Indecent Danger (Danger Incorporated #3)(22)

“He sounds like a real dick.” Gigi had a special way of summing things up. “And you have nothing to be ashamed of. It’s okay for women to enjoy sex, you know. Hell, when West and I do it it’s like time stops and the earth opens up or something. Anyway, it’s f*cking great. I bet Travis is as hot between the sheets as West is. There’s something about these Anderson men.”

As much as Aubrey loved her sister and thought West was a terrific guy, she could do without the sexual details of their intimate lives. Aubrey had very carefully not said a whole lot about her own, but something inside was pressing her to confide in someone who cared.

“I wouldn’t know.”

There. She’d said it.

“What? What wouldn’t you know?” Gigi sounded confused and Aubrey didn’t blame her.

“I wouldn’t know if Travis is hot between the sheets. We…we haven’t slept together. Yet, I mean.”

The silence almost went on so long Aubrey thought the line on her cell phone had dropped.

“You haven’t slept with Travis?” Gigi sucked in a breath. “Honey, he’s hotter than a firecracker in July. What are you waiting for?”

Courage.

“I–I just haven’t yet. I didn’t want to rush into it.”

Wow, that sounded stupid. Even Aubrey didn’t believe a word that was coming out of her mouth.

“Oh. Well, that’s okay. I probably should have waited longer with West but I just couldn’t help myself. You’re a stronger woman than I am.” Neither sister said a word. “You are attracted to Travis, aren’t you, sis? I mean…does he treat you okay?”

Aubrey had been pacing the floor of her bedroom but now she fell back against the bed pillows with a noisy sigh. “He treats me like a princess, and yes, he’s sexy. And gorgeous. It’s just that…”

Saying it out loud made it more real, although she’d been living it so it didn’t get much more real than that.

“Just what?” Gigi prompted. “You know you can tell me anything, right? Did someone hurt you, sis?”

“No one hurt me.” Aubrey rubbed her temples, a headache beginning to bloom after all the crap that had happened in the last twenty-four hours. “It’s just that I haven’t had sex since I was seventeen and I’m nervous.”

That last sentence had rushed out at lightning speed, the words running together. Luckily Gigi didn’t need anything repeated.

“Seventeen? Holy crap on a cracker, girl, seventeen? Why? I mean, well, yeah—let’s start there. Why? Not that there’s anything wrong with it. I mean, I can respect your choices and everything. Aww shit, I’ve messed this up, haven’t I? What I’m trying to say is that it’s okay if you’re not into it. You don’t have to be and you don’t owe anyone any explanations. I support you in whatever you choose.”

Aubrey rested her head in her hand, humiliation turning her cheeks hot despite her sister being a thousand miles away and unable to see her. “Thank you. I appreciate that. I’m not sure I really chose this route or it chose me. It’s hard to explain. Honestly I’m not sure I can.”

But Gigi simply waited patiently, not saying a word, letting Aubrey gather her scattered and very embarrassed thoughts until she had an idea of how to describe all the conflicting emotions inside.

“I’m very attracted to Travis and I do want to go to bed with him.”

It was the understatement of the century. She was dying to sleep with him.

“You don’t have to. I know I may have sounded like I was pushing you but I swear I’m not. I don’t want you to feel pressured to do something you don’t want to do.”

“I’m pushing myself much more than you ever could,” Aubrey admitted quietly. “I want to be with him. I actually crave being close to him, Gigi. I love being in his arms. I love the way he smells and the warmth of his skin. I literally get weak in the knees when he kisses me.”

“I think that’s wonderful that you feel this way but I’m sure Travis is okay with waiting if that’s what you need.”

“He is. He’s been really patient. I just…dammit, I’m just terrified.”

Admitting it didn’t make her feel any better, sadly. It only made her fear more three-dimensional as her intestines seemed to twist into a painful knot and sweat began to pool on the back of her neck. The mere thought of making love with Travis turned her into a mess of nerves.


“What are you afraid of? Pregnancy?” Gigi’s voice had dropped to a whisper as if she was afraid someone was listening on the line. “Are you on the pill or something? I can recommend a doctor if you aren’t.”

Running her damp palms on the fabric of her sundress, Aubrey took a deep calming breath. “I’m not afraid of an unplanned pregnancy, although as I told you that’s what stopped my self-destructive behavior in high school. My friend Debbie got pregnant and had to drop out. No, I’m on the pill and I have no reason to believe it wouldn’t work.”

“That’s good. So when it feels right, you’re ready. There’s no reason to push yourself into it, sis. You’ll know when it’s right. Until then, relax and just enjoy being courted and wooed. These Anderson men really know how to romance a girl.”