Chapter 29 Clarice
CLARICE
Clarice was glad for Bruno’s suggestion, and kissing was much, much better than rambling nervously about her ungrateful pet.
When his lips met hers, she forgot to be self-conscious. Her body stopped feeling like something she thought she ought to be apologizing for and it was completely natural and absolutely amazing to press it against him and arch into his touches.
It wasn’t nearly as awkward as she’d feared. He seemed to know exactly where to touch her, when to let her gasp for breath, and how to hold her. If it wasn’t magic, it was close enough, because Clarice was entirely under his sexy spell.
They took each step in perfect sync, ready to strip off their tops at the same time, glad for skin to caress and eager for more even while they relished each new discovery.
They made out on the couch for a time that Clarice didn’t mark, and then Bruno pulled her to her feet and suggested, “The bedroom?”
“Yes,” Clarice gasped. “Wait, I have a condom.”
She had exactly one, in the first aid kit at the bottom of her purse, and Bruno didn’t protest. “I’ve got more, if we need them,” he offered.
Clarice paused at a sudden thought. “Can shifting be caught like a venereal disease? Is it passed through bites?” He’d been nibbling rather deliciously hard at times and Clarice hadn’t stopped him because it felt so amazing.
“Strictly genetic,” Bruno assured her. “And I’m not promiscuous, if you’re worried. I can’t remember the last time…”
“Me neither,” Clarice chuckled. “I hope it’s like riding a bicycle.”
It was much, much better than riding a bicycle.
He was hard and she was wet, and everything fit just where it ought to with just the right amount of pressure, and it felt so good that Clarice never wanted it to end.
She had a sweet release of climax and then they switched positions and there was a second wave of pleasure cresting over her, and it still wasn’t over or enough.
He kissed her and she stroked him and they moved together in a harmony of gratification and glory until his movements got fiercer and his hands gripped her harder and he made a guttural noise of release that Clarice had only ever read about in books.
Their strokes slowed and gentled and finally fell off altogether as they lay together in sweaty, satisfied laxness.
“That was much better than talking about my cat,” Clarice had to giggle, feeling euphoric and limp.
Bruno’s chuckle thrummed under her ear. “Just like riding a bicycle,” he agreed.
“You are a very sexy bicycle,” Clarice laughed.
Then she put her hand over her mouth because she didn’t want to wake up Gil talking at full volume.
Bruno’s room was on the other side of the house and both doors were closed, but Clarice wanted to lounge naked with him as long as she could, and a five-year-old interruption would have been very unwelcome.
“Does instinct make you a better lover?” Clarice wanted to know.
Bruno looked flattered. “It’s hard to separate what’s instinct and what’s just paying attention,” he confessed. “You were pretty clear about what you liked.” He trailed a hand over a place beneath her breast that made her hiss in a breath, even after everything they’d just done.
Clarice flushed. She could probably do it all again, and had very mixed feelings about how wanton she’d been, now that the initial afterglow was subsiding. Suddenly very shy, she sat up and pulled a pillow into her lap. “We should… probably talk about this.”
Bruno sat up more lazily and gave her shoulder a casual kiss. “We probably should,” he agreed. “I really like you, Clarice.”
Clarice held her breath and realized she was waiting for the but. But this was just a one-time thing. But only as a friend. But everything is really complicated—which it honestly was!—and nothing else could happen.
Bruno didn’t volunteer it, so Clarice said timidly back, “I really like you. But what do we do next?”
“Shower?” Bruno suggested.
Was he not taking this seriously? “I meant—”
“I know,” Bruno said, and to Clarice’s astonishment, he leaned in and kissed her. It was a slow, serious kiss, and Clarice felt it relax all the tension left in her muscles.
“I don’t know what comes next,” he said, when he released her lips, “but I’m ready to find out if you are.”
“Yes,” Clarice said, feeling absolutely boneless to his touch. “Yes.”