Page 129 of Blush Crush

I don’t want to cause her any more discomfort, but I’m glad she finally spoke.

The first washcloth takes care of most of my cum. The second comes away with a little blood as I finish cleaning her up. I’m not surprised—I expected it, given that she’d only been with someone once before, years ago.

“I’m sorry,” she says quickly, alarm in her voice as her eyes cut away, her skin flushing.

“Nothing to apologize for. It’s perfectly normal. I don’t give a shit about a little blood.” I set the washcloth aside. “I’m more worried about you. You’re being really quiet and you’re scaring me. Did I hurt you? Did I do something you didn’t like? Talk to me, doll.”

That seems to shake her and she sits up a little, reaching out for me.

I move to sit beside her.

“I’m sorry for freaking you out. I just—I’ve never experienced anything like that.”

“In a good way or a bad way?” I ask, my body tensing.

“In a good way. I just don’t know how to explain it without sounding dumb.”

“Say it anyway. Nothing you say could ever sound dumb to me.”

“It was just so intense. And it felt really good. And I feel so close to you—like I saw your soul or something.” She laughs softly, embarrassed. “I know that sounds crazy. And I promise I’m not just magically in love with you because we had sex.”

“Actually, I think that means you are in love with me.” I joke, unable to help myself, despite my chest swelling with hope. I’ve never been in love before. But if I could love anyone, it would be Ariana. And I really like the thought of her loving me back.

“Of course you only heard that part.” She giggles, and all the knots of worry in my stomach loosen at once.

I draw her against me, my arm around her, dropping a kiss to the top of her head. “I’m only teasing.” After a pause, I let the humor fall away. “I feel the same way. I really do. I think I saw your soul too, and I don’t think I’ll ever be the same again.”

CHAPTER 37

Ariana

BECOMING A PROBLEM

Ithink food tastes better when you’re naked. Or maybe it just tastes better after sex.

Cole and I finally made it to our picnic dinner. I fastened a bed sheet around myself and Cole slipped back on his briefs and now we’re sprawled out on layers of blankets and pillows, practically ravenous.

“How did you find this place?” I ask, before popping a fresh strawberry in my mouth. “We only live thirty minutes away and I had no idea it existed.”

Cole tips his head back, taking a sip of wine from a plastic cup, eyes trained on me. “It started out as a failed development—some attempt to draw in tourists back before the wineries put this area on the map. They built one prototype, which is this one, and then realized pretty quickly there isn’t a ton of interest in quirky houses in the middle of nowhere. It sat for a while, eventually sold to a couple who lived here until they retired and sold it again. Now it’s a vacation rental.” The corner of his mouth lifts. “My Wela of all people found it online, said it looked like a doll house. In her mind, dolls and fairy tales are basically the same thing.”

“So she’s the reason you call me doll?”

He raises a shoulder. “Sort of. It was in my head because of her. And then I accidentally called you it and you got all cute and irritated over it so naturally I couldn’t stop.”

I roll my eyes, reaching for a cube of cheese and a cracker, stacking them together. “Is that your thing? You like irritating me?”

“Baby, I just like your attention.” He leans forward, plucking a grape from the container and holding it between his fingers for a second before bringing it to my lips instead of his own. “Any way I can get it.”

I hesitate just long enough to make a point before parting my lips and letting him feed it to me, my teeth grazing his fingertips.

He chuckles, looking at me like he’s bewildered. “Behave,” he chastises. “I can’t take you again tonight.”

I give him a pouty frown. “Why not?”

Reaching over, he tucks the sheet more securely around me. “Because you’re sore and you need to eat something.”

On cue, a dull ache radiates between my thighs as I shift to reach for the wine. He’s not wrong. I’m sore in the expected places but also in places I didn’t anticipate—my legs, my neck, the muscles along my inner thighs. Even my ass cheeks hurt.