I woke up in the stone room once more. Again, I checked the room, seeing nothing in it but the bed and a door. Fully convinced that I was on another planet or plane of existence, I opened a door to the river, the heady aroma of the flowers assaulting my nostrils. I stepped through, feeling a little sluggish. Reaching up, I snapped off a couple of the large flowers and stuffed them both into my mouth, relishing the sugary goodness.
Feeling a little energy return, I looked out over the river, seeing the fish darting to and fro in the lazy current. If only I could stay here. I had food and water near a workable shelter, and I doubted the weather would turn nasty. Even if it did, I could just open a door to the shelter.
But I knew I couldn’t. I had a life to go back to, eventually. And friends. I nodded, grabbed a few more flowers and started walking downstream, looking for anything I could use to figure this place out.
Eventually, the stream forked, and I decided to stay on my side. As I walked, the air began to take on an odd scent, vaguely reminiscent of Lab’s garage. I followed the stream and the scent for another mile or so, eventually seeing what looked like buildings in the distance.
I began to jog towards the symbol of civilization, hoping against hope that I would be able to find some sort of answers to this place. Eventually, out of breath and with leaden legs, I reached one of the sleek stone buildings.
The stone was smooth, with large windows about ten feet up from where I stood. I walked around the building until I came to a massive door, its handle easily six feet from the ground. With a racing heart, I reached out to the door handle and gave it a tug. Slowly, with a soft crunching sound, it swung down, releasing the door for the first time in God only knew how long. I tugged on the door, feeling it slowly give, and was eventually rewarded with a gap just wide enough for me to slip into.
I turned sideways and slowly sidled into the room. I took a halting step in, and fell through the floor-
-to land in my bed with a jolt.
I gasped and flailed around, momentarily tangled up in the sheet. Once I realized where I was, I calmed down, letting my shuddering breath slowly ease. Once I got myself under control, I lay my head back down on my pillow. I looked over at the window, seeing a pitch black sky. Must be late night or early morning.
“Jack?” I heard Anna’s voice from the hall.
“Anna?”
My door slowly opened just a crack. “I heard a crash. Are you okay? What happened?”
I sat up, making sure I was still covered by the sheet. “Yeah. I’m fine. What are you still doing here?”
She opened the door wider, sticking her head in. “Still? Jack, it’s been almost two days. I’ve come over every day to check on you, but you’ve been asleep. At least, that’s what Lab says. What happened?”
I snuck a feel under the sheets, hoping I wouldn’t find another flower, or worse, dirt. Thankfully, there was nothing there. “I just fell, that’s all. Two days would make sense. I really have to go to the bathroom.”
“Oh! Sorry!” She slipped out of the door and shut it while I threw a clean pair of shorts on, then hurried to the bathroom.
Once I finished, I opened my bedroom door, inviting her in. “Two days, huh?” I sat back down on the edge of the bed, where she joined me a moment later.
“Yep. Lab said he left you something in the fridge. Jennifer’s worried. Beth and Zack are, too. William said that he expected this. Are you sure you’re okay?” She had turned to face me, one leg up on the bed.
I nodded and opened a door to the refrigerator. “Ooo! He got me shawarma. What a sweet bastard.” I pulled the sandwich out and let the door vanish, then started eating. Anna just watched me with a soft smile.
After a few bites, I sighed gratefully. “Yeah. I’m okay. I’m guessing it’s nighttime?” She nodded. “Okay. Too late to go do anything, then. I think I’ll study some more.” I looked up at her. “Unless you had other ideas?”
She shook her head and grinned. “I’m just here to make sure you’re okay. There was nothing planned on my end, no.”
I paused, the sandwich halfway to my mouth. “Okay. I didn’t miss that. I dunno what it means, but I certainly caught it. What… uh… What are you thinking, Anna?”
“Weeeelllll… It’s nearly ten, and Lab said he’d be back around midnight, and there’s nobody else here, and nothing to do…” She looked down and started drawing little circles on my sheets with her finger.
I could feel my heart hammering in my chest, and hear the blood rushing in my ears. “W-well… Um. I don’t… I don’t know what you’re saying, Anna. I’m… I’m not, um… Not sure about what’s going on here. What to do.”
She giggled. “God, you’re cute when you’re flustered, Jack.” She leaned closer, and I could smell her soap once more. It was light and herbal, a perfectly complimentary scent for her. I swallowed involuntarily as she leaned in and kissed me softly at first, and then with increased vigor.
Stunned, I simply sat there for a moment before I let her push me down on the bed, the shawarma forgotten beside us. After a few minutes of kisses, I took her shoulders and pushed her gently away from me, my breath coming in ragged gulps. “Anna… I don’t… I don’t know.”
She hooked a stray bit of hair behind her ear and sat up, resting on my midsection. “Know what, Jack? What’s wrong? Do you want to stop?”
“I’ve just… I’ve never…” She placed a finger on my lips.
“Shh. It’s okay, Jackson. Here. Let me,” she said, reaching down to move the takeout container away onto the nightstand. She shifted and got off my midsection, scooting down to lay next to me. She lay her head on my shoulder, her hand on my stomach. “There. I won’t force you into anything. Is this okay?”
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I nodded, a pang of guilt beginning to bloom in my gut. “Yeah. I guess so.”
She patted my bare skin gently. “No need to be upset. I’m sorry I misjudged things. Would you like to watch some TV instead?”
“Yeah. I think that might be best for now. I’m sorry, Anna.” I reached for the remote on my nightstand.
“Don’t you dare be sorry, Jackson Wernock. I’m the one who moved too quickly. We will take this at whatever pace is best for you, okay?”
“If you’re sure. I don’t wanna be a buzzkill.”
She hugged me tightly. “You aren’t. You’re learning where your boundaries are, Jack. There’s no shame or problems with that. Anyone that has a problem with that isn’t worth your time.”
I hugged her with the arm she was laying on. “I guess you’re worth my time then.” She giggled and I turned on the TV, finding an old rerun of The Witcher.
We lay there for almost four episodes before I noticed her snoring. I looked down at her slight form, curled up beside me, short jet black hair falling over her eyes, and her mouth slightly open. Gently, I reached over and smoothed her hair over her head, away from her eyes. She squirmed a bit, then snuggled closer to me, sighing contentedly. Against all odds, I was laying in my bed with a girl.
A girl that seemed to want to be around me. A girl that was patient and kind. Unhurried. Unbothered. Willing to let things move as they would and not try to force anything. Someone that seemed to hold my best interests at heart. She found me attractive, and obviously wanted to move things along in that regard. I kind of did too, but I was honestly terrified to let things move forward.
I was in way over my head, and what’s more? I knew it. Still, there is something to be said to having a beautiful woman laying next to you, comfortable and content. So I just lay there with her, dozing off here and there until eventually, she woke up.
“Oh shit. I’m sorry I fell asleep, Jack,” she yawned.
I snorted softly, squeezing her gently to me. “Nah. It’s fine. I dozed here and there, myself. Are you okay?”
She rolled onto her back and stretched, making a soft squeaking sound. “Mm-hmm. I’m good. It was a nice nap.” She rolled back over, laying her head on me. “You’re a decent pillow, Jack.”
“You uh… you staying for awhile, then?”
“Figured I might as well. As long as you’re okay with that?” She looked up with me, her eyes filled with hope.
“I dunno…” I teased. “You might get grabby or smoochy…”
“But, but, but… you have kissable lips! And a squeezable butt!” Her pouting was cute as could be.
I rolled my eyes and sighed theatrically. “Oh, alright. Just don’t blame me when you don’t get any sleep!” I smiled and kissed her forehead.
“Yay!” Her giggles were infectious, and I found myself loosening up a bit.
I turned off the TV and the lights, pulling the sheets up once more. “But seriously? I’m a little uncomfortable. I’m willing and wanting to have you here, but I’m like, 90% sure I’m gonna freak out at some point.”
She draped an arm and a leg over me and sighed happily. “Just do what you were doing while you were watching TV. I’ll do the same. God, but you really are comfy to lay on.”
I lay my arm over her waist and grinned. At least I was comfy.
**********
I awoke to the sun filtering through the blinds, and a naked woman in my arms. Once I registered that my hands were on her naked body, I froze. The last thing I wanted to do was put my hands somewhere she didn’t want them.
I needn’t have worried. A moment later, she took my hand, laced her fingers in mine, and pulled it to rest between her breasts, making sure she was backed up as close as she could be to me. I kissed the top of her head. “Morning.”
She mumbled something and curled up tighter around my arm. I leaned down next to her ear and murmured, “Anna? It’s time to get up.”
I heard her gasp and stiffen momentarily. A second or two later, it passed. “Jackson? Am I in your bed?”
“Yes.”
“I’m naked.”
“I was surprised, myself.”
She shifted slightly. “You’re not.”
“This is also correct.”
“When did I get naked?”
“I don’t know. I woke up to this. And you pulled my hand to where it is right now. I didn’t do that.”
“And you’re okay with it there?”
“Well, yeah. I didn’t wanna touch you inappropriately.”
“And what if I put it here?” She moved my hand to cup one of her pert breasts.
I shifted uneasily. “Well… I actually like that very much, but I don’t want to get too excited about it. Don’t want to… Uh… Don’t want to… um.” She had begun kneading my hand into her breast.
She looked up and back at me. “Don’t want to what, Jack?” She hadn’t stopped moving her (and my!) hand.
“Anna, I don’t want to move too fast. Do I like this? Yes. Yes I do. Do I want this? Absolutely. Do I want to get to know you better before we move on to… uhhh… whatever stage this is? Yes.” As her face fell, I hesitantly squeezed her breast and nipple, causing her to bite her lip. “Don’t mistake my wanting to take this slow for a lack of desire. That is absolutely not the case.”
She nodded and pulled my hand away from her chest, then rolled over completely to face me, giving me a good eyeful as she did. She wrapped her arm over me and snaked her other one under me, then hugged me tightly. “If every guy was as good as you, Jack, I’d probably have had a much better childhood. Might not be here with you, though. Nah, I think this is better.” She hugged me again.
“Well, I don’t think I’m all that, but I’m glad you’re here, Anna. What say we get some food, then go to the gym?”
She pushed me once more onto my back, then straddled me, sitting up. God, but she was gorgeous. “You sure? I can’t tempt you into staying right here with me?”
I let out a shuddering breath, not wanting to trust my voice. I swallowed and nodded. “I think it would be for the best, Anna.”
She smiled broadly and kissed my lips. “Good. I love a man that can hold to his word.” She hopped off me and proceeded to hunt down her clothes, leaving me speechless.