We were also loud. The first time we had been together the sounds of my pleasure had probably echoed throughout the second floor of the Pierce home but tonight Braden was almost as noisy as I was. There were plenty of gasps, moans and groans and he was also still saying very dirty things to me, and no longer in a whisper. Luckily, I knew that the Evans family from next door, along with their fourteen-year-old daughter Kaylee, was off visiting relatives in Martha’s Vineyard. It really was best that Kaylee was in another state that evening.
Finally the big moment arrived and I felt my muscles contract and my body shake. I believe I said something like, “Oh yes! Braden, I’m coming!” If I got that wrong, though, you could perhaps ask Jess, who was apparently walking in the front door at just that moment. Braden also managed to contribute a quote or two a few seconds later. I believe his exact words were “Oh fuck! Gabrielle!” accompanied by a groan.
As we lay there panting in a sweaty mass of tangled limbs I listened as Jess flipped some music on and cleared her throat loudly. Luckily I was too physically drained to work up the energy to be mortified. Besides, I think that I was getting used to people knowing what Braden and I did in bed.
“Uh Gabrielle?” Braden said, breathing heavily.
“Yes?” I managed.
“I think Jessica is home.”
“Thanks.”
When we recovered we decided to cuddle up in bed and watch PBS. At about eleven we went into my bathroom and we got ready to go to bed with plans to actually sleep. It was a nicely domestic contrast to the earlier part of the evening and we snuggled in together contentedly.
“So, I guess that we can add Jess to the list of people who know how good our sex life is,” I said with resignation. It was possible that Kaylee knew how good our sex life was all the way out in Martha’s Vineyard.
“Don’t be embarrassed, Gabrielle. I loved it and what we say to each other in bed is about us, not about anybody else. Unless my parents are right outside. That thought kind of freaks me out a little for some reason.”
“That’s understandable. Nobody wants to associate their parents with sex. Did you like it better because we were being so wild?”
“I liked it differently. I like it every way with you though. I wouldn’t change anything.” I leaned in and kissed him very tenderly.
“I’m really nuts about you, Braden.”
“You’re nuts all right.” He laughed. My mouth dropped open with indignation. “I’m just kidding, baby,” he said pulling me to him for another sweet kiss. “I feel the same way about you.” We held each other very tightly for a few minutes and then fell asleep like that.
* * *
The alarm went off at seven and Braden and I pulled ourselves out of bed. It was still very nice waking up with him but not nearly as much fun as being able to sleep in. Damn job. Why couldn’t we just be independently wealthy? Well, technically, I guess we were. So why were we getting up again? The image of a certain blonde socialite with no apparent skills popped into my head. Okay, that was why.
“Coffee,” I muttered.
“Coffee,” he agreed.
We threw on some clothes and wandered toward the kitchen. Jessica was there already looking all bright and cheerful. God, I hated morning people.
“Morning Gab. Hello Braden,” she said cheerfully.
“Good morning,” Braden mumbled. I said something like “gemnneg.”
“Help yourself to some coffee. You’re in the office all day, Gab?”
“Uh huh. I was thinking that if I get enough done I might try to do some research and figure out how we might get those samples we discussed.”
“Ah, good idea. The plan at the moment seems kind of abstract.”
“I’ll figure it out.”
“Is there more?” Braden asked, peering soulfully into his now empty coffee cup. What, had he inhaled it?
“God, we’re like addicts,” I replied.
“I wish they made a caffeine IV,” he said.
“I just drink it for the taste,” Jess said brightly. Two pairs of tired unamused eyes turned on her. “Just sayin’.”
* * *
We all got ready for work and walked in together, stopping to pick up bagels and muffins on the way. We said goodbye to Braden as he headed toward his office and we headed toward ours.
“Sorry if we were kind of loud last night,” I said sheepishly.
“I only caught the end. I was walking in during the big finish.”
“I’ve never been like this before. I’m like a shameless harlot with him.”
“In other words you have a good sex life.”
“How did dinner and drinks go?” I asked as we crossed Market Street avoiding random taxis and bicyclists who were obviously out for blood. I could navigate city traffic on autopilot.