I been a busy little bee working double shifts so I've not had much free time to type this up. Sorry it's taken so long and hopefully it was worth the wait.
*****
* Michelle*
I was sprawled on my stomach, one arm dangling off the edge of the bed and my face buried in a pillow. My mouth was dry and I rolled over noticing my nudity and lack of covers at the same time I felt a twinge between my legs. I smiled, thinking of how amazing the things we'd done to cause my tenderness had been. I was a little past pleasantly tender.
I got up to stretch out as much of the stiff soreness as I could. I wondered where Brian was and why he'd gotten up so early but decided to shower before I went looking for him. Maybe he'd even join me again.
I shaved, washed my hair, taking my time. I got out when it became obvious I was wasting hot water. I dried my hair standing nude in front of the vanity mirror. I noticed I had several fingerprint bruises on one thigh and then a quarter sized one on my left ass cheek. Porn star bruises, I grimaced. Still at least they weren't on my knees. I bruised easily and certainly hadn't noticed when they happened.
I walked in the bedroom and pulled out a pair of lacy briefs and cut off shorts. I pulled a scoop neck tee on sans bra and wandered out to find Brian. I noticed the washing machine and dryer were both hard at work as I passed them going down the hall.
Brian was sitting at the kitchen table with his nose in a book. One hand was shoveling cereal in his mouth in a mindless way that I was disgusted to find myself thinking of as cute. I watched him for a while until I realized what he was reading.
"Seriously? I have two shelves of romance novels out of like fifty plus total shelves and you're reading a romance?" I moved to get a bowl and spoon out snagging the milk from the fridge before I settled at the table across from him.
"Good morning beautiful." He smiled at me sliding the cereal towards me. "I was doing research. This is pretty steamy stuff." He waggled his eyebrows. "Do you find this sort of thing romantic? I mean this guy tricked the girl into marrying him for her inheritance which it turns out she doesn't have but he falls in love with her so no harm done?"
"No honestly I don't. The local used book store has a free box out front." I pointed out the black mark across the top of the pages of the book. "The owner marks them so people don't waste her time trying to trade them back to her. I can't hardly resist a free book and once I have it well..." I shrugged helplessly. "If I can't find it a good home if it doesn't belong with me forever, what can I do but let it stay with me?" I acted as if I were covering the books ears. "They recycle unwanted books in this county."
He laughed. "So you're saying you can't turn away a homeless book? Have you read all the books in there? Or are a majority of them homeless?
I thought about it. "I'd say five percent are homeless but I think I read about two percent of those all the way through. I started to read them all of course. I don't just bring home every stray I find. That filth though, my Great Aunt Glenda can't get enough of those. Not that I hate all romances but she likes the ones with male chauvinist jackasses." I shrugged. "I pick um up throw them on a shelf and she carts them off when she visits."
"Well that's a relief. I was really wondering how I could manage to trick you into doing something you didn't want to do."
"I'd really prefer you stick to convincing me to do things I already wanna do. You're good at it. Thanks for starting the laundry by the way, that was sweet. I should probably strip the bed today." I smiled at him when he really registered what I'd said.
"I don't mind laundry. So what exactly do you want to do that I should be convincing you to do today?" He made a face. "That sounded better in my head."
I laughed and poured cereal. "I don't know about being convinced of anything crazy today. I know this is your vacation but how about a lazy day?"
"Lazy sounds good to me too. I don't expect you to provide a thrill a minute or constant entertainment. It's just nice to be here with you." He leaned over the table. "It has been though, a thrill a minute. " He waggled his brows before looking a bit sheepish. "I saw the bruises this morning. I'm sorry about those I knew I was too rough last night. I didn't really hurt you did I?"
"You didn't hurt me. It's fine and the bruises aren't really a big deal." I cleared my throat. "So what would you like to do today?" I finished a bit primly.
"How about we cuddle up and read or watch a movie in between doing the laundry?"
"Sounds good to me." I said beaming at him.
After I finished eating I did the dishes quickly and went back to strip the bed. Brian was in the hall folding clothes straight out of the dryer. He had the underwear I'd shoved into his pocket last night in his hands and I realized the load was nothing but my delicates he'd even used a lingerie bag. I was impressed despite myself.
I had just unfurled the fitted sheet when Brian came in and took up the other side. We made the bed together and I was amused when I caught him tucking covers and all under the mattress up his side of the bed. He got all the way to the top before he grunted in obvious disgust and undid it. He proceeded to do a very neat hospital corner which is exactly what I like. I enjoyed watching him. The muscles in his arms rippled and his face was very expressive.
"So exactly how serious were you about my keeping that little gift you gave me last night?" He'd turned and picked up a pile of folded underwear he'd brought in and on top were the ones I'd put in his pocket last night.