The air fryer beeped loudly. Kerrie reached over and opened it. "Fries are done."
Chapter 25
Bette was snuggled into Kerrie's side, her arm around Bette as she finished her ice cream and fries. The fry basket was balancing on Kerrie's thigh. They had put on the movie Twister and settled onto the couch. Kenny was still sawing away on the monitor. Kerrie couldn't remember the last time she had relaxed this much. It felt great. Blissful. A little more tension melted off of her shoulders.
"Well, that was a nice treat," announced Bette as she licked the last bit of ice cream from her spoon, her tongue cleaning it effortlessly.
Kerrie swallowed hard, pushing at the image of that tongue swirling around other things. She held out her hand for the garbage. "I'll go throw it away."
Once settled back on the couch, Bette leaned into her side, tucking her feet underneath herself. Kerrie smoothed her hand slowly around Bette's curvy waist, enjoying the feel of soft, cotton-covered flesh beneath. She felt Bette shift and momentarily panicked. Maybe she should have put her arm around her shoulders instead of her waist, but then Bette's hand mimicked her moves, smoothing slower than necessary to cup Kerrie's inner thigh. She was sure Bette could feel the goosebumps that she caused to pimple Kerrie's skin.
A humming vibration pulsed through Kerrie. It was one of those moments where she needed to decide to initiate more contact or actually watch the movie. It was the riskiest part of the dating game. Well, other than saying the L word. That was the riskiest move of all. But initiating the first big physical move was a close second. Should she wait? Give them a little more time. But the fingers gently, barely ghosting her inner thigh in lazy swirls, suggested maybe Bette didn't want to wait for another movie night.
Bette was sending her a signal. A silent invitation.
Kerrie increased her grip on Bette's waist, tugging, guiding Bette to turn enough that Kerrie could lean down, nuzzling her face just under Bette's ear. Bette allowed herself to be guided, giving Kerrie more confidence. She softly kissed the sensitive skin below her ear, smelling the dab of perfume Bette had placed there before coming upstairs. The scent of honeysuckle and fresh rain bolstered her arousal, spurring her to place her hand on the other side of Bette's neck, pulling her close. Bette let out a soft, pleading moan. A moan that might as well have been a section of supporters cheering Kerrie on. She knew she had chosen the correct option, especially as the hand on her thigh inched a little higher and tighter, perfectly manicured nails digging into her flesh. It instantly sent a sharp ache between her thighs.
Increasing the pressure of her slow, methodical kisses on Bette's heated neck, she was rewarded with Bette turning further, seeking out more contact. She pulled her mouth away and crashed her lips against a needy Bette's. The heated make-out session that followed was exhilarating. Intoxicating. It took them a moment to get comfortable; neither was spry anymore. After 15 minutes, the crick in Kerrie's knee and the ache in Bette's back were enough to pause them.
Panting hard, both shifted to be more comfortable, a mix of different kinds of aching within both of them. Bette spoke first. "I think I'm getting too old for making out on the couch."
Nodding, Kerrie ran a hand through her hair. "Yeah, I'm not exactly in the shape to be flexible."
No one spoke for a couple of minutes, then Bette broke the silence, speaking in a low voice. "Is Kenny a heavy sleeper?"
A bomb went off in Kerrie's head. She assumed when they parted that they were finished. But Bette still wanted more. Just in a more comfortable place. "Yeah, his pain meds help him sleep for a while, and my room is at the end of the hall."
Bette nodded, pulling her lip in between her teeth. She looked down at her lap. "It's been a really long time since I've, you know, been with someone."
Kerrie could feel the apprehension rolling off Bette. The uncertainty was on full display. She took Bette's hand, enclosing it between her own. "It's been a while for me too. We don't have to do anything toni—"
"No, no, I, I just..." She trailed off, looking around the room as if she would find the words written on the walls.
"You know, we can just lie down and see where things go. First times are fun because they're not perfect. We can feel awkward and clumsy together."
A small smile spread across Bette's face as she looked over at Kerrie. "Awkward and clumsy together sounds kinda fun."
"Do you want me to turn everything off down here, and you go on up?"
"That works for me. Which door is it?"
"Up the stairs, last door on the left."
Kerrie was relieved she had put clean sheets on her bed that afternoon. She hadn't made up the bed besides putting the fitted sheet on, but at least they were clean. Once everything was off, and she double-checked that the doors were locked before climbing the stairs, baby monitor in hand. Kenny was still sleeping; his breathing was even, and his snores were loud. She hoped he would stay that way. Kenny understood what sex was. He knew how babies were made, and he’d walked in on her before when they were younger. She just really didn't want to be interrupted this time. Not during their first time, if it did happen.
She opened the door to her room to find Bette had arranged the sheet and top quilt, and she was now lying underneath them, the quilt pulled up to her shoulders. The messy bun was gone, and the crown of blonde framed her face in a mock glow.
"I picked the side of the bed that didn't have anything on the side table. I figured the other one was your side."
"You figured right." She deposited the monitor on the side table and turned off the light. The only light came from under the edges of the curtain, blocking out the street lamps outside and a little glow from the nightlight in the hall seeping from the partially closed door.
She slipped under the covers, sinking into the mattress. Turning on her side, she faced Bette, who was lying on her back, just barely making out her silhouette. Kerrie could feel her nervousness without even touching her. "You know, we can just spoon."
"Are you okay with that?"
"Yeah, I'd love that."
"I would love that, too," said Bette.
