“It’s hard to explain everything, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt,” I try to summarize the whole situation. Besides, Anna doesn’t need to know everything, especially since I don’t even fully understand it myself.
“I just don’t want him to hurt you, because I still feel guilty for giving you that terrible advice.”
“Maybe it wasn’t so bad after all,” I say, though I don't know.
“Oh my God, you slept with him again, didn’t you?” Pretty much, I think.
“How was it?” she almost shrieks.
“It was… phenomenal. I didn’t know it could be like that, honestly,” I say dreamily.
“You’ve really got it bad, I think. I hope he stayed?”
“Yep, including breakfast.”
I deliberately don’t mention the car ride, the lingerie sets, and the abrupt end to our day, and, although I wish her no harm, I’m secretly glad she can’t come over here to interrogate me in person. I don’t know if I could keep quiet face-to-face, and I kind of want what’s happening between Andreas and me to stay just between us.
“Okay, we’ll call that progress.” She laughs, but then it suddenly goes quiet on the other end of the line. “Nora, I really want you to be careful, okay? He seems like heartbreak material, and I really don’t want you to get hurt again like with David. You deserve a good guy, and you shouldn’t settle for less, don’t forget that.”
“Yes, Mom.” She really mothers me more than my own mom ever did.
“I mean it, Nora!” she says sternly.
“I know, I’m doing my best. I’m trying to stay realistic.” Mostly not hoping for anything.
“So, you’re not a couple now, I assume.”
“No, we’re taking it day by day.”
“Sounds very noncommittal,” she sniffs disapprovingly.
“I know, but it’s better than nothing.”
I think so, anyway.
“Just don’t forget what I said, okay?” she reminds me again.
“No, I know.”
“I’ll talk to you later, if anything happens, call me!”
“I will, and you take care.”
* * *
I’m tired and decide to turn in early after an evening of watching TV. I feel like I haven’t slept much the past few nights, and if I want to survive the coming week, I need to be sensible now. I brush my teeth, change into my pajamas, and wrap myself in my soft bedding. I should wash it after this morning, but it smells so much like Andreas that I can’t possibly throw it in the washing machine. His abandoned boxers are in my nightstand, and they might never be washed again. I assume I’m normal for doing things like this. His masculine scent in the sheets calms me and gently lulls me into a deep sleep filled with even more delicious dreams.
I dream of his hands on my body, gently caressing me everywhere, of his soft, full lips on my neck, and of his unmistakable arousal against my thigh. I arch my back, and an uncontrolled moan escapes my mouth. Even for an erotic dream, the effect on my body feels incredibly real. My eyes slowly open, and I see that it’s pitch black outside, and the clock says it’s two in the morning. I know I’m awake and having conscious thoughts, but the sensation from my dream doesn’t seem to stop. I’m startled out of my wits when I realize that the exploring hands and wet lips from my dream are real. I turn around in a flash and stare into two dark, hungry eyes.
“Andreas, what the hell are you doing here? You scared me to death!”
I try to regain a regular breathing rhythm, but it’s not easy. The fact that his hands are exploring the inside of my thighs doesn’t help.
“How did you get in here?”
I grab his hands and look at him.
“I haven’t gotten in yet, but I plan to,” he says seductively. Joker.
