“About seven years ago. It was like your standard, run of the mill car accident. Nothing crazy, like an attempted double homicide, but it felt like they were literally stolen from us. It completely turned Miles around. He’d been fighting my dad on med school for years and then right after their funeral he got his shit together and applied. And I joined a grief support group. That’s how I met my friend Liz and her sister. The group was bullshit, but I got two friends out of it, so whatever.”
“Fair enough.”
“I have this weird—sometimes I have these weird thoughts where I actually envy Miles. He gets to be with them again.”
I reach up and cup the side of her neck. “That’s not weird. You miss your family and you want to be with them again. I feel the same way most of the time.”
“This would be a lot easier if it didn’t feel so shitty.”
“I’m sure it would be.” I lean forward and kiss her. “Turn around.”
She turns and I move a little closer to the edge of the boulder and wrap my arms around her shoulders. She takes my hand and rubs her lips across my knuckles. We watch the sun come up.
* * *
Imakeher eggs and bacon and carbs she can smother in butter and syrup. She’s tickled to see I still use my grandfather’s griddle top that he’d picked up sometime during Kennedy’s administration. She wins the argument about the nap. We nap. Titus decides he’s sick of our bullshit and wedges himself between us on the bed. Claudia wakes me up because she wants more food.
It’s my turn to be confused. No one’s woken me up in a while. She tells me she’s hungry. I tell her she’s high maintenance and she needs to get the fuck out of my house as I pull out some of the food May-Bell dropped off. We eat on the couch and she makes me watch the first season of a spin-off show based on another show that’s based on a book. It’s fucking terrible and I can’t even pretend to be interested, so I slip to the floor between her legs and see if I can test her concentration. The night before I was distracted by the moment. Now I take my time. She actually tries to ignore me.
“Babe. Move that big ass, hairy head of yours a little to the left. But keep doing what you’re doing.”
I grab the remote and turn off the TV. “That’s the end of that.”
“Hey! They get married in that episode.”
“And you’re about to get fucked in this episode. Up, and bend over the couch.”
“What. Ever. You. Are. The. Worst.” She stands and stomps her feet as she strips down naked.
“Yeah, I’m not interesting in your bratty showboating. Over the couch, slut,” I add for a little flavor.
She gasps and flips her ponytail over her shoulder. “Well I never.” Then she bends over and uses both her hand to spread her cheeks. “You aresorude.”
I shake my head even though she can’t see me. I pull a condom out of my pocket and hold it between my teeth as I strip naked. “Keep those cheeks open.” Once I slip the condom on I take my time teasing her. I can’t believe how wet she gets. I tell her.
“It’s ’cause I’m such a slut, Master Shep. I’m always wet for you.”
“Always talking so much shit.” She laughs, but I turn that chuckle of hers right into a moan as I slide my cock inside her tight slit. I push in and out a few times, then slap her hands away. She braces herself on the back of the couch.
“You were fucking up my leverage,” I say. She laughs some more, but she can barely catch her breath. I pick up my pace. This is why I can’t stand regular sex. I like the anticipation. I like drawing things out. The suffering, the begging. I like to see my submissive driven crazy by the need to come before I even get started. But Claudia, fuck, her pussy feels so good and the sight of her ass as it bounces against my hips. I reach forward and slide my hand up over her tits. I pinch her nipples.
“Wait, Shep. Shep! Stop.”
I freeze. “Did I hurt you?”
“No. Do you hear that?” I hear it, but before I realize I’m hearing footsteps outside my front door, there’s a loud knock.
“The fuck,” I say under my breath.
“Know you’re home, Shepard. It’s Jad!”
“Ah, fuck. Not a good time, Jad!”
“Who the fuck is Jad?” Claudia asks.
“May-Bell’s husband.”
He knocks again. He knocks louder. I know Jad is getting on in years, but now he’s just fucking with me. “Hold on! Sorry, baby.” I pull out and nudge her over on the couch cushions. She groans and shoves her hand between her legs.
