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“About what?” I turn to look at her, giving her my full attention.
“I only have a summer dress to wear. I was worried you would pull out a suit or something.”
“I honestly think the only times I’ve worn a suit were at my dad’s funeral, my high school graduation, and when I applied for my business loan.”
The thing might even still be in my closet.
The scent of the bath bomb has filled the room, and I know I’m going to smell like a garden tonight, but I couldn’t care less. If it means spending time with Lenore with her guard down and making progress toward wherever this is going, I’ll happily smell like a bouquet.
I take out a bag of toiletries next, extracting some shaving supplies, a tube of toothpaste, and a brush.
“What else do you have in there?” She’s leaning forward in the tub, looking around me and into the bag.
With a flourish, I pull out a bathrobe, and she snorts. Just then, the door nudges open, and Norm pads in. He rubs against my leg once and then goes over to the tub and jumps up on the side, easily balancing on the thick edge. He makes no move to get in, and he backs away from her dripping fingers when Lenore lifts an arm to pet him.
“So, I guess swimming is out for you, huh?” She smiles at him and settles back in the tub.
An image comes to mind, her soaking, candles lit, at night. My shorts grow tighter. Part of me says I should focus on other things so I don’t scare her, and part of me wants her to know how she affects me.
I busy myself with the rest of my supplies, then hang my robe and a fresh towel on the hooks by the shower stall. Gathering my shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and washcloth, I set them on the built-in shower shelf. Making sure I’m clear of the nozzles, I start up the water and step back out.
Reaching over my shoulder, I grab a fistful of my shirt and pull it off in a practiced move. I don’t look toward Lenore while I turn it right side out and fold it up. I walk back to my duffle bag and set it inside.
I unknot my basketball shorts and slide them off, neatly folding them. I feel exposed in just my boxer briefs and a pair of socks, but I catch Lenore’s reflection in the mirror and see that she’s watching me with wide eyes. The top of her chest is exposed above the bubbles, and her breathing has picked up. Norm’s lazily washing his face and couldn’t care less.
I pull off my socks and put them into the bag. Keeping an eye on Lenore in the mirror to gauge her reaction, I slowly lower my underwear and push them down. I don’t think she realizes I’m watching her watch me since her eyes haven’t left my rear yet.
Losing some patience, I half-fold the briefs and toss them to the side.
When I turn around, there will be no hiding the fact that I’m semi-hard. I pause, looking again to see Lenore’s reaction. She looks absolutely fascinated, and I feel self-conscious for the first time since high school.
“Nore.” I grip the edge of the counter, filled with the need to reassure her that she’s in control of the situation. “If you say stop, I’ll stop, ok?”
“Huh?” She looks dazed, which convinces me she needs to be the one to set the pace.
“If this gets to be too much or you feel overwhelmed, you can say stop, and I’ll stop. Not just tonight, but anytime.”
“Matt.” I look over my shoulder. “I know.” Her voice is sincere, and her eyes are glittery, like she’s holding back tears. “You’re a good man. I know.”
“Nore.” My voice is choked with emotion.
“I want to do this. I have a hard time with guys because I don’t find many of them attractive. Especially after,” she pauses, “everything that happened. You. . . you make me want to try things.”
Now she’s the one reassuring me, and my ego swells knowing that she finds me attractive and trusts me enough to try this.
“How do you want to play this?”
My question snaps her attention upward, and a deep blush moves across her face at the realization that she’s been caught staring.
She meets my eyes and says, “Turn around,” so quietly I think I imagined it.
The mix of emotions in my gut roils, and I nod, not entirely certain this is the best course of action but entirely too happy to give her new, positive experiences.
I can’t help drawing myself tighter, flexing, so I don’t look quite so soft around the middle.
I can hear her breath sawing through the air now. Norm jumps off the side of the tub and leaves with an opinionated flick of his tail.
There’s nothing to cover up with, so when she says, “Matt. Turn around,” just a little louder, she has to know what she’s going to see.
