Feeling a little nervous too, since I’m not the most comfortable when it comes to talking about sex. Fable is the first girl I’ve ever really wanted. I’ve been forever damaged by what happened with Adele. I’ve had sex since then but it was always quick. Meaningless. Never with the same girl twice.

After a while, it became too complicated. So I avoided girls. It was easier that way.

Our agreement to pretend to be normal has given me some freedom. I’m able to let go—at least temporarily—some of the issues that constantly plague me and enjoy my time with her. We hardly leave my bed. We’ve remained na**d pretty much the entire time.

It’s also been pretty f**king incredible.

“Let’s play strip true confessions,” she suggests as we enter my apartment. The chipper sound of her voice makes me burst out laughing.

“Strip true confessions?” I scratch my head as I shut and lock the door.

She turns to face me, her bright smile stealing my breath. “We confess, then we take off a piece of clothing.”

“Didn’t we already plan on taking off our clothes?”

“Of course, but this makes it much more interesting.” Grabbing my hand, Fable leads me back to my bedroom. She tugs me down with her so we both sit on the edge of the bed and she turns to face me, her expression solemn, those pretty green eyes beguiling. “Now, I’ll go first. We must confess something sexual that we’ve never done. Or something we’ve always wanted to do. And then we take off one piece of clothing when we’re finished. Are you game?”

I have no idea where she’s going with this but I’m curious to hear what she has to say. “I’m game.”

“Perfect. Okay.” She blows out a harsh breath and drops her gaze. “This is more nerve-racking than I thought.”

If she’s nervous, I’m in huge trouble. She’s much more open sexually than I am. Though the more time I spend with her, the more I’m coming around.

“It’s just me,” I remind her and when she glances up, I offer her a reassuring smile. “Like I’m going to judge you.”

“I know,” she says softly. “All right, I’m going for it. I’ve never been taken from behind before.”

I mock frown. “Taken?”

She rolls her eyes. “You know…I’ve never done it doggy-style. God, that sounds gross, phrasing it like that.”

It sounds arousing as hell but I school my expression, going for serious. “I’m sure that could be arranged. Me taking you from behind, doggy-style.”

Her cheeks color a pretty shade of pink and she shrugs out of her zip-up sweatshirt, tossing it on the floor. She’s only wearing a white tank top with a black bra beneath it. Jesus, she’s hot. “I’m sure it could. Okay, your turn.”

“Uh…” There are a lot of things I could confess.

“Don’t be shy.” She smiles, all pure, sweet seduction. “Come on. Out with it. Pick an easy one.”

“I’ve never slept all night with a girl. Until you.” I yank my sweatshirt off and throw it on top of hers on the floor.

“Aw.” She leans in and gives me a quick kiss. “I love that I’m your first,” she murmurs against my lips before she moves away from me.

She’s a lot of firsts for me. It’s embarrassing to admit just how many.

“I’ve never had sex outside.” A wistful look crosses her face. “I think that would be incredibly romantic. Under the stars, a cool breeze over hot skin. Maybe on the beach, by the ocean…”

“Sand getting in our asses,” I add because I can’t help it, that’s my first thought when I hear sex on the beach.

Fable smacks me on the arm. “You’re such a guy. Way to kill the romantic mood.”

“You know it would happen.” I rub my arm, watching as she takes off one sock. “Only one?”

“An article of clothing a confession, right?” She shrugs, looking smug.

I’ll remember this. But then again, do I want to confess that much?

“I’ve never had phone sex.” I take off a sock just like she did.

“Me either.” She takes off her other sock and giggles. “This is silly.”

“It was your idea,” I point out.

“Yeah, yeah.” Fable nibbles her lower lip. “This one’s crazy. I’m afraid you’ll freak out when I say it.”

“No going back now. You have to tell me,” I urge. Hell, it’s supposed to be my turn but I’m letting her skip right on by me.

“Fine, you asked for it.” She takes a deep breath. “Lately I’ve been thinking about getting my ni**les pierced.”

I’m stunned. “Are you serious?”

She nods and bends her head, letting her hair fall in front of her face. “Is that crazy?”

Sort of. She’s full of surprises. I like it. Hell, I like her. A lot. “Don’t you think it’ll hurt?”

“Yeah, but I can deal with a little pain.” She keeps her head bent. “I’ve heard it feels good to have them tugged on during…you know.”

Okay, my girl is trying to drive me crazy. I’ve never thought of nipple rings as particularly sexy before, but the thought of me tugging on a tiny silver hoop with my lips and tongue and hearing her moan…

I get hard just thinking about it.

“Would you ever get your ni**les pierced?” she asks, lifting her head so her eyes meet mine.

“Uh, I doubt it,” I croak, then clear my throat.

“It’s just a thought. I doubt I’ll go through with it either.” She slowly lifts the hem of her tank and takes it off, revealing her slender stomach, her pretty black satin bra. I want to grab her and kiss her. Screw these true confessions. “Your turn,” she whispers.

Studying her cleavage, I start to sweat. “I’ve uh…never done the dirty-talk thing before.”

“Isn’t that the same theory as phone sex?” She frowns.

“Not really.”

“Hmm.” She taps her smirking lips with her index finger. “So you’re saying you’d like it if I leaned over and whispered in your ear that I want to suck your cock?”

I swallow hard. “Hell, Fable.”

Her smile grows. “You would definitely like that, wouldn’t you?” She gets on her hands and knees and crawls toward me, nuzzling my cheek with her nose, her mouth close to my ear. “Drew,” she whispers. “Do you know how wet I get just looking at you?”

I swallow hard, slip my arm around her waist so I can bring her closer to me. “Are you trying to kill me?”

“Maybe.” She laughs, the sound sexy as hell, and I tackle her, pin her beneath me so she can’t get away. I thrust my h*ps against hers and her eyes darken. “Ooh, I can tell I am totally getting to you.”

“All this true confession talk. A man can only take so much.” Lifting up, I take off my shirt, pleased when I catch her drinking me in with her greedy gaze. She has no problem letting me know how much I turn her on and I love it. “I’m thinking I need to see just how wet you really are.”

A little sound of pleasure escapes her and she clamps her lips shut. “Why don’t you do some investigating and find out?”

Chapter Twelve

Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies. – Aristotle

Fable

After playing our silly, sexy game of true confessions, we tease each other like crazy, taking off each other’s clothes between lingering kisses and possessive caresses meant to ignite. I love this playful side of Drew. He’s funny, he’s sweet and he’s sexy as hell. When he said he wanted to see just how wet I really was, everything inside me went loose and hot. And when he proceeded to yank off my sweatpants and slip his fingers beneath my panties, I nearly came right then and there.

Being with Drew, na**d and open like this, I’ve never experienced anything like it. I’ve never felt closer to another human being ever in my life, not as close as I feel to Drew Callahan at this very moment.

I’m pinned beneath him, trapped, but there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. His soft hair brushes against my chest as he makes his descent down my body, sending a scattering of gooseflesh across my skin. His hot mouth is everywhere, searching me, and I feel like I’m floating on a cloud, completely lost, too caught up…

“Look at me, baby.” I open my eyes, startled by the endearment. He rarely calls me anything but my name. “Watch me,” he whispers.

I do as he asks, breathless as he drops tender kisses in the valley between my breasts, across my belly, all the while his gaze never leaves mine. Reaching out, I thread my fingers through his hair, stroking his head, and he covers my br**sts with his mouth, drawing one nipple between his lips with a slight tug. I close my eyes, too overwhelmed with the delicious sensation of his mouth so intimately on my flesh, and I hold him close. Spreading my legs, I accommodate his big body more fully pressed against mine.

This is exactly what I’ve been wanting between us. No walls, no barriers. He finally seems as open to me as I am with him and I love it.

I love him.

He lifts up so he’s bracing his upper body above me, his hands pressed into the mattress on either side of my head. I meet his gaze, my heart fluttering as if it could take flight when I notice the expression on his face. As if he’s at war with himself and what he should do next. “What’s wrong?” I ask, scared he’s going to say or do something that will break this magical moment between us.

“I have a confession to make.” He hangs his head, almost as if he’s embarrassed. “I’ve never done this before.”

I frown. “Um, I hate to break it to you, but we’ve definitely done this before. Together. More than once.”

Chuckling, he meets my gaze once more. “I mean—shit, I don’t know how to say this.”

“More true confessions, Drew?” Reaching out, I touch his cheek, my fingers lingering on the stubble that lines his jaw. I like the way his bristly cheeks feel against my own when he kisses me. It’s sorta hot. He is all sorts of hot. “Don’t be shy. Just say it.”

He leans in, his mouth at my ear, his breath warm against my cheek. “I’ve never gone down on a girl before,” he whispers.

Okay, now I’m shocked. I rest my hand on his chest and push him away slightly so our eyes can meet once again. “Seriously?”

“Seriously.” He nods, I notice his cheeks are ruddy and my heart squeezes.

God, he is so stinking cute and he’s all mine. Mine, mine, mine. We’re pretending we’re perfectly normal and we’re not. We’re both all sorts of messed up.

But I don’t care if he’s troubled and has dealt with an endless amount of bullshit at the hand of a woman so disgusting I can’t even think her name, let alone say it. I still want him. All the time. Desperately. I know he’s damaged. I also know he’s trying his best to work through the damage and become a whole person again.

More than anything, I know he needs me. And I need him. I love him. And Drew loves me. Even though we haven’t said it to each other yet, I know deep in my heart it’s the truth.

“If you don’t want to do it, you don’t have to.” I’m giving him an excuse to back out because the last thing I want to do is pressure him. He’s dealt with enough pressure in his life. Our game of true confessions was hard for him. I knew it would be. But I think it helped us become closer.

A sexy smile curves his lips and I’m momentarily breathless at the sight of it. “Oh, I want to, Fable. More than you can possible imagine.”

Now it’s my turn to become embarrassed and I feel my cheeks heat. “So what are you waiting for?”

“I just…wanted to warn you. In case I somehow screw it up.” He lowers himself so his body covers mine, his mouth against my neck. He’s kissing and nibbling me there, driving me crazy with the way he touches me, and I close my eyes, losing myself.

Finding myself. With him.

He’s somehow worried he’s going to go about this all wrong, but he doesn’t know that no matter what, he can’t possibly screw this up. That everything he does, everything he says, how he touches me, is all so perfect, it’s scary. He’s all I ever want. All I’ll ever need.

Drew maps my body with his hands and mouth, his tongue… God, his tongue. He licks me everywhere, tasting me, savoring me, until I’m writhing beneath him, my entire body on fire. He skims his fingers along the insides of my thighs so lightly I shiver. My entire body is shaking in anticipation as he kisses the sensitive flesh of my stomach, my hips, my thighs…

And when he finally, finally delivers that first tentative lick between my legs, I moan so loud I’m almost embarrassed.

But I’m not. How can I be when the man I love so much is overwhelming me with pleasurable sensation after pleasurable sensation? He searches me intimately with his tongue, slipping one long finger deep inside me, and another shivery moan escapes as I arch against him.

It’s too much. It’s not enough. I both want to come and make it last and when he increases his pace, I know I’m dangerously close to splintering completely apart.

“Tell me where, baby,” he whispers against me as I’m shuddering and gasping, my fingers clenched in his hair. “Tell me how you like it.”

“Higher,” I choke out and he moves higher, his tongue flicking against my clit, his finger deep inside my body. Oh, shit, that is it. It’s perfect, just perfect where he’s touching me, licking me. Right. Fucking. There….