A laugh bubbled out of her as her nervousness evaporated. His scruff burned her skin briefly as he turned his head to lick his way to her nipple. The combination of pain and pleasure made her head spin.

He took a long pull on her breast as he gazed wickedly into her eyes. He watched her as he pinched her other nipple, then petted it, then pinched it again. The sensation rocketed into her core, and her hips bucked against his. She moaned.

He pulled off her nipple and rubbed his stubble against it as he spoke. “Was that a satisfied moan or a frustrated moan?”

“I, um, a little of both?”

“Use your words, Mary.”

“For most Catholics, words and sex don’t go together.”

“We’re not most Catholics, and we’re going to talk while we do this. How else am I going to know exactly what you want?”

“I, um.”You won’t, exactly like every other partner I’ve had?“Okay. I like the pinching, but your beard is a little intense right there.”

“Perfect.” He lifted his chin from her nipple and replaced it with his tongue. At the same time, he pinched her other nipple. Hard.

She gasped. “Yes!”

He chuckled. “Excellent feedback.”

“What about…you?” It was difficult to think while he alternated licks and pinches on her breasts. “What do you like?”

“I really like these.” He kissed the side of her breast. “Please tell me you didn’t have them in high school.”

“Of course I had them in high school. But they weren’t as…”

“Abundant? No, I think I couldn’t have spent as much time playing Grand Theft Auto with you if they were. I want to come on them later. Will that be okay with you?”

“Oh my god, Alex. Do you have to talk like that?”

“Like what? If I offended you, just say it.”

“You’re so…matter-of-fact about sex.”

“Nothing is matter-of-fact about sex. Certainly not sex with you. We’ll enjoy it more if we tell each other what feels good and what doesn’t. Isn’t that worth a little embarrassment?” He took her nipple between his teeth and bit gently.

“Harder,” she said.

He obeyed, and pleasure coiled in her center. Then he licked her nipple to soothe the pain away. “See?”

She shuddered with pleasure.

“I like this position a lot,” he said, “and I want you to ride me later. But for now, I’d like to suggest a different position.”

“Okay,” she said quickly. She’d never liked being on top. It put her body on display and made her boobs bounce.

With a scoop and a lift, he flipped them so Mary sat on the couch and he kneeled on the rug. When he turned to push the coffee table farther away, she admired the bunch and strain of the muscles in his shoulders and back. He turned back to her and set his hands on the waistband of her stretchy pants. “May I take these off?”

She nodded, and with a flick of his wrists, they were puddled on the floor. Her underwear, too. Carefully, he pushed her knees apart and gazed between her legs with the same reverence as he’d admired her breasts.

“So wet for me already,” he said.

“Do you have a condom?” His sweatpants didn’t appear to have pockets. They barely had room for his erection, which strained at the waistband. She couldn’t wait to get a peek at it.

“We won’t need one for a while,” he said, tugging her until her hips teetered on the edge of the sofa. He rubbed his cheek against her inner thigh. “Is my stubble too much here, too?”

She shivered. “No.”