He fixed me with a sad smile. "You
will
fail. Somehow, sometimes, you will say or do something -- or not say or not do something -- that will hurt Jessica or one of the others. You cannot expect perfection of yourself. If you were capable of
that
, you would have perished on a cross two thousand years ago and risen three days later." He said with a wan smile. "Then you would be speaking words of assurance to me. Daily," he added with a grin and a laughing flash of his eyes.
******
While I had been talking with Jessica's pastor, she had been in conversation with the pastor's wife. They had not finished when the pastor and I concluded, so I waited on a bench in the hallway outside the offices. The door finally opened, Sister Jeanine pulling it back to herself, toughing Jessica gently on the shoulder as she passed. Jessica had clearly been crying. Sister Jeanine brightened when she saw me.
"Ah, and here is the man himself. I haven't seen Jessica this happy since the crash. That tells me something important about you. About what you mean to her. What you have done for her." Her eyes carried a wealth of information, only half of which I picked up on. She was positively disposed towards me, but wary about something. She sent Jessica on to the fountain and bathroom just down the hall.
"You have taken good care with her heart over these past few days. Jessica got swept away in the newness, the delight of having someone, but this morning she had an attack of guilt. The familiar setting, and the joy she had bringing you and your other -- partner -- turned to pain. She began to feel she had betrayed Darian, her late husband. Now, I've spoken with her, assured her that could not be possible. Knowing Darian as I did, I can tell you he would have encouraged her to find someone before now. He would one hundred percent approve of her doing this. All I can tell you is to keep being tender with her as you have been. Love her as best you can, don't hold back on your -- needs -- be they domestic or, um, physical. Just keep showing her she matters to you as a person. Over time, things will work out." She beamed a knowing smile, like a guide giving trail advice to one just starting down the path.
"Thank you, ma'am. I'll keep your advice in mind." I nodded respectfully. Jess came out of the bathroom at that moment, so I met her down the hallway. We left to rejoin Gabby as she watched the kids playing in the grass outside the church.
******
"Oh, thanks Jenn, this looks great." I eyed the array of meats, cheeses, and everything else laid out on the counter. Jenn had arranged sandwich makings and fruit for lunch so we could all get something, but not too much and not too heavy given the level of activity we anticipated. As I headed upstairs to begin packing, Leslie dragged me to her room.
She shut the door behind us. I turned to face her, seeing an impish smile on her face.
"Well, I got a birthday candle," she looked down at my crotch and licked her lips, "and a backyard dinner," she removed her shirt, exposing the new bra Bel picked out for her "then a nice home meal, and some lovely presents," she striped off her shorts, exposing the matching green panties, "and now, I need my cream pie. Please?" She fluttered her eye lashes coquettishly.
Chuckling, I approached her, took her in my arms, and kissed her with passion. Slowly at first, building up heat between us. I could hear her breathing accelerate and deepen along with mine. Yes, she was my daughter's best friend, and less than half my age. That's why I had always pushed thoughts like this aside. That's why I was initially resistant. But the world had changed, she was of legal age, and she wanted this enough to make the first move. First two moves.
And I have a thing for redheads. I mean, auburn would be ideal, but that shock of strawberry blonde exploding from her head stirred things down below. A thin little wisp of a girl with no sexual experience she may be, but she was hot, and funny, and smart, and loyal, and giving. How the fuck could I say no? Why would I resist? No, this girl is mine to please and enjoy and love and laugh with. And sometimes cry.
I broke the kiss, holding her loosely in my arms. "Before we start this --"
"Mom's had me on the pill for two years. I picked up a ninety day supply from the pharmacy Friday." Doctors and pharmacies had been issuing birth control prescriptions longer than the usual one month span so that women could maintain some control during the transition to whatever shape the world took. "Would you rather I stop?"
"Not for now. Jennifer and Jessica are actively trying to get pregnant, but I want to hold off on the rest so we can stagger the births. Seven women pregnant at the same time, seven newborns all at once, is not a recipe for family harmony. Or sanity."
"Oh good, then I can get all the lovin' I want for a while," Leslie giggled. She jumped up to kiss me, wrapping her legs around my waist. I took her feather weight added to my own easily. I placed one hand under her petite bottom, allowing the other to roam over her body, learning her body and stimulating her as well. I walked us over to the bed and leaned down, to lower her onto her back. Leslie made a small grunt of disagreement and shook her head no, still maintaining our liplock. I turned my back to the bed and seated myself on the edge. Leslie hummed her approval and pressed her chest against mine. She worked her body, pelvis and torso, sinuously, erotically. I'd never actually experienced the attentions of a belly dancer, but this had to be similar.
It didn't take long at all for my body to respond to the stimulation my strawberry minx provided. She felt it pushing against her immediately, as I could feel the grin in her kiss when she hummed her appreciation. I kept one hand behind her back, giving support without interfering with her motions. The other I brought around, moving downward, to play with her lower ribs, before tracing circles around her belly button. She hummed approval again. I slowly dragged a single finger up her deliciously soft tummy, my destination clear. Leslie paused her happy little sounds. And her kissing. She pulled her head back, gazing into my eyes expectantly. I circled my solo finger, over top her bra, around her left breast. Her breathing picked up and her head leaned back slightly. I spiraled inward, slowly. Just as I got to the outer edge of her areola, I stopped. Her head came back down and she looked at me, inquiring.
Holding her gaze, I came closer to her breast, then blew a column of heated breath at her nipple. She inhaled sharply. Her legs squeezed harder. I slipped both hands behind her back, unlatched her bra, and slowly removed it. Her apprehension screamed from her features. With a broad grin, I kissed the top slope of her other breast, the one I hadn't yet played with. I kissed the inner curve. I kissed the underboob, nibbling lightly. Her hums turned to moans. I kissed the outer curve of her breast. Her chest was heaving with each breath. I took her nipple and half of her breast into my mouth. She moaned loudly. I suckled firmly, my tongue pressing against her nipple and massaging it. Her hands clasped my head, clutching me, beseeching me to continue. I nursed hungrily on her breast. Her whole body tremored. She ground her pelvis against mine, demanding attention.
I brought both hands under her rump and lifted her up. Questioning, but complying, she placed her feet on the edge of the bed. One hand on her lower back to steady her, I used the other to lower her panties. She stepped out of them, kicking them behind her. The posture had her essence in my face. It was warm, aromatic, and inviting. My eyes on her, I began kissing her mons. Softly. Dry, chaste kisses in a decidedly unchaste locale. I could hear her breathing in short gasps, telling me I was having the desired effect.
I lavished my adoration on her sex with my tongue and mouth. Communicating my heart and mind's joint acceptance, nay, need for her in my life. Her weight rested on one foot, and the other thigh draped over my shoulder. Her body began convulsing after several minutes of oral attention. One hand clamped over her mouth, the other held the back of my head. I wasn't sure if it was for balance, or to keep me firmly in contact with her excited loins. Very likely both. Not that I had any intent of releasing her lower lips until she'd reached her pinnacle. As her shaking reached a crescendo, a stifled low moan slipped past her hand. Leslie's body collapsed, draped over my head and shoulder. Breathing hard, spent.
