Spark by Jennifer Ryder

body relaxes. He finds sleep. Me? I’m wide fucking awake.
    A virgin, and a chronic premature ejaculator. You wouldn’t read about it. They didn’t talk about this in Cosmo . In fact, nothing could have prepared me for this. Right now, my sex-life is non-existent. Sex with Jon will be a challenge, but more than that, it will be calculated and clinical. Shouldn’t my first time be at the very least uncomplicated? If we do it without the injections, I will barely be able to touch him. There will be no foreplay, and once he’s inside me—if he makes it that far—it’ll be over as soon as it’s begun. I breathe out deeply, trying to talk myself into sleep. What have I gotten myself into?
    Going to the next level is a big step for me, but now I understand it’s just as big a step for him. I know that he loves me—he doesn’t have to say it, it’s written all over his face. If I sleep with him there will be no turning back. If we do and then break up, it would crush him. It would break his precious heart. He doesn’t deserve that. I really should have thought this through before.
    What am I supposed to do?

    ****

    The next day, Crystal and I go grocery shopping. We buy a lot more stuff than we usually would. Apart from the normal staples, we get a few things to liven up the apartment. When we’re done, Crystal parks her car on the street so we can race the bags upstairs. We get out, and start unloading.
    I hear the other car before I see it. Up the street, a sleek, black Holden Ute, with a dirt bike on the back, swerves around the bend and comes to a quick stop behind us. It startles me with how close it gets.
    I squint to see inside the tinted windows. The roar of the engine ceases, and the car door opens. A guy gets out, and runs his fingers through his wild brown hair, which is longer on top than the sides.
    My eyes scan over his black T-shirt, dark blue jeans streaked with grease, and dusty work boots. I study his face as he moves closer. Chiselled features, but with a certain softness and tanned golden skin. His beautiful face has my fingers itching to run over every inch of dark stubble. He’s athletic, unshaven, and totally yum. The trifecta.
    He stares directly at me with the most piercing pale blue eyes I have ever seen. Holy crap . I am instantly jealous of his dark eyelashes and even darker eyebrows, one bearing a scar, which frame his eyes. He smiles at me, dazzling me with his perfect teeth and luscious lips. I hope my jaw is not hanging out of my head.
    “Hey, Crystal. How you goin’?” he asks as he sits on the bonnet of his car, folding his arms. My eyes are drawn to his muscular arms and chest, and wander down his torso. I could guarantee there is a perfect set of abs underneath that well-fitting T-shirt . His jeans sit just right on his hips, too. I have to stop my roving eyes from going any lower.
    My God, what’s wrong with me? While he waits for Crystal’s reply, his eyes pin me in place. It’s completely unnerving.
    “Good thanks. What are you doing here?” Crystal responds, interrupting my thoughts, which were getting dirtier by the second. Is my face bright red? It feels hot enough to fry an egg on. Whoever he is, I hope he doesn’t notice. He turns his head towards Crystal.
    “Rob told me to drop in on my way home. I’ve got a part for his bike.” He stares at me again, giving me a cheeky smirk. I don’t know what to make of it. My heart rate spikes as a wave of butterflies materialise in my stomach.
    “He should be here soon. Do you want me to take it, or do you wanna come in and wait?” Crystal asks, noticing his eyes locked on mine. “Oh, sorry,” Crystals says. “You guys haven’t met. Aidan, this is Genevieve.” Why did she have to use my full name?
    This must be the guy she told me about. The one that Rob has practically been in love with since starting to ride dirt bikes. Aidan extends his arm, and I shake his warm hand, not breaking eye contact. I can’t help it.