Convenience and Compatibility by Emily Jones

feels good to be
wanted.
    Dinner ends and I am stuffed, but I ask him
if we can order the bananas foster. It’s an amazing dessert, but
also fun to watch as the waiter assembles it in front of our table
on a hot plate. We’re lingering over dessert and Dean asks me if I
want to head back to his place for drinks. I’m pretty sure that
this is code for “will you fuck me tonight” and I don’t want to
make it too easy for him.
    “Oh, I don’t know,” I tease. I look at him
and giggle. He holds my head gently and moves his mouth to my ear.
He whispers heartily, “Oh please.” He lingers on the last word,
breathing into my neck. I take a couple of deep breaths and close
my eyes as shivers run down my back.
    “Um, yes. Let’s go. Your place,” I manage,
trying to keep my composure, but Dean knows exactly how he affects
me. He releases me and laughs wholeheartedly. I look over at him
and can’t help but smirk.
    I excuse myself and go to the bathroom before
we leave. I need to make sure I’m ready for this. I check my makeup
and hair, make sure I smell good, and reapply my chap stick. I
check my phone and am surprised to see that we have been at the
restaurant for five hours! Oh shit, it’s nearly ten o’clock. It’s a
good thing I slept in today – it’s going to be a long night.
    I walk out of the bathroom and Dean is
waiting for me, leaning against the wall. I sigh and take his
outstretched arm – he is beyond hot. I hold myself back from
grabbing him inappropriately as we walk back to the car.
    “Mallory?” he asks when we get outside.
    “Hmmm?”
    “I really like you.”
    “I really like you too.”
    We walk in silence the rest of the way. He
starts the engine and looks over at me, hunger in his beautiful
eyes and I’m sure I am reflecting the same emotions to him. He
looks away and takes a deep breath before pulling into traffic. The
air in the car is electrifying. He touches my leg between shifting
again, but this time his touches are less innocent. He grips my leg
and rubs his hand up and down, careful to not go past mid-thigh.
That’s all I’m thinking about on the ride to his place – hoping he
will move his hand just a bit higher. I’m so hot for him I can
barely stand it.
    We are both panting by the time we pull into
the garage. Dean practically runs around the car to open the door
for me and grabs my hand. He walks me, almost drags me, up the
stairs as I laugh at his impatience.
    We get to his bedroom and he lights a couple
of candles on his nightstand. I don’t remember seeing those before
and am touched that he planned ahead. Or should I be insulted? I
put the thought out of my mind and focus on the moment and the need
I have to feel him between my legs.
    Dean undoes the buttons on his jacket,
looking into my eyes, smiling down at me. He pulls me to him and
takes off my jacket. It falls to the floor and his eyes haven’t
left mine. Dean rubs his hands up and down my arms.
    “Your skin is so soft,” he says to
himself.
    He puts one hand behind my neck and moves my
head to the side so he can put his mouth on the other side. He
kisses start out tender and sweet. I run my hands up and down his
chest, over his shirt. Hmm, his smell is stronger now and I want to
kiss his sweet chest. I start unbuttoning his shirt, starting from
the top, and he stops kissing me.
    “Uh, Mallory?”
    “Yea?” I’m looking at him confused. Did he
change his mind?
    “I just want you to be prepared for some
scars.” I’m looking at Dean confused, and he elaborates. “Remember?
The feeding tube and I also had a suprapubic catheter.”
    “Oh.” I had almost forgotten the Dean I knew
five months ago. He has changed so much it is like he is a
different person.
    Dean pulls me away from him and searches my
face. “Is that okay. Does that gross you out? I know it’s weird,”
he blurts out.
    I smile, “Did you forget I’m a nurse?”
    Dean doesn’t smile back, instead he sits down
on the bed and runs his