Ever the gent, Jake sets the candle up in the bathroom while I’m in there, leaving himself in the pitch-black bedroom.
‘Thanks for that,’ I say, carrying the candle out carefully, not wanting to put it out. It seems like the longer it burns, the less effective it is. I swear, the room is getting darker and darker.
‘Tonight was fun,’ he says.
‘It really was,’ I reply. ‘Weird… but fun.’
I climb into bed. Jake perches next to me.
He looks at me for a moment like he’s deciding something. Like he’s about to say something.
And then the candle goes out.
‘Uh-oh,’ I mutter.
‘Shall I go get the matches?’ he asks.
‘No, it’s okay,’ I reply. ‘It’s dark… I’ll be okay, just… will you sit with me?’
‘Of course,’ he replies, climbing onto the bed next to me, taking up the space that is supposed to be for him.
‘Fun way to find out I’m scared of the dark,’ I say with a nervous laugh.
At least I think it’s the dark. Maybe it’s being here with Jake in the dark, feeling like no one can see what I’m doing – not even me.
‘You want me to stay close?’ he asks.
‘Please,’ I reply before my brain can stop me.
I don’t see him but I feel him. He scoots up closer but his weight in the centre of the bed creates a dip that sends me flying into him, my body crashing into his. I’m in my sleep vest and shorts, and he’s in his boxers, but it feels like we’re naked.
Jake sort of catches me in his arms. I don’t know if he knows it was an accident or if he thinks I’m throwing myself at him, but as his hands move up and down my body, ever so subtly, I can’t resist him a second longer.
I find his face with my own, planting my lips on his. I’m going for something gentle, something to test the waters, but the bed sends me hurtling towards him again so I go in hot and heavy – and I stay that way. Well, I’m here now, it’s pitch-black, we’re drunk, so surely none of this actually counts. It’s like international waters. If no one can see it, or remember it properly, did it even happen?
Jake scoops me up, taking my waist in his hands, and sits me down on top of him. He holds me by the hips as we kiss, I run my hands up and down his body, over his biceps, through his hair – anywhere I can put them.
‘Jake,’ I mumble into his mouth.
‘Yeah, darlin’?’ he replies, his voice breathy and oh-so sexy.
‘This is crazy, right?’
‘Oh yeah,’ he replies.
‘We’re… uhhh!’ Words fail as he thrusts his body towards mind. ‘We’re drunk…’
‘Mmmhmm,’ he replies.
‘We’re…’
My voice trails off. Look, I’m doing the right thing, I’m talking it through with him, like an adult, except neither of us is making any attempts at slowing things down.
‘Do you want me to stop?’ he asks, pulling my strap from my shoulder, kissing his way down to my chest.
‘Don’t even think about it,’ I reply.
I whip my top off, showing him I mean business – of course he can’t see me, but he must be able to tell. He takes the lead, kissing me all over, touching every part of me, somehow frantic and teasing at the same time.
