Family Ties

I think I need to dry out for a couple of days. Your family doesn’t do anything in half-measures.”

“No,” she agreed with a laugh, “we’re pretty much overachievers.”

“You can say that again.”

She grinned at the deliberate straight line. “We’re pretty much overachievers.”

“Exactly. Now come on, Little Bit. Time for bed.”

“Together or separate?” she teased. “I know,” she added quickly,

“separate. Baby steps.”

We turned out the lights and went upstairs. Then we lingered at her bedroom door.

“I had fun this weekend,” I said.

“I’m glad. I knew you would.” She smiled up at me hopefully, and I bent to give her a kiss. She hugged me after and pressed her cheek to my chest.

Then she inhaled deeply and sighed.

I kissed the top of her head and breathed in the scent of her too.

“Sweet dreams,” I said at last.

She smiled. “Of penises.”

“One in particular, I hope.”

I kissed her one last time before she closed the door.

I went to my own bedroom and did the same. Then I kicked off my shoes and flopped on the bed.

Part of me was happy—ecstatic, even—but part of me was worried.

I lay there for a long time thinking about it. Then I tried to distract myself by reliving the weekend in my head. But once I started thinking about it, I began to see a pattern.

Christy had come out to the porch on Thanksgiving evening, but I’d made the decision to take off her pajamas. Once we were under the covers, I had put my hand under her camisole. And then I’d told her to take out my hard-on and play with it.

The pattern repeated for our walk on the beach and everything we’d done on the blanket. She was willing and even eager, but I took things to the next level. The same was true for our walk to clear my head, even though we hadn’t fooled around.

Still, I couldn’t help thinking that Christy was perfect for me in many ways. I also liked that we’d become friends (again) before we became lovers.

But I still had plenty of doubts if we’d be compatible in bed, especially in the long run. Would lust and attraction lay the foundation for a committed relationship?

I didn’t have any answers. And I wasn’t likely to find them if I kept the questions to myself.

Monday began the final mad rush to the end of the quarter. Trip and I both had design projects due and Wren had to finish two research papers.