“I just want her to know her boundaries. I don’t want to have to worry about her interrupting us all the time for the next three weeks.”
“And what exactly do you think she’ll be interrupting?” I teased, wrapping my arms around him and placing a kiss on his neck. “Maybe this?” I added, running the tip of my tongue along his jaw. “Or this?” I asked, trailing my lips to his ear and gently tugging on his earlobe with my teeth.
“You are evil and need to be punished,” he growled, dragging me against his pelvis to emphasize his point. I moaned my approval as I felt his enthusiasm against my stomach. “Your punishment will have to wait, though,” he said, dropping a quick kiss on my lips as Hollie pounded on the basement door.
“I’m holding you to that,” I taunted, trailing him up the stairs.
“Hi, Mom,” Justin said, giving her a one-armed hug. She was busy mixing a bowl of chocolate chip cookie dough.
“Son, Brittni,” Trish greeted us. Her voice seemed slightly strained when she said my name.
“Yum, cookie dough,” Justin said, scooping some of the dough from the side of the bowl with his finger.
“Gross,” Hollie piped in, taking the time to grab a spoon for her own stolen bite. “Can Justin and I bring the decorations down now?” she asked with puppy-dog eyes.
“As long as your bedroom is clean,” Trish answered, spooning the cookie dough onto a cookie sheet.
“It is,” Hollie claimed. She jumped up and down with excitement and grabbed Justin’s hand to drag him from the kitchen.
“Do you need help?” I asked, rising from the bar stool I was perched on.
“No, we got it. Sit and relax. I bet Mom would even be willing to share her coffee,” he said, indicating the coffeepot on the counter.
“Cups are in the cabinet over the microwave,” Trish said shortly.
Feeling uncomfortable, I walked around the counter and grabbed a large mug. Awkward silence filled the room as I doctored up my coffee to my taste preference before heading back to my seat.
Trish kept her eyes on the task at hand, while I contemplated broaching the subject that was most likely bothering her. Finally, after several minutes had passed, I decided to take the plunge. It was like removing a Band-Aid. If you did it slowly, it hurt way more than one quick pull.
“Um, Trish,” I started, wondering if I should have fallen back on formality and used her last name instead.
“Yes,” she said finally, looking troubled.
“Are you upset that I’m staying here for Christmas break?” I asked, pulling the Band-Aid off in one swift motion.
She waited several heartbeats before answering. “I’m not upset. I’m just having a hard time accepting the fact that my baby is old enough to have a live-in girlfriend.”
“It’s just temporary,” I answered weakly.
“I know, dear. I also know that you’re both adults. It just seems a bit seedy that I’m allowing my son to sleep with his girlfriend under my roof,” she huffed out, looking relieved that she was finally able to get it off her chest.
“Would it help if I slept on the couch?” I offered.
“No, dear, that’s not necessary. I keep reminding myself that if Justin were in his own apartment, he would be free to have whomever he wants over.”
“I’m sorry it makes you uncomfortable,” I said sincerely. “I can still rent a room off campus,” I volunteered.
“Honey, that’s not necessary. I’m just acting like an old fuddy-duddy. Who would have ever thought I’d turn into my mother?” she said, chuckling ruefully. “Just tell me you two are being safe. I’m definitely not ready to be a grandma yet.”
“We are,” I said, shifting uncomfortably in my seat. Safe sex wasn’t high on the list of things I wanted to talk about with a parental figure.
“That’s all I ask,” she said, flashing a genuine smile.
Hollie and Justin entered the kitchen, halting any further sex conversation. Their arms were loaded with clear plastic tubs filled with Christmas decorations. The three of us spent the rest of the day decorating while Trish baked enough cookies to feed an army, filling the house with a sinfully mouthwatering aroma. By the time darkness fell, the house looked like an elf had puked up the North Pole everywhere. Hollie kept up her usual steady stream of chatter, clamming up only when Travis threatened to buy her a muzzle as a Christmas gift.
It was almost midnight before Justin and I finally found ourselves alone in his apartment.
“Alone as last,” he said, sitting on the edge of his bed. He grabbed my hand and maneuvered me until I was standing between his legs. “I’ve been fantasizing about this all day,” he added, deftly unfastening the buttons of my shirt.