Carrie's POV

I'm kissing Tyler, and it feels incredible. Our kiss is tender, yet passionate, and the buildup is reminding me of the very first time he kissed me. Only this time there is nothing stopping us from going further. I am free to make the choice to be as intimate with him as I want. There is no guilt, no shame, just pleasure. And yet, as wonderful as this feels, I am feeling suddenly nervous.

I break the kiss, and look at this gorgeous man, my fingers caressing the back of his neck. His eyes, as green as ever, piercing me through with intensity and desire. I'm still planted on his lap, and I am very much aware of the growing hardness pressing against my thigh.

"Is this okay?" he asks me, brushing away an errant strand of hair from my face. I can tell he's trying to restrain his ardor, even as his hands are pressing into my hips.

I can actually feel myself blushing.

"Umm, Tyler, there's something you should know..." I hesitate before continuing, chewing on my lip.

"What is it?" he asks, concern etched on his face.

"Jonah and I, we were together for two years...I was just 19 when we first started going out. And...um..." I find it difficult to actually say this out loud. "He's the only guy I've ever been with, you know...sexually." At this point I really want the ground beneath me to open up and swallow me whole.

Tyler's face is unreadable. I was expecting him to make some kind of a smart ass remark, or a joke about my lack of experience, but he looks quite serious, and it's making me feel even more unsettled.

"Also, you should probably know that I've been told that I am not very good at...at all the stuff..." I actually have to cover my face with my hands, because I can't stand to be looked at as I am saying this.

Suddenly, I feel Tyler's warm hands take mine, and pull them away from my face.

"Carrie, there are so many things going through my mind right now, and I am just trying to find the right words to express them, and it's damn near impossible because I am so overwhelmed. You are literally the sweetest girl I've ever met, and it actually pains me, like physically pains me to hear that you've spent two years being utterly unappreciated."

"No, no, not all of it was bad, I swear," I insist. I really don't want to come off as though I was some kind of a victim trapped in a loveless relationship. Because I definitely wasn't. Right?

"First of all, a man who made you feel like you weren't 'good at the stuff' is not worthy of you," Tyler states this like it's a fact and not an opinion, and I am trying, really trying to see it that way.

"How do you know that it's not my fault? We haven't even slept together, and you just assume I'm really good at it?"

"Oh, I didn't say you are really good, because you're right, I don't know if that's true...yet. But a girl has to be pretty much comatose to be bad in the sack. And I've kissed you...several times. I can tell by the way you kiss that you are a passionate woman, Carrie. No way are you bad in bed."

"Now I'm starting to feel like you're building up some pretty high expectations," I tell him, cocking an eyebrow.

"Only one way to find out," he challenges, giving me a wolfish grin.

I try to consult my judgement. Is it okay to jump into bed with Tyler after ending things with Jonah just yesterday? Is there a rule about how long you should wait to have sex with a different person after a breakup? And what if I really am bad in bed, just like Jonah had told me I am? Should I wait? Hello? Judgement? Are you there?

"I am not pushing you to do something you're not ready for, Carrie. I'm a very patient man. And you're definitely worth waiting for. In fact, I don't want anything more to happen tonight. As far as I am concerned, tonight's already been fucking amazing."

Tyler cradles my cheek with one hand, and gives me a gentle kiss, finishing off with a peck on the tip of my nose.

"I think I better get going," he says, and playfully taps my behind, so I get off his lap.

I stand up, and adjust my pony tail nervously. Do I just let him walk out of here? Is there a point in waiting and prolonging this torture? The truth is, I've wanted this man to make love to me for weeks. And he's here now. Ready. As in, I can literally see his hardon through his jeans, ready.

"Tyler, wait," I say, my courage growing. "I want you to stay...stay and...prove me wrong." As soon as the words leave my mouth, I cannot believe that I actually uttered them.

Tyler's eyebrows fly up in surprise. "Prove you wrong?" he repeats my words to me.

I square my shoulders, and plant my hands on my hips, staring at him defiantly.

"Yes, prove to me that I am not bad at it..."

Tyler places his large hands on my shoulders and squints into my eyes. "Now are you sure you know what you're asking for?"

I can sense my bravado slowly begin to crack and crumble. For a second I'm a little freaked out, I mean, what if he's gonna go all 50 Shades of Grey on me? After all, I don't know what Tyler's sexual preferences are. As far as I know, Jonah and I only ever had pretty vanilla sex, and I guess that was the problem. He found me boring in bed. Will Tyler think the same? Well, I guess there really is only one way to find out.

"Yes, I am sure," I answer bravely.

Tyler comes closer, towering over me, he bends his head and kisses the top of mine. I reach up, stand on my tiptoes, and wrap my arms around his neck.

"One condition," he says, and I'm suddenly feeling anxious.

"What is it?" I ask nervously. Please don't let this be a "safe word" kind of conversation.

Tyler looks intently at me. "After we do this, you are fully mine, and no one else's. I mean it, Carrie, I don't share when it comes to my woman, and once we make love...that's who you'll be. I really don't take this lightly. It means something to me. Not something. Everything. If you're not certain about this, I understand...but before anything else happens, I need to hear you say it."

I don't know why, but I'm actually feeling like I could cry just from the pure sincerity in Tyler's voice. Hearing how serious his intentions are with me makes me trust in him even more. I trace my fingers along his jaw, then place my palm on his heart, feeling its wild thrumming beneath his warm skin.

"All right, Tyler, I'll be yours...fully yours,... but only if it means that you are mine as well," I tell him, and his face lights up with a brilliant smile.

Tyler leans close to my ear. "Baby, don't you know? I've been yours ever since you kissed me in the dark, " he whispers, and in one fell swoop picks me up in his arms, and carries me over to the bed.