“I’ve never been into relationships,” I told her honestly. “I’ve had flings, hookups, and one-night stands, but never anything very serious.”
Natalie was quiet for a moment, and I could see that her blue eyes were thoughtful. “Wow, I guess I didn’t realize that. Can I ask you a personal question?”
“Yes,” I nodded.
“How many women have you been with?”
I suppose I should have seen that question coming, but it still took me off guard a little. I didn’t want to lie to her, but I also didn’t want to scare her away by telling her about my sordid past.
“Uh…”
“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” she said, sensing my reluctance. “But I suppose I’m curious.”
I knew I had to answer her question now. If I didn’t, she would make assumptions, and that might end up worse for me.
“I’ve been with more women than I can count,” I told her honestly. “I don’t know the exact number. Less than fifty, more than thirty.”
Natalie nodded slowly. “That’s quite a lot, isn’t it?”
I smiled. “Does that bother you?”
“No,” she said, but she answered too fast, and I heard her voice stumble a little.
I wondered if I had just made a mistake by telling her the truth. Not only had I told her I had never really had a committed relationship with a woman, I had also told her that I had had casual sex with a string of different women. I reminded myself that she had been a virgin when she’d met me.
“It’s okay,” I told her gently, as I took her hand. “You can be honest with me.”
Natalie took a deep breath. “I don’t care about your past, Chance,” she said. “It’s just that… You know I have very little experience. I guess what I’m trying to say is, I can’t really compete with all the women who came before me.”
I was floored that she would believe that. “The women who came before you weren’t special like you are,” I said. “If they had been, I would have loved them longer.”
She smiled, but she didn’t seem convinced.
“Natalie,” I said. “You are beautiful.”
“Stop—”
“No, really,” I insisted. “To me, you are the most beautiful girl I’ve been with. And that’s not just because of your face or your body; it’s because of who you are. It’s because of the person you are. You’re smart and intelligent and witty and curious, and I love that about you. You don’t have to worry about any of the women who have come before you because none of them compare to you. None of them even come close.”
She gave me a shy smile. “And you don’t care that I’m so inexperienced? It’s not off-putting in bed?”
I raised my eyebrows at her in disbelief. How could she possibly think that I am not completely and utterly beguiled by her? I pulled her towards me and kissed her at the nape of her neck.
“You have no idea how sexy I find you,” I whispered to her. “Sometimes when we’re in that crowded lecture hall, it’s hard for me to keep my hands to myself. It’s hard for me now.”
Natalie looked up at me, and her eyes were both teasing and seductive. “I can feel how hard it is.”
I couldn’t take it anymore. “Are you up for something outrageous?”
She raised her eyebrows. “Like what?”
“I want to fuck you.”
“Here?” she sounded instantly nervous.
“In the backseat of my car.”
“I…someone might see us.”