Page 34 of The House on Haven Way

Johnny follows my lead, and his cock presses inside of me.

I hope I get used to this, because at first, it’s overwhelming.

I’ve never done drugs, but I’m imagining this is what a psychedelic trip would feel like. Where your body is connected to heat, and light, and vibration, and you never knew pleasure was like this—and it is. And your partner isn’t alive, but he’s more present than any other man you’ve ever met, and he’s kissing you, looking at you like you’re the only thing worth staying on earth for, and pounding into you as hard as he can. Giving you everything.

Making you feel everything.

“Love you.”

The words pop free.

I’m so scared that I’ve ruined it all. For a second, even tidal waves of pleasure are reduced to a puddle.

Men hate it if you do that too early.

Hell, women hate if you do that too early.

I hate it. I never said it to anyone, not to Devon, not to my high school crush, not to the first guy I slept with, my college boyfriend...

All those matches were probably the kind it’s okay to say “I love you” to. We had months or years together.

We were both alive. And from the same decade.

One of us wasn’t going to suddenly get swept up in a blinding light.

One of us didn’t throw the other one out in a rainstorm.

“Do you?” Johnny stills. Cups my face. “Well, ain’t that swell,” he whispers, eyes shining.

Say it back.

No, don’t say it back.

I don’t know. I bite my lip and feel the way his body presses against mine, semi-solid, firm but squishy, the perfect hug. The perfect comfort.

If comfort made your entire body throb and want to have a sex marathon.

“You sure you want to say that? Because no one’s ever said that to me before. Not like that.”

“I never said it before. It kinda... Sprung out of me.”

“You didn’t mean it, huh?”

“No! I did. That’s the scary part. I did—I do.” As I say it, it hits me. Somewhere in the weirdness of it all, my heart got really attached and really comfortable with this strange ghostly greaser from another time. “I know it breaks all the rules—”

“Nah. I’m a rule breaker. This don’t break a thing,” Johnny whispers, moving inside of me again. “My girl loves me, which is natural, because I’m nuts about her. Crazy for her.” He kisses me in silence, pace picking up.

“Johnny. Oh, Johnny, it’s so good. You can’t... I’m gonna...”

“You’re gonna come for me, princess. Sweetheart. You wanna come on my cock? Does it make you feel all better?” he purrs, nipping my neck, my earlobe, and grinding inside of me, making my entire pussy buzz.

“I feel so good with you.” I squeeze down hard, and it causes that “sinking into each other” sensation that sends me careening over the edge.

“That’s good. Because I love my girl. And if she likes this... I wanna do it every night.”

He loves me.

I’m his girl.