"It's a sexy look."
"It helps that it's you." Her eyelids flutter together as she rises to her tip toes and presses her lips to mine.
She tastes good and I can feel all this affection pouring from her lips. She presses her hips against mine. It's a soft gesture. An I'm here, not an I need you tearing off my clothes right now.
It's different.
Good.
She pulls back with a sigh and motions to the bathroom door.
I drag my fingertips over the bare skin of her shoulders until I reach the straps of her black dress. I do it again and again, until she's purring. I'm not in any state to issue orders, but I can bring Lacey pleasure.
That makes sense.
I push her strap off her right shoulder. Then the left. She turns around so I can pull her zipper down her back. My fingers trace its line. They draw lazy circles down her spine then back up again.
She lets out a soft sigh as she leans into my touch.
Things click into place as I pull her dress all the way to her toes. As I run my hands over the sides of her calves, her thighs, her hips, her sides.
She sheds her bra and panties.
I peel off my socks and step out of my boxers.
She takes my hand and leads me into the bathroom. It's a small room with a smaller shower. Barely big enough for both of us, but I don't care.
Lacey leans over the tub's railing to run the water. Once it's right, she steps into the shower and motions come here.
I step into the tiny space with her and pull the curtain closed.
There's still concern in her dark eyes. Even as she throws her head back to rinse her hair. Even as she slides her hands up my chest and brings her body into mine.
She leans in to whisper in my ear, "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Yeah." I don't mean to say it, but I do. The words don't dissolve into the running water. They hang between us. Not heavy or light but the exact density of the air. "I knew… when I picked my mom up at the airport, I knew something was wrong."
"You looked worried at dinner." She digs her fingers into my chest. "You do get nervous."
I nod.
She moves closer. "My parents… we aren't close. My mom was manipulative. She did whatever it took to get her way. She still does. And my dad still falls for it. I love them both, but I don't really want to be around them."
"I get that."
"Even so, if one of them was sick… Sorry, I can't be helping, reminding you of that again and again."
"You are."
"I… I guess nobody is good at these situations."
I nod.
"Here. Let me do this, at least." She swaps positions with me so I can rinse my hair. Then she's rising to her tiptoes to run shampoo through my hair.
Her fingers dig into my scalp.
I lean back to rinse my hair then Lacey does the same with conditioner. She takes her time soaping every inch of my skin. She explores my body with her fingers. The heat of her touch makes my skin burn but it's more than sexual.