I get up from the bed where I’m sitting and put a CD on. Semisonic’s “Secret Smile” starts to play softly out of the speakers.

I turn to the window, looking out at the darkness.

I took Evie out for dinner earlier to celebrate her birthday. She insisted we come straight back here afterward. She didn’t want to wait any longer.

Seriously, if Evie had her way, we’d have skipped dinner altogether and spent the night in here.

But I wanted to do this right. I want this to be perfect for her and for me.

She deserves everything, especially considering how hard things are for her and with Casey being sick.

Once Casey was transferred to UCLA Medical Center, they did more tests on her, and Evie’s worst fear was realized. The tumor was cancerous, and it was more aggressive.

Casey had surgery right after Christmas to remove the tumor.

The morning Casey went in for surgery was a hard day for both Evie and Mick.

I know they’ve been through it once before, but I think this time was even harder. Evie put on a brave face, but I could tell she was so afraid. I know her inside out. And I wanted to help her, make her feel better, but all I could do was be there for her, so I that was what I did. I stayed there with them until Casey came out of surgery.

Once Evie knew Casey had come out of surgery okay and that they’d managed to remove a large part of the tumor, she allowed herself to shed a few tears.

But we still have a long road ahead with Casey undergoing chemotherapy at the moment.

I know the hospital bills are racking up, and Evie is working as many hours as she can while still going to school.

I just wish she would let me help her financially.

I considered just going to Mick and offering him the money, but when I said that to Max, he said it wouldn’t be a good idea. Evie might feel like I had gone behind her back.

So, I didn’t do it.

All I can do for her is try to make her happy, and I want to give her the best birthday I can.

I glance over at the easel and pencil set I bought her for her birthday. I set it up in the corner over by the other window, so she can come up here and sketch whenever she wants.

I can’t wait to sit and watch her sketch on it. Seriously, there is nothing hotter than watching Evie draw.

“I love this song.”

I turn at the sound of Evie’s voice.

Holy fuck.

Actually, I take that back. There is nothing hotter than the way Evie looks right now.

She’s wearing a pale pink nightgown that stops just a few inches down her thighs. A silky-looking bow that I can’t wait to untie sits below her tits. And the material covering those beauties is lace. I can see her nipples poking through.

She is the hottest thing I have ever seen.

I’ve seen Evie in a bikini before. I’ve seen her naked when we fool around, which is often. But this, her, now—holy fucking shit.

She looks stunning.

I clear my throat. “I know. That’s why I put it on. I really like your nightgown by the way.”

“It’s a baby-doll nightie,” she corrects me with a smile.

“Well, I really fucking like your baby-doll nightie.” I grin as I start to walk toward her, a prowl in my step, even though my insides are trembling like mad.

Evie looks so much more confident than I feel.

You’d think I was the virgin out of the two of us with the way I’m behaving.

Reaching her, I link my fingers with hers, and that’s when I feel the tremble in her hand.

“Babe, we don’t have to do this tonight.” I tuck her hair behind her ear with my free hand.

“No, I don’t want to wait anymore. I want this with you—tonight.” Her voice sounds so sure, but I can feel the nerves in her body.

“I want this, too,” I tell her. I dip my head and softly kiss her just once.

I lead her by the hand over to my bed, stopping when we’re beside it.

“You have a lot of clothes on,” she says, fingers tugging on my shirt button.

“I didn’t know you’d be wearing so little,” I tease, grinning.

“Do you like it? I bought it especially for tonight…for you.”

Staring into her eyes, I say, “I like it a lot.”

She smiles at me, and it punches me straight in the chest, like all of her smiles do.

She reaches up on her tiptoes and kisses me. Her fingers thread into my hair as I take over the kiss, tilting her head back with my hands, I part her lips with mine. I slip my tongue into her mouth, and she moans softly.

The sound travels straight to my cock.

Her hands move from my hair to my shirt, and she starts unbuttoning it. My hands slip under her nightie to her ass, and I find it bare.

I break from the kiss. I lift the material, peeking over her shoulder and down at her ass.

“No panties?” I grin, looking back to her face.

Her cheeks redden a little. Then, she shrugs and says, “I didn’t see the point.”

That’s my girl.

“God, I fucking love you.” I grab a handful of her hair and take her mouth again.

She undoes the last of the buttons on my shirt and pushes it off my shoulders.

I have to let her go for a second to get it off, and the fucking cuffs get stuck on my wrists. I toss it to the floor, and my hands are straight back on her, touching her soft skin.

I start to kiss her neck. It’s Evie’s sensitive place. All I have to do is run my tongue over the skin just beneath her ear, and she’s crying out, hips pressing into mine.

I lick my way up her neck, to the sensitive spot, and she turns to putty in my hands.

“I want you now,” she moans, her hands going for my pants.

I stop her because I don’t want to rush this.

It’s her first time. I want it to be one she’ll always remember.

“Not yet.” I kiss her mouth again.

Then, I lift her and lay her down on my bed. I climb up between her legs before lying on her. I support my weight on my elbows, so I don’t crush her. Then, I take her sweet mouth in a kiss again.

Her legs come up, wrapping around me, pressing her sweet pussy against my bare stomach. She’s hot to the touch and so fucking wet.

I slide my hand along her thigh. Gripping her hip, I kiss down her neck, loving the way she squirms against me, and I pull down one strap, revealing her breast to me.

I take her already hard nipple into my mouth, laving it with my tongue. My hand leaves her thigh, pulling the final strap down, exposing her other breast to me, and I pay that one the same attention.

“Adam, God, that feels so good,” she moans.

Lifting up, I stare down at her.

She looks so beautiful, and she’s all mine.

“Even though I like this nightie, babe, I like you naked a hell of a lot more.” I start to pull it down her body.

She loosens her legs from around me and lifts her hips, allowing me to remove the nightie.

Once it’s gone, I lie back between her legs, and I start kissing her again.

“So, how are we going to do this?” she asks me between kisses.

I know she’s nervous. Hell, I am.

“Really well, I hope.” I chuckle.

She playfully swats my back.

“I mean, what do we do? Do we just get right to it, or…I don’t know.”

I run my thumb over her lower lip as I talk to her, “I’m going to make you come first, help loosen you up. You’re going to be tight, babe, and I want to make this as painless as possible.”

“It’s going to hurt, Adam. There’s nothing you can do about that.” She cups my cheek with her hand.

“I know. But if I can help make it hurt a little less than I will. So, I’m gonna make you come with my mouth.” I press a kiss to her lips. “And then I might make you come again.”

“Twice?” she says, her pupils dilating.

“Yeah, twice. The more orgasms, the better. You probably won’t come the first time we actually have sex.”

“Wow, you’re really not selling this sex stuff to me,” she teases. “Also, you seem pretty knowledgeable about taking a girl’s virginity. Just how many virginities have you taken?” She’s smiling, but I can hear the hint of worry in her voice.