They were so caught up with each other, her mind focusing on nothing but the way he was making her feel, that when he touched the waistband of her three-quarter-length jeans she froze for a split second, a new thrumming starting to pulse through her mind. This was really happening! She was going to lose her virginity here—tonight...right now!
Arthur paused. ‘What’s wrong?’ He stared at her and she tried as hard as she could to let him see that she wanted this, that she wanted to be with him, to forget about everything else in the world except for the two of them and the way they made each other feel. ‘We don’t have to do this.’
But she wanted to. Why couldn’t he realise that? It was just that it was so...so...grown-up and scary, in a good way. She tried to reassure him but even then she stammered over her words. If only she hadn’t overheard what was being said in her parents’ lounge room...‘danger’, ‘leave’, ‘tonight’... If only she and Arthur had more time, to let their relationship develop into an even deeper sensation of passion and love, but the fear that things were going to change drastically was something she couldn’t shake.
‘Honey, you don’t need to do anything. I’m not going to force you.’
‘Oh, I know you would never do that. Never.’ Her words were clear and to the point. He brushed her hair back from her face and bent to kiss her mouth once more.
‘Then why? Why come here and say what you did when you clearly have reservations?’
‘Because I don’t want to die a virgin!’ she blurted out.
‘Die? Who said anything about you dying? I’m not going to let anything bad happen to you and, besides, where you and I are concerned, we have plenty of time. Things will take their natural course when we’re both ready.’ Arthur’s lips quirked a little at the corners and instead of getting cross at him for finding what she’d said amusing, she relaxed, his humour showing her she was probably overreacting.
‘I know.’ She extracted herself from his arms and shifted so she could lie on his bed, her head on his pillow. She absent-mindedly wound her hair around her finger, something she often did when she was confused or agitated. ‘It’s just that...my parents have been acting strange lately.’ At Arthur’s raised eyebrow, she amended, ‘Stranger than usual.’
‘Stranger than spending more time at their research lab than with their daughter?’
‘Hey, I don’t mind. It means I get to hang out here and your parents treat me like another daughter, and Clara and I can have fun together, and you and I...’ she winked at him ‘...get to have fun together, too.’
‘Don’t tease,’ he growled as he came to lie down next to her, slipping his arm under her head. The intense moment had passed and now, as they lay there, the atmosphere was one of friendship and support between a boyfriend and girlfriend. ‘It’s the way they don’t seem to take much of an interest in you, as though you’re always the afterthought, that I don’t like. Apart from that, I think your parents are both incredibly intelligent people who will one day find a cure for cancer.’
‘Perhaps they already have,’ May murmured. Was that the reason her parents had been so closed off lately? Installing extra security around the house? Huddling together whilst having wildly gesticulating conversations? Had they found a cure for cancer and someone didn’t want them to share it?
‘Really?’
‘I don’t want to talk about them,’ she told him. ‘Tell me about your exam. Are you supposed to be studying now?’
‘Yes. I was timing myself with the answers.’ He pulled his watch from his pocket and May immediately put it onto her wrist.
‘What subject?’
‘Biology.’
‘Ah. That’s my speciality. I’ll help you study. Where are your papers?’
‘I think you’re lying on them.’
‘Oh.’ She shifted around and pulled them out from beneath her, making sure they didn’t rip. ‘All right. Question number one,’ she said in her best gameshow-host voice and the two of them laughed.
‘Shh. We don’t want my parents coming in.’ He kissed her nose and she snuggled closer to him, breathing him in.
‘You smell good.’
‘I don’t think that information is included in my revision notes.’
‘I’ll soon fix that.’ May pulled a small pink pen from the pocket of her three-quarter-length pants, having left it in there from school that day, and wrote, ‘Arthur smells delicious’ in pink ink at the top of the page. ‘All fixed,’ she said, and handed him the pen so she could hold the papers more easily. ‘OK, future Dr Lewis. Time to study.’
‘I’d rather spend more time kissing you,’ he returned.
‘And that will be your reward because I’m not having you fail this exam because of me.’ She scanned his notes. ‘OK. Answer this.’ She chose a question and waited for him to answer. Whenever he got it right, she kissed him. Several times she asked him questions that weren’t contained within his notes, making him think even harder on the subject.
‘How do you know all this stuff?’ Arthur chuckled as he kissed her once more.
‘Are you kidding me? With one parent researching the human genome and the other an expert in synthetic compounds, is it little wonder this stuff runs through my veins?’
‘You should study medicine.’
‘And become a doctor like you’re going to be?’
‘I’ll be a couple of years ahead of you at medical school so we could study together.’
‘Like you help me study for my school exams?’ May giggled, remembering how their last study session had ended with the two of them making out on the couch. ‘I’d never pass!’
‘Sure you would. You’re smart.’
May eased back and looked him. ‘You think I’m smart?’
He seemed surprised by her question. ‘May, you’re the smartest girl I know. Why else would I be with you?’
‘Because I’m pretty?’
‘Honey, you’re beautiful. My belle.’ He kissed her. ‘And yes, there’s no denying we’re attracted to each other, but one of the main things I love about you is your intelligence.’