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“We got a little closer than I think either of us planned.”

Her eyes widen, and I can tell I've brought up exactly what's been on her mind.

She ducks her head, looking a little embarrassed, but then meets my eyes again. “We definitely did, didn't we?”

“Yeah.” I smile. “And I enjoyed it. A lot.”

She looks at me, a small smile tugging at her lips.

“I loved every second of it, Peachy.” I slide my hand to her waist. “But I don't want you to feel like you have to keep going just because we're caught up in the moment, you know?”

She studies my face.

"I think this must be different for you. I know we haven’t talked about it, but... I assume you’re a virgin?”

A faint blush climbs her cheeks. "You assumed right." She watches me carefully. "You okay?"

I let out a quiet laugh. "I'm trying very hard not to say something stupid."

"Like what?"

"Like how it's physically impossible for me to understand how no one snapped you up first."

She laughs, shaking her head. "I don't think that's how statistics work." She smiles, but I catch the uncertainty behind it. "I know some people would think it's... weird."

"I don't."

She searches my face. "Not even a little?"

"Quinn, I already told you," I say, shaking my head. "There’s no right or wrong way to do this whole dating thing. We’re all on our own path. It doesn’t matter where you are on yours—it only matters that it’s your path and not someone else’s."

She lets out a breath I don't think she realized she was holding.

“My point is: I want you to want every next step as much when you're completely clear-headed as you do in the heat of the moment."

A softness settles over her features.

“Of course I’m as horny as the next guy, and I know I tease you sometimes, but I’m serious about this. I figured someone around here should pump the brakes once in a while. And since it’s my job to make sure you’re comfortable, that falls on me."

She reaches for my hand, threading our fingers together. "Thank you."

I brush my thumb over her knuckles. “If there’s anything you need from me to feel comfortable, just tell me. We can talk about anything. Not ready for something? Tell me. Have a weird kink? Tell me. Want to give me a blowjob? Definitely tell me.” I wink to lighten the mood.

She looks at me for a moment, then drops her gaze to where my hand rests on hers.

I give it a gentle squeeze. “What's going on in that head of yours?”

She takes a breath. “I just… I have no idea what I'm doing, Wyatt. It's not just that I haven't had sex. I haven't really done much of anything.” Her cheeks turn pink. “And you're so comfortable with all of it. You always seem to know exactly what you're doing, and I don’t.”

“Is there anything you're especially worried about? Anything you want to ask me?”

She opens her mouth, then closes it again.

Oh, there's definitely something.

“Quinn?”

She looks down at her hands. “It's just… I don't even know if I'm capable of…” She trails off.