Page 42 of Hers to Tame
“Fuck, I’m sorry,” I pant out, turning her loose. When she leans up with a grin, I grab a handful of hair again, pulling her into me for a kiss. When her panting finally matches mine, I turn her loose. She rocks back onto her knees, looking up at me.
“Why did you apologize?”
“For pulling your hair, cutting off your air supply, coming in your mouth, take your pick. I had no idea it tasted so salty.” She laughs, shaking her head.
“So no guy on guy encounters then?”
“I don’t think so, but there were several fuzzy years during college. I think Grayson would have mentioned it by now, though, if I had ever given him head. He is kind of quiet, however.” She laughs even harder.
“You know if that had ever happened, we would have all heard about it from Lily, right? I would have paid good money to watch that.”
“Jesus, woman!” We sit smiling at each other for a few minutes. “I’m not sure how we even got on this subject. Can we please go find something to eat?”
“Sure. You know what would be good? French fries. You know, to go with the salt.” Rolling my eyes, I stand up, pulling her to her feet. Taking her hand I drag her toward the kitchen.
“Why did I have to fall for such a smart-ass?”
After dinner, we pick out a movie to watch until Maggie falls asleep on the couch. Carrying her to my bed, I slide in behind her, pulling her into my chest. It’s the best part of the day, knowing I get to fall asleep next to her. I can feel my carefree bachelor days slipping away forever. It doesn’t matter though because I don’t miss them. She moans, snuggling tighter to my body. Nope. Don’t miss them at all.
The next three days fall into a comfortable pattern. I wake up early for a run or swim before coming back to change for work. I kiss Maggie good morning, usually ending in redressing before I can go.
After a long day at work, I return to the stereo turned up with Maggie cooking dinner for us. She tells me about the museums she’s toured during the day, I bore her with the work I did. We clean up, then watch TV or read until time for bed. Every night I make love to Maggie until we both fall asleep out of sheer exhaustion.
I start to believe we can go on like this forever until Wednesday arrives and I have to put her on a plane home during my lunch hour. When I get home from work, there is no loud music pumping through my stereo, nothing good simmering on the stove, no one to jump into my arms welcoming me home.
My apartment is like a tomb, a cold, unfriendly tomb. What am I doing in Kansas City, when I want to be in Fort Worth? It might sound stupid, but my home has quickly become wherever Maggie is.
14
Maggie
My house seems so quiet without Colin here. He’s right, this long distance thing sucks. It was nice to see my colleagues again to catch up on their holidays. Rumors of Colin’s and my kiss seems to have made the rounds among the teachers already. Everyone wants to know what happened from there but are too polite to ask.
I laugh when Julien, our librarian, gives a very descriptive account of what he saw while we’re eating lunch. His description of Colin’s ass muscles rippling in his jeans as he pulled me against him was truly award winning.
That afternoon, I’m quietly working in my room when Julien comes in carrying two cups of tea and a yearbook under his arm.
“I figured you would welcome a break. I brought you some reading material.” Joining him at my desk, I pull the yearbook over. “Your Colin Rhett was quite the overachiever.” He’s not wrong about that.
Flipping through the annual, I find his picture everywhere. He’s pictured with the debate team, basketball, baseball, school paper, National Honor Society, Valedictorian, Homecoming King, Most Likely to Succeed, the list just keeps going.
“I’m not surprised,” I tell Julien, sipping my tea. “I remember him breezing through law school, passing the bar the first time with flying colors.” People would laugh if they knew most of that swagger was all for show. “Can I hang on to this? It should make for interesting conversation.”
“Of course. I just thought you’d enjoy seeing it.” Julien takes our empty teacups, heading into the hall. I slowly browse back through the yearbook, smiling at the playboy look which he’d already mastered by high school. I bet the girls swooned around him back then. I hear my phone ping with an incoming text.
Colin: Is it too early to tell you I miss you?
Maggie: It is not. I hope it’s not anyway, I miss you like crazy. What are you doing?
Colin: Trying not to poke my eyes out reviewing some contracts. You?
Maggie: Funny you should ask. I just found some new reading material. Homecoming King and debate club huh?
Colin: Christ! It could be worse, I guess. At least you haven’t found my first grade one.
“Julien, I’m going to need his first grade yearbook,” I yell across the hall.
“Coming up, sweetie.” I hear Julien rummaging around in the library before walking across the hall with the yearbook in hand. He’s hunting for the right page, finding it right before he sets it on my desk. Colin is grinning at the camera with his front teeth missing. It might be the cutest picture I’ve ever seen.
