Page 22 of Beyond our Forever

“What about my legs?”

“I want them around my waist.”

“It was you who wanted to go out,” I reminded him as I beckoned him with my index finger.

Bruce said nothing, he just laughed and then in one fluid movement, threw me over his shoulder like the Neanderthal that he was.

“Put me down, Hulk! I’m showing half of Tucson my ass,” I cried while laughing, but he just carried on, while slapping me on the butt.

“Only I can see this ass,” he replied, slapping me there again.

“Bruce, we’re putting on a show.” It was true, people were looking at us, whispering and laughing as they continued on their way, realizing that we were just two kids, madly in love and having a great time.

“Are you going to behave yet?” he asked when I finally get my feet back on the ground.

“When don’t I?” I replied, and playfully ran away. But I couldn’t take more than a couple of steps, because he caught up with me and taking me by the waist, he silenced my laughs with a kiss.

What time were we going to go back home? I already wanted to have him all to myself.

However, even surrounded by a sea of people and at almost ninety-five degrees we were still having a pretty good time. We had decided to park far away from the fair to take the tram, that was the first part of the adventure.

Deciding where to eat was difficult among so many options, so in the end we grabbed a little here and there.

“Don’t you dare offer me more food,” I warned him after he pointed to a stall selling cakes. “Luckily we don’t come here every weekend, otherwise you can forget about my waistline.”

“I can think of a good couple of ways to burn off all those extra calories,” he replied as his arms wrapped around my body. “So, no more desserts for today?”

“For the rest of the month!” I squealed.

“Two of these to go,” he said to the saleswoman as he gave me a wink. “They are going to be a midnight snack.”

I was already imagining where we could eat them, cutlery optional. The kitchen counter… interesting idea.

When we returned to the house, we decided that the best thing was to take a shower, because despite being happy, we were also sweaty and somewhat tired. We barely fit under the shower, the space was really tiny, so for economy—obviously—we soaped each other, shampoo and kisses, half and a half.

I felt happy to be there, sharing everything in his life, the close intimacy, and not only in a physical way.

That weekend I figured out my favorite place was in between Bruce’s arms.

That was the best weekend of my life. We spent most of the time naked between the sheets of Bruce’s bed, talking, laughing, but above all, discovering ourselves in the skin of the other.

“I don’t want to go home,” I said regretfully. It was Sunday already and I had to return to reality, the next day classes and exams were waiting for me. “It’s so good here with you.”

“Then don’t go, love, stay here with me,” he replied as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

If only that had been true.

“I wish I could say yes,” I sighed, feeling defeated. “Warren helps me with my expenses while I’m in school, besides I have to find a summer job and save as much as I can, plus decide what I’m going to pursue next semester and all that stuff.”

“You can live here with me while you get everything sorted out.”

“Bruce, I can’t take advantage of you,” I said. “This weekend has been wonderful, but I have my house and I must return to it.”

“Says who?” he asked, moving to look me in the eye. “Make this your home, Ilythia, come live with me.”

In those dark eyes I saw reflected only sincerity and hope. He was asking me straight from the heart.

But…

---