James sounded calm, but the mathematical symbol between his brows didn’t lie. “No, never. I don’t think I can, you know?” “I don’t know. Natalie didn’t like it, when we were first together, but she didn’t try to convince me she couldn’t do it. You know yourself how good she is when she does it now.” “True.” His smile in my direction seemed desperate. What did he expect me to do? “I didn’t force her. And I’m not forcing you. But it’s what I want, and just a little bit is fine, for your first time.” “No. Really, I can’t.” “Wait, is it because I’m not clean, from being in Natalie? Come on, we’ll get in the shower. Wash it as clean as you need me to be, then try it out.” “Uh-uh.” His dark hair swung with his refusal. The pi symbol had mutated into another language, with three uprights, one long enough to cross the curving top stroke. James neared the end of his long fuse. “You won’t even try?” “I can’t.” “Bullshit. You don’t want to, so you won’t.”
