Page 34 of Homestead

It takes a few more minutes until we gather our breath and untangle our bodies. He feels warm and softer than normal as he finally settles on his pillow and gathers me into his arms so I’m sprawled on top of him.

“Oh my God,” I manage to say.

He shakes with breathy laughter. “Yeah. We did pretty good.”

“I didn’t think I would like it that way.”

“Lots of stuff we don’t know we’ll like until we try.”

“I guess so.” I nestle against him. I like that his belly isn’t as hard as the rest of him. I scoot lower on his body. “We’ll have to try it again.”

“Definitely.” He strokes my messy hair. “How you feelin’ now?”

“I’m feeling pretty worn out. But good.”

“Good. Me too.”

I should get up. It feels like I need to pee again, and I prefer to sleep in my nightgown. I also need to clean up my back from his semen and between my legs. But I can’t move yet. I don’t want to.

So I don’t.

Not yet.

* * *

Maybe five minutes have passed when Jimmy clears his throat.

One thing I have learned in the past week is that he usually does that when he has something on his mind but isn’t sure how to say it.

I lift my head so I can see his face. When I catch his eye, I give him a little smile, making sure he knows I’m happy to hear anything he wants to talk about.

His expression softens, but he’s still a little mumbly when he asks, “So other than your grandpa, who else did you have around? When you lived in The Wild, I mean.”

I’m surprised by the question, but I let my head rest on his chest again. “It was just the two of us. I think I told you my parents died before Impact. We had some extended family, but we weren’t all that close, and I have no idea what happened to them.”

“I mean around. I know you lived with your grandpa, but who else was around?”

I’m still not exactly sure what he’s asking or why. “There wasn’t anyone. That part of the forest was always really isolated. He never had any neighbors before Impact, and that never changed. I mean, there are still some folks scattered around in old buildings and caves, but there aren’t any towns or even any communities like this one. It was just the two of us.”

“Since you were fourteen?”

“Yes.” I rub my cheek against his skin, slightly uncomfortable although I’m not sure why.

There’s a frown in his voice. “What about friends for you? Boyfriends? Anyone?”

It’s several long seconds before I admit in a whisper, “I never had any.”

He lifts my head with one of his big hands so he can see me. “Never?”

“I had friends in school. Back before. I wasn’t the queen bee or anything, but I was popular enough. But after Impact, there was nobody but my grandpa.”

“So have you ever…?” He trails off before he finishes the question.

I’m embarrassed for no good reason. “Have I what?”

He clears his throat. “Have you had sex before? Before me, I mean.”

“Oh.” I gently pull my chin away from his hand so I can lie back down where it feels safer. “No. I haven’t.”

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