Page 63 of Timid (Lark Cove 2)

There was so much running through my mind it nearly exploded. So I began processing his speech one piece at a time, starting at the beginning.

I was a good kisser? I was a good kisser. No, the best. My inner diva was about the size of a gummy bear, but she was standing tall tonight, giving me a burst of confidence.

My fingertips left my lap to trail up his jean-covered thigh. “What if I don’t want you to keep your hands to yourself?”

“Willa,” he groaned, the sound part torture, part pleasure. Before my fingers could get too far, his hand slapped down on mine. “Stop.”

I’d finally had the nerve to make a move and I’d been rejected. My gaze dropped, assessing the couch cushion again as a hiding spot.

“Hey.” Jackson’s hand came to my chin, tipping it back. “Can we just talk this through for a sec?”

I nodded. “All right.”

“I’m not going to lie to you.” He blew out a long breath. “I’m . . . nervous.”

“Nervous?” Why would he be nervous? It’s not like he hadn’t had sex before. “Why?”

“I really don’t want to fuck this up. You know? Your first,” he gulped, “time. It should be special. Not me fucking you on the couch after dinner.”

His confession, albeit crude, melted my heart. I loved that he cared to make sure I was comfortable. I loved that he was putting my feelings above his own needs.

I cupped his cheek with my palm. “Thank you.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Why’d you wait?”

I dropped my hand, then looked to my lap, unable to look him in the face as I spoke. “It wasn’t like it was something I planned. My virginity has never been sacred to me. Sex just . . . never happened. I didn’t date in high school. I went out a couple of times in college, but the guys, they just weren’t right.”

I didn’t get into Leighton’s story—that was hers alone to share. But it had definitely impacted my own choices when it came to sex and men.

“

I was never so concerned with being a virgin that I felt the need to seek out someone to take it,” I admitted. “I guess I just always assumed that when the time was right, the time was right.”

“And is tonight that right time?”

Was it? Yes, I wanted to be with Jackson. But I could use a few more dates and some time with Jackson to work out my nerves. Was I ready yet? Now? “No.”

“Okay.”

“You don’t care?”

“Look at me,” he ordered, gently forcing my gaze to his. “You drive the boat. How fast or slow we go is up to you. Okay, Captain?”

I smiled. “Okay. As long as you promise never to call me Captain again.”

“I can do that.”

I sighed. “Can we at least make out or something? I feel like I’ve been waiting my entire life to kiss you, and now that I can, it’s all I want to do.”

The words came out of my mouth so fast, my brain didn’t have time to stop them. But once my ears heard it all, I definitely wanted to hide under the couch cushion.

I was begging for a kiss. Begging. Golly gee, Willa. Be bold, not desperate.

My hands came to my face, hiding my hot cheeks. “I can’t believe I said that.”