The Real Romero(70)

                And this was why he had stayed away. Not that he’d known that, but still, he’d known enough: had known that she wasn’t tough like the women he dated; had known that she was one of life’s romantics; had known that she was still in a vulnerable place. That she was a virgin took a stupid situation and threatened to turn it into a very messy one.

                But, hell, the sex had been good.

                A virgin. He’d never placed any value on that particular virtue at all but now he wanted to take her all over again, show her things she had never experienced before, teach her, make love to her with all the gentle command at his disposal.

                None of it made sense but he couldn’t fight the realisation. Since when had he become a he-man bore who got a chauvinistic kick out of bedding virgins? What next? Belting out a Tarzan yell and looking for a vine to swing on?

                But he couldn’t contain a deep sense of mystifying satisfaction.

                ‘You should have told me.’

                ‘I was going to. Does it matter?’

                ‘What I don’t understand is why?’

                ‘I don’t want to talk about this.’ Milly rolled onto her back and stared up at the ceiling. This had been the most wonderful experience in her entire life. Nothing had prepared her for all the amazing sensations that had bombarded her entire body; nothing. And yet all he could take away from it was the fact that she hadn’t told him that he was her first.

                Lucas propped himself up, invading her space so that she was forced to look at him. ‘I apologise if I wasn’t up to your high standards,’ she managed to choke out and his eyebrows shot up.

                ‘What the heck’s going through your head, Milly?’

                ‘What do you think?’ She drew in a deep breath and said what was on her mind. ‘We’ve just made love, and I know that it’s probably not a big deal for you, but the only thing you seem to care about is the fact that I’ve never done this before. Is it because you’re... I know those women you dated...supermodels...’

                ‘Don’t ever run yourself down to me, Milly. Ever. That has nothing to do with...anything.’ He sighed his frustration. Even the way she looked at things was different. Why the instant rush to denigrate herself? In so many areas she was the most outspoken, cheerful and upbeat woman he had ever met...and yet there was an insecurity there that was reflected in the wounded, accusing eyes looking at him.

                He had a moment of disturbing tenderness that threw him for a few seconds and then he rationalised that it was because he didn’t usually do this, didn’t usually have cosy conversations with women after sex. But naturally Milly would want to have that conversation because this had been her first time and by nature she was confiding and talkative. Of course she wasn’t going to keep quiet and uncomplaining when he rose from the bed to have a shower and check his emails.

                ‘I expressed puzzlement that you were still a virgin because you’re so damned hot, Milly.’

                She allowed her hurt to dissipate a little. ‘I’m not.’

                ‘Are we going to waste time playing the “no, I’m not—oh yes, you are” game?’ He brushed a lock of hair from her cheek and hardened at the thought of taking her again.

                Milly was tempted to tell him that she quite liked the idea of that game. ‘I practically threw myself at you. Most men would take what was on offer even if they didn’t fancy it.’