Chapter 11

• Of course, she kept these thoughts to herself. Instead, she reached up to kiss him, savoring his taste, the way his hands tangled in her hair, and how he grunted as the kiss deepened, causing her body to shiver. She knew she would never forget him either. She realized she could never return to feeling the way she did with Daniel or any other guys. Broken. As if something was wrong with her that made it difficult to enjoy intimacy like others apparently could. Ethan had sparked a fire in her simply by paying attention, by not giving up when it took time, persistently trying until he discovered what she liked.
• They had discussed this on the fourth night. Ethan wanted to know why she seemed unsure of what she enjoyed. Nathalie hadn't shared everything but mentioned that her ex had told her she was broken, requiring too much effort. In truth, she had been afraid of what excited her. Daniel had always reacted awkwardly when she asked to be bitten, so she hadn't dared to make such requests with others, settling for what they assumed she might like. Ethan had shaken his head as she spoke, anger flickering in his eyes.
• "Those boys," he had said, eyes fixed on hers. "Don't listen to what anyone else has told you. Good things come to those who wait, and to those willing to work for it. Now that you know what you like, never be afraid to ask for it, okay? Not with me and not with anyone else. You're not broken. You're just a bit..." He had paused, searching for the right word.