She makes a noise that's like a groany hum. "I don't know, Arden. Maybe you should wait until you get to know Reese better. I mean, he's a sweetie, but... Chance knows him better than I do. I trust his judgment, and if he thinks it's a bad idea, then it probably is."
"You just said Reese is a sweetie."
"But he has a reputation for being the bang-and-run type. I don't want you to get hurt."
Now it's my turn to groan, though mine is more moany groan than groany hum. "It's my life, Elena. Being a virgin doesn't make me mentally incompetent."
"I know. You're wicked smart, but you're inexperienced when it comes to men. We both know why that is, but like I've told you for years, you can't avoid taking risks forever."
"Which is exactly why I want to sleep with Reese."
"That's not the kind of risk I mean, and you know it." She hesitates yet again, and I can hear her fingernails drumming on some kind of hard surface. "Get to know him. Take these two weeks to become friends with Reese, then decide. You need to try dating, really dating, before you take the next step."
"Says the woman who screwed her fiancé on the night they met."
"I don't want you to regret this, that's all. Besides, you just came back from nine months in South America. At least decompress before you jump in the sack with Reese or anybody."
Decompress? Maybe I do need some downtime, but I'm tired of everyone telling me what to do. My parents never told me what to do, though they offered me advice. My grandmother is another story. Date this guy, don't date that guy. Take this job, don't take that one. Grams is kind of bossy. It's a side effect of her job.
"Have you even told Reese who you are yet?" Elena asks.
"No. I was hoping I wouldn't have to."
"Bite the bullet, Arden."
"Fine," I say with a sigh. "I'll tell him."
I hear a man's voice in the background and know it must be Chance. Elena announces she has to go. We say goodbye, with my promise I won't sleep with Reese until I've at least told him who I am. Where I come from. Why I've stayed a virgin. Elena gave me his cell number, but it takes me an hour to work up the courage to call. When I do, I get his voice mail. I leave a message asking him to please, please, please stop by the apartment so we can talk. I say it's urgent, to make sure he'll show up.
And if he can handle my pedigree, maybe we can get it on tonight.
Problem is, ever since my talk with Elena, I've been starting to think she might be right. Maybe I ought to spend more time with Reese before we hook up. I don't want to wait. Thinking about him makes me ache and burn in all those secret places where no one has ever touched me before. No one but me and my harem of vibrators.
How long do I have to wait? A week? A month? I have no idea what length of time is sufficient before I can hump Reese, the hottie who makes me tingle all over every time he smiles.
Maybe I have gone sex crazy. Elena might be right that I have other reasons for wanting to cross that line with Reese.
So I decide to deal with my lust the way I always have. I change into a billowy nightie, get Rod, and sit on the sofa tucked into the corner with my legs stretched out. Leaning my head back, I picture Reese. His mouth. His eyes. His hot body. I remember how it felt to have my hand on his thigh, so close to his dick. Maybe I won't sleep with him for a while, if ever, but I can use a fantasy of him to help me get some relief.
I picture him naked. All those muscles. His hips undulating while he thrusts into me again and again.
With one hand, I cup my breast through the nightie and pinch the already stiff peak. Oh yes. Reese. Doing that. With his mouth and his teeth. I bend one knee, letting it fall to the side, and slip my hand under my nightie to glide the vibrator up and down my slick cleft. I've watched enough late-night cable to know how it might go if I ever do sleep with my new roommate.
Oh yes, Reese. His expression tense with the need to come. His ragged breaths. His cock filling me with every thrust.
I switch on the vibrator and thrust it inside me the way I imagine Reese doing with his dick. I keep rolling my fingers around my nipple while I work the vibrator, throwing my head back and moaning. I let go of my breast and grip the sofa's back, writhing and gasping while I drive myself closer and closer to climax.
My fantasy keeps going. Reese flipping us over so I'm on top, riding him while he grasps my hips and says dirty things to me.
"Oh yes," I moan. "Yes, Reese, do it like that. Oh God, please, harder, deeper."
I'm almost there. Almost. So close.
Rod needs a little help, so I rub my clit with my other hand while I buck my hips into the thrusts of the vibrator and crank it up so it's buzzing like a giant, crazy bee.
"Oh Reese! Make me come!" My release rocks me like an earthquake, starting with a jolt as my entire body clenches. When the first spasm hits, I shout, "Reese! Yes!"
"Bloody hell."