It was a fair question. No matter how humorous a tilt he put in his words, his eyes were serious, searching her own for an equal response. Amber knew why he’d be especially concerned about limits, what with her calling an unexpected stop last night. Amber ran her hands down his sides, stopping them at his hips; breathed in deep to fill up her lungs with air, then slowly let it out. She’d have never expected to tie up like that, in the heat of the moment; would’ve never thought to warn him that she might pull the breaks. And it hadn’t been just some sullen whim, stopping because she felt like it; she didn’t know what would’ve happened if he’d continued, but it wouldn’t have been pretty. Just the thought of it speeded up her heartbeat.
But if she knew that the situation was out of her hands, wouldn’t she be okay? She’d know to expect the unexpected. Here, in the thick of yelling kids and cotton candy odors and layers of clothes, it felt like nothing could hurt her. And, leaving aside the element of surprise, Amber didn’t think Eric would want anything past the line she’d drawn. But, just to be sure, she said: “Nothing bathroom related, unless it’s showering.” As an after-thought, “And it can only be the two of us.” It was the closest she could get to admitting that she wouldn’t tolerate a three or moresome with him, no matter what she’d done in the past. “Other than that, anything goes. I trust you.” She smiled warmly, to show him how much she meant that. How strange—if they really did trust each other, why did they need constant reminders? But she wanted to leave him no room for doubt.
In front of them, the kids were demanding another round, insisting that this time they knew how to work the guns. Amber would’ve told them to get back in line, but she needed to finish this conversation before they got to the actual playing. “But anyway, I’m not going to lose; I’ll clean the floor with you.” Amber boasted, though facetiously. The guns altered against the player, how well you did could be up to your luck. Without none of the jovial boasting, Amber leaned her forehead against Eric’s and asked, carefully, “How about you? Any limits?” The rest of the festival seemed to fade away until all she could hear and see was him.
no subject
But if she knew that the situation was out of her hands, wouldn’t she be okay? She’d know to expect the unexpected. Here, in the thick of yelling kids and cotton candy odors and layers of clothes, it felt like nothing could hurt her. And, leaving aside the element of surprise, Amber didn’t think Eric would want anything past the line she’d drawn. But, just to be sure, she said: “Nothing bathroom related, unless it’s showering.” As an after-thought, “And it can only be the two of us.” It was the closest she could get to admitting that she wouldn’t tolerate a three or moresome with him, no matter what she’d done in the past. “Other than that, anything goes. I trust you.” She smiled warmly, to show him how much she meant that. How strange—if they really did trust each other, why did they need constant reminders? But she wanted to leave him no room for doubt.
In front of them, the kids were demanding another round, insisting that this time they knew how to work the guns. Amber would’ve told them to get back in line, but she needed to finish this conversation before they got to the actual playing. “But anyway, I’m not going to lose; I’ll clean the floor with you.” Amber boasted, though facetiously. The guns altered against the player, how well you did could be up to your luck. Without none of the jovial boasting, Amber leaned her forehead against Eric’s and asked, carefully, “How about you? Any limits?” The rest of the festival seemed to fade away until all she could hear and see was him.