(With input by IrishLass and editing by
LarryInSeattle)
When I woke up the next morning, the sun was just barely cresting over the horizon, the birds were making their usual morning chatter, and, most importantly, Naomi was still lying next to me. At some point, we'd both rolled onto our sides so we were 'spooning'.
My right arm was under her head, her raven-black hair fanned out like a halo, while my left arm had slid between her arm and chest and was now dangling down, her right breast firmly planted in my hand. Her body was pressed back against mine, molding to the contours, her panty-clad ass pressing firmly against my morning hard-on.
"Fuck
," I thought as I tried to slide free from her, the morning need to use the bathroom was overriding my desire to stay where I was.
"Mmmmmm, don't go," she mumbled, still half asleep.
"I'll be right back, I promise. I just have to use the bathroom."
"Okay," she said as she rolled over onto her back, her breasts completely revealed. "But make it quick. Suddenly, I need to do the same."
I quickly took care of what needed to be done and passed her on the way back as she headed in to relieve herself. She, playfully, rubbed her breasts against me, giggling.
"Tease," I called after her.
"And you love it," she replied as she closed the bathroom door.
"
Love
," the word was flashing in my mind's eye almost like a warning. It's the one thing virtually everyone wants and everyone is afraid of. The idea of commitment to one person, the daily routines, the constant compromises, the end of a way of life ... and the start of a new one. "
Could I be ...? Was that why everything felt so different last night? Was it possible after just three days?"
The questions were like a whirlwind as they flew through my mind.
"Penny for your thoughts," she whispered as she silently slipped up behind me, wrapping her arms around my waist and tenderly kissing my back.
I turned in her arms, wrapping mine around her shoulders. "I ... ummmmm ... this is gonna sound nuts ... but I love you."
"I love you too," she replied, nonchalantly.
"No, I mean, I LOVE you."
The look on her face told me she was having the same battle in her mind that I'd just had in mine ... and so I waited.
"It's only been three days," she said, with a tremor.
"Yeah, I know. Maybe that's why I'm ... hell, what am I?" I laughed. "Scared, excited, confused ... all the above?"
"Whatever it is I think it's contagious because I feel the same way," she said, softly, as she rested her head on my shoulder.
We stood there a few moments, absorbing what we'd both just said. Then we heard a noise coming from the apartment below.
"Jen?" we said in unison.
Together we tiptoed to the partition wall that allowed us to look down into the lower apartment. Jen was stretched out on the couch, sleeping in the clothes she'd had on the day before, a blanket half-pulled over her.
"We better go down and check on her," Naomi whispered, tenderly.
We quickly dressed and then stole down the stairs like a pair of thieves.
"Looks like she had a rough night," I whispered, noting how Jen's hair was messed and her make-up was streaked.
"That's not the worst of it," Naomi said, pointing to the garbage can sitting on the floor next to the couch and the pair of panties Jen held in her hand.
"Looks like she tied on a good one and did a lot more than spend time with her friends."
"Would you two stop screaming!! My head is killing me," Jen mumbled as her eyes fluttered open.
"Sorry," Naomi whispered.
"I must look awful," Jen said as she sat up.
"I've seen you look better," I replied, trying to make a joke of the situation.
"Just what I need ... a comedian," Jen said, glaring at me.
"I think I'm gonna go make some coffee," I said, realizing I'd stepped into an area that even angels feared to tread.
"Good idea,"" Naomi said as she sat down on the couch close to Jen.
"Wanna talk?" I heard her ask as I left the room.
Figuring it was best to leave them alone to talk, I puttered around the kitchen. Scrambled eggs, dry toast, and a pot of strong coffee were waiting for them when they joined me.
"Feeling any better?"
"Yeah. My head is still killing me but that pot of coffee and a bottle of aspirins should do the trick."
"I'm not the greatest cook but some eggs and toast might help too."
"Thanks, but I'm not sure my stomach could handle anything right now. Besides, I have a class in an hour."
"Class?? Fuck!!" I almost shouted as I looked at the clock. "There's no way I'm gonna make it to mine this morning."
"You can borrow my car. I might just crawl back on the couch and die," Jen groaned.
"Thanks but ... I think I'll ..." and then I saw the look on Naomi's face. I knew, instantly, that she and Jen needed more time to talk. "I'll just head back to my place. I can review the text for today and make sure I grab this afternoon's lecture so Dr. Gillis doesn't get too pissed with me."
"That's right," Jen said, lifting her head from her hands. "I forgot he's your mentor for your thesis."
"Yeah. Don't get me wrong, he's a brilliant man ... but he's also a real pain in the ass."
"Speaking of pain," Jen interjected, as she picked up her cup of coffee. "I think I'm heading back to the couch. My project isn't due for another week so it's not gonna kill me to miss today's class ... or tomorrow's ... or the day after's," she laughed, weakly as she left.
"So what happened?" I asked Naomi the moment Jen was out of earshot.
"She did like she said she was gonna and met up with some friends. Unfortunately, Matt showed up too. They got into a fight and one thing led to another. When it was over, she left and went to one of the bars near the campus. That is when things get a little blurry. She ran onto some guy named, Gary ..."
"Yeah, I know him. Not the best pick of the litter."
"Anyway, she remembers him buying her a drink and then she doesn't remember anything until she woke up sitting in her car. Her panties were laying on the floor on the passenger's side."
"He probably doped her," I snarled.
"Luckily, Jen has been on the pill since she was 14, for medical reasons."
"That doesn't change the fact that this could be date-rape!"
"The keys word being, 'could be'. Unless, there are witness's there's no way to prove it. Besides, Jen says she doesn't feel like she got fucked last night."
I gave her a quizzical look.
"God, men can be so dense sometimes! A woman, and I mean any woman, can tell if she's had sex or not, no matter how gentle and considerate her lover might be," she finished as she stroked her fingertips across my cheek.