Family Ties

”

“Then we’d better make a run for it,” I said.

He and the others said goodbye, and Christy and I headed out. We still got wet as we ran to the Land Cruiser, but not soaked to the skin like we would’ve been earlier. Unfortunately, the downpour had strengthened by the time we pulled into the driveway at home, so we sat and waited while the storm spent its fury.

“I had fun this weekend,” Christy said.

“Me too. I didn’t think you’d take to being a nudist quite so quickly, though.”

“You make everything easy,” she said, “which kinda worries me.”

“Does it bother you? What we did?”

“Fantasies getting ahead of your morals?” I said.

“You do,” I assured her. “Besides, morals are about more than sex. Be a good person. Help others. Tell the truth. Eat your vegetables.”

She grinned at the last.

“But… what about me? Do you think I have morals?”

“Of course you do,” she said. “You’re a very good person.”

“I know. And that’s what worries me.”

“Well, the key is ‘slowly.’ I’m not trying to rush things.”

I shot her a sideways look.

“Anything I can do to help?”

“No. Just be patient with me.”

“Maybe give me Sara’s number? She was raised Catholic, right?”

“And I think I’ll ask Marianne. She’s always given me good advice.” She glanced at me out of the corner of her eye. “She might’ve let it slip that she wasn’t exactly a virgin on her wedding night.”

“No. She and Harry had been… um… ‘making sure they were compatible.’ While they were still engaged.”

I pulled the key out of the ignition and glanced through the windshield at the rain, which was still coming down pretty hard.

“What’re you doing?”

“Need to get you inside. You have calls to make!”

She rolled her eyes but grinned. “Is that all you think about?”

“Yes, ma’am! Now, if we’re not going to go inside and make some calls, then get your ass over here and kiss me.”

Wren and Trip had left us a note saying they’d gone to his parents’ for the weekend, so Christy and I had the house to ourselves. I was in the mood to fool around after we unpacked, but she was hungry. We compromised—I felt her up and then she fixed a snack from the veggies and fruit Susan had packed for her.

While she ate, I called my parents to let them know we’d made it home safe. I also made sure it was okay for Christy to spend the night in Atlanta before she flew home to San Diego.

“Of course,” my mom said. “We’d love to see her again.”

“That’s what I thought,” I said, “but the new policy is more communication with the parental units.”

Christy rolled her eyes.

“We’ll be there Friday, probably early afternoon. She flies out on Saturday.”

“Sounds good,” Mom said.

We talked a bit longer and then said goodbye.

“Do you need to call your parents?” I asked Christy. “To tell them you’re home safe?”

“I… um… didn’t tell them I was going.”

“Leave me alone. I didn’t know how to tell them. I still don’t,” she muttered.

“You don’t have to tell them anything. You’re an adult. You’re allowed to have a private life. I mean, you weren’t going to tell them we slept together, were you?”

“Exactly. So you don’t have to tell them we went to a nudist camp either.”

“I know, but I still feel guilty.”

“Well, get over it.”

—no names mentioned, but she’s small, blonde, and very sexy—woke me at three o’clock this morning. Can I interest you in a little groping on the couch and then a nap?”

“What kind of groping?” she asked with a suspicious grin.

“Second base, no more. Maybe third, but only if you ask.”

She rolled her eyes.

I stood and extended a hand. “Come on.”

We were still dozing on the couch in the living room when the front door banged open. Trip and Wren blew in with a gust of rain and leaves. They were distracted by their suitcase and a couple of shopping bags, so they didn’t notice me pull my hand from under Christy’s sweater or her adjust her bra.

“Damn sky opened up as soon as I popped the trunk,” Trip said when he saw us.

Wren’s eyebrows shot up. “Don’t you two look nice and cozy.”

“Long night?” she teased.

“No, long flight. And rough weather.”

“No kidding,” Trip said as he raked fingers through wet hair. “Took us almost five hours to get home. Bad accident near Crossville. I-40 was a parking lot.”

“You all wanna change into something dry and then come back down?” I suggested. “I have a sort of business proposal for next summer.”

“Can it wait?” Wren said. “Never mind. Christy and I can talk upstairs while you guys talk down here.”

“Is that okay?” Christy asked me.

“Sure. But if you’re going to tell her everything, don’t forget the thing with the handcuffs. Oh, and the orgy in the hot tub.”

Her eyes widened with shock.

“Handcuffs?” Wren said with relish.