“I’ll tell you tomorrow,” she said, and she burrowed in. Her head rested on his shoulder and her leg was draped over his thighs. He had an arm around her, under her shoulders. She let a hand drift across his chest. “This is very nice. You cuddle very well. I’m sure you’ve been complimented many times.”
“Not that many.”
“Is there anything you need to talk about?” she asked.
“Not tonight,” he said.
She softly snored and he laughed.
“Sorry,” she said.
“No, please just let go. This is nice.”
So she did, floating off into a blissful nothingness. It was soft but blank. In her sleep she remembered her mother saying, Don’t worry. I have enough morphine in me to sink a ship. I’ll just go to sleep. I’ll always be with you, but I’ll be watching from a new perspective.
* * *
It was dark and Otis was snoring at the foot of the bed. Or maybe that was me, Landry thought. It might have been what had awakened him. But no, that wasn’t it. It was the movement of Kaylee’s hands, gently rubbing his chest. She was as close as she could be without lying right on top of him. He turned his head and his lips found her temple. He inhaled the fresh scent of her; it was soap, water and that which was Kaylee, the special scent that could belong to no one else.
He pressed his lips there. And damn, he sprang to life.
She squirmed against him and, lifting her lips, found his neck and then his chin and then his cheek. And he groaned.
They moved around a little bit, turning on their sides, and Landry found her lips. His arms were around her. His large hands grabbed her bottom, pulling her closer against him. Her arms mimicked, her hands on him. Her response was to open her lips slightly and his tongue explored. It brought a deep sigh from her. That just fueled his passion and he went after her mouth like a starving man. It had been so long and he had craved a deep taste of her from the first day he saw her.
He pulled away enough to kiss every last part of her face—her neck, her chin, cheeks, forehead, neck a little more. She put her leg over his to get closer, pushing against him right where his bulge drove them both a little crazy. He plunged his hands into the soft silkiness of her hair while he kissed her and loved the little sounds she made while he touched her and pressed against her.
“Okay,” he whispered. “Okay, are you sure you don’t just need a little comforting?”
“I’m sure I do,” she whispered. “And I also need a little of this.”
“You might regret it later,” he said.
“Why? Aren’t you planning to be good to me?”
“Oh, I’d like a chance to be very good to you. Listen, I don’t have protection.”
“I do,” she said. “Condoms. A little on the mature side. I keep a couple in my cosmetic bag, just to be careful, never really expecting to… They’ve been there quite a while. I don’t think I’d regret it. Will you?”
“Kaylee,” he said, brushing her hair back. “We’ve been good friends and I want to stay good friends. You have to be sure.”
She smiled at him. “I’m sure I’m not letting you go. You feel too good.”
“Okay, if you’re sure.”
“You aren’t going to make me beg, are you?”
A deep and low laugh rumbled out of him. “Go get those condoms. And make it quick.”
She rolled right over the top of him and was back before he had his shirt off. She put the packets by the side of the bed and climbed on him, straddling him. He rolled with her until they were again on their sides, clutching each other desperately, their mouths locked together in the never-ending kiss of lovers. Without breaking free for even a second, they pulled at each other’s clothes and when they were down to boxers and panties, they slowed. Their hands explored more carefully. He touched her whole body gently, tenderly, hungrily. She touched his, caressing his chest and flat belly, a hand sliding underneath the elastic waist of his boxers.
“Oh my God,” he said in a breath. And then he made her panties disappear. With great care, he parted her legs and touched her in her most vulnerable spot. It was amazing that that caused her to tighten her hand around him. “God,” he said again, going after her mouth, plunging his tongue deeply. His fingers moved slowly and more deeply into her. “Yeah, I think this is what you want.”
“I can’t remember ever wanting anything this much,” she said.
He rolled away, found one of the condoms and quickly applied it. Then he took her in his arms again. “I’ll try to slow down.”