She snorted. “That doesn’t really cover it but yes, I liked it. You?”
He let out a sound that was part relief, part the impossibility of putting his feelings into words. She was waiting, she wanted him to verbalize it.
“I loved it,” he said sincerely. He wondered if it was too strong, but hell, he couldn’t help it, he really did love it with her.
“Yeah, that’s it,” she said quietly. “I loved it, too.”
She moved and he moved with her. He ended up on his back and she snuggled against him. He held her close, feelings churning inside him. He still had his pants around his legs and now he kicked them away, a little embarrassed he had been in such a hurry he hadn’t even undressed properly.
She was soft against him, soft and warm and sweaty. He stroked her hair, letting it slide between his fingers, again and again.
“Do you need to go to work?” she asked.
He glanced at the clock. It was twenty to seven. It was Friday, so he did indeed have to go to work, he even had a video meeting at nine. He really didn’t want to get up, he felt like it would break the spell, and he’d never get this close to her again.
“I don’t want to,” he said moodily, feeling like a sullen kid.
“Are you working from home today?”
“Yeah.”
“There’s only going to be a wall between us.”
“I don’t want to have a wall between us.”
He was feeling more whiny and ridiculous by the second. He needed to get a grip. They hadn’t really met until two days ago, they didn’t know each other, they’d just had sex once. He had no right to want anything from her, but he did, he furiously and intensely wanted to… wanted to… wanted. He didn’t know what, but he wanted.
He sighed and pulled her closer.
“Listen, Johanna,” he said. “Can I make you breakfast?”
“Sure you can,” she answered, surprised. He kissed her for a few moments and got out of bed. He was still naked but he didn’t care, he padded downstairs and loaded the coffee maker.
Musse came to swirl at his feet when he stepped into the kitchen.
“Well hello there,” he said. “What do you want? It’s not your feeding time.”
He started checking the fridge for breakfast. Musse kept a close eye on him.
“Oh, I know,” he said. “She gives you something, doesn’t she? Hmm.”
He opened a tub of yogurt and held the top to Musse. It licked the lid clean, eyeing him appreciatively. He smiled. He liked cats, and maybe he would’ve had one, if he wasn’t so alone. He didn’t want pets, because he had no one to ask to take care of them if he wasn’t able, for traveling or being sick, so it was easier to just not have them.
He went back upstairs with coffee and the yogurt. Johanna was lying in bed, watching him. For some reason he didn’t become self-conscious, even though he was naked in front of her.
“How do you want your coffee?” he asked.
“Black.”
He puffed up the pillow and got her to an upright enough position that she could eat in bed. Then he went back down to get his own coffee.
He sat at the edge of the bed and watched her eat. She was so beautiful, delicate and fair. Her nightgown was pale pink, and it flowed on her body like a… like something beautiful.
He didn’t want to go. He wanted to stay for the rest of his life. He didn’t know what to say to her.
She looked at him warily.
“I hope I didn’t upset you,” she said. “I didn’t mean to.”
“Well, you kinda did. It was… intense. But in a good way, don’t worry.”
He looked at her and had a stroke of inspiration.
“Can I wash you? Before I go?”
“What?” she asked, puzzled.
“I’ll show you. Just tell me no if you don’t like it, okay?”
He went to get a bowl of warm water and a small towel, like he’d had that first night. She was finished with her breakfast, and now she just laid back on the pillow and watched him.
He leaned closer, and wiped her sweaty brow with the damp towel, as gently as he could. He cleaned her face, her neck, behind her ears. She sat up, and in one fluid movement she lifted the nightgown over her head before she laid back down.
He felt his breath catch in his throat, and fought the urge to just ogle her breasts. Instead he wiped her shoulders, her collarbones, and along the length of her arms that was closer to him. He could feel her eyes upon him and for some reason he felt like crying.
He blinked a few times, to force the tears back, and cleaned her other arm. He washed her armpits, using enough force to not tickle, and after that, there was no avoiding it: he looked at her breasts.
They were perfect. They were round and pale, and her nipples were small and rosy and hard. He washed them gently, trying not to linger, and moved down on her flanks and tummy.
He stared at her, mesmerized. He liked her breasts, and well, all of her, but for some reason her lower abdomen was what got him. It swelled gently upward from her mons, forming a perfect little hill of pale, soft, smooth skin. He let out a small sound and bent down to kiss it, then forced himself to sit back up and wipe it with the towel.
He wiped her hips, and then down one leg and up the other. It was an almost pious moment: he concentrated on her, and she concentrated on watching him. Neither of them said anything.
He touched her groin carefully. Her pubic hair was indeed the same beautiful golden blond hue as her hair, albeit a shade darker. He took time to wash the crooks between her hip and thighs. He wiped her labia gently, trying not to be sexual, but she shivered anyway.
“Sorry,” he said. “And sorry about your sheets.”
He stared, horrified, at the puddle they had managed to produce together. Then a thought emerged, and he lifted his eyes to hers.
“Are you on the pill?” he asked.
“Now you ask? Isn’t it a little late?” she asked, but from her smile he guessed she was.
“Yeah. Sorry, you kind of surprised me there. Didn’t have that much time to think.”
They smiled at each other.
“Okay, roll over, I’ll change the water,” he said and went to the bathroom. He changed the towel as well.
She was lying on her stomach when he got back. He sat beside her and grimaced at the wet spot. She had rolled off it and now he got a look of the entirety of it. It was enormous and looked somehow really sinful to him.
He washed the back of her body as carefully as the front. She had the most wonderful dimples above her perfect round buttocks. He would’ve wanted to kiss them, and after some consideration, he did. She shuddered but didn’t object.
“Okay, all done,” he said. “Are you alright? Can I help you with something?”
She rolled over to her side to look at him.
“Thank you,” she said quietly. “That was really nice.”
He smiled coyly.
“I’ll be just behind the wall, so call me if you need anything, okay?” he said.
He got up and looked at her. He really didn’t want to leave.
“Can I bring you lunch later?” he asked bashfully. She nodded. He lingered for a few moments, but couldn’t come up with anything more, and so he left.
—#—#—#—#—#—
Again it was difficult to concentrate on work. Samuel had to chat to his coworker to ask what had just been said in the video meeting they were attending, when he realized he had absolutely no idea. All he could think of was Johanna, and their morning together. He could feel her, like she was emitting some strange energy that he could sense through the wall separating their apartments.