The world comes back to life in increments; soft light on the other side of my eyelids, Lisa's fingertips tracing circles on my back, the feel of her body up against me, warmth, and finally her voice.
"I think you tuckered her out babe," she whispers.
"Let her sleep, she earned it," Mike whispers back.
"I know. All those orgasms in a matter of hours will do that to you," she says, "especially when she's not used to it."
"When are you going to tell her," He asks. Tell me what, I wonder.
"Tell her what?" she says.
"That you love her," he replies, as calm as you please.
"I never said that I was in love with her," she whispers even more quietly.
She loves me? I try not to let my shock show. I feel warm inside.
"Lisa, it's all over your face every time you look at her. You look at me the same way," he says. "I know you well, you know."
Lisa is quiet, thinking. She has said more than once that Mike always seems to know how she felt about things even before she did herself. Maybe she hasn't yet realized how strongly she really feels about me.
Mike continues, "I don't mind. You are one of the most loving, caring people I know. You feel whole with me and her in your life, and I love you. The whole you."
"There's something about her I can't resist," she says after a minute.
"You have a thing for redheads with nice round bottoms apparently," he jokes.
She can't resist me? Nice and round, not huge? I am now positively glowing internally.
"She doesn't realize how nice her ass is," she says, "her ex really did a number on her self-image and her self-esteem took a nose dive. I think she's finally getting over that."
"Good," he says, "she ought to know how hot she is."
"Don't I know it." She lightly kisses me on the cheek.
"Well," Mike says, at full volume, "I'm going to go start on dinner. You two relax."
"Shhhh," Lisa says, "you'll wake her up."
"Honey she's been awake for a couple of minutes. You should pay more attention to your girlfriend," he chides. "You guys probably want to talk now." With that he steps out and shuts the door.
I can feel her eyes on me as I open mine. "Hi babe," I say, "how long have I been asleep?"
"Hey yourself," she says, kissing my lips. "About two hours sleeping beauty. Feeling rested?"
"Yes. Thanks for giving me a warm place to snuggle. I was very comfy." I pull her arms around me tighter. I wonder if we're going to talk about what Mike said.
The elephant in the room swishes its tail, turns its huge head to look at both of us and lays it's trunk on the bed, tapping the end impatiently as if to say, "well, now what?"
"About what Mike says," Lisa starts, and then stops, not knowing how to finish.
I finish it for her. "He said that I deserved my nap. That I make you whole. That you love me. Oh yeah, and that I have a nice round bottom."
She puts her forehead against mine, "Mer I think I...no, I know that I love you. I really do. I've felt it for a while."
She loves me. Yes! "I love you too babe," I say, knowing it's true even as the words leave my mouth. "I've never been this happy, and I'm never happier than when I'm with you. I think about you constantly when we're apart, and I'm usually smiling like a goober when I'm doing it." We're both tearing up at this point. Good tears, of course. Tears of joy and relief.
"Oh, thank God," she says, kissing me again, fervently. We make out for a few minutes, our kisses mixed with I love you's. Lisa finally breaks contact, "come take a shower with me before dinner lover. I feel kinda sticky."
"Gladly...lover," I say, "I could use one myself."
We practically skip to the bathroom hand in hand. It's a large master bath with a stand-up shower and a big oval tub for two. The tan tiles are cold under my bare feet. As Lisa leans in to start the water I rub her back. When she's satisfied with its warmth, she leads me underneath the big rainfall style shower head. We hold each other close under the hot stream for a full minute before we start to clean each other from head to toe. Naturally we make out some more before we get out.
Mike knocks on the door as we're drying each other off. Lisa calls him in.
"Dinner is in the oven," he says, "and I'm going to jump in myself"
"You're welcome to whatever hot water is left," Lisa says before kissing him, "Thanks for cooking babe."
"My pleasure," he replies.
Lisa leads me into the bedroom, goes over to her dresser, the one with the girly stuff on it, and pulls out two long sleep shirts. "One for you, one for me," she says, "so we're not eating dinner naked."
She puts hers on, a close fitting white one with pink kittens all over it, and hands me a light green one. When I put it on and look down there's a picture of the Grinch's face on the front, right across my boobs. Must be a holiday leftover. "Your covered in cute little pink pussies and I get the Grinch who stole Christmas?"
"I'm doing you a favor. You wouldn't believe how much the Grinch turns Mike on." She's trying not to laugh.
"OK, fine. But you should know how much little pink kitties turn me off." I'm trying to sound irritated, but I end up smiling as I rap my arms around her and pull her onto the bed. We kiss thoroughly until Mike comes in wrapped in a towel. He soon has on some pajama pants and a T shirt.
"Dinner in ten ladies," he says, "I......Lisa did you really give her the Grinch shirt? That is so hot." He winks at me and steps out to prep the grub.
Lisa laughs out loud. "See, I told you so," she says, still laughing.
"I'm pretty sure he was kidding. But I'll wear your silly shirt on one condition."
"Making demands huh," she says, "what do you want you fiendish woman."
"Tell me you love me," I say, placing my hand on the side of her face, turning her lips toward mine.
"Meredith, I love you," she replies, "now kiss me some more before we eat."
That will not be a problem. We don't leave the bedroom until the plates are on the table.
When I sit down, there's a plate of what looks like chicken casserole in front of me and a big salad in the center of the table. It looks and smells delicious. "Wow Mike," I say, "you sure are multi-talented."
"Oh, it's nothing," he replies. Lisa clears her throat. "Actually, all I did was stick it in the oven and turn it on. My darling and forgiving wife prepped the casserole this morning. You can give me credit for the salad though."
"Ah. The truth shall come out," I say. "Don't worry, I'm still impressed." We dig in and the next fifteen minutes are filled with the sounds of three people, who most definitely have worked up an appetite, devouring dinner.
Under the table I can feel Lisa's legs rubbing against mine, footsies ensue. As soon as we're done eating Mike clears the table with a promise to return with dessert.
As soon as he's gone Lisa leans in and whispers, "So what did you think?"
I lean in too, "That was incredible. He really does know what he's doing. He's so much bigger than Randell, not that that's saying much, he felt really good inside me," I say. I can feel my face flush.
"It looked like a nice fit to me, you should try him up your ass," she adds right before he walks in.
I lean back, eyes wide and shaking my head, "I don't know about all that."
"Know about what?" he asks, placing small bowls of vanilla ice cream in front of both of us. There's chocolate syrup on top with a single cherry in the middle.
"Oh nothing, girl talk," Lisa answers, "thank you for dinner babe."