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She eased back, matching his smile. “And surprise quizzes.”
“Like a drop trou now, show me what you know situ?” asked Nick.
“Yep. Could happen anywhere, anytime.”
His heated gaze plunged to her breasts. “Like now?” He placed soft, open-mouthed kisses along her neck as his erection throbbed and pressed against her hip.
Evie let out a silky gasp. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything,” he murmured across her skin, kissing her again.
“Why’d you wait? I mean, it’s not like you haven’t had plenty of opportunity, or offers. You could’ve been with anyone.”
Pausing his passionate wake-up call, Nick looked up. “I didn’t want to be with just anyone.”
A hint of a grin curved Evie’s lips as her fingers skated over his collarbone and twirled the chain of her necklace adorning his neck.
“I also didn’t want to be someone’s trophy fuck either.”
“What’s that?” she asked as Nick’s phone buzzed on his bedside table.
He didn’t budge, ignoring the incoming text. “What you become when someone sleeps with you and sells their story. It happened to this bloke I know, another actor. It made me second-guess every girl, every snog, every potential relationship.”
Letting go of her necklace, Evie froze. “Me?”
“God, no! You’re my best friend. I don’t second guess anything with you, Evie.”
“Same.” She smiled. “I’m happy, Nick.”
He beamed back and traced his finger along her jaw. “What took us so long, eh? One thing’s for certain, you were definitely worth the wait.”
“I wish I’d waited for you.” She took in a deep breath and let it go. “My first time was not good.”
Stuart.
The tight ache between Nick’s inner thighs began to fade. He despised her ex for a whole litany of Evie-related offenses and the mere suggestion of Stuart being with her like this—well, if there ever was a boner killer…
But something in her voice sounded off, troubled. If Evie needed to talk, he’d listen. Even if it involved shithead Stuart.
“What happened?” Nick rubbed her arm. “You can tell me if you want.”
“You sure? I know it’s weird, talking exes.”
“Everyone has a past. I can handle it.” He kissed her on the forehead. When he pulled back, a ghost of a grin flexed her lips.
“Well, we were at the pub for Stuart’s birthday. I wasn’t drinking. I was feeling fine, but alcohol and Crohn’s don’t always mix for me.”
Nick nodded.
“The more Stu drank, the more frustrated he got because I wasn’t joining in. He’d always been pushy about booze but was extra aggressive that night, forcing shots on me. Then he demanded sex in his disgusting car. I said no and he accused me of ruining his birthday and being a prick tease.”
Nick’s jaw dropped. “Whoa! He didn’t?”
“But it sorta felt like I’d brought it on myself. What did I expect? Making him wait while I figured out how I felt, ignoring his needs—”
“His needs?” Nick’s pulse quickened.
“His words, not mine,” corrected Evie. “The first time he said it was on our second date. Apparently, my hesitance to do anything beyond kissing was giving him blue balls and causing long-term physical harm.”
