Page 32 of Now & Forever
But those were the little quirks of a first time – of every time – that made it perfect. Memorable. A fun story for Gwen to tell the girls for years to come. She would smile every time she recalled James saying,“Hang on, my hip is cramping,”as if his cramping hip was comparable to the strain put on her tailbone as it continued to slide down the wall every time he thrust into her core. Both showed their humanity in the span of five glorious minutes. The fact it felt good and sated their sexual curiosities was a bonus.
How could it be any more perfect than that?
Gwen clung to his broad shoulders when she sensed he was on the verge of climaxing. The sort of elation infiltrating her body wasn’t necessarily orgasmic – in fact, she would never remember if she properly climaxed or not that night – but it was the type of pleasure akin to cruising down the beachside highway on a sunny day, the top down and the warm breeze whipping in her hair. It was a rush. It claimed her like he claimed her, one powerful movement of his hips at a time.
Her fingers dug into his suit. Wrinkled it beyond repair.
There was something quietly infectious about the way their tryst concluded. James blushed when Gwen’s feet touched the ground and she threaded her fingers through her tousled hair. The boyish way he fixed his own hair and offered to smooth down the errant strand of blond sticking up on her head made her shudder. Not even having sex had made her shudder like that.
That was beyond intimate. Had they been in bed, Gwen would have easily thrown her arm across his chest and snuggled into the crook of his neck. The endorphins fueling her thoughts needed an outlet. How fair was it to stand there with nothing to say but, “Thanks?”
James lightly kissed her forehead. “I’ve gotta… uh…” Was he still blushing? Why? Wasn’t he Mr. Confident?
“Bathroom’s right through there.” Gwen pointed. “Hurry up, though. It’s the only one we’ve got, and I’ve gotta use it too.” Someone needed to wash up before going back to work.
“Maybe you should go first.” Except for that thing neither of them mentioned. Gwen wasn’t about to suggest that her lover throw out the used condom in the office trashcan. She hadsomedecorum.
“Oh, give me that.” She wasn’t shy, particularly about her own bodily fluids. She had to wash her hands anyway, right? Might as well take on the role of utmost responsibility and ditch the condom deep in the pits of the bathroom trash.I have to take it out at the end of my shift, anyway!
Gwen didn’t expect to see James when she came out of the bathroom ten minutes later. But there he was, milling about the bar in his wrinkled suit yet still looking like the spoiled son of a million dollars.
There were two patrons in the bar, looking around for their bartender. When they saw Gwen’s face, their own lit up. James disappeared into the bathroom, and Gwen got back to work.
Well, that was fun.She could only chuckle to herself as she made two martinis and served the two women sitting at the bar. They continued to gab about their night class at the local community college and how it conflicted with their ability to pick up their kids after school. Something about Kaylynn’s soccer practice and Bradlynn’s choir group. Gwen was too infatuated with what had happened in the back room to care what these two women had to say.
That was good sex, right?Gwen pretended to study the bottles on the top shelf, as if she were deciding which to replace and which to measure. Nobody would know she reflected upon the quickie she shared with James behind that wall.His kisses were definitely the best… but I wonder how he would be in an actual bed…
James rapped on the bar, startling her. Gwen spun around. There he was, the man of her hour, looking like he was stepping out for work.
“I’ve gotta get going,” he said with a wink. “See you next time?”
“You’re coming back?”
His pleasant smile faltered. “Am I not welcomed back?”
The women at the other end of the bar had stopped talking and stared at them. Gwen brushed them off with a sigh and said, “See you next time, James.”
He hesitated before leaving, a friendly wave the only thing left in his wake. Gwen peered after him before resolving to get back to work. She could reflect upon making love to James Merange later.
“Your boyfriend?” one of the women asked. “He’s cute.”
Gwen flipped the switch that transformed her into the amiable bartender, ready to fish for tips and pour drinks. Maybe in that order. “I guess so. He’s a friend, anyway.”
“Ah, look at you blush!” said the other woman. “Reminds me of when I was your age.”
“You seriously can’t be that much older than me.”
“Not really! I got married early and started having kids right away. But it feels like a lifetime ago.” The woman elbowed her friend. “Think Joe would mind if I took off with that guy who left just now? Oh, sorry,” she said to Gwen. “Don’t mean to make you think I’m going after your boyfriend.”
“He’s not my…”
“Gwen!” James was back, slapping his hands on the bar top and startling her once more. “When’s your next day off?”
She looked at him as if he had sprouted a second head. “Tuesday?”
“Tues… drat.” He put his hands on his hips. “All right. Tell you what. Promise me a date on Tuesday, and I’ll cancel all my business plans. We’ll do whatever you want. How about the planetarium? You wanna go to the planetarium?”
Was that the first thing he thought of? Adorable. “Never been to the planetarium. Is it even open on Tuesdays?”
