"Nice," I shot back, pushing him away. He grabbed my hand and pulled me back against him.
"I love you too," he whispered before tilting his head toward me.
I closed my eyes and felt the warmth of his breath on my lips just before they pressed into mine. I inhaled deeply at the touch of them, flutters instantly rushing through my chest. He ran his hand along the back of my neck, his mouth slipping across my parted lips.
My heart raced and my breath quickened as I pulled him into me. He unzipped my jacket and slid it off, dropping it on the table. The tease of his lips along my neck captured my breath as I hopped up onto the side of the pool table and wrapped my legs around him.
He slid his hands under me and picked me up, balancing me while walking toward the couch, our mouths frantically passing over the other's. My entire body was pulsing. He laid me on the couch and eased himself over me.
I ran my hands under his sweater and he pulled back to remove it. I sat up to run my lips along the hard lines of his chest, before pulling my t-shirt over my head. Evan grabbed the blanket at the end of the couch and pulled it over us as I reached for his waistband.
My quickened pulse stirred a heat that crept through my entire body. We eased across boundaries, unfastening bindings, slipping beneath fabric. Our lips brushed in a breathless exchange.
Our mouths pressed harder; our breath grew faster as our hands slid along curves. He inhaled quickly at my caress, his heart beating against my bare skin. His breathing quickened, and his muscles flexed along his back, the tension rippling through his entire body as he groaned in my ear. I gasped when he found me, closing my eyes. A flush swept across my skin at his gentle touch. I writhed under the growing sensation until I was released with an exhilarated breath.
Evan pulled the blanked tighter around us, exhaling deeply. "Wow."
"Yeah," I breathed, still unable to focus clearly. I tucked myself into his arm and rested my head on his chest, draping my leg over his. "Can I ask you something?"
"Anything," he said, running his warm hand along my back.
"When are we going to have sex?"
"Umm..." Evan laughed. "I wasn't expecting that question."
I popped my head up to look at him. "I'm not saying that I don't like what we just did, it's just―"
"I know," he smiled. "We will. It's a big deal, and I don't want to do it on the couch in the garage, or in the backseat of a car. I want it to be what it should be."
"What if it's horrible?" I sulked, resting my chin on his chest. "I have no idea what I'm doing. You want it to be this epic moment, and I'm afraid I'm going to fail miserably."
"You're ridiculous," Evan consoled with a small laugh. "I'm not worried." He released a calming breath and repeated, "Believe me, I'm not worried." He put his hand under my chin to pull me in for a kiss.
Despite his lack of concern regarding my sexual prowess, I was worried. No matter how much I tried not to let it consume me, it was all I could think about. I'd only been waiting for it to happen, since well... forever.
My phone rang as I lay on my bed later that night, waiting for Sara to respond to my text. I quickly pressed Answer.
"What's going on?" Sara demanded before I could say hi.
"How was Cornell?" I asked, suddenly regretting sending the text.
"Shut up, Em," Sara shot back. "Your text said you needed my help. What's going on?"
After gathering myself, I finally stated bluntly, "Sara, I want to have sex."
"Well, of course you do," she responded like I'd said the most obvious thing in the world.
"But what if I'm terrible at it?"
Sara started laughing hysterically. I hung up the phone. She called back ten seconds later.
"Sorry," she offered calmly. "You're serious. I thought you were having one of your delusional episodes."
I didn't say anything.
"Emma, you and Evan love each other, so there isn't a wrong way of doing this. But I'll give you some pointers if you want."
I let out a short nervous laugh, the anxiety in my stomach squirming. "Maybe."
"Don't worry. I won't draw diagrams or anything. Oh, or maybe I should."
"Sara!"
"Emma, don't you dare act all embarrassed to talk about it," she scolded. "I'm not the one to be telling anyone to have or not to have sex, but if you can't even talk about it with me, then maybe you're not ready. I know this is huge for you, and you of all people need to be emotionally prepared for it."