Free Rough: Daunting Temptation (Coral Gables Series Book 1) by Drucie Anne Taylor Page B

fifty from her purse, which she then hands to me with knitted eyebrows.
    Hailey wears a frown, too, as she brings me her fifty.
    "Thanks, ladies," I giggle and look at Delsin. "Let's go to my room and I'll explain it to you. Or better yet: Go ahead. You know the way."
    "Okay," he says, still looking puzzled as he goes down the hallway carrying two pizza boxes.
    "If you hadn't said he had to be here by eight, we'd have won," Hailey grouches.
    "You wanted this bet, and you wanted to raise the stakes," I grin.
    "There goes my visit to the beautician," Thalia whines.
    "You could give me the money later. Mine will last me until Friday," I offer.
    But both of them smile and quote in unison: "Thou shalt honor thy gambling debts."
    "Okay, okay. If you insist. I'll be eating dinner in my room then." I turn around and stroll into my room, where Delsin is waiting. I close the door behind me.
    "That was weird," he says.
    "Did you expect anything different from me and my friends?" I ask with a broad smile.
    "Somehow, I did. What did they give you money for?"
    I am amused by his puzzled expression.
    "They were so certain that you would show up here tonight and that you would ignore my refusal. I didn't think so and said you would not be here by eight. First, we bet ten dollars each, but then they insisted on putting in a fifty each, and ..."
    "Because I showed up past eight, you won a hundred dollars," he finishes my sentence.
    "Exactly," I nod and sit down next to him on the bed. "Why did you ignore my refusal?" I want to know.
    "Because a refusal only serves to awaken my ambition. Given the number of brush-offs I've already got from you, I guess I'm going to have to get on your nerves for a good while," he grins.
    I laugh softly. "Don't do this to me."
    "Why not? Remember how I like it when you get angry," he chuckles.
    "How about less talking and more eating then?" I suggest and open one of the two pizza boxes. I make a face. "Tuna?" I ask, the disgust obvious in my voice.
    Delsin's grin becomes a soft smile. "I brought pepperoni for you. Avery told me that's what you prefer."
    I open the second box and my mouth curves into a smile. "Thank you, Delsin." Then I take out a slice.
    "Enjoy," he says, but I can only mumble a "thank you," because I am already eating.
    He laughs and takes out a slice of his tuna pizza.
    ***
    We have eaten in silence, with him watching me devour the entire pizza hungrily.
    "You really were hungry," he concludes when I take a sip of water afterwards.
    I nod. "I admit the two cups of yogurt for lunch were a bit stingy."
    "And here I was wondering whether you're one of the girls who seem to live on cotton balls dunked in orange juice," he teases.
    My laughter bubbles from my mouth. "Most definitely not. I think that's obvious. If I ate like that, I'd have my ideal weight."
    Delsin studies me. "Don't tell me you feel fat."
    I shake my head. "Nope. I do not feel fat. Actually, I feel quite at home in my body."
    He exhales, sounding relieved. "Good. I thought I had to give you a piece of my mind. You really look great, and your body is awesome."
    I take care not to look him straight in the eyes, because I don't want to tempt him again. "Can I ask you a question?"
    "Sure. Go ahead," he says calmly, kicks off his shoes and lies down on his side, bracing his head with his hand.
    "Why ... did you decide not to ... sleep with me after all?" I ask hesitantly.
    "Camille, you're still a virgin and, as much as I like your body, I think you ought to experience your first time with the right man. Not some guy like me. The first time is for lovers, not for horny jocks," Delsin says in an earnest voice, though he is still smiling.
    This time I look into his eyes, because I want to know whether he is telling the truth. "And if I wanted you to be my first?" I ask.
    "I still wouldn't sleep with you, because I don't want anything steady and I don't sleep with virgins," he explains, his eyes holding my gaze.
    The answer doesn't satisfy