ARDEN “How is it?” Cade asked as he lay next to me, glancing over with a curious expression. “Do you really have to ask that?” I groaned, unable to hide my embarrassment. He smirked, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. “Well, it was your first time,” he muttered casually. “It’s… nice,” I whispered almost to myself, hoping the admission would stay between us. “What was that?” he asked, but I could tell from his teasing tone that he wasn’t buying my attempt at nonchalance. I nudged his shoulder without looking directly at him. A deep chuckle escaped his lips, somehow reminiscent of his moans, and it made me feel even more self-conscious. “Is it true?” I asked, attempting to shift the conversation away from the current topic. “What?” he replied, momentarily distracted. “That you weren’t

