Page 29 of Shadows of Before

“I know what you want.” He kissed her neck, her shoulders, her spine. He did the same to her waist. Katie fell into a haze of sensation.

She felt herself being turned again. As soon as she was prone, he started all over again. Her nipples beaded hard. She got wet. Really wet. He tended to every part of her.

When he whispered, “Ready?”

“No.”

“What?”

She rose up on her elbows and pressed him to his back. And kissed him. Slowly, sensuously, lovingly. When he could take no more she moved her mouth to his chest, his tight abdomen, the curls at his groin. “No, no,” he said. “Not like this.”

When she hesitated, he added. “Come up, Katie. Please.”

She sat up. “Condom?”

“In my wallet in the drawer.”

When that task was taken care of, he said, “Straddle me.”

She lifted her legs over him.

He eased inside her. Slowly. Never like before, which had tended to be quick and forceful. She went up and up and up. He plunged in further and she tumbled over. He thrust again. This time, faster, harder. She came before he did and got to enjoy seeing him erupt. Calling her name. Then he exploded inside her.

He cradled her cheeks after he came down. She gave him a searching look. Said, “That wasn’t just sex.”

“No, I guess it wasn’t.”

“You shouldn’t…”

He pressed his fingers on her lips. “It’sa fait accompli. Not sure we can ever go back.”

Fear filled her. “I don’t know how to go forward.”

“Neither do I. We’ll figure it out.”

She laid her cheek his chest.

They slept.

* * *

When they awoke for the second time, they made love again then fallen back to sleep. It was early afternoon by the time they roused. Will looked over at her. “I don’t know how to act now. This is…new to me.”

“Me too. But I thinkjust sexis a flop between us.”

His eyes filled with mirth. “Yeah.”

“You’ve never been conflicted about a woman?”

“No. Relationships have always been easy for me.” He glanced over. “Youare anything but.”

“I think I’m flattered by that.”

He chuckled then turned his body towards her. “Where do we go now?”

“My apartment. I need a shower and I want you to see it finished up.”

“All right.” He rolled out of bed, grabbed his sweatshirt and slid the top over his head. As he stuffed his feet into his pants, he added, “I hope we can pull this off.”

---