Page 184 of Cross Check

“That’s bullshit, Ethan. Shut up and let the adults talk.” Maverick rolls his eyes. “Let’s start with the basics: Does this woman know you’re a virgin?”

“She does.” I nod. “We did, um, other things the last time we were together, and she seemed to enjoy herself. But I have no confidence going into tonight.”

“First things first: Women are more complex than we are. Don’t you dare call them simple.” Maverick glares at the screen, and it must be directed at Ethan. “I can get off by watching Emmy get off, but it doesn’t work the other way around. Patience is important. So is listening and communicating.”

“What do you mean by communicating?” I ask, wanting to get all of this right. “Like, moaning?”

“No. Talk to her. Ask her questions. ‘How does that feel?’ ‘Do you like it when I touch you here?’ ‘How can I make this better for you?’ Don’t let your ego get bruised if she doesn’t like something. Adjust to a different position or different angle,” Maverick continues.

“If you need reinforcements, toys are your friends, not your competition,” Riley adds. “Vibrators. Dildos. Ropes. Those can all help her come, but only after she gives you consent to touch her like that. You need to ask before you try anything new.”

“Don’t get off before her, Everett,” Liam says. “She always finishes first. I don’t care if you have to recite every hockey stat in existence to keep your mind occupied. Don’t even think about taking care of your needs before she’s come at least once. Twice would be preferred.”

“I would never. She’s the priority, obviously. Finishing first isn’t fair,” I say. “How do I know if I’m being too rough? Or not rough enough, if that’s what she likes?”

“That goes back to communication,” Hudson says. “And body language. If she says please, you need to ask her please what? so there isn’t any confusion if she means more or less of what you’re doing. If she looks like she’s in pain, stop and check in with her.”

“You don’t need to narrate the whole thing, but you can get dirty with it.” Ethan grins. “You can talk about how big your co⁠—”

“Definitely not doing that.” I’m tempted to mute him. “Here’s the embarrassing question: What if I finish too fast?”

“Happens to all of us.” Connor grins. “On more than one occasion. Women are hot as hell.”

“Almost every time I’m with Emmy,” Maverick admits. “She’s too damn sexy.”

“We’re visual creatures,” Riley adds. “When Lexi forces me to watch her get herself off without being allowed to touch, I swear it’s just as effective as having her hand wrapped around me. Like Sully said: The goal is to make sure she finishes first. Doesn’t matter how long you last after that.”

“Shower when you’re finished. Personal hygiene is important, and aftercare is one of the best parts,” Liam tells me.

“Aftercare can be as hot as the actual orgasm.” Maverick grins. “Especially when you finish in her and get to clean her up.”

“One of the most important things to remember is that the majority of women don’t have an orgasm from penetration alone. They need stimulation,” Liam continues. “Touch her while you’re inside her. Whatever you did before sex, do during sex.”

“So many moving parts.” I rub my forehead. “And a lot of things to remember.”

“Make sure she has water!” Ethan chimes in.

“Hydration. That I can do. This has all been very helpful. Thanks, boys. Wish me luck, I guess?” I laugh. “I don’t fucking know. I spent twenty minutes trying to figure out what type of condoms to order to my house, so maybe we won’t even get to that part of the night if they don’t fit.”

“I go with magnums.” Ethan reaches out of the frame and returns holding a box. “They fit me perfectly.”

“We’re ending on that note. Way too much personal information.” Hudson pinches the bridge of his nose. “You’re going to be fine, Grant. Enjoy the night, and don’t put too much pressure on yourself.”

We hang up after a round of goodbyes, and I shove my phone between the couch cushions where it can’t distract me. The knock that echoes down the hall makes me double check my reflection in the mirror, and I’m so goddamn nervous.

My hands are sweaty. My heart is racing, and I cannot believe I’m the lucky bastard who gets to do this with her.

“Hi,” I say when I open the door, and the sight of Lia in her leather skirt, white turtleneck, and black boots that show off her long legs is enough to make my mouth dry. “Fuck. I missed you, Lia.”

“Hi.” She drapes an arm around my neck. “I missed you too.”

“You’re even more beautiful than when I last saw you.” I put a palm on her hip. I draw her close and trace my thumb over the hem of her short skirt. “How is that possible?”

“The sun hasn’t been out for weeks in Denver, so you might be delusional.” Her laugh is light when she shuts the door behind her. She runs her fingers through the ends of my hair then pulls down on my bottom lip with her thumb. It makes me whine. “You look great, Grant. And you still have all your teeth. That’s a miracle.”

“Come here.” My hand slides to the small of her back. I press her flush against me, a hungry groan working up my throat when I inhale her perfume. “You’ve been in my apartment for over a minute, and I haven’t kissed you yet. What am I doing?”

“Waiting for something better to come along?”