Chapter Text
DING.
The sharp piercing chime from the computer startled a dozing Penelope. She was bored today and she rubbed her tired eyes. She was trying to catch up on sleep and losing track of time. All she knew was that it was another rainy day in London, and she was chained to her desk on the 34th floor of the Canary Wharf building. She would be set free that evening when she was off for a date. It was her third date of the year, which was pitiful since it was December. Penelope had done the math and knew that meant she only dated every 4 months. Her publisher, as well as Eloise (her best friend and editor), put pressing deadlines on her to finish a new book in her best-selling murder mystery series, leaving her with absolutely no time on earth to date.
She was dozing off at her desk today due to staying up late the night before finishing up the first draft of her Whistledown Murders series manuscript that Eloise was currently editing across the table from her. Penelope was excited for this date tonight, but she was also running on a clock. In a few months, it would be her big 3-0, and Penelope was single and a virgin.
Her mood shifted tremendously when she finally focused enough to read the latest email that woke her up.
To: Bridgerton Group & Pen.
Hello darling Pen & (family), boarding a flight back to London, be there in 1830hrs, and would love for one of you to pick me up. Whoever picks me up first gets a special gift from me. Don’t everyone fight to pick me up and all.
~Col B.
Penelope’s heart skipped a beat. He’s home!
“Hey, maybe I should cancel my date tonight,” Penelope said out loud in her office, not looking up from Colin’s email. She couldn’t suppress the smile that he brought out in her.
“Why?” Eloise asked, looking up at her from the manuscript she was holding. “You were so excited for this one.”
“Ah, did you not read your email? Colin’s actually coming back today,” Pen pointed out. “He’s actually landing in two hours. I better head out.”
“What the hell?” Eloise threw her pen down and leaned back, pushing her reading glasses on her forehead. “Last minute again? He’s so inconvenient,” Eloise complained. “Did he ask you in advance or is it his usual - dump a text or an email and expect someone to take him in?”
Penelope laughed. “The usual.”
“This is why you have been housing him for the past three years, and none of us will,” Eloise rolled her eyes. Penelope chuckled and rolled her eyes back - always the dramatics with Eloise. The Bridgertons would never turn away their kind. Colin thought Penelope was the perfect host and he always wanted to stay with her. Not only did she always make herself available to him, but she was also single and had a spare bedroom.
It started three years ago when Colin landed his dream job as a travel journalist for the BBC. He gave up his flat since he was always traveling and only visited London twice a year, once in the middle of the year and once at the end. He would stay with her for a month or two maximum. Violet guilted him into staying with her for a week every Christmas, and that was the only exception.
At first, he tried staying with his siblings, which crumbled quickly as all his siblings had significant others. It was awkward and he felt like a third wheel. He couldn’t stay with his mother because she suffocated him and treated him like a child. Penelope always had a soft spot for Colin due to her love for him. She also loved spending time with him. Staying with Penelope became a habit.
“You dote on him too much,” Eloise grumbled. “Colin said it was much easier staying with you for the short term than it ever was with any of us, or god forbid, Mother. Just say no, Pen, throw him over. Let him take the damn bus to your flat.”
Penelope chuckled as she got up and put on her jacket. “I can pick him up, so I might be late for my date, might as well cancel,” Pen said.
“Nonsense, it’s only my useless brother, you are not canceling your date tonight!” Eloise huffed. “I am usually not one to encourage you on these dates, but I would also be disgusted if you canceled it for Colin. Who is going to be bumming out at your flat, eating your food, bothering you until his next job.”
“But Eloise-”
“You’re not going to pause your life for my stupid brother, and that’s an order or you are staying to make these changes I just marked up. And I marked up 100 pages. What do you prefer?” Eloise asked.
“Hi! Are you picking me up?” Colin asked through his phone. He called practically all his siblings but this one was the first victim that answered. He kept walking with his backpack in tow, pulling his rolling bag down the terminal towards the exit.
“Who is this?” Eloise’s voice came through the other end, she sounded irritated, as always.
“Are you bloody serious? Am I not named on your phone?” Colin said with offense as he turned the corner walking out of his terminal.
“Oh it's you Colin, no I just name my brothers on my phone. Annoying brother A,B or C,” he heard rustling on the other end.
“Then wouldn't you know it's annoying brother C as Colin?”
“No, the phone only has enough space to flash Annoying Bro... So I couldn't tell,” Eloise told him. “Also everyone knows to text -I don’t like talking on the phone.”
“You're the worst. Is there really no one here to pick me up from Heathrow?”
"You sent your stupid email a couple of hours before you landed, what did you think would happen?”
"I literally sent everyone my itinerary. Albeit at the last minute, but I sent it nevertheless. Do none of you read my messages?” Colin queried.
“You know very well the answer to that,” Eloise huffed on the other end. “ Why are you calling me when you know very well who is picking you up?”
“To check if any of you love me, and clearly none of you do.” Colin pouted. He clearly didn’t care about who picked him up, but he did love to annoy them.
“Yeah, we don't know why you call any of us either when you know who picks you up all the time,” Eloise rolled her eyes. “She left a few minutes ago to pick up your lazy, bumming butt.”
“Oh great! So someone does care about me, just not my own flesh and blood.”
“Funny. Drama queen as always. I’ll see you tonight.” Eloise ended the call. Looking at his phone Colin frowned.
“Rude as usual,” Colin muttered to himself.
"Colin!" someone called out for him, and he instantly smiled. He hadn’t turned around yet but Colin knew that warm voice anywhere. Why did he even bother to call his siblings when time after time this person was the one that always picked him up from the airport? Pocketing his phone, he looked up to see such a cutie bouncing over to him.
The cutie was none other than one of his best mates, Penelope Featherington.
“Pen!” he couldn’t stop himself from grinning as he hurried over to her, dropping his rolling bag so he could grab her in a bear hug. She was so warm and smelled lovely. It was always gloomy and rainy when he returned home, but every time he hugged Penelope who never failed to pick him up, he always felt cozy and at home.
“OH!” she squealed as he continued to suffocate her. “Nice to see you too, Colin.” she chuckled.
Finally letting her go, he looked at her blue eyes in stark contrast to the red hair that was rich with curls framing her pink cheeks. He couldn’t resist cupping her pink cheeks and giving her a sloppy kiss on her left cheek.
“Thank you for always picking me up,” he said as she laughed. “It wasn’t a problem, was it?”
“Ah… not really, but I do need to rush back. I have a date,” she blushed.
“A date?!” Colin exclaimed. “And you came to pick me up instead of meeting your date? Then we should go!” he hurried her.
“I’d never leave you hanging,” Pen said. “I love it when someone is at the airport waiting for me. It makes you realize you’re never alone.”
Colin couldn’t stop his smile. “Seriously, I don’t deserve you. Now let’s get back so you can make your date on time.”
When Colin and Penelope reached her flat, Eloise had already invited herself in. Besides him, Eloise was the only other person with the keys to Pen’s flat. Eloise perked up when she saw him and bounced off the sofa to greet him. As much as Eloise was a little grouch, he knew his sister adored him. She couldn’t resist a quick sibling banter with him as Penelope rushed to get ready for her date. Penelope didn’t tell him much about it, so after catching his sister up on his travels he prodded it out of Eloise.
“Who’s this date?” Colin asked Eloise, when they were both at the kitchen counter, eating little appetizers Penelope prepared. Penelope always had snacks in her flat, whenever he visited and he was ever so grateful for her for that. He was never starving when he stayed with Penelope.
“Some dude, this is her third date with him,” Eloise told him. “She nearly canceled it because of you. Because you always need to be picked up, princess,” she rolled her eyes, chastising him.
“What? I could’ve taken the bus and Tube here, she didn’t have to pick me up,” Colin protested. “I would never cock-block Penelope. In fact, if she told me she had a date I wouldn’t have wanted her to come.” he told her, popping a cheese into his mouth.
Eloise gazed at him irately. “You existing is a cock-block,” she muttered.
“What?” Colin frowned but before he could say anything Eloise perked up. “Penelope!”
“Okay!” Penelope called out, walking out into the living room wearing a three-quarter sleeve fit and flare red dress.
“Pen! You look so good,” Colin said, his eyes widening when she came out. Penelope always had a great eye for fashion. She was quirky yet classy at the same time. She always knew how to dress for her curves but he rarely saw her in ‘date-night’ dresses. He couldn’t help but eye the way her dress hugged her waist and flared out at her hips. Her hair was pulled up into a ponytail with little curls dropping to frame her face.
Penelope blushed under his praise. “Thank you!”
“Gorgeous, aren’t you late?” Eloise practically pushed her out of the door. “I’ll leave with you. Colin, I’ll see you at fam dinner?`` She walked over to him, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
“It’s just around the corner,” Pen said, grabbing her purse. “That french bistro two streets from here,” she told her. “Colin, don't wait up for me, I’ll be back whenever,” Pen said, smiling at him.
“Good luck, have fun! Don’t do anything I would do,” Colin grinned at Pen, who continued blushing as she walked out with Eloise.
At first, Colin wasn’t going to check it out, however, curiosity got the best of him. He decided to go down the block where Penelope was having dinner with her date. Maybe he could spy a little, make sure she was having fun, and at the same time check this guy out. Eloise mentioned she had three dates with him already.
When he arrived at the quaint date spot, he saw Penelope and her date at the far corner from the entrance. He looked around to find a seat by the bar and by his luck, there was a spot empty next to two very gorgeous girls. He could tell they were there for one of the girl’s birthdays. One of the ladies had a little sash around her. Perfect! He could sit next to two pretty ladies while checking to see if his good friend was having fun on her date.
As he approached the bar, he flashed a smile at the two ladies eyeing him as he joined them.
“Hello ladies, celebrating?” he said and began to sit. Suddenly, he heard a loud chair scraping the cement floor and a yelp.
“WHAT THE-,” a man’s voice boomed.
Colin turned around to see where the commotion was coming from, and was surprised to see Penelope standing up, an empty wine glass in her hand, and a drenched and shocked date of hers across from her. Red wine dripped from the man’s face down to his white shirt.
“Are you flipping mad?” the man yelled at her.
Pen just stared at him in shock before shrugging. “Sorry.”
“You damn well aren’t. I knew you were weird and uptight,” he started as he grabbed a napkin to dab his red wine-stained dress shirt.
Colin did not like where this was going, nor did he like this tone the man was taking with her. Hell, no. No one spoke to sweet Pen like that. Not giving the ladies another look, he jetted out of his seat and headed straight to Pen’s table, where a waiter was starting to clean the table.
“You are a little-,” the man started to blurt out before Colin appeared behind Pen, grabbing her arm to pull her behind him. Judging by her shocked features when she saw him, Pen did not expect to see him there.
Once she was behind him, Colin eyed the man who was no taller than him, dead straight in the eye.“Say another word, and you won’t like what else would stain your face,” he warned.
The man blinked at him. Even though the man was as tall as Colin, Colin was definitely bulkier than him. The man was scrawny and he was athletic. If anything, Colin could’ve easily socked him in the face, and his knuckles wouldn’t hurt.
“Whatever, not worth it-,” Pen’s date started to open his mouth before Colin quirked a brow and raised a fist.
“Nope. He’s right. Not worth it,” Pen said, grabbing Colin’s raised fist and dragging him outside.
“Pen what happened in there?” he asked once they stepped outside.
“It was nothing,” she muttered, pulling her arm from his grasp as she started walking away from him.
“Pen, wait!” he called as he followed her.
“What were you doing in the restaurant anyway? Weren’t you staying in?” she asked him without looking at him, walking briskly towards her apartment.
“I was, but since this place was just around the block I decided to grab a drink and also check out if you were having fun on your date,” he explained. “Clearly you did not.” he pointed out.
Pen didn’t say anything as she continued walking.
“Pen what happened?” Colin asked again. He knew Pen was feisty, hell, she was such a barb when she wanted to be. As cute and small she was, he knew if given the opportunity Pen would ‘cut-a-bitch’. He frowned as he continued following her. She was highly distressed and he wanted to know what was bothering her. It must’ve been a bad conversation. Clearly, the man said something to offend her.
“Pen why-,”
“Colin. What?” she stopped in her tracks to look at him exasperatedly. “What?”
“What’s wrong? Something happened in there. You’re distressed. What did he say to you?” Colin asked, searching her face. He didn’t like how her brows knitted, and her bright blue eyes darkened with stress. “I swear if he said something horrible, I will go in there and sock him. I wanted to.”
“It’s nothing.”
“It’s not nothing. Pen, come on what did he say to you?”
“Argh! He made fun of me okay?” Pen snapped but continued walking.
“What? Made fun of you? What did he say? I swear to god I will sock him.”
“Nothing, don’t prod,” she said curtly.
“Pen, won’t you tell me what he made fun of you about that you got so mad?”
“ARGH! Because I am a virgin, okay?” She closed her eyes as she blurted it out. Her entire face heated up. “God,” she said burying her face in her hands. “I am so embarrassed. He got freaked out that I am a virgin, and he did not know how to handle that. So he said really mean things and I just reacted badly, okay?”
“Hold on, hold on. No,” he put his hands up in shock. “There’s no way Pen, you’re… you’re nearly…” Colin didn’t want to tell her she was nearing 30 and hadn’t had sex yet. He knew better and has dated enough women to never tell or ask a woman their age.
“Colin, I know how old I am,” she looked at him exasperatedly. “I can’t believe I am talking to you about this.” Penelope walked down the street and Colin hurried after her.
“I didn’t mean it like that!” Colin called out. The last thing he wanted right now was to hurt Pen’s feelings. He needed to tread carefully. However, how did he not know this? He would stay with her about twice a year for a month, and they would spend a lot of time together when she wasn’t working. How did he not know Penelope didn’t date a lot, and on top of that was a virgin?!
"You meant it exactly the way you wanted to say it,” she pointed out. Colin continued his stride after her stepping to walk next to him. “You’re lucky I don't have another glass of wine to throw at you.”
Colin actually chuckled at that but upon seeing Penelope’s serious face he stopped. “Okay. Not funny. The guy was a wanker. But..how about your past boyfriends?” he continued to ask.
“Why are we still talking about this?” Penelope asked in a high-pitched voice, clearly distressed about this. Colin should take that as a cue and back down but he just couldn’t. He was extremely curious as to how this girl whom he knows had boyfriends before… could still be a virgin? It didn’t add up with him.
“I-I’m sorry. Sorry, I asked, but what about Matt in university? Didn’t you date him for a long time? Or Holland?” Colin remembered all of Penelope’s boyfriends for some reason. Penelope eyed him, brows pulled together as if she was unsure to answer his question or not.
"I don't know, maybe I'm just awkward? It just never progressed. Maybe I'm just weird," Pen said before moaning and covering her face with her purse. “I am just awkward, every time I do want to have sex, something stupid happens, or I chicken out, and then the next thing you know I am off being a best-selling author and have no time to date because your sister puts unrealistic deadlines on me and I just don’t have time to get a good boyfriend to have sex with.”
Colin took the purse away from her face.”You're not weird, that's understandable. But what is not understandable is instead you just decide to just meet guys on these dates and then have sex with them?” he asked.
“Yes!”Pen told him testily.
“That’s terrible. The guy was a jerk. You do not want to sleep with someone like that.”
“Obviously not!” Pen exclaimed.
“You need someone who is a gentleman, that can take care of you-,” Colin pointed out. He was being specific with Penelope on this. However, he would’ve given the same advice to any of his sisters. Any woman who was close with him, he would’ve given the same lecture.
“Colin! Do you think I haven’t tried to find a gentleman? At this point I could care less.” she told him directly, which bothered him.
“You’re just going to give your virginity to anyone? Including that jerk you just threw wine on?”
“Well obviously not him after I threw wine on him. But definitely before that.” she threw her hands up in the air. “But obviously, he was a jerk. He laughed and said I can be in a new reboot of 30-year-old virgin ,” she told Colin bitterly. Colin felt his blood boil.
Colin frowned and shook his head. “No, no. Who introduced you to this wanker? It’s Eloise, isn’t it? She has terrible taste in people,” Colin started.
“NO! It’s not Eloise, Francesca actually. But that doesn’t matter!” Penelope grimaced.
“Oh, well, she also has bad taste.” Colin shrugged. In fact, he had no faith in any of his sisters. He would always zero in on who his sisters decided to date. It was such a ritual for all the Bridgerton men to sussout the men that their sisters decide to go out with.
“How do I not know this? We hang out every other day when I’m back in town.” Colin frowned. “I stay with you!”
Penelope threw her hands up exasperatedly. “Colin, this is not something I tell my childhood best friend’s brother. Why would you need to know?”
“I don’t know - I thought I was a really good friend? Do we not talk about this?”
Penelope stared at him with a puzzled look. “No. We talk about YOU, most of the time, and I prefer that. Because talking about me is embarrassing, and this is why!” Pen said.
They were both silent after their awkward high-pitched match. With Penelope bright red as pomegranate and Colin as high strung as Penelope was. This was a new revelation for him.
So many things ran through his head. Penelope was a virgin, but he had known her to have boyfriends, so were they not good enough? Tonight showed that maybe her past boyfriends were just first bases situation?
The thought of his friend losing her virginity to someone trashy and disrespectful like that boiled his blood, but also he needed to make sure she didn’t ‘do it with just anyone because she was nearing the big 3-0.
"Your first time is important when you get older. I mean it's more important now than when you're a teenager,” Colin found himself explaining to her. They reached the front door of her flat and Penelope walked in leaving the door open, taking off her shoes and throwing them to the side.
"Not anymore. I don't care anymore. I waited too long, now I just want to get it over with! So I can stop being awkward about it around guys,” Penelope walked straight to the kitchen, opened the fridge door and pulled out a bottle of wine.
“Ah great, can I get a gla-,” Colin started to ask but Penelope popped the cork and just drank directly from the bottle. She then passed the wine bottle to him, he took it.
“I don’t think you should just sleep with just anyone,” he took a swig of the bottle. Penelope grabbed it back from him before he could offer it back to her. She took another swig.
“Been there, done that. Bad decision. I waited too long and here I am. Acting in my very own 30-year-old virgin. I am Steve Carelle, just uglier. Therefore maybe I should just sleep with just anyone!” Penelope grumbled. “Even if he is a jerk.”
Colin frowned and shook his head vigorously. He grabbed Pen’s shoulder so she turned to face him. She was red as a tomato from drinking so much wine. He grabbed the wine bottle away from her and placed it on the counter before turning back to look at her.
“Most people lose their virginity when they’re younger, you know,” he told her.
“Wow, thanks Colin, I know that. Everyone has sex when they’re teenagers. Just not me.” Penelope rolled her eyes at this statement and hid her face in her hands. “Maybe I need to lose weight, change, do something. Clearly being me doesn’t work.”
Colin frowned. “Hell no. You’re not changing.” He walked up to her and grabbed her hands out of her face. “No, you’re great, don’t change, or hide,” he said, staring into her eyes. They were so shockingly blue, he liked looking into them. He hated the way she talked about herself, and he needed her to feel better about herself.
“Also, what I meant is that, when you’re younger, if it’s bad, who cares, you forget about it because you have more after. Because whomever you have it with is inexperienced, or just bad. But when you’re older, you’ll remember your first time more. I think there’s more regret.”
Penelope exhaled heavily and her eyes drooped. “Clearly I want a great first time, Colin. But I just have no time to find a good boyfriend, and I need to suck it up buttercup, and just do it.” she sighed.
Colin swallows and looks down at her, noticing the defeat in her posture as she hunched towards him, her back leaning against the kitchen counter. Penelope was ready to fold in on herself, and Colin hated seeing her like this. Colin felt a pang of uneasiness in his chest, and all he wanted to do was engulf her in a hug.
However, a hug wasn’t what Penelope needed. Penelope needed a friend, a really good friend. Who can take care of her, and teach her things, give her confidence? A good friend would…
Colin cleared his throat at the same time Pen looked up to stare into his eyes. Once his eyes settled on her glossy blue eyes Colin made his decision. And then they both blurted out at the same time:
“Pen, how about I have sex with you?”
“Colin, will you have sex with me?”
There was a long pause as both Penelope and Colin stared at each other in shock. Both mouthes agape, eyes blinking in complete shock. Did Colin just imagine that they both propositioned each other at the same time?
“Pardon?” Colin questioned at the same time Penelope echoed. “You?”
“Are we… are we talking about the same thing?” Penelope asked slowly.
The back of Colin’s neck heated up. “I think so… we’re talking about your virginity, right?”
Penelope looked like she was going to burst into flames. “Did we just… ask each other the same thing?”
Colin eyed her as he rubbed the back of his neck that was overheating as he propositioned Pen. “I think so..”
“Was it a mistake? I am assuring myself you said that by mistake,” Penelope treaded slowly. “I thought I would need to convince you, since I'm not your type and you're not attracted to me."
Colin frowned and found that heat at the back of his neck spread to his face. "I never said I wasn't attracted to you."
Penelope eyed him curiously then laughed so hard she burst into a coughing spasm. "Ye-yes you did!" She choked out.
"What? When?" Colin stuttered. "I'd never be that rude and you're gorgeous Penelope!" He wasn't lying. He never delved into his attraction to Penelope, but he was a man and Penelope had the most stunning eyes, striking hair, and had curves for days. He was not blind to that, although he had always pushed out the thought of having sex with her because she was no different to his sister. He purposely did not want to think of her as more than a friend since he grew up with her.
But here he was jumping at the first opportunity to sleep with her. Again, Colin did not want to go into the logistics of this besides that he was doing this for a friend. A good dear friend.
Pen rolled her eyes and took the half-drunk wine bottle and took another swig. "You told your brothers once you would never marry me. This was when you were in University. I came to visit Eloise. Your brothers were teasing you."
Colin groaned remembering that exact moment. His brothers couldn't stop teasing him about how much time he spent with Penelope when he returned from University, and on top of that, his mother kept prodding him to ask Penelope out. He snapped at his brothers and Penelope heard everything.
It was one of those moments he wished the world would swallow him and digest him because he couldn't bear to see that look of hurt on Penelope. They never talked about it until now; he buried it deep in the back of his mind.
"Shit, I’m such a wanker. I am so sorry for that Pen. I was an idiot. I would never marry anyone!" He said hastily. "I was young and stupid, that didn't mean I wasn't attracted to you-," he wanted to explain and make her feel better.
"It's alright." Pen stopped him. "I'm not mad, just surprised you're offering if you aren't attracted to me."
"Stop it. You are a steal. You're gorgeous. I've never met anyone who has such bright blue eyes and fiery red hair," he reached out to caress her cheek. The ends of his fingers prickled where he touched her soft cheek. "You have to know you're gorgeous.”
Colin then pulled his hand away and shrugged. “It’s just.. if you waited this long. It needs to be with someone you trust,” he tried his best to sound nonchalant but he could feel his voice quiver. He was as shocked as Penelope at this proposition but everything in his gut told him this made sense.
"I can not in good conscience let you have your virginity be taken away by anyone who doesn't care, who would just pump and dump-"
"Pump and dump," Penelope's eyes widened, her mouth upturned in disgust.
"It should be memorable. You deserved that." He paused and sighed when it finally clicked with him why this made sense. “You need to do it with someone you trust. It makes sense. It makes a lot of sense."
Pen stared at him, and her features softened as if admiring him and nodded agreeing with him. “ You have a point, and that’s what I thought of exactly that which is why I asked.” She then smiled up at him, that look of adoration. That look of…someone who liked him.
Colin continued to stare at her and then something in him, like an alarm bell set off in him. Panic rises in his chest, and like a defense mechanism, and like clockwork, the usually Colin spiel emerged.
“However, Pen… I travel a lot, I don’t have time for a girlfriend, or- anything like that. Like, I want to make sure your first time is good but I don’t want you to think… that we’re in a relationship… if that’s okay? If not, it can't work.” he started to stutter. His voice never quivered before this. He was proudly confident in letting women know where he stands. However this is the first time ever, his heart pounded like mad and his voice quivered like a scared child’s. He was weirdly terrified of telling Penelope this.
He didn’t know why.
Penelope huffed and rolled her eyes. Colin was slightly taken aback.
“I didn’t ask you to marry me Colin,” she frowned at him.
“What if you want...more?" Colin had to ask. He had to. First of all, he had been stuck in way too many relationships where all he wanted was sex, not relationships, and that did not end well. Secondly, he wasn't blind. He knew Penelope had feelings for him at some point. Maybe she didn't now since they are just best mates, however, it could re-emerge.
Colin smirked, who didn't? However, he knew better than to get into that situation with his childhood friend. Feelings complicate matters and if they could just keep it separate it would be a great idea.
Penelope’s shocked expression kept Colin on edge. Did he hit a nerve? Shit, he knew he shouldn't even have entertained this.
But then her lips twitched and Penelope burst out laughing. She was in hysterics, her body was shaking from glee. For some reason, Colin’s pride was extremely pricked. His face fell and he frowned. He was offended that she was laughing.
"Oh Colin,” Penelope smirked at him. “If you're worried about whether I will want something out of this, I don't. I never have. I'm sure at some point you know I had a crush on you, but that was a long time ago. I know better because you don't see me like that," she waved him off. “You’re also a terrible long term boyfriend.”
“Excuse me?” Colin was shocked. “I am a damn well good boyfriend I”ll have you know!”
Penelope continued to laugh. “Oh relax. I meant you’re a great boyfriend, you’re sweet, you treat your girlfriend’s great. But you also don’t keep them for long. You’re flighty, a free spirit… and you fleet from girl to girl,” Pen pointed out. “Plus, I am not your type.”
Holy crap, Colin was shaken. Penelope was right but for some reason, Colin's heart felt a pang and he winced. She said it so matter-of-factly, it jabbed at his soul.
"I..I don't think that's right," he started to stutter. Penelope was so laissez-faire about it, dismissing any possible feelings she might have or ever had for him. He should be happy that she's letting him off the hook.
Penelope was downright saying she agreed and there would be nothing more out of this except sex. So why was he dragging this out even more?.
"Oh?" She raised a brow at him. “Then tell me how it is,” she crossed her arms.
"I mean it's just that I am leaving in a few weeks for work anyway. And it's just hard for me to have relationships," he quickly explained. "It would have nothing to do with seeing you..like..like that."
Penelope gave him a pitying look and it bothered Colin even more.
"That too. But let's not pretend I'm your type, Colin," she told him a matter of factly. "You don't have to worry about me. I know what this is. I grew up with you, remember? I knew how you functioned with girls then and I especially know your stance on relationships now. You don't want anything serious. And even if you do, it won't be me. Don't worry about it." She waved him off again.
“I know how this is. Which is why this is probably perfect!" Penelope said too excitedly. It bothered Colin. Did she think he was incapable of any relationships? Granted, none of his relationships lasted that long but he had dated some girls, including her cousin Marina in university.
“You don’t want anything, and I just want to learn and gain skills,” she told him with a playful grin. “It will be over in a month when you have to leave for work...and as long as we stay friends, I think this can work. It'll be a clean break."
Penelope then paused and frowned. “Can we stay friends?” she tilted her head to the side as she gazed at him.
Colin was curious, was she asking him, or was she asking herself? He didn’t know. However, he knew where he stood.
“As long as none of us want anything from this. I know I don’t.” For a brief moment Colin saw Penelope flinch, but he could’ve imagined it because she continued smiling at him. “And if we can keep feelings separate since we both know what this is. And we don’t change how we act towards each other. Yes. we can stay friends. A clean break. I do this a lot,” Colin said proudly. Being a jetsetter, he had a lot of lady friends around the world that he knew. He'd just dial them up, spend a few nights and jet off to the next place. These arrangements were Colin's favorite. Now he had one in London with a really good friend.
“A lot huh…” Pen repeated. “I shouldn’t be surprised.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I don’t proposition to take anyone’s virginity often or at all. This would be the first time.” Colin laughed. He had never, actually. “But yeah we just need a list of rules I guess, so we don’t tread on each other’s lives or plans,” Colin pointed out.
“Okay then.” Pen nodded, extended her hand out for a shake. “Whatever rules we come up with, I’m sure I can agree to. I’ve never done this before. You’d know it better.What do we do? When should we start?” she asked with a shaky voice.
Colin looked down at her hands and extended out his hand to shake hers, then looked back up to her face. She looked adorable, with her hair up, and those curls falling to frame her face. She looked both confident and strong, yet unsure. She also smelled really good. A burst of heat goes through him as their eyes lock.
His eyes dropped from her eyes to lips where she was biting her bottom lips. The air definitely changed, his whole body was blazing. He chalked it up to that whole wine bottle shared between them.
He pulled her into him, and she slammed into his chest with a surprised squeak. She craned her neck and looked up at him in shock. He brushed his thumb over the soft pillows of her bottom lip, the one she was just biting. With that, her lips fell open, and Colin took that opportunity.
“We can start now,” he said huskily and leaned down to give her a blistering hot kiss. Her lips feel so soft and warm, she felt as good as he expected. He kissed her, slowly at first, coaxing, so as not to scare her. Penelope did not pull away, but she was cautious. Grinning, Colin moved his lips against hers, urging her lips apart and swept into her mouth, plunging his tongue into her mouth, demanding more from her. Penelope let out another sound, a very sexy moan that shot electricity straight to his cock. He was ready to push her down but this wasn’t how he wanted to do it.
He wanted it to be memorable, not just sloppy, after-school special. After his whole announcement that it should be special for her at this age, it would be terrible if he backtracked by fucking her in her kitchen after a bad date. So no, not today but, god, his mind whirled as Penelope responded by gripping his forearms, kissing him back, rubbing her body against his. Colin was in slight trouble, but he had to pull away before he took her in the kitchen. He had to ignore the throbbing in his jeans.
“Let’s continue tomorrow,” he croaked. “I am not doing this at the kitchen counter.”
“Then the bedroom?” Penelope asked cheekily, her eyes had a seductive gleam, but flushed red right after she said that.
Colin stared at her, as his hard-on pressed against his jeans even more. He was turned on by her come-hither voice, yet innocent shyness. He had to calm down the fuck down, not get even more excited. “Penelope! I’m trying to be a gentleman.”
She chuckled as her breast rose and fell with every breath she took. “Okayyy.” She pulled away from him but her eyes dropped to his jeans and widened. She crimsoned and averted her gaze. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said, turning away. Was it him, or did she sway her hips even more now? Or was that just how she always walked? She closed the door to her room.
Once he was alone he willed himself to calm down, but as he did so, it slowly dawned on him what he just did.
Holy shit, he just offered to take one of his closest friend’s virginity.
Fuck, what have I done?