Chapter 12: Coming to Grips

The following morning, a Sunday, I came awake abruptly and wondered where I was. The room slowly came into focus and I realized I was at home; a split second later I grasped the fact I wasn't alone in my bed. A warmth of joy filled my chest.

Memories of the night before suddenly flooded my mind, and I turned onto my side, anxious to see Charli's face. I was a little disappointed; she was on her side, facing away from me. Her top had ridden up a little and I could see part of her spine and the smooth columns of muscle that braced it, along with the downy patch of fur at its base between two deep dimples. I reached over and pulled her pants down a little bit to get a better view. She stirred and moved one leg, then sighed deeply and relaxed.

Her butt was smaller than mine, much firmer and more muscular. I'd held it in my hands the night before, savoring the feel of it while we made love. It was feminine and round, pale in comparison to her back, and almost delicate-looking for a woman so tall and big-boned. I gently planted a whisper-soft kiss on one side and pulled her pants back into place.

Happiness makes a person smile, and I did so as I got out of bed and went to the bathroom to pee and brush my teeth.

I was washing my hands when Charli came in and sat on the pot. In the mirror, I saw her lean forward, put her elbows on her knees and rest her head in her hands; a few seconds later I heard the hiss of urine hitting the bowl. When she stood, I locked eyes with her in the mirror and she gave me a soft, hesitant smile.

I began brushing my teeth about then, and she came up behind me and put her arms around my waist. Her mound and belly pressed against my butt and back, and her breasts rested on my shoulder blades. Her arms tightened in a hug for a moment, then she held me loosely as I leaned over to spit. When I finished, she slid her hands up my torso and lightly kneaded my breasts, rubbing her thumbs lightly over my nipples. I tipped my head back and kissed her cheek.

"If you'd like to take another shower, I can make coffee and join you in a minute," I said.

"I'm good," she replied.

I dried my face with a towel and turned around to return her hug. Our bellies met, and I could feel her breasts against me. I put my hands on her hips and kissed her lightly, close-mouthed — I didn't know how she felt about her breath in the morning and I didn't want to offend her.

"Do you have a spare toothbrush?" she grinned.

I pointed and said, "In the drawer. I'll go make coffee."

We shared another soft kiss and gentle hug, and then I stepped away. The question of what would it be like to enjoy this every morning entered my mind and stuck there like a cocklebur.

I've always believed the first day after you make love with someone new, when morning comes there's always the chance of guilt or regret. I didn't feel any, but conversation over breakfast was sure to include our immediate future. I was waiting on the last drops to make it into the pot when Charli entered the kitchen; she was smiling, so I was pretty sure she was happy.

After a moment to share another kiss — this time with a little tongue — I poured two cups and we sat at the table.

"Good morning!" I said cheerfully.

She giggled. "And a good morning to you, fair maid," she replied.

"Woo-hoo! 'Fair Maid'! Where do you see one of those?"

She took a sip and pointed at me, smiling over the rim of her cup.

She leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs, letting one elegant foot make lazy circles in the air. I'd never been that interested in feet before last night — I could take it or leave it, and I hadn't done much of it except with Tammy — but the way the tendons appeared to sharply define the bones, the shiny hot pink polish on her toenails and the sultry curve of her arches made me rethink all the possibilities. I knew she liked it, and if she wanted to include it in our repertoire of lovemaking, it was okay with me. You do that for someone you care about, don't you?

We sat and sipped for a few minutes, looking at each other and smiling or gazing out the window at the birds. When I got up and poured our refills, Charli spoke.

"Good coffee; I think I'm awake now."

"Do you want something to eat?" I asked. "I've got bagels and cereal, or I can cook some eggs and things if you prefer."

"Some toast might be nice," she said.

I started making her toast and took two bagels from the breadbox for myself. I put some preserves and butter on the table, and by the time the toast popped up, we were set.

Charli has beautiful eyes, and as we ate they darted here and there, taking in the room and its furnishings, with occasional long glances at me. We were still dressed in the sloppy sweats we'd slept in, and I didn't know whether she was looking at my body or just me as a person. I didn't care either way, but I couldn't tell what she was thinking from her facial expression. I, on the other hand, was imagining the soft swell of her breasts as I'd seen them, or visualizing how her labia looked with her legs crossed. Odd to you, perhaps, but that's the way my mind works sometimes.

We finished eating and went into the den and parked on the couch with our coffee. Charli sat on one end, and I put my head in her lap.

She smoothed a lock of my hair away from my eyes and asked softly, "Did I do okay last night?"

"Absolutely," I assured her. "There's no set way to do it, and no rules; that's why I told you to do what you liked."

"I was a little tense when you went down on me."

"Whatever for?" I asked. "I love doing it; it's about the most intimate thing you can do."

"Well, I think my pussy is ugly," she said.

I laughed. "It's not. What makes you think that?"

"The way the lips hang out and stuff; I think it makes me look older than I really am."

I patted her elbow. "It's what you have, it's natural, and it's perfectly okay. I'd guess that surgery in that area would be pretty painful, too."

"I've been fairly shy about being nude with anyone because of it; a girl in school said I looked like a slut with an old, worn out pussy."