Ian

My body wakes at the usual time, unconcerned that it is Sunday, or that there is a stunning beauty lying naked beside to me. I resist the urge to get moving for a while, looking her over as the first rays of morning pierce the window and stretch toward the bed. Her hair covers the pillow as if it had been carefully draped, her chest rises lightly and then falls, again and again, while she dreams. Somewhere during the night, the sheet slipped, exposing one of her breasts to the morning light. Incredible. A foot pokes free at the other end of the bed and I can’t help but admire how perfectly primped it is. Her toes are expertly pedicured; the nails shaped and contoured complete with a burgundy polish on top.

This woman truly is incredible from her head to her toes.

My body is replete with joy but cannot lie still any longer, so I ease myself back to the edge of the bed, careful not to disturb my sleeping beauty, and slide away. I dig around quietly along the floor looking for my underwear and, once in hand, tiptoe out of the room pulling the door behind me.

The plan was to return with a breakfast fit for a princess but somewhere in the calamity of banging pans and clinking utensils, I must’ve have woken her because she rounds the corner still rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

“Good morning darlin',” I say with a smile as I pour a fresh cup of coffee. “Sleep well?”

“Like a baby,” she replies through a yawn. “I thought I smelled deliciousness—did you make me breakfast?” she asks with delight in her voice while throwing her arms around me and snuggling in for a hug.

“Yes, ma’am. You have your choice of scrambled eggs, turkey sausage, turkey bacon. There are a few slices of French toast here, and some toast with butter cooling in the toaster oven. And, of course, coffee. You are lucky I made that trip to the grocery yesterday, or this morning’s offerings would look quite a bit different,” I say. “I meant to wake you with breakfast, but this wasn’t exactly how I envisioned—in my mind, it was going to be more of a bedside affair,” I say apologetically. “Hungry?” I ask.

“Oh, I think I could eat,” she says moving to take a seat at the table. “Lexi—she’s my roommate back home—we don’t usually take much time for breakfast, or to be honest we don’t usually have much time, so our options are a quick bowl of cereal or a protein bar on the way to class. That girl would be beside herself right now. Not only is there a buffet to choose from, but a man in the kitchen who took the time and effort to prepare it all. Definitely one for the record books.”

“Samantha, I need to tell you. I need you to know.” My thoughts are clear, but the words do not come easily. It is a strange sensation, I have always been a man who knows what he wants. I have clear goals and act deliberately to achieve them. “Last night, solidified what I want. I want to be with you,” I say bluntly. “Maybe this was a summer fling for you. A one time thing—and if so, I can respect that, but I want more. As much as you will give, for as long as you will give it.”

“Ian,” she says thoughtfully. “This doesn’t feel like a fling to me. Not even close. I had myself convinced a fling was what I needed this summer, but then you happened. After last night I feel like, like for the first time, I know what I need and it’s no fling. I need more of you, more of this. I want to go home and grab my bags and spend my whole summer here. Oh shit, the last part did not need to be out loud. Please forget you heard it,” she says embarrassed and blushing.

“No, no. No need to forget. If not for the incredibly awkward conversation it would lead to with your dad, I would help you move your stuff, I’m just not sure I’m ready to lose my friend yet, is all,” I say, only half joking.

Sam takes a small slurp of coffee and looks out the bay window with a distant look on her face.

“Where’d you go to, beautiful?” I ask taking her hand.

“My dad. Ugh, my mom. School. I guess reality came flooding back to me,” she says with a heavy tone as if hearing her own words caused an offense.

“Slow down darlin'. Let’s take this one step at a time, OK?” I ask, fighting similar thoughts of my own. “If we talked to your parents right now, what would we have to tell them? That you took me out to pick up a woman, we had drinks, and ended up in bed together? I mean, that’s a story for sure, but what then? What does it mean? What happens from there? I don’t exactly relish the idea of keeping this from them, but I suspect they’re going to want some answers to those questions. Maybe we should know more about this ourselves before sharing it with others.”

Sam’s focus returns to me. “You’re right, to tell them now would only create unnecessary drama,” she says, nodding in agreement.

“As for school, that’s not until the end of summer. If you’re game, I say we put the future on hold for just a little while and focus on the present. I know my crews can run themselves and I’m sure they wouldn’t mind the opportunity to prove it. Let me give you a summer to remember. Are you up for it?” I ask.

The tension retreats from her face and her lips curve upward showing the subtle beginnings of a smile.

“Are you sure you can do that?”

“I’m sure,” I say with a nod.

“Then yes,” she says as she rises from her seat and wraps her arms around my neck. “I’m so excited I feel giddy.”