Disappointed that Ellie won’t be in my arms tonight, I drag on a pair of flannel pajama bottoms and climb into bed.
Five
Ellie
I sit in the corner of the worn floral sofa with a bowl of popcorn between my legs when all I want is Cooper between my legs.
“Don’t you love him?”
I nearly fumble the bowl of popcorn. “Who?” I ask too fast.
“Ian Somerhalder, silly.” Mom leans forward to get a closer peek at the sexy man on the screen. “Who did you think I was talking about?”
I avoid the question. “You’re such a cougar.”
Mom laughs. “I’m old. Not dead. How about one more?”
I look at the grandfather clock sitting in the corner. The pendulum swings back and forth keeping track of every sec
ond I’m down here. Every second I’m away from Cooper.
“I don’t know, don’t you think three is enough?” Once you scroll past the commercials, they are only about forty minutes each, but I’ve spent two hours watching vampire drama and vampire sex, and all I want is to snuggle up against Cooper.
“Please,” she begs. “Your father is a snoring, farting, La-Z-Boy ornament. I rarely have company watching my guilty pleasures. Surely you can spare another hour for your mom.”
I sink back into the comfy sofa and sigh. “I’m all yours.”
She starts the next episode, and I’m stuck for another forty minutes.
When I finally reach my room, I close the door softly behind me. My heart beats like a drum in my chest. Tonight is the night. Years of longing and want will be buried the minute he sinks himself into my body.
I look around my room. It still screams teenager from the Keith Urban poster on the wall to the collage of high school photos taped above my desk. Not wanting my friends or Keith to witness what will go down in this room tonight, I pull everything down and shove it into my closet. Tonight is about Cooper and me, and no one else is invited.
Next, I rummage through my drawers to find the sexiest pair of panties I have. A little pink thong my college roommate bought me when she saw my white cotton briefs. I saved them for a special occasion. Tonight is about as special as it will get.
My socked feet make no sound as I cross the bathroom floor to his door. Thinking I’ll tell him I’m going to shower first, I twist the handle and find it locked.
“Cooper,” I whisper into the doorjamb hoping he’ll hear me. “I’m going to shower and then I’ll be waiting for you.”
I stand still hoping he’ll answer but I hear nothing, so I start the shower, undress, and climb into the mist.
The hot water glides over my body—the heat pulsing against my sore muscles. Who knew an orgasm could strain a muscle, but I feel the strain of my first in every part of my body. It is a whole body experience that starts in my toes and ricochets straight to my brain while simultaneously threading and wrapping around my spine until it twists and coils around my womb and explodes outward.
My sudsy hand reaches between my legs. Deliciously tender from the scruff on his face, I wonder if every orgasm is the same or if some are better than others. Will my first be my best and then all others will pale in comparison?
Although I shaved this morning, I pick up the razor and give my legs another pass. Tonight has to be perfect. I don’t want this to be a one and done experience. I’ve loved Cooper for far too long to let him go after one night of passion.
When I’m out of the shower, I tap on the door and whisper, “I’m ready.” Then I race to my bed and climb nearly naked under the covers. The only thing I’m wearing is the thong and my heart on my sleeve.
I try over a dozen positions to find the one Cooper will think is sexiest. Leg out of the cover. Sheet falling over my breasts. Back turned with only a peek of my bottom. I settle on the sheet half on and half off, draped over my body like a toga so I look like a Grecian Goddess, or so I hope. I take a selfie and send it to him with the caption, “I’ve been waiting years for tonight.”
I wait and wait. Every sound I hear makes my heart race. Footsteps in the hallway have me holding my breath. My door opens a crack.
“Good night, sweetheart.” My mom’s voice echoes through the silence, but I don’t answer. I never considered she’d do a bed check. Is that what that was? I grip the sheet and pull it to my neck hoping she didn’t get a glimpse of what I wasn’t wearing.
The door closes and I let out a long exhale. My eyes never leave the bathroom door because that’s where I assume Cooper will enter.
A moonbeam sneaks past a break in my blinds and spotlights the bathroom door perfectly. I wait and watch and wait and watch and wait.