Foolish woman.
"That was wonderful." Jen was so satiated and content she was barely aware of speaking the words aloud.
Marsh lifted his head to look at her, his eyes now a soft gray. "That was way more than wonderful," he said between slowly leveling breaths. "That, lady mine, was absolutely mind-blowing."
Lady mine. Jen shivered, wondering if he called all the women he had been with "lady mine."
"You're cold." Easing himself from her, he sat up and pulled the comforter over them. Curling his arm around her, he drew her body to him. "Better?"
"Yes." Jen sighed. It was true, it was better. In spite of all the rumors, the chattered gossip about him, she felt warm, safe and at home in his arms. She knew it was temporary-she was probably temporary, unless she accepted his crazy proposal. But she didn't want to think about that.
For now, she was content.
But her contentment lasted all of a few moments.
"Okay, let's hear it." His voice, though quiet, was demanding.
Jen lifted her head from his chest to frown at him. "Hear what?"
"You said it had been a while since you'd been with a man. Exactly how long is a while?"
Jen wet her lips, thinking Dammit. And she had been so comfortable. "I don't think that is really any of your business," she said, dredging up her most haughty tone of voice.
Marsh appeared less than impressed. "It is now. So tell me."
"And if I choose not to?"
His arm tightened around her. "I'll keep you right here in the bed until you do."
Jen blinked. "You wouldn't."
He smiled. "Try me."
Standoff. Jen knew he meant what he said. Still it bugged her to give in to him, even though she had obviously given in to him in a much bigger way mere minutes ago. Of course, that was different-her body had made that decision for her.
She heaved a dramatic sigh.
"Oh, brother," he drawled. "What's the big deal? Tell me and get it over with, then we can both get some sleep."
He hesitated, adding with a wicked grin, "Maybe."
Maybe? Jen felt a twinge of excitement zinging through her. Did he mean...? Of course that was what he meant, she chided herself.
"The big deal is," she began, trying and failing to ignore the flame that was very quickly coming back to life inside her, "I hadn't been with a man since my senior year in college."
Marsh jackknifed to sit up, staring down at her in shock. "That would be how many years ago?"
"It doesn't matter anymore," she said, impatiently. "Do you want to hear about it or sit there staring openmouthed at me in disbelief?"
"I didn't say I didn't believe you," he shot back at her. "Even though you must admit that is hardly the norm for a woman like you."
It was Jen's turn to sit up and glare at him eye to eye. "What do you mean, a ‘woman like me'? What kind of woman would that be?" she demanded, completely unaware of her exposed breasts.
"A gorgeous, sexy, incredibly responsive woman." He was glaring right back at her. Even his glare was turning her on.
She lowered her eyes. "You think I'm gorgeous and sexy?" Jen knew full well she was beautiful, but hearing it from Marsh...well...the flame inside her burned even hotter.
"You know damn well you are both those," he retorted. "You're also exciting and good company and have a great sense of humor." His brows shot up. "Okay?"
"Yes," she murmured, glancing up at him. The comforter had dropped to their waists but the shiver that coursed through Jen's body had more to do with his compliments than the chill in the air. "You're not bad yourself," she said, daring to hold his bold stare.
Marsh actually laughed. "Thanks." Taking her with him, he lay down again, pulling her to him before tucking the comforter around them again.
"Okay, Jennifer," he said, tilting her face up to plant a kiss on her lips. "Talk to me."
"It's almost funny now, but at the time it was anything but," she began. "He was a jock...of course," she continued. "I had been curious about sex, as all my friends seemed to talk about it exclusively. Yet up until that point I hadn't felt attracted to any man." She wasn't about to elaborate-she had worked too hard to forget that incident in the school parking lot to dredge it up now, here, with Marsh.
Expecting some sort of wry remark from him, possibly concerning her sexual proclivities, she raised her gaze to his. His expression was attentive, free of either ridicule or disbelief.
Encouraged, she rushed on to relay the whole stupid incident to him and have it over with. "What had attracted me to him was that he was not only athletic, he was very nice as well as intelligent." She paused, wincing as the memory played in her mind.
"Go on." His voice was soft, kind. Jen was aware that she was seeing a side of Marsh she hadn't seen before, and it touched her.
"I agreed to go out with him," she said. "It wasn't a big deal, just to the Pizza and Beer Joint-which, by the way, is the actual name of the place. I had one glass of beer with my pizza, and he had five. He wasn't drunk," she added, "only a little tipsy and talkative."
She paused, the memory uncomfortably vivid. "At least I thought he wasn't drunk." She closed her eyes. "How's that saying go...he holds his booze well?"
Again Marsh tilted her head up to gaze into her eyes. "Jennifer, I have a distinct feeling you have never told another person about this encounter. Am I right?"
She answered with a quick nod of her head.
"Figured." His voice actually held a note of compassion. "You know," he continued softly, "I'm convinced you'll feel better if you get it out in the open once and for all. And I promise I won't alert the media immediately after you've finished," he teased.
She smiled, chiding herself for feeling stupid over an error in judgment years ago. Knowing Marsh was right she drew a deep breath and went on.
"Walking back to my off-campus room he put his arm around my waist and drew me against him. Although he was still talking away, his steps were steady, even. When we got to my room, he just walked in as if it were his own. I opened my mouth to protest, he silenced me with his lips pressing hard against mine."
Jen grabbed another breath before rushing on. "I really didn't mind the kiss-I rather liked it. But within seconds he had me flat on my back on the bed. His hands were everywhere, his tongue was scouring the inside of my mouth."
She paused for a moment.
"I tried to push him away, if only to breathe. When I began to struggle he lifted his head. His breathing was short and raspy, his voice raw as he said how badly he wanted me beneath him. Yanking my pullover up, he opened the front clasp of my bra and took my breast into his mouth. While shocked, I must admit the feel of his wet mouth on my breast sent an exciting sensation through me."
Jen halted once more to catch her breath.
"Jen, you don't have to-" Marsh began. She could hear anger in his tone, anger at the guy who had taken advantage of her.
"No-" she cut him off "-let me finish now or I might never finish."
He stayed quiet.
She continued. "He didn't rape me, if that's what you were thinking. I was willing, almost eager to experience the incredible pleasure every female I knew had raved about incessantly. He was eager, too-overeager. He yanked my jeans off and merely dropped his to his ankles. Then, well, it wasn't good." She closed her eyes. "Can we leave it at that?"
Marsh tightened his arm around her and held her, rocking her slightly side to side while smoothing her hair.
"It's over, Jennifer." His voice was soft, soothing, with underlying concern. "Did I hurt you like that?"
Jen pushed back against his hold so she could look up at him. "No." She shook her head. "After that initial discomfort and adjustment to you, I...I..."
"You what?" Marsh murmured, gliding his hand from her hair to her back.
Gathering herself, Jen boldly met his intent gaze. "I enjoyed it. I more than enjoyed it. It was..." She hesitated before admitting, "It was incredibly fantastic."
"Yeaaah," he said softly, drawing the word out. "Wanna do it again?"
Laughing softly, Jen freed her arms, clasped them around his neck and drew his mouth to hers. "Yes, please."
The second time was even better.
They fell asleep locked in each other's arms.