“I think you’re beautiful. I want to make you feel,” he says. “Is that what you want from me? I need you to tell me you want it.”

“Yes.”

He flips us around, so that I’m sitting and he’s kneeling between my legs.

“Yes what?” he asks as he unbuttons the top of my jeans, unzips them, and begins to slide them down over my hips. My underwear catches on them and I try to reach for them but he gently moves my hand away. He pauses to remove his own shirt, and now I can feel the heat of his skin near mine. He leans forward, resting his chin on my stomach and looking up at me; I can barely catch my breath.

“Tell me what you want,” he says.

“I want . . . I want you,” I manage.

He kisses my stomach, runs his tongue down beneath my navel. “Do you want me to put my mouth on you?”

“Yes.” I feel like I’ll pass out when he does it.

A moment later, he pulls back. “Is that good for you?”

I say yes and my voice sounds guttural, unlike my own.

“I’m going to make you feel,” he says. He puts his mouth back on me and slides first one and then two fingers inside me.

When I’m right on the edge, he stops and stands up. He pulls my hand up and puts it on him, huge and hard in his jeans.

“Do you want me inside of you?”

I nod.

He unbuttons his jeans and the sight of him is sudden and looming. “Tell me. Say the words.”

“I want you inside of me.” I’ve never said words like this aloud; it was never like this with Luke.

He sits down, pulls his pants all the way off. “I want you on top,” he says. “I want to watch your face while I’m inside you.”

Suddenly, I feel too exposed and I feel unsightly and sure this is a mistake.

“I don’t . . .” I curl inward and cover my face with my hand. “I can’t . . .” I’m breathless, confused, feeling a thousand things.

“Don’t think, feel,” G says, pulling my hand away from my face. “Like we’re dancing. Just follow me.”

I let myself unfurl and he pulls my hips over him. Asking me one last time, “Do you want me? I want you so much right now.”

And yes, of course, I say yes.

Penny Is Not a Criminal