s too tight.”
A hard swallow. “Yeah, I can see why.”
“I have a hard time with condoms too, pun intended.” I grin. God, her cheeks are so red I want to kiss them, then suck on her full lips until she screams my name.