#;virgin

"For someone like me, it’s less surprising. I’ve never, um…never made love either. But…I thought that someone as…as handsome as you were must’ve had many prospects in your past. Suppose I am ignorant enough to think that someone who is outwardly desirable must have more experience…in that area."

  "No insult dealt. Do not apologise, Master Baggins." he reassured in earnest, realising how his slight defensiveness could have caused for the mortified hobbit to think he would take offence. Bilbo's charmingly jumbled confession, however, took him by surprise. He wouldn't say it out loud, not as candidly as the halfling had done, but he had held the very same assumption about Bilbo. Kind, witty, generous and very comely, Thorin was sure that Bilbo was quite the catch back in Hobbiton, and surroundings. He had in fact observed closely, though he preferred not to dwell on why, how dwarves, men and women alike looked at him with wonder and greed during those brief interludes in seedy taverns on their journey, when his company could find one to rest adequately at. Truthfully, he was aware of his own looks, deemed handsome above average by dwarven standards, but never cared for or thought much of it, for he had little use for them; he had always quickly stifled any courting interest that had come to his notice - until now, when the notion that Master Baggins found him attractive had burst a door into his consciousness wide open.   He had wondered as to his solitary life, many times; he knew why he had chosen a lonesome, heirless life for himself - but the hobbit's motives remained a mystery.   "So--" he cleared his throat, hesitating uncharacteristically, and choosing not to address the topic of his own appearance, not yet; "You mean to say it was a lack of suitors that has kept you from carnal experiences?" he attempted a casual tone, but a hint of curious amazement managed to slip through the cracks.