Page 67 of His Reckless Freshman

He’s—

My eyes dart over his message.

Ben: I’m free again on Saturday night. Do you want me to book the same room?

And just like that, those building blocks of worry come crumbling down. Suddenly, I’m basking in the sunlight, because Ben Evers just asked me to meet up with him again.

At the same hotel.

So we can kiss.

And he can show me what it’s like to get taken out by a physical high.

He wants to give me an orgasm.

And I want to let him!

22

BEN

So I did it.

I texted her, and now I’m pacing this fucking hotel room again because I am certifiably insane.

But I’m sticking with the idea that the sooner I get this done, the sooner I can end it.

Which means tonight, I’m really hoping she’ll be able to get that orgasmic high and I won’t have to do this anymore.

Stopping by the window, I spin and stare at the bed, thinking about the noises she made as I kissed her cherry nipples… and then about her soft laugh as we watched Elle Woods figure out Harvard Law School. Man, those two sounds were so different, yet both so enticing.

I snap my eyes shut.

No! Don’t find them enticing. Just observe. Do what you promised and don’t feel anything.

Running a hand through my hair, I remind myself that, yes, this might be the worst idea ever, but it’s nearly over.

It’s nearly over.

She’ll come tonight, and then I won’t ever have to see her again.

Nodding, I try to embed that idea into my brain, but it flies out the window the second there’s a knock at the door.

I run to open it and there she is, looking all cute in this soft, pale blue sweater that makes her eyes glow and these wide-leg pants that seem to float around her when she walks past me and into the room.

“Hi. How are you? Did you have a good rest of your week? How’s your weekend going? Did you have practice today? Do you practice on weekends? I think you said you did, right? Or you should? Or… I’m sorry, I can’t remember.” She tucks a lock of hair behind her ear, and I raise my hand before she can open her mouth again.

“You don’t have to be nervous.” I smile at her, trying not to laugh at how twitchy she is. The way she talks at high speed is hilarious.

“I’m not nervous.” Shoving her hands into her pockets, she rocks back on her flat slip-on shoes, then sighs when I give her an all-knowing look. “Okay, fine. I’ve got a swarm of bees buzzing in my stomach.”

“Why? It’s just me.”

“I know.” Her nose wrinkles, and she tips her head back. “I think I just got myself into a frenzy on my way over here. I so want this to work, you know? You’re being so nice to me about this whole thing, and I don’t want to let you down. I don’t want to let myself down.”

Slowly walking toward her, I pause just a foot away from her and rest my hand on her shoulder. “This is a no-pressure zone. You can’t let me down in this space. It’s not like you’re competing for a gold medal or trying to get an A+. You’re just here to see what your body enjoys. And it won’t enjoy anything if you can’t relax.”

“I know. I know.” Her head starts bobbing. “You’re right.” She sucks in a breath, then quickly releases it. “You’re right. Of course you’re right.”