I hold Marie until her shivering subsides, my cock aching for release. “Oh my God,” she says weakly. “That was so…intense! Oh my God,” she repeats, her face buried in my neck.

I smile and hold her close, trying to ignore my throbbing dick.

After a moment, her hand fumbles around the front of my shorts. She gets a brief grip on my dick….goddamn, it feels good…and just for a second, I let her squeeze it. Jesus Christ! I can barely restrain myself.

But, despite what just happened, I am determined not to rush things with this girl.

“Whoa, now,” I chuckle, grabbing her hand away. “We fooled around enough for the first date. I don’t want you to have any regrets, Marie.”

“But you didn’t…”

“Shh, don’t worry about it,” I interrupt. “That was very satisfying for me, too.” And it was…more or less.

The feeling of her pert breasts in my hands and the image of her face in the throes of orgasm is going straight into my spank bank, that’s for damn sure. And those nipples…they turn out to be shaped like pebbles; hard, rosy, delicious pebbles that I can’t wait to see more of.

Soon.

We head inside, where we each use a different bathroom to dry off and get dressed.

“I feel weird being here at Freddy’s without him and Darlene here,” I say, when we meet back in the kitchen. “The plan was to do couples stuff together after dinner, like play pool or cards or something.”

“Yes, you’re right. I feel awkward being here, too,” she agrees. “It’s still early but…I’d like to get out of here.”

“You wanna go see a movie or something?”

“I…nah. I don’t feel like going out. I’d invite you to my place, but…I still live at home, so….”

That sounds like a hint. “Well, we could go to my place. Not to, y’know…um. Just have a coffee or tea, hang out and talk.”

“Okay, sure. Sounds nice.”

“Now…my place is, uh…it’s not the usual. It’s above my shop, actually But, it’s comfy. And, I have Netflix. But…it’s a bachelor pad, okay? Not exactly magazine-ready.”

“That’s okay,” she laughs. “I’m sure it’s fine.”

* * *

Wheeling around the back of Mollenkamp Motors, motion sensors set off the outdoor spotlights, illuminating the not-so-romantic garbage bins and vehicles awaiting service back here.

Home. I park my truck and we go inside.

“Welcome to my shop,” I say, turning on some overhead lights so she can see it. “Regular old auto service shop. Nothing to write home about.”

“You shouldn’t say that,” she says, looking up at me seriously. “You shouldn’t say that your business is nothing to write home about, as if it doesn’t matter. It matters.”

She’s so serious, I’m kind of caught off guard. I look down into her face, not sure what to say.

“I…heh,” she says, her face reddening a bit. “Kazuko, my Japanese aunt that I told you about…? She always said that the words we use to describe things are important. And this is your life’s work, so, it matters even more.”

Then she beams that heavenly smile up at me, making me feel like a million bucks.

“You’re right, sweetie. You’re right. Thanks for reminding me. C’mon, my apartment’s up there.” I point to a set of stairs leading to the mezzanine apartment above.

Upstairs, I try to see the place through her eyes. The walls are bare brick or unpainted drywall. Some of the ceilings show their joists, but at least they’re tall, giving the place a feeling of space. The flooring is plywood but it’s smooth and clean, painted in a dark, modern shade of grey that doesn’t show dirt. Exposed piping runs up the walls, carrying water and electrical up from below.

“Did you build this?”

“No, it came with the shop. I’m not sure it’s a strictly legal apartment but I don’t care. As you can see, it’s not completely finished, but it’s functional and comfortable.

“Yeah, it’s not too bad. It reminds me of one of those loft condos that sell for half a million bucks downtown,” she says.

I show her around, which takes about five seconds in the small space. The place came furnished except for a bed, and the kitchenette is stocked with dishes, pots and utensils, everything you need, including washer and dryer, fridge, stove and microwave.

Behind the kitchen, on a raised platform under the vaulted ceiling, is a bedroom-nook where I keep my king-sized mattress. Getting it up the stairs was an adventure, but it fits in the nook perfectly.

The bathroom is basic, with a new toilet but an old tub, one of those ancient claw-foot jobs, which, except for a chip in one spot, is in almost mint shape. There’s a shower head too, and the circular shower rod is hung with a curtain that bears the silhouette of a naked girl.

“This tub is awesome,” she cries. “If it wasn’t chipped, it’d be worth a fortune. This place is really cool, Mark! I love it!”

I smile, pleased that she’s pleased. “Yeah, it’s comfy as hell and it couldn’t be closer to work.” We both chortle at my joke. “I’m lucky to have it.”

“You must be saving a small fortune in rent.”

“Yes. It’s a huge help.”

“Hey…did that shower curtain come with the place too?” Her voice is carrying a teasing lilt.

“No, it did not. I picked it out personally. What’s wrong with it?”

Hell, I hope she’s not the kind of girl to get jealous over a shower curtain.

“Well, nothing really. It’s just that it looks like she has three boobs.”

“What? No it doesn’t…where?” I look at the curtain but I only see two boobs.

“Yes it does. Look!” She points to a bulge that I thought was one of the naked girl’s elbows or something.

But now, I notice, for the first time, that the both the girls arms are depicted lower down, by her hips.

That other bulge is just a…well, I don’t know but…now that it’s pointed out, it does look like a third boob.

“Ah…geez! I think you’re right, Wee Marie.” We both laugh. “I dunno how I didn’t notice that before.”

“Sometimes it takes a second set of eyes to see things as they really are,” she says, amiably.

I nod, surprised and pleased at her insight.

We head to the kitchen, where I offer her a beverage.

“You have any tea?”

“Don’t tell me you’re a tea-lover, too?” I open a cupboard door to show her my tea collection. I probably have twenty different kinds.

“Right now I really love this apple-cinnamon flavor,” I say, opening the box so she can smell the fragrant mixture.

“Mmm, smells great. I’ll try a cup.”

Soon, we’re settled on my couch, sipping the hot brew.

“Listen…now it’s my turn to ask you,” she says. “What’s your five-year plan? Do you ever think about, you know, getting married? Kids?”

“I do. I’d like to find the right woman and have a bunch of kids. “

“A bunch of kids? How many is a bunch?”

“As many as my wife will give me. I’d love to have a big family, like yours.”

“It takes money to raise a big family.”

“Of course.”

“Having a lot of kids might drive you nuts. And obviously, you’ll need a woman who wants the same.”

“Right. So…how do you feel about it? I mean, I’m just wondering…no pressure or anything.” He pulls a goofy face.

“Heh. I’ve always wanted a big family, too. My parents had six kids. I think that’s a nice-sized family.”

“I think that’s a nice-sized family, too. “ I lean forward and kiss her sweet mouth. The way she presses my lips with hers makes my dick take an interest again.

“I see. And do you intend to start another automotive family dynasty like my dad did? One to rival and compete with Sinclair’s?”

“I’ll need to build a good business to support a wife and six children, don’t you think?”

“I love how ambitious and determined you are.”

“I’m a man. Any man worth his salt feels the same.”

“Worth his salt…yes, maybe. I know lots of guys who don’t think about that.”

“Not all men have ambition, true. But not all men are high-quality men, either. Or, maybe they are, deep down, but they just don’t know they are.” Pause. “Maybe.”

“Okay, fair enough. So, what about the business, then? How do you intend to set yourself apart, to grow it and make a name for yourself?”

Clearing my throat, I say, “By attempting to win over all the high-end repair and restoration business in Columbus.” I pause to grin and sip my tea. “All the honchos, as you call them, will be bringing their vehicles to me.” I give her a wide smile and lift my cup in a salute, bold as day.

She stares at me, a glint beginning to sparkle way back in her eyes.

“You know that Sinclair’s has a lot of that business…right?”

“Do they? Huh.” I keep my tone casual but she knows that I know it’s true.

She laughs, her eyes gleaming brightly now. “You’ll need equipment. Computers, hydraulics, God knows what-all.”

She obviously noticed that I’m lacking a few items of equipment in the shop when we were down there.

Sharp little thing, she is.

But all I say is, “Yep.”

“And you’ll need to hire more than one technician.”

“Yep. I have it all planned.”

“You do? Okay, this is really none of my business, but…you need money for all that. If you plan to make the money as you go along, it might take you longer than five years.”

“True. I’ll need money and help. But not just technical help. I’ll need…well, I hope to have,…a partner to do all the administration. Take care of the books, the computer systems, deal with the banks, run promos and all that.”

“Yes, you’ll need that kind of help, too,” she says softly, looking at me speculatively.

I wonder if she’s thinking what I’m thinking.

Nah…probably not. It’s too early still. We’ve only had one date. But the stuff we’re talking about…it seems so natural.

But wouldn’t it be cool if…no. Better not get ahead of myself.

“It sounds like you need…me,” she adds. “Or someone like me.”

I’ll be damned. She is thinking what I’m thinking!

“I’d love to have you,” I say, surprised and pleased. Very pleased. I know it’s too early. I know it, but damn it…the words just come spilling out. “You’d be about the most perfect partner I could imagine.”

I lift my arm around her shoulders so that she can slide in underneath it. She cuddles close against me and I rest my cheek on the top of her head.

God, she feels good. Her tight, hard body against mine. I’d love to take her to my bed right now. I glance over at it, only a few steps away, there in its nook.

I’ll have her in my bed soon enough.

“I know this much,” she murmurs. “If you’re methodical and persistent, your plans will get measurable, concrete results. You’re a man of action, Mark. You go after what you want.” She looks at my mouth from under her lowered eyelashes, an invitation for another kiss. I lean in close to oblige.

“A man like you always wins,” she whispers, her lips against mine.

Words any man wants to hear.