Page 22 of In Your Dreams

“Of course,” I say. “Make yourself comfortable.”

I step over to the kitchen and pull a glass from the cabinet but my eyes never leave her. She steps toward the couch and uses the heel of her foot to take off one shoe then the other. Her attention is snagged by the photos on the mantle. She reaches to touch the edge of one of the frames.

“When was this?” She asks.

I walk over, handing her the glass and looking at the photo in question. It’s me, Theo, Wade, and Garrett all at the lake two summers ago. I don’t remember where the girls were that weekend but we decided to have a bro thing. It was a pretty fun weekend, even if I did spend half of it so shitfaced, I fell out of the canoe. Thank fuck I didn’t drowned.

“A couple of years ago,” I say. “Don’t ask me for too many details because I don’t remember much. We went through a lot of beer and a few bottles, too.”

“I think I remember Theo telling me about it,” she says. “He said it was a good time.”

“It was,” I say. “The girls were off doing girl things I guess.”

She laughs. It’s a beautiful sound—sweet and full and just loud enough. I’d like to make her do it again.

Poppy takes a seat on my couch, tucking her feet up under her. She pats the cushion next to her, inviting me over.

I sit close enough that our knees knock a little as I adjust into place. She doesn’t hesitate sitting her glass down on the coffee table and leaning closer into me.

“Thank you for tonight,” she says. “I had a lot of fun.”

“So did I,” I say. “Hopefully it won’t be the last time either.”

“I don’t want it to be,” she says. “I- I want it to be maybe the first of many times.”

I smile. I can’t help myself. I smile so wide, I’m probably close to splitting my own lip open. “Can I confess something to you?”

“Of course,” she says.

“I know that you know I had a crush on you in high school. But I couldn’t find the courage to ask you out. And then I told someone and they told me it would never happen. So that crushed anything resembling what little courage I did have. So I just kept quiet.”

Poppy reaches out to me, placing her hand on my forearm. Her expression is kind, understanding.

“No need to dwell on the past, remember?” She says, reminding me of our earlier conversation.

“Right,” I say. “Lets focus on now.”

“And what do you want right now?” She asks.

“I want to make you feel good.” I lean in closer to her, licking my lips.

“I don’t remember the last time I felt good,” she says. “It’s been a long time.”

Suddenly I think we’re talking about something very specific. And I’m wondering when was the last time she didn’t have to make herself come. I’m wondering what she sounds like when she does. I’m thinking that if her laugh is that sweet, what’s her moan sound like?

I lean in closer to her, my mouth a couple inches from her ear. “I can help with that. Just say the word.” I nibble her earlobe for a moment, causing her to press into me.

“What word?” She asks.

“Pick one,” I say, teasing her jawline with my tongue.

She inhales sharply, her eyes fluttering closed. Poppy swallows, her jaw slack.

“How about we keep it simple? How about ‘go’?” She asks.

“Like Simon says? Like you could say ‘stop’ too?” I like the idea of that. Of course it could end in her torturing me anytime she likes but I have a feeling I would survive just fine.

“Sure,” she says. “But I don’t see myself wanting to say that.”

---