“Let’s see...there’s also couch sex and kitchen-table sex. These sexings are a little overrated unless it’s a really big co
uch and the fabric is Scotchgarded. Shower sex can be very good if there’s lube handy.”
“What’s your favorite kind of sex?”
“Before tonight I would have said ‘doggy style in the bed of a pickup’ sex. My marriage fell apart pretty fast but we had a good honeymoon, that’s for sure. But that was before tonight.”
She raised her eyebrow at him.
“And after tonight?”
“After tonight I would say my favorite kind of sex is what you and I had. Surprise sex. Good-surprise sex. Didn’t think I’d have sex with anybody today. And then I did and it was with you, who I’ve been trying not to like for a whole year. And not only that, you’ve never had sex before me and finding out I’m your first makes me feel really...well, it was a good surprise, let’s just call it that. That’s my new favorite kind of sex. Good-surprise sex.”
“Weird,” she said as she rested her head on his chest.
“Why’s that weird?”
“That’s my favorite kind of sex, too.”
6
CLOVER WOKE UP alone in her bed. Nothing unusual there. She’d been waking up alone in her bed for thirty years.
But she also woke up naked in her bed, which was new. New and not at all unpleasant especially since she had no idea where her panties were, no idea where her T-shirt was and no care in the world to find them. She lay there for a while simply basking in the sense of victory she felt at finally having had sex last night. Mentally she patted herself on the back, shook her own hand and gave herself a high five. Good job, Clo, she told herself as visions from last night ran through her head. Erick was so sexy in bed. She’d always found him handsome but last night she learned the difference between attractive and sexy. The things he said to her...well, if he were here right now, they’d go for it again. But he wasn’t here. Where was that man, anyway?
As she climbed out of bed she groaned a little, glad Erick wasn’t here to see her wince. She was sore all over, inside and out. But such a good kind of sore. It wasn’t painful, really. No, she was just aware of her body like she hadn’t been aware of it before. Her nipples were a little swollen and her vagina felt tender and a little raw. She felt like a woman who’d had good hard sex last night and the best part of it was...she was and she had.
She took a long shower that did a lot to ease her full-body soreness, pulled on her bathrobe and brushed her teeth. When she reached for her ponytail holder and hairbrush she stopped and left her long hair down and damp around her shoulders. With a little makeup on, even she found herself kind of...sexy. A glance at the clock told her it was eight forty and that gave her a very good idea where to find Erick.
Sure enough, there he was on her deck, already at work replacing the rotted boards. She stood at the kitchen window with her coffee cup in hand watching him work. It was the first time she’d seen him doing what he did for a living. With Ruthie he was always laid-back, casual, easygoing as any man raising that smart-ass kid would have to be. But Erick at work was a different man than Erick at rest. His eyes were narrowed in concentration and everything he did was with precision and purpose. He looked good out there on her deck in his jeans and work boots with his hair slicked back from his forehead from the little bit of mist in the air. When he finished nailing down the last board, he stood up and jumped on the deck hard enough the dishes in the cabinets rattled. He moved a foot and jumped again. She smiled. He was testing her entire deck to make sure he hadn’t missed a single rotted or loose board. Thorough. She liked that.
She poured a second cup of coffee, slipped her feet into her boots and walked out the back door to the deck.
“Morning, Mr. Fields,” she said as she held out the cup.
“Morning, Ms. Greene. Hope I didn’t wake you with all my banging,” he said as he took the cup from her hand.
“I think I’d remember if I was woken up with a banging. Too bad I wasn’t.”
He grinned and leaned in to kiss her.
“I taste like coffee,” she said.
“Why do you think I want to kiss you?” he asked.
“Oh, good point.” She let him kiss her and it was so natural and comfortable she could almost forget for a second that last night had been her first time with this man or any man. With Erick it seemed like she’d done this all her life. A good feeling. The opposite of awkward.
“How’s the deck?” she asked.
“Hanging in there,” he said. “Eager to get you back in bed.”
“My deck wants to get me in bed?”
“Oh...you said ‘deck.’”
She grabbed him by the front of his shirt and kissed him again.
“You,” she said, narrowing her eyes at him. “You make me happy.”