Read Online Between Us: Sex on the Beach by Jen McLaughlin - Free Book Online

protectiveness coming over me. I couldn’t help it. I kind of had a knight-in-shining-armor complex going on. I tried to fight it, but it wouldn’t go the fuck away. Knights were tricky like that. “I’m sorry.”
    “Thanks.” She let out a half snort-half laugh. “But it’s hardly a tragedy. So people think I’m a little slutty while I’m really a virgin? There are worse things in the world. Poverty. Sickness. Death. I hardly have room to complain, ya know?”
    Well, she had a point. But it still sucked. “For what it’s worth…I’m glad you chose me for this, uh, thing.”
    “Why?” Her brow rose, and the solemnity left her eyes. She trailed her fingers over my chest, making me suck in a deep breath. Already, I wanted her again. What the fuck was up with that? “You got a thing for virgins, Austin?”
    I snorted. “I wouldn’t know. You were my first one.”
    “Not even your first time?”
    “Nope. She was my tutor, and a grade above me. Let’s just say…she taught me more than math.” I grinned. “Much more.”
    She rolled her eyes. “Why am I not surprised by this information?”
    “Hey, what can I say? I was irresistible even back then.”
    “Oh God.” She swatted my arm. “Get off me, you big oaf.”
    Laughing, I rolled to the side and watched her climb out of bed. She quickly wrapped herself in her silk robe, her cheeks pink. She was still embarrassed by her nudity. How refreshingly charming. Most of the women I spent time with walked around naked more than they did clothed.
    “Do you have security here?”
    She shook her head. “I didn’t let them come. I wanted to be normal for a little while.”
    “What about at school?”
    She scrunched her nose. “Yeah, but only one. It’s more of a precautionary measure. Most of the people there don’t give a damn who I am. There’s been a few pictures here and there of me, but not much. I keep to myself.” She paused. “Well, me, Quinn, and Cassie do.”
    I had the feeling they were very close, those three girls. Which made me wonder… “Why aren’t they in the same room as you?”
    “We all wanted to be free to bring guys home. It’s kinda hard to do if you’re sharing rooms.”
    I laughed. “You have a point. Are they up here, too?”
    “Nope, they’re a floor lower, in separate rooms. They wouldn’t let me book the penthouse for them. That’s where they drew the line when it came to me paying for them, but it worked out. There’s only one more up here as it is.”
    “Wait.” I sat up straight. “You paid for them to come here?”
    “Yeah, of course.” She looked at me, her forehead creased. “Why wouldn’t I? I can certainly afford it, and they’re my best friends.”
    Respect swept over me, even more so than before. She was so damn generous and didn’t even realize it. “Why did you come here, of all places, and not somewhere less crowded? Aren’t you worried you’ll be spotted?”
    “I was hoping to blend in with the crowd since it’s so crazy. It’s worked so far. Between the darker hair and no makeup, I’m just another girl.”
    When she turned back to me, her dark hair framing her face, I almost forgot to breathe. She was so fucking gorgeous. So fucking different. “Speaking of which, I love those freckles you hide in your videos. They’re adorable, like you. You’re beautiful.”
    Where had that sappy statement come from? Must be that damn knight again…
    “Uh, thanks.” Her wide eyes met mine, and her cheeks flushed even more. She tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. “So are you.”
    No one had ever called me beautiful before. It made something inside me shift or stop blocking the way to my heart. I didn’t like that. “Thanks, I think.”
    “Why do you think you thank me?”
    “I’ve never been called beautiful before. Hot. Sexy. Fuckable.” I shrugged. “Sure. Lots of times. But never beautiful. It doesn’t seem to fit me.”
    “Well…” She bit down on her lower lip. “I