Long seconds passed during which the only sounds she could hear were he
r tiny gasps for breath and the thundering of her heart.
‘I can’t believe that just happened,’ she said shakily.
Alex gently pulled away from her and rolled onto his back. ‘Can’t you? I can’t believe it didn’t happen before.’
‘If I’d known it was going to be like that, I’d have suggested it earlier.’
‘No, you wouldn’t. Any more than I would have.’
‘Well, I’m glad I’ve finally found out what the fuss is about,’ she said feeling a drowsy smile spread across her face.
‘What?’
Phoebe stilled. Oh, heavens, had she actually said that out loud? ‘Er—nothing.’
Alex propped himself up on his elbow and frowned down at her. ‘Please don’t tell me you were a virgin.’
If only it were that simple. ‘Oh, no,’ she said, aiming for breezy nonchalance and failing dismally. ‘I’ve had sex. Loads of it. Well, not that much,’ she amended, seeing his raised eyebrow. And probably not nearly as much as he had, judging by his skill. ‘But I’ve never…’ Her gaze slid over his shoulder and focused on the white gauzy curtain fluttering in the breeze. She could scarcely believe she was about to tell him this. ‘You know…enjoyed it that much.’
‘You’ve never had an orgasm?’ Alex sounded stunned.
‘No. Well, I mean, not really.’
‘What on earth do you mean? Either you have or you haven’t.’
Phoebe felt her cheeks flame. ‘I’ve always managed perfectly well on my own, but never, er, with anyone else.’
‘Much more fun with someone else, don’t you think?’ he said, smiling down at her.
‘Heaps.’ She grinned. ‘You look pleased with yourself.’
‘I gave you your first orgasm. What man wouldn’t be pleased about that?’
‘And, hallelujah, it proves I’m not frigid after all.’
‘Why would you think you’re frigid?’
Phoebe’s grin faded and she shrugged as if it hadn’t bothered her in the slightest. ‘I’ve been told so. On various occasions.’
Alex curled a lock of hair around his finger and tugged her head forwards for a scorching kiss. ‘I think we’ve dispelled that myth,’ he said when he eventually came up for air.
‘If you get told something often enough you end up believing it. So I decided it probably wasn’t worth the bother. You know how I feel about failure. Jacksons tend to avoid things they’re not particularly good at.’
‘It’s not your failure. It’s the failure of the men you’ve slept with.’
Phoebe grinned and glanced up at him. ‘I like that.’ She ran a finger over his scar and he flinched. ‘How did you get this?’
‘The same way I got this,’ he said, tapping the slight bump on his nose.
‘Sailing?’
‘A fight.’
Phoebe’s eyebrows shot up. ‘About what?’
Alex lay back and stared up at the ceiling. ‘It was so long ago I can’t remember.’