Charmed Life

I can’t stop smiling.

James’ family is like nothing I’ve ever experienced. Well, experienced recently. They remind me of when I was little, maybe eight or nine, when I first went to live with Gran and Gramps. It was summer, and I’d spent hours reading on a blanket under this old oak tree in their backyard. They were still living in their own house then. It was a little townhouse with a small backyard, and on the weekends, Gramps fired up the grill and we’d have hot dogs and burgers for dinner.

I’d never been happier.

Until now. His family welcomed me with open arms, and they talked to me like they’d known me forever. We landed a little before dinner, and James’ younger brothers, Michael and Peter, had greeted us at the airport before driving us to the family home in Whitby.

Rebecca, James’ younger sister, insisted on showing me the property, and after several warning glances from James, we made our way outside. I am still smiling, glad to be outside and smelling the fresh air. This Rebecca, unlike the one I know back home, is sweet and talkative, and barely pauses to let me slip in a word. But I like her. Just like I like the rest of James’ family.

“Can I ask you a question?” She asks me the second we’ve crossed the yard. I expected this, so I just nod. “And be honest.”

I nod again. I know what’s coming.

“How do you cook your bacon? James says it’s the best bacon ever and Mom’s a little jealous and I thought I’d ask.”

I stop walking, and turn to stare at her. She bursts out laughing and keeps walking, so I hurry to catch up.

“I’m totally kidding. Sort of. Mom is jealous, and James will not shut up about your bacon.” She frowns, and I laugh at the absurdity of the statement. “Seriously though, are you guys together?”

We’ve come to a stone bench on the edge of the property, and I sit down, using the time to stall.

“Honestly?” I answer. “No. We’re not. We’re friends. It’s weird. But that’s it.”

“And you’re disappointed.”

It’s not a question. It’s a fact. We both know it, so I don’t even bother to deny it. Rebecca smiles kindly, and puts a hand on my arm.

“Anyway, about that bacon…”

Back at the house, we gather on the back porch, finishing off a dessert James’ mom had made with blueberries and molasses. It’s delicious, and I want to eat it forever.

But it’s getting dark, and I can feel the day coming to a close.

“You ready?” James is at my side, his lips close to my ear as he whispers the question. I can feel the rest of the family pretending like they aren’t watching and listening.

“For what?” I whisper back without turning to face him. My cheeks are hot enough as it is. I can only imagine how red they are. I’ve grown so comfortable with him, but with his entire family here, I’m a little self-conscious. Even though I’m here as a friend, it sure doesn’t feel that way. It’s been like that all day. A small touch here, a brush there. Strangely intimate but unfamiliar for us all at the same time.

“To go.” I can hear that self satisfied smirk, and it makes my insides squirm. In a good way.

“You mean,” I finally turn to him, confused. “We’re not staying stay?”

Bad idea.

Our faces are only inches apart, and I have to move mine away because we’re so close. Too close.

“No, we’re not. I haven’t lived at home in a long time.”

“Right,” I agree, getting up way too fast and causing all the blood to rush to my head. I sway, and James put a hand out and I grab it instinctively. “Let’s go.”

“Okay then. Let’s go.” He doesn’t let go of my hand, and pulls me along to where his family has gathered on the porch. He announces that we’re going, and after many promises to stop by, warm hugs and smiles, we finally make our way outside.

I let out a huge sigh of relief, and James laughs.

“You can breathe, it’s over.”

“No, I – it was great. I mean, your family’s great.”

“I know, I like them.” He leads me to the car that his brothers had picked us up in, and still holding my hand, opens the door for me before getting in himself.

The second he’s strapped in and the car is purring, he reaches across and takes my hand again. I don’t even hesitate before lacing my fingers in his.

“This is new,” I comment, looking out the front window as if talking about the weather.

“Yeah,” he agrees, looking down at our intertwined hands curiously. “It is okay?”

I turn and look at him. Really look at him. I give his hand a reassuring squeeze. “It’s okay.”

By the time we get to James’ house, a modest townhouse fifteen minutes away, it s nearly midnight and I am ready to crawl into bed.

But that’s when the adrenaline hits.

Holy shit. What does this all mean? The hand holding and meeting his family and…

Crap.

Is he expecting me to –

“You must be tired. Let me grab everything and I’ll show to your room.”

Your room. As in my room. By myself.

It’s like he read my mind. Knew exactly what I was thinking. Panicking about. If that small smile is any indication, he knew exactly what was on my mind.

Damn it.

We finally have to let go, and I’m glad of it. It gives me a chance to clear my head, think about things, and get my mind out of the gutter.

My room has its own bathroom, and I shower and dress in shorts and a tee shirt, having properly packed in James’ company for once in my life. I am leaning against the middle of the headboard, legs stretched out on the bed (made by God knows who), while simultaneously trying to dry my hair and surf through all the unfamiliar Canadian shows on the TV on the dresser.

A light knock on the door is followed by James, dressed in his own manlier version of the short and tee combo. His hair is still damp, and he runs his hands through it once before sitting down next to me, leaning back like I am.

“What are you watching?”

“No idea.” I feel exposed, so I pull my legs up and wrap my arms around them. It’s the first time we’ve been alone all day, but I’m suddenly shy and self-conscious again.

Nice job Alayna, back to square one.

“They liked you,” James says, turning to me. “Mom was a little jealous of your bacon, but I think we’ve sorted that all out.”

I smile. I can’t help it. “I’m really glad. That they like me. And about the bacon.”

“Are you all good?”

I nod.

“Okay, I’ll see you in the morning?”

“Yep.” I nod again.

“And Alayna?”

“Yeah?”

He leans in then, and his lips brush mine lightly, gently. But I’m greedy, and I’ve wanted this a long time, even though I’ve pretended like I didn’t.

I let my lips part, beckoning him, and I feel his tongue slide against mine. I lean in, increasing the pressure between our lips until I can’t breathe anymore.

We break apart, and we’re both smiling, but we know we can’t push it too far. Not tonight, anyway.

“Goodnight.”

“Night,” I breathe, and too soon, he’s out my door, shutting it quietly behind him.

I turn the TV and the lamp off, and lie in the dark, cursing at myself.

My lips are buzzing and my entire body is pulsating from that one kiss. He’s so close, but he’s such a gentleman.

He’s in the next room, and I want to throw myself at him, but at the same time, I know I can’t.

Tossing and turning and unable to sleep, I decide to explore. After all, it is a new house.

I slip noiselessly out of my room and down the stairs, but I get no satisfaction from creeping around a home that isn’t mine. I’m not even craving orange juice, and the entire house, which probably hasn’t been lived in by anyone for a while, is freezing cold.

I head back upstairs, completely deflated, and find James standing outside my bedroom door.

“What are you doing?” I whisper, even though the two occupants of this house are both awake.

“I couldn’t sleep, so I came to check on you.”

That doesn’t make any sense, but it doesn’t need to, because I know exactly what he means.

Taking his hand, I lead him into my dark bedroom, shutting the door behind me before leaning against it.

In the dim moonlight, I can James standing uncertainly in the middle of the room. Before I can rethink this, I step towards him. He’s so tall that I have to stand on my tiptoes, but I wrap my arms around his neck for support.

He gets the idea, and helps me out by putting his hands on my waist, pulling me close.

I kiss him then, long and hard and slow. It’s not soft or gentle, but urgent and needed. He pulls me against him, and I can feel every one of his muscles against my chest.

His tongue finds its way in between my lips, and I greet it hungrily with my own. His lips leave mine and kiss their way down my throat.

I’ve got a fistful of hair and one of his shirt, bunching and moving it up until I’ve removed it completely.

I step back and take him in. I’ve seen his naked chest a million times, but never like this. He’s breathing hard, his chest rising and falling with every heated breath. He gives me a second, and then he scoops me up as I wrap my legs around his torso.

More kissing and touching, and then he lowers himself onto the bed so I am straddling him. He pulls my shirt off, and we are bare skin, touching. He runs his hands down my chest, letting the pads of his thumbs brush my nipples.

I gasp, and he flips us over so that he is on top of me. His lips roam over my body, causing me to utter sounds I never knew I was capable of. He reaches my stomach, and his fingers hook on the waistband of my shorts, pulling them lower to expose more and more skin until they are off completely. He sits up, and his eyes drink me in.

I am not embarrassed, or self-conscious. I need him.

Sitting up, I place light kisses on his chest, and he inhales sharply, the sound fueling my desire and confidence. I tug and pull, and we have to lie down to get his shorts off. I use my feet to push the fabric down his legs and he shakes them off so that we are completely naked. Just bodies pressed tightly against each other.

He sinks down on top of me, and I can feel him, long and hard and ready between my legs. My whole body throbs in anticipation.

He pulls away, only to return quickly, sliding slowly into me.

And then he begins to move, and my entire body writhes with pleasure.

It’s hard to imagine that this house ever felt cold. Right now, I’m in a burning furnace, and it’s hard to breathe. James’ body radiates heats, and I am burning. I try to hold it in, make it last, but my body loses control.

He cries out and I let go, moaning his name over and over. His body shakes once, twice, and then he collapses on top of me.

He kisses my forehead before gently detangling himself from me, but he stays close, conforming his body to surround mine.

I roll onto my side and bury myself against him, so he is spooning me from behind.

“That was new,” he says into my neck, arm slung over me, hand splayed over my bare stomach.

I giggle. “I liked it,” I say softly, interlacing my fingers in his.

“Me, too,” James says, his breath causing me to shiver as he pulls me even closer. We shimmy under the covers, and once we’re settled, I close my eyes, and in his arms, I fall asleep.