Shelter Harbor: Sinner Part 13

"In the sack."

A fresh wave of heat washes over my face. "Right, well-"

"Seriously, trust me as a guy on this one. Whatever hot moves you used before are going to be great."

"I don't uh," I clear my throat and drag my bare toe through the gra.s.s under my feet. "I don't really have any hot moves."

I can't believe I'm having this conversation. With him of all people.

Rowan laughs. "I'm sure you do. Look, you don't have to bust out the gymnastics or the kinky toys, just do what comes natural."

"Yeah, um-"

"Figure out what he likes, show him what you're into. Missionary? Doggy? Cowgirl? s.h.i.+t, try 'em all and see what-"

"Yeah, I don't know."

"Eva I'm telling you, whatever s.e.x stuff worked with Joseph will work with-"

"We didn't do anything," I blurt out.

My lips snap shut immediately after, and my hand flies to my mouth.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"No, what do you mean?"

"I- I don't know any s.e.x stuff, okay?"

"You were engaged."

"Yeah, well...I- we, I mean, you know."

He raises a brow.

"You're supposed to wait, and all that." My face is burning as I say it quietly.

Rowan goes quiet. "Wait, are you-" I look up pathetically and his eyes go wide. "Awww no way!" He stares at me. "You're what, twenty-one?"

I nod, cringing and dropping my eyes to the gra.s.s under my feet.

G.o.d, why did I just tell him this?

"Seriously? How is that even possible?"

I snap as I glare back at him. "Well you don't have to be an a.s.shole about it! What's the big deal?!"

"Hey, hey, okay." He holds his hands up. "Okay, it's cool."

I deflate instantly, my shoulders slumping as the anger turns back into embarra.s.sment. "It's not cool."

"Nah, it is."

"Rowan, I'm from a religious family but I'm not clueless, okay? I get that it's weird."

"Says who?"

I groan. "Everyone?"

"f.u.c.k 'em." He chuckles. "Well, or don't, in your case."

I groan.

"Seriously, I think it's cool."

"You're making fun of me."

"I swear, I'm not." His arm suddenly moves over my shoulder, and I s.h.i.+ver against him. "Well, maybe not cool like Rolling Stones cool, but you know, interesting."

I choke out a laugh.

"So that's what's worrying you?"

I nod glumly.

"You've heard of the internet, right?"

I make a face. "What, p.o.r.nography?"

He laughs. "Well, yeah, plenty of that. But I'm sure there's stuff out here to read."

"Ugh, I don't know."

"You could always ask-" he stops short.

"What?"

"I was going to say you could always ask Chast.i.ty but..."

I laugh. "Right, Chast.i.ty the nun. That'd go over well."

"I mean with a name like that, G.o.d it just seems like a dare."

I giggle, feeling warmed and comforted by his arm around me. "Thanks," I say with a smile.

"For?"

"For being nice about it."

"Oh, I'm just holding it back for later."

I smile again as I take a tentative sip of the beer in my hands.

"You could ask me, you know."

My brows shoot up as I glance sharply up at his face. "What?"

"I mean if you've got any questions about it. You know, preparing for Milton."

"s.e.x questions," I say flatly.

"I do sort of know what I'm doing."

I blush as I take a step away from him, almost regretting the way his arm leaves my shoulders. "I don't think that's a good idea."

He rolls his eyes. "I didn't mean anything tawdry, just questions. But suit yourself."

I nod. "I should get back inside."

He holds my eyes another second before he nods. "Sure. Oh, so we're still okay about the other night?"

I nod as I turn for the side door. "Yeah. Oh, and Rowan? Thanks."

He smiles. "Anytime, darlin'."

He turns and he's started to head for the gate to the yard when the thought takes hold, quite suddenly.

The wicked thought.

Temptation.

The devil's whisper.

Just go inside. I tell myself. Please just go inside. Just go- "Hey Rowan?"

c.r.a.p.

He turns. "Yeah?"

"What if we traded?"

What the h.e.l.l are you doing?

"Traded?"

"Yeah," I can feel my heart pounding inside my chest. This is a terrible idea, but at the same time, maybe a good one. After all, who better to teach me something about stuff like this than him? Who better to ask questions about original sin to than the sinner himself?

"I won't tell anyone about the guy the other night."

"Appreciated-"

"If you teach me some stuff."

His eyes flash, his jaw tightening as he suddenly looks at me with a hungry look.

"No, not like..." I'm blus.h.i.+ng furiously - simmering. "Not like, teach me - nothing gross. I just- I might have questions."

"And you want to ask me them."

I nod at the gra.s.s, not able to meet his eyes. "Something like that."

"Wow."

I cringe. "Okay, I'm sorry, this was a bad idea-"

"No, no, it's not actually. So, you'll keep my secret, and I'll be your s.e.x teacher."

I roll my eyes, still blus.h.i.+ng as I finally make myself look up at him. I swallow thickly, meeting those eyes. "Just questions. And you can't tell anyone, okay?"

"I can't think of a single person I would."

I nod and stick my hand out. "So we have a deal?"

There's a slight grin teasing the corners of his mouth as he takes my hand. His skin is warm, and I s.h.i.+ver at the tingles moving through my body to places they shouldn't.

"Deal," he murmurs.

"Okay, so, goodnight."

I yank my hand away from his and flee into the house before I can say or do anything worse.

Because I just made a deal with the devil, and I should not be this excited about it.

Chapter Twelve.

Rowan