Curio by Cara McKenna

masturbate, watching the way his arm trembled as he lost control… I was dizzy.
    “Come,” I said.
    He answered with a gasp, his back arching. His free hand held my shoulder and I stared at his biceps, his chest, the flush in his neck. I thrilled from the way he held me—tight and frantic, possessive. I wanted that hand on my shoulder when we finally fucked, tugging me into his thrusts.
    “Caroly.”
    Our gazes locked. I didn’t look away as he came, just stared straight into his dark eyes and memorized them. Hot come filled my palm, coated his knuckles, and I felt dirty and happy and honored to be a part of this mess, with this man. I smiled up at him.
    With a final weary groan, he released my shoulder, leaving me to grab a towel from the bedside table drawer. He handed it to me first before tidying himself.
    “Well,” he said as he lay beside me.
    “Yes, well.”
    He turned to grin at me. “So many new things tonight.”
    “I was thinking that too.”
    “And the night is not over.”
    As he said it, I felt a yawn rising. “I think it may be over for me. That was plenty for my second evening.”
    “I suppose… My, look how far we have come from the other night, you watching from behind that changing screen. At the rate we’re going, we’ll be married by morning.”
    Though I laughed, his words upended me. Being teased about such a thing made me both giddy and sad. Such a wonderful but impractical, impossible scenario. This man could never be mine for keeps.
    I sighed, suddenly exhausted. “I wonder what time it is.”
    “Not very late. Perhaps ten, maybe earlier.”
    Wow, not even my bedtime and look how much I’d accomplished! Being seen in sexy, matching underwear! Inaugural cock-touching! An orgasm at a man’s hand! Then another, just as the thrill of watching me triggered the same in him. Fellatio, if barely. I deserved a gold star.
    Didier leaned close, resting his chin on my shoulder. Oh, melt.
    “Are you staying the night? You’re always welcome to sleep here.”
    “I know, thank you. I hope you’re not offended if I don’t. Not yet, anyhow.” I was already stripped bare emotionally, and I knew I’d wake up whiplashed by the memory of everything that had happened. Better to do that alone and not have the worries of my greasy morning complexion and nasty breath casting an anxious shadow on the moment. Though perhaps if one evening I did sleep over, I could convince Didier to come out for a coffee. Didier by my side, in the broad daylight…
    After twenty minutes’ murmured fondnesses, we dressed in easy silence and he walked me to the door.
    I patted his arm. “I had a wonderful time.”
    “I’m so pleased. I’ll see you again?”
    How I fluttered, that he thought he had to ask. “You will.”
    “Would you like to choose a date now?” He touched my ear, a fond, teasing gesture. “Since you seem allergic to the telephone?”
    I laughed, blushing. “Not allergic, just shy. And sure. What evenings are you free this week?”
    “How about Tuesday? Or is that too soon?”
    I nodded, liking the notion—an otherwise boring day, but oh, how I’d float through the rest of my work week… “That sounds fine. Seven?”
    “Whenever you arrive. I’m always home.”
    “Okay, great.”
    I waited for the cheek-kissing, but he surprised me. A warm hand on my neck, hot lips pressed right to mine. The goodnight kiss I’d dreamed of since junior high, the one that had never hit the mark at the end of an actual date. My face burned with pleasure as he stepped back.
    “Goodnight, Caroly. Have a safe journey.”
    “I will. See you in a couple days.”
    That roguish smile. “I will count the seconds.”
    I rolled my eyes at him and waved, heading for the stairs.
    He called after me. “How come you never take the lift?”
    “I’m afraid of it.” Glancing over my shoulder, I saw his eyebrows rise.
    “So am I.”
    “Great minds,” I called.
    “Indeed.”
    A final wave, and I turned the