The fluttering in my heart subsides as I try to think of an excuse to tell Father. Nervously and a bit embarrassed, I confess one of my major obstacles. “My father would not approve of me seeing any Death Lords. I’m not sure how to get away.” He’s silent for a moment and I rush to apologize. “I’m sorry. I’ve never dated before and I live with him. I want to come over and my problem is stupid and juvenile—”
“No need to apologize,” he interrupts. “I’m just thinking of a solution for you. We’re going to take this one step at a time. Your old man was gone a couple of days this week, right?”
“Yes, he was at a pastors’ conference in Minneapolis. He got back today.”
“What would it take for him to be gone overnight?”
“If he had a sick parishioner who needed him, I guess. Or a birth. One night he sat with a member who’d been having a difficult labor.”
“That’s good. You sit tight and one of us will pick you up. Plan to spend the night.” There’s a smugness to his response.
“Wait,” I shout when I fear he’s about to hang up. “What should I bring?”
“Your sweet self, Little Red.”
* * *
When I arrive home, Father’s in the kitchen with his overnight bag on the table.
“Where’re you going?” I ask. I don’t have to fake my surprise because while Easy was confident on the phone, I didn’t realize he’d be able to act so fast.
“Mrs. Wilkins’ son called and said that she’s feeling very poorly. They need someone to watch over her tonight. I said I would be happy to do it. Apparently Pastor Mark is too busy.” His chest is puffed out in pride. Father enjoys being needed and a plea from a member of a rival congregation was exactly the right button to push. I wondered how Easy knew this and how he’d gotten his grandma to lie about it.
I am surely going to hell but at least I won’t be a virgin when I get there.
Chapter Seven
Easy
Annie is real nervous. She had a hard time holding onto my waist as we rode from the parish house across town to mine. Since she’s climbed off the bike, she’s clenched and unclenched her fingers so many times that I thought they might cramp up. I hand her a watered-down rum and Coke. It’s more cola than alcohol but the tiny bit of rum might settle her nerves. Plus it gives her hands something to do. Flipping on the television, I settle her into the curve of my arm.
“Are we not going to do anything?” she asks uncertainly.
“We are, but first we’re going to get to know each other.”
Michigan sits in the recliner that’s situated at a right angle to the sofa and doesn’t even pretend to watch the comedy show that’s playing in the background. None of us are interested in television but from what we gleaned at the granary, Annie’s as innocent as they come.
I kiss the top of her head and ignore the hard-on that’s threatening to break through my jeans.
“I’m nervous,” she admits. “I don’t know what I’m doing and I’m afraid that you’ll take one look at me and say that this is all a mistake.” She covers her face as if she’s already living that moment of humiliation.
Across from me Michigan frowns, maybe realizing for the first time that he’s not the only vulnerable one in this room. Turning toward Annie, I tug her hands down.
“First, I can tell your body is perfect. I’m a leg man and I’ve envisioned these long stems wrapped around my waist and over my shoulders.” The mention of her legs over my shoulders gets her deep red. Interesting. She might be innocent in practice, but I’m getting an inkling she’s read up on a thing or two. “Sure, you don’t have the big hair and you don’t wear the smoky, fuck-me eye makeup but you’re smoking hot, Little Red. Should I be nervous about what you think of me?” I turn a thumb toward my chest in hopes of easing her concerns.
“Oh my Lord, no. You both are so gorgeous it’s just hard to believe you’d want me,” she squeaks.
The area above Michigan’s high cheekbones pinkens at her compliment. We’re all full of compliments for each other but no closer to being naked.
“The thing with us, Little Red, is that we like making a woman feel good. Two sets of hands massaging her muscles, two sets of mouths licking over her skin. Bringing her off gets my motor revving harder than anything else. We’ve both fucked individually before and it’s good. If this thing we’ve got between us lasts for a while then you are going to have sex with the both of us individually. Some days I’ll be gone or Michigan will be out and we’ll have some one-on-one time, but the best times are when we’re all together.”