If there was one thing my family was good at, it was not talking about things.
My cousin Tawny was in her 18th year and a Senior in high school. Her mom, my aunt Ginny was a full blooded Cherokee who had married my Dad's younger brother, Joe. Aunt Ginny was gorgeous, and Tawny had taken after her in the looks department. I couldn't remember a time that I didn't have a crush on her. Even as little kids we'd played together and pretend we'd have adventures.
Being the only kids in the family near each other's age, we naturally gravitated towards each other. They lived not far away in the next town over from us, and most of Dad's family had remained in the area and stayed close, so we had a lot of contact growing up. The annual family camping trip was always a highlight of the year and Tawny and I had long ago staked claim to our own little pup tent when we were still in grade school.
So I'd have to say that we had a pretty normal, happy childhood mostly. I'd bike over and meet her at one of the little lakes and streams that populated the area and we'd fish, or hike up into the woods together. In the wintertime we'd go sledding at the hill near my high school or watch TV together.
Now, Tawny was a sight to behold. The curves of her slender waist bookended by elegant flaring hips on one side and perfectly formed D cups on the other. Long straight black hair, large dark eyes and full lips gave her a beauty queen countenance that had guys throwing themselves at her left and right. But for some reason, none of those throws had landed. At 18 now she'd filled in with a naturally sexy comportment that wasn't contrive or exaggerated. That was Tawny.
I was a grade ahead of her and was nearing the end of my freshman year in college when I got the phone call from her. We spoke pretty regularly, so it wasn't unusual to get a call or text from her. But this time, her ask was unusual.
"Jake, would you take me to the Senior prom?" She'd asked.
"Tawny, hasn't anybody asked you?" I replied in disbelief.
"No. No. I mean yes probably most of the guys in my class that aren't spoken for have asked me, it's just... I don't want to go with any of 'em, but I do want to experience it." She explained.
It fit right in with the way she was. Not aloof, or conceited, just not interested in conventional things done the conventional way.
"Sure. I'll take you." I responded.
My high school girlfriend and I had mutually broken things off when we both went off to colleges that were hundreds of miles apart, agreeing that we'd end up seeing other people anyway, so we might as well just say so up front. As it worked out for me I'd dated here and there, but nothing serious had yet come of it.
So, I got fitted for the tux, and got the wrist corsage, and pulled up in my freshly washed and waxed car in front of my aunt and uncle's house. My breath caught in my throat when I saw Tawny coming down the stairs. Her gown was form fitting with a sugar scoop neckline that perfectly framed her cleavage and a sheer hem that showed most of her right leg. She looked amazing.
We took pictures, left for the prom, and I don't know what perfume she had on, but she smelled incredible. It was a truly magical night. We dined, we danced, we hung out... and we made out. I don't know if either of us actually initiated the first kiss. In retrospect, it just kind of happened spontaneously as we danced one of the slow numbers the DJ was spinning up toward the end of the night.
Oddly I distinctly remember it not feeling wrong or taboo that I was making out with my cousin. I had always wanted to, and I guess she had too. If anything, I felt relieved that we'd finally broken the ice. She was a great kisser, despite her lack of experience.
Later, in the car, we'd gone a little further, and I got to feel her up a bit. Her breasts were every bit as firm as they looked and sensitive too based on her reactions, and she melted into me so naturally that it was hard to stop and head home.
When I dropped her off, she leaned over for one last kiss and whispered something to me. "I had the best time tonight. Can we go out again, Jake?" She said.
"Um... yeah. Sure." I responded, a little surprised at her request.
So, Tawny and I started dating in secret and nobody was the wiser. Our hiking and fishing dates took on a more erotic component, and it was rare for a week to go by without us meeting up for a make out session at some point. And things had progressed as far as we could without anyone catching on.
When Tawny announced that she wanted to check out the campus of my college, nobody batted an eye. I picked her up Friday afternoon after my last class, and a couple of hours later we arrived back at my dorm room. My roommate had gone home for the weekend, which was his usual routine, so it wasn't long before we were naked.
