Page 59 of Steps

The door opens suddenly, startling me. I peer upand make out Varen in the shadows. He locks the door, takes off his clothes,and crawls in under the sheet, holding me. I breathe an air of relief and savorthe warmth of his body, happy that at least he’s all right.

“I didn’t take any,” he whispers. “Didn’t meet upwith him.”

I ask, “Where’d you go, then?”

“Drove around.” He tightens his hold on my body.“I’m sorry. I really meant what I said, Toya, I want to be better. It’s justhard. Please don’t give up on me already.”

“Take it one step at a time,” I whisper, and pressa kiss to his forehead.

Varen kisses my lips after. “I’ll leave beforethey wake up. They won’t find out.”

I sigh. “Are you going to leave and see anothergirl in the morning again?”

“No.” He climbs over and stays on top. “You’re theonly girl I want.”

Heat rushes across my skin as Varen starts kissingme with hunger. He rubs his penis against my vagina. I shift beneath him andmoan as he hardens.

Varen hoists my legs and continues rubbing againstme in his boxers and through my panties. I’m soaking wet from being so horny. Icaress his muscular back and whimper as he trails kisses down my neck.

“I want to feel you inside me,” I whisper,breathless.

“Are you sure?” He halts and stares down at me.

Moonlight peeks in through the curtains, lettingme see the blues of his eyes in the dark room.

“Um…” I gnaw at my bottom lip.

Varen slides off and lies beside me. “You’re notsure. I’m sorry, maybe doing that to you is pressuring you.”

I catch my breath. “No. I like it. I don’t feelpressured at all.”

“Still, we’ll take it slow.” He snorts. “I’ll keepmy dick and hands to myself.”

“No.” Reaching for his hand, I place it inside mypanties, breathing hard as he touches my clit. “I like it when your hand’sthere.”

Varen continues to rub me. Feeling bold, I slip myhand inside his boxers and stroke his penis. My gosh, it’s as hard as wood andvery thick.

We keep going, pleasuring each other until we botherupt in our underwear.

A minute or two later, we go into the bathroom toclean up, trying to make as little sounds as possible, then we crawl back into bed.We lie facing each other. Varen kisses me softly and caresses my face. In notime, he falls asleep. I stay awake a bit longer, relishing the intimate momentbetween us. But eventually, my eyes get heavy, and I doze off into what willsurely be sweet dreams.

13

Varen sneaks out of my bedroom at dawn likebefore. We don’t get to spend time together at the house because Mom is alwaysaround. So, I give her quite the explanation of how it will be better to justride with Varen to school and back. That way she’ll have the car in case sheneeds to go anywhere.

On Wednesday, he surprises me with a stop at thepaint tossing warehouse. Varen rents two white coveralls, and the employeesprovide gloves and plastic coverings for our hair and feet.

“Our fourth date,” he mutters as we walk into thesizeable sun-drenched room with an empty white wall waiting for us to unleashpaint onto it.

I smile at him. “When was our third?”

He scoffs. “Sunday night at the park. Thatqualifies as a date.”

“Hmm. Okay.”

Turning his eyes to the blank wall, he says,“Ladies first.”

“Oh yeah.” I grab a small blue balloon and send itflying at the wall. It makes a less than eventful splash.

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