Cara stared at the floor, lost in her thoughts.

There were moments tonight where...it felt like they’d never stopped being fourteen, taking turns on the game system and passing around Doritos and green onion dip. She had to blame Bryan for that combination. It was the taste of their youth now.

Both Bryan and Josh had moved on. Yeah, they were still her friends, but not in the same way she wanted them to be. They’d grown apart. While she and Nate had held onto each other for selfish reasons. It was still jarring and sad to realize that the people most important to her didn’t feel the same way about her.

The front door opened and only one set of footsteps thumped against the old, wooden floors.

Nate.

She didn’t have to look to know it was him.

The difference was in the electric charge of the air. How every cell in her body seemed to gravitate toward him.

He rounded the sectional and sat next to her. His arm wrapped around her waist, tugging her to his side.

She wanted to put the whole evening out of her head, but she couldn’t. Sorrow gnawed at her, down to the bone.

“They didn’t come here to say goodbye, did they?” She didn’t want to be right, but...

“No. No, they didn’t. Josh feels bad about that, and Bryan will too, once he pulls his head out of his ass.” Nate kissed the top of her head.

“Everyone’s moved on, except me. What did they come here for?” She peered up at his face.

“They...saw the way I was looking at you. I guess they were...coming over to, warn me away? I don’t really know.”

“Because...of the tying people up?” The others knew? And they’d think...the truth.

“Yeah. They wanted to warn me that I’d scare you. That it would be too much.”

“You? Scare me?” That was the silliest idea ever. She’d been around Nate angry, sad, in a football adrenaline high. Scary was not a word she’d ever associate with him.

“What? What’s that look for?” He frowned. “I can be scary.”

“As a teddy bear.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and squeezed. No, he didn’t scare her. The intensity of her feelings did, but not him and not his bedroom bondage tastes.

“I’m scary,” Nate grumbled.

“Sure, you are.” Maybe to someone who didn’t know Nate, but she did. He never made her feel anything other than safe. Protected. And loved.

Now, that was scary. She was about to give up her whole live and move here. To be with Nate. She wanted it to work out, to be her Cinderella solution. No, she didn’t have crazy expectations that their lives would magically be perfect. Things would be hard, but they’d have each other.

She’d never lived with a boyfriend. Never felt particularly strongly about break-ups. But that was because her heart had belonged to Nate. This, right now, mattered. How long until he realized her awkward, timid ways weren’t as cute as when they were growing up?

She needed female friends she could talk to. Learn from. Magazines weren’t going to help her. The latest edition of Cosmo was so far over her head it might as well be a fairy tale. She needed a crash course in girlfriending.

“What are you thinking about?” Nate ran his thumb over her lower lip, pulling it out from between her teeth.

“I don’t have a lot of clothes with me.”

“We can get you something. I bet Tamara and Piper could help.”

“What about Ellie?” She’d had a style to be jealous of.

“I’ll see if she’s surfaced. She said something about unplugging and turning off her phone for a while.”

“Oh, okay. I wish I had my sewing machine.” She sighed. Too often, the stuff she wanted to wear didn’t come in a size bony.

“Have you ever thought about making clothes and selling them? I know you love that sort of thing.”

“No one would buy my weird clothes.”

“Shortcake, no offense, but you’ve been stuck in the middle of nowhere for a long time. I think there’d be more interest than you might expect. Why don’t we hit a few thrift stores tomorrow? I bet we can find something for you to work your magic with.”

“I’d like that. My stuff’s been in storage for so long.”

“You should see if you can talk to Tamara and Piper’s friend, Rashae. She does cosplay and makes a living off sewing stuff.”

“Wait. Rashae?”

“Yeah.”

“Rashae Grant?”

“That sounds right. Why?”

“She’s amazing. She did this super-detailed Wonder Woman cosplay thing...wait...Tamara is friends with Rashae?” Cara blinked at Nate, the pieces clicking together.

“Yeah.”

“That’s where I’ve seen her! Oh my God, and I spoke to her. I beat her at Mortal Kombat. Oh my God!” Cara covered her face.

Nate just laughed.

“I think Tamara got a kick out of it. She’s super competitive. You might find yourself challenged to a game or two, if you don’t watch out.”

“Oh my God. Nate! You don’t get it.” He pulled her partially onto his lap. “Rashae is like...so where I’d want to be. But I have zero experience with that level of costuming.”

“What happened to wanting to be a science researcher person?”

“If life had turned out differently I’d love it.” Cara shrugged. “It’s too late now.”

“I wouldn’t write you off yet. You’re pretty amazing.” His smile was warm. He believed what he said. And he believed in her. She had no doubt about that.

It’d been so long since anyone had supported her. She wanted to hold onto this. Him. Not just because she loved him, but because he looked at her and didn’t see a failure. He saw potential. That little change was a breath of fresh air. And yeah, maybe she could do this. With support, with people who encouraged her, maybe her life wasn’t so down the drain after all.

“Thank you,” she managed to get out, though her throat was all sorts of dry and tight.

“For what?”

“For believing in me.”

“You’re the one who showed me the impossible was possible.”

“I failed pretty hard at that.”

“No, you didn’t. Someone else threw a wrench in your plans. It doesn’t mean things are over. You’re pretty awesome, Cara-bear.”

Nate leaned down, his lips caressing hers. She sighed and strained to get closer. His mouth was warm, inviting. She was fast becoming addicted to this, the way he made her feel.

She needed to get closer. She wanted to.

Cara grasped his shoulders and straddled his lap. Nate’s lips paused for a moment while his hands slid around her waist, to her hips.

This was okay, right?

She hesitated.

Maybe she shouldn’t have?

Nate’s tongue swiped into her mouth and she groaned at the touch.

How was it that one gesture, one action, could light up all the nerve endings in her body? In the breadth of a second, need suffused her every cell.

He cupped her bottom, tugging her closer until she felt the thick, hard line of his erection against her. She’d gone from hardly caring about sex, to wanting it daily. Was this normal?

Nate didn’t seem to mind.

“Nate?” Her voice was muffled by his kisses.

“Hm?” His lips trailed down her neck to her shoulder.

“D-do you want to, um, do the tying thing?”

“Not right now,” he muttered against her skin.

“Oh.”

So...were they not having sex? Kissing Nate was pretty fan-freaking-tastic, but...he awakened her inner horndog. What was she supposed to do about that?

Nate slid his hands under her shirt, shoving her bra up. His fingers toyed with her nipples, rubbing and plucking them. She groaned and leaned her head back. It was way too hot in here now. Her body pulsed with need, wanting him, but...he didn’t want her?

He dragged shirt and bra over her head. His arm wrapped around her thighs, hoisting her up until he could latch his lips around one nipple. She held onto his shoulders, eyes closed, while he treated her breast like his favorite piece of candy.

Was something wrong with her if she wanted more? Were her wires crossed?

She gasped and whimpered, the need eating away at her.

Nate wedged his hand between them and under her skirt. He fumbled with the waistband of her panties until he had them down far enough to cup her mound.

“Ooohhh...”

His touch both soothed the need and made it...sharper. More insistent.

Thick fingers slid the length of her slit, probing her entrance. She shifted against him, seeking more. All at once, he plunged his fingers into her. She gasped at the sensation, sore muscles warming, stretching.

He buried his face in the crook of her neck while he stroked her, deep, sure touches, each one severing a thread of control or care. No, she might not be the sexiest thing alive, but damn it, she wanted him. He was the center of her focus, the one thing she wanted, and all the nerves in the world couldn’t stop her from acting on that. Well, except his hand buried inside of her.

Nate tugged her panties down farther until they stretched around her things.

“Up,” he barked.

She slid off his lap, to her rubbery, not quite sturdy legs. He followed her, scooting to the edge of the sofa, and pushed her panties to the floor.

He’d said no to sex a minute ago. Had he changed his mind? She wasn’t about to complain.

Nate tossed his shirt to the floor, then pulled her to him. She straddled his legs, their mouths crashing into each other. His hands fumbled between them, his fingers grazing her skin while his tongue thrust between her lips.

“Help me?” he said.

She looked down at his partially-undone belt, the tab to his jeans open.

Cara had never undressed a man before. But Nate wasn’t a man, he wasn’t just anyone, he was Nate. And she wanted him.

She worked the belt loose, while he fished his wallet from between the sofa cushions and retrieved a condom out from the pockets. She eased his zipper down. He hissed and they both froze.

That was what he’d meant, wasn’t it?

“Sorry...I thought...” She stammered sounds that might be words. In another language.

Nate chuckled and eased a hand under the zipper.

“Go on,” he said.

“Oh...”

So...they were having sex?

She wasn’t going to stop and ask for clarification now. If he was on board with the idea of sex, now, so was she.

Cara lowered his zipper and he eased his jeans and underwear down his hips, but not very far. Her knees were in the way.

She’d seen him naked, but it was still a new experience. That first time, she’d looked at him and wondered if they could fit. If it was humanly possible. For all she knew, he could be average and her experience subpar, but she found that was hard to believe.

“You want to?” He held the condom between his fingers.

She shook her head.

There were some things that were beyond her ability.

He ripped the packet open and she sat back on his knees, the wiry hairs tickling her bottom. She watched him fit the condom on and roll it down, both fascinated and...hungry.

Nate palmed her breast and straightened, his gaze on her mouth. She leaned in, meeting his kiss. He pulled her closer, hiking her skirt up until she could feel his erection against her mound.

Wait... What was he doing?

The head of his cock pressed against her. She gasped and her brain stopped working. Nate...moved her. He eased her down, their bodies fitting together. Her vision blurred a bit and she groaned.

“N-Nate.” She whimpered his name.

“Hold onto me,” he said against her neck.

That much, she could do. She dug her fingers into the thick cords of muscle at his shoulders. The hair on his chest scraped her breasts in a pleasant sort of way.

“That’s it.” He kissed along her jaw.

Nate shifted his hold until he had his hands cupping her bottom. He lifted his hips, shifting against her.

“Does that feel good?” His voice was strained, a lot like how she felt.

“Yeah.”

“Good. Touch me?”

Oh...no... She swallowed. What was she supposed to do with a request like that? She was doing good just holding on. But...he was asking her to. Because it was something he wanted.

“W-where?” she asked.

“Wherever.”

She slid a hand down his chest, marveling at the feel of him.

He swiped his thumbs across both nipples, sending an electric jolt through her body. She groaned and arched her back. He stroked down her back and sides while his lips kissed across her chest.

This was what it felt like to be wanted. Loved. And she wanted to...show him how she felt, too.

She kissed the back of his bent neck, the top of a shoulder.

Nate cupped her bottom with both hands and lifted. She gasped, both from the sensation of his erection sliding out and the display of strength. Her shaky thighs didn’t want to cooperate. He held her tight to his chest, his mouth on hers and slowly eased his hold. She gasped and he thrust his tongue into her mouth as his cock filled her again.

She cupped his face in her palms.

That—that felt good. New.

This time, he guided her, helping her wobbly knees along. She sat back down and groaned.

“That’s it,” he said against her mouth.

Nate shifted, easing down farther into the cushions, one side of his mouth hitched up.

He took one of her hands and placed it on the back of the sofa. This time, she used her grip to hoist herself up with his help, rising higher. She arched her chest, loving the way their bodies sliding against each other felt.

He pushed her down harder, lifting his hips, thrusting deeper.

Oh, that—yes. More of that.

That was the key. Doing what felt good. Right. What worked for her seemed to work for him. It was a matter of interpreting the body language. Seeing him, his smile, the way his mouth went slack from time to time, told her what to do more of. She’d always feared being seen, but now...maybe that’s what she’d done wrong.

Nate dug his fingers into her hips, gripping her bottom. His groans were the sounds of pleasure. It wasn’t just him doing something to her, for her. He liked this, too.

She let him guide her, but she also listened to her own body. How arching her back and tilting her hips increased the right kind of touch and friction.

“Mm—Cara...” He opened his eyes, looking up at her.

She loved this man.

His hips thrust up into her, harder, rougher. She gasped and her pace faltered.

Nate sat up, his forearm under her bottom. He lifted her, faster than before.

“Oh—oh!” She dug her nails into his shoulders.

“God, I love you, Cara.”

She whimpered a reply, her brain too scrambled now to form words.

“Fuck. Hold on.”

What the hell was she doing now?

Nate picked her up and put her flat on her back. One arm hooked under her leg, forcing her thighs wide open. He braced himself over her on one arm and...moved. Surging into her. She yelped, unprepared for the soul-deep thrust. She scooted a few inches from the sheer power of him before he withdrew and plunged deep again.

His lips moved against her cheek, chanting words she could barely make out. If her scrambled brain were processing.

She did this to him. Drove him crazy. Her. Awkward, plan, simple, Cara.

Her spine arched and she dug her nails into his back. She was flying, soaring, her body vibrating with pleasure so deep she might never find herself again. Nate buried his face against her neck and she hugged him close through the uneven, short strokes of his orgasm. She wanted to stay like this, in this moment where their souls and bodies mingled as one.

Nate shuffled out of the guest bathroom, more than a little spent. It wasn’t a physical weariness...it was different. Cara wore him out in a way he wanted to do over and over and over again. Not just his muscles, but his emotions.

Who knew happiness could be exhausting?

She wasn’t in the living room where he’d left her. Her clothes were gone.

He flipped the lights off, checked the lock on the front door and headed into their bedroom.

Theirs.

He liked the sound of that. Of sharing things with Cara.

There she was.

Face down in her pillow, wearing his shirt.

He’d waited a lifetime for this and, man, he did not want to screw it up.

Nate turned off the light and slid into bed after her, folding himself around her. She stirred, snuggling closer. Always closer. As if being inside his heart wasn’t close enough already.

He had a week. She was giving him that, to prove that they could work. He could do this.

“Nate?” her voice was muffled by the pillow.

“Hm?” He stroked her hair to the side so he could see the one, blue eye peering up at him.

“Why did you say, no sex and then yes sex?”

“When did I say no?”

“I asked if you wanted to come in here...”

“Oh.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek.

That was easy.

But first...

He tugged her around to face him, their legs tangling, bodies pressed together.

That was better.

“I like being able to tie you up. I don’t have to do it. It’s fun, but not like...a requirement. Besides, I wasn’t about to stop doing what we were doing to do something else.” He traced her lips, the confused little pout.

“Okay,” she said slowly. Sometimes, he saw questions on her face she didn’t know how to ask. Like now. She still didn’t completely understand, and he couldn’t blame her. This was new territory.

“Cara, I like sex. A lot. It doesn’t always have to be the same. There are no rules, no gotta do this or that.” He slid his hand up her back, under his shirt.

“Well, um, I like it with you, too.”

“Good.” He pressed his lips to hers, briefly. It wouldn’t take a lot to get him going again.

“I don’t, um, know how to interpret when you want to do what, though.”

He chuckled. She couldn’t read the directions yet and it bugged her. That was Cara, treating everything like exam prep and she had to be ready.

“I’ll try to be clearer next time, okay? The answer will always be yes to sex, though.”

“Oh. Um. Okay.”

He didn’t need the lights on to tell him she was blushing. He could feel the heat in her cheeks. She might not have been a virgin, but she was still not that far removed to have the same kind of comfort level as he did. Which was why he needed to back off, let her warm up to the reality of them more. They had a week. There was time enough.

“You don’t have to want it when I do. Saying no is okay.” He bumped her nose with his.

“I don’t want to say no, though.”

“I’m glad to hear that. I have a very healthy appetite.” He found her lips with his.

Her little nails dug into his shoulder. That timid veneer was wearing off and her desire was beginning to show through. What would it be like in a week? A year? A decade? He couldn’t help but imagine that it would get better with time. A lot better. Especially as Cara grew more comfortable with him and herself. She’d never stop being awkward. It was her middle name. But she had her own kind of unique confidence that he dug.

Damn, he needed to back off, roll over, leave her alone, but those fingers stroking his shoulder were giving him all sorts of other ideas. Especially when her kisses turned exploratory.

“So...what do you say when you want to tie me up?” She asked between breaths.

“I’d say, Cara, I want to tie you up and fuck you. How’s that sound?” Oh, yeah, ideas. All sorts of them.

“Yes. Okay.”

Wait...

“Now?” He blinked at her.

“Oh, I guess not?” Her voice fell.

“Oh, no. You already said yes.” He grinned. She was already coming out of her shell, which was just proof they were better together than anyone could imagine.

Teasing Cara, finding out what she was like when aroused, was going to be his new, favorite hobby.