possibilities were endless. Come to think of it, he’d looked a little startled at her stipulation, but then he could hardly ask her to do something he wasn’t willing to do himself, now could he? It wasn’t sporting.
As for Rule Number Two…that one puzzled her. She didn’t altogether understand why the subject of their parents was off-limits—aside from hermean-spirited psychotic mother, April thought, seething all over again. That she could completely understand. Statutory rape? Please, she would have been eighteen in a couple of months. It was just like her mother to threaten something so heinous.
Even though the warning had been a legitimate excuse, April couldn’t help but think that there had to have been more to it. Ben had been curiously evasive last night, not necessarily reluctant, but not altogether forthcoming, either. Hell, she’d only learned about the statutory rape issue because he’d let it slip, and she couldn’t help but wonder if there would be more he might unwittingly reveal over the next week.
Furthermore, why on earth would he consider their fathers off-limits? April knew that Ben and his father had had a slight falling-out shortly after their relationship had ended, but she’d always chalked it up to typical teenage behavior. Now she wasn’t so sure. Something about Ben’s demeanor didn’t sit right. She couldn’t exactly put her finger on it, but it sure as hell made her wonder all the same.
Besides, what could her father possibly have to do with anything? Her dad might have his faults, buthe’d always been good to Ben’s family, particularly his father. Unable to hold a steady job after Vietnam, her father had given Davy Hayes a permanent home for his family and a steady income. What could Ben possibly find wrong with that? A frown inched its way across her forehead. It just didn’t make any sense. Then again, she could be reading more into Ben’s motives than what was actually there.
At any rate, she would abide by his rules. Quite frankly, she wasn’t interested in discussing their parents this week anyway. April harrumphed. Visions of her disapproving mother and distant father were hardly conducive to getting her orgasm back. So as far as she was concerned, the further they were away from her mind over the next seven days, the better.
As for her shaky history with Ben, she’d said her piece last night. She’d addressed the elephant in the room because she’d been certain that moving forward without letting the other go would have been difficult. Doable, but difficult. Just keeping things on a sexual level and her silly heart disengaged was going to be hard enough.
April knew that she’d never fully gotten over Ben. He’d always been her secret love, that special someone who couldn’t be replaced. She’d moved on, had managed to have normal relationships with other men, but he’d always been there in the back of her mind, a ruler by which she measured every other guy.
He’d been special.
And this week with him would either solidify that youthful impression—prove that it wasn’t just her imagination, that he had been the guy of her dreams—or dispel the fantasy once and for all.
Either outcome put her heart in danger.
What was it he’d said last night? Are you opposed to it becoming more? Meaning, would you like this to be more than sex? Though she’d given him a guarded, sophisticated answer last night, deep in the place where wishes grew, she did long for it to become more. She couldn’t help it.
But she was no longer the doe-eyed teenager convinced that she’d die without him. She was a self-sufficient single woman who could take care of herself and she was proud of what she’d accomplished. Would she like a man in her life? Sure, so long as it was the right man.
While it was possible that Ben could be the one for her, it was equally possible that he wasn’t. She’d seen too many women compromise their independence and good sense just for the
As for Rule Number Two…that one puzzled her. She didn’t altogether understand why the subject of their parents was off-limits—aside from hermean-spirited psychotic mother, April thought, seething all over again. That she could completely understand. Statutory rape? Please, she would have been eighteen in a couple of months. It was just like her mother to threaten something so heinous.
Even though the warning had been a legitimate excuse, April couldn’t help but think that there had to have been more to it. Ben had been curiously evasive last night, not necessarily reluctant, but not altogether forthcoming, either. Hell, she’d only learned about the statutory rape issue because he’d let it slip, and she couldn’t help but wonder if there would be more he might unwittingly reveal over the next week.
Furthermore, why on earth would he consider their fathers off-limits? April knew that Ben and his father had had a slight falling-out shortly after their relationship had ended, but she’d always chalked it up to typical teenage behavior. Now she wasn’t so sure. Something about Ben’s demeanor didn’t sit right. She couldn’t exactly put her finger on it, but it sure as hell made her wonder all the same.
Besides, what could her father possibly have to do with anything? Her dad might have his faults, buthe’d always been good to Ben’s family, particularly his father. Unable to hold a steady job after Vietnam, her father had given Davy Hayes a permanent home for his family and a steady income. What could Ben possibly find wrong with that? A frown inched its way across her forehead. It just didn’t make any sense. Then again, she could be reading more into Ben’s motives than what was actually there.
At any rate, she would abide by his rules. Quite frankly, she wasn’t interested in discussing their parents this week anyway. April harrumphed. Visions of her disapproving mother and distant father were hardly conducive to getting her orgasm back. So as far as she was concerned, the further they were away from her mind over the next seven days, the better.
As for her shaky history with Ben, she’d said her piece last night. She’d addressed the elephant in the room because she’d been certain that moving forward without letting the other go would have been difficult. Doable, but difficult. Just keeping things on a sexual level and her silly heart disengaged was going to be hard enough.
April knew that she’d never fully gotten over Ben. He’d always been her secret love, that special someone who couldn’t be replaced. She’d moved on, had managed to have normal relationships with other men, but he’d always been there in the back of her mind, a ruler by which she measured every other guy.
He’d been special.
And this week with him would either solidify that youthful impression—prove that it wasn’t just her imagination, that he had been the guy of her dreams—or dispel the fantasy once and for all.
Either outcome put her heart in danger.
What was it he’d said last night? Are you opposed to it becoming more? Meaning, would you like this to be more than sex? Though she’d given him a guarded, sophisticated answer last night, deep in the place where wishes grew, she did long for it to become more. She couldn’t help it.
But she was no longer the doe-eyed teenager convinced that she’d die without him. She was a self-sufficient single woman who could take care of herself and she was proud of what she’d accomplished. Would she like a man in her life? Sure, so long as it was the right man.
While it was possible that Ben could be the one for her, it was equally possible that he wasn’t. She’d seen too many women compromise their independence and good sense just for the
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