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He was completely right. Having Charlotte inmy life made me feel whole. Not in amade-me-feel-like-I-wasn’t-attacked-by-a-bear sense, but like mylife had been missing something before she was in it. “I think Ihave. But I went from feeling like I was so young for my age, likeI could keep up with someone like her, not sexually but in terms ofthe kind of life she’s probably interested in, to…” I thumped mycane on the tile.
“Have you paused in all this fucking to askher what kind of life she’s interested in?” Alex pressed.
I shook my head, admitting, “Not beyond someground-level basics.”
“Maybe that’s a conversation you shouldhave, then? About her expectations?”
“What are you, my therapist?” I tried tojoke.
“I’m your friend. And I get it, aboutCharlotte. She’s adorable. She’s friendly. You’ve needed someonelike her in your life for years. And yeah, she’s young, but ifshe’s as into you as you are into her, you can make it work. Butthere has to be communication.”
He sighed and relaxed against the couchcushions. “You know, being able-bodied isn’t something that lastsyour whole life. Unless we’re super lucky. Or, super unlucky and weget hit by a bus in our prime. Sooner or later, we all end up witha cane or a wheelchair or a round-the-clock nurse. Even without thebear thing, that’s something you need to face, and with her. She’syoung. She needs to prepare for all of that shit to hit you liketwo decades before it hits her.”
The age thing. I truly didn’t like to thinkabout it. “Are you insinuating that it’s going to take more than myemotional immaturity and vast fortune to make this relationshipwork?”
“If you’re interested in the long haul,yeah.” He spread his hands in finality. “But like you said, I’m notyour therapist.” He got to his feet. “I’m going to rest up beforetonight, because the party sounds wild. You’re leavingtomorrow?”
“Yeah. Heading back to New York. Charlotte’sgiving me a one-week trial run before we get more serious.” Moreserious than planning a surprise gang bang, anyway.
“I’m staying until Tuesday. I’ll see you atgroup next week?” he asked.
“Two weeks.” It might be pathetic toreschedule activities with my friends to be with my new girlfriend,but I had no idea what Charlotte’s plans were after our week wasup. “If we go back to a long-distance relationship situation, Idon’t want to waste in-person time with her.”
“Fair.” He headed to the door. “Call me whenyou get back.”
I sat on the sofa for a long while,considering what life might be like when I returned to New York.I’d come to Ascend Red to put the disability thing behind me. Afterthat conversation, I couldn’t pretend anymore. When I got home, thecane, the scars, the mobility issues all came with me. This waslife now.
I hoped that when Charlotte had the samerealization, it wouldn’t chase her away.
* * * *
Tiffany emerged about an hour later, a smirkon her face, to inform me that Charlotte was ready.
Almostready. I had asked them togive me the job of getting her dressed.
When I entered the bedroom, Charlotte waspacing, flushed, covered in a sheen of perspiration. Through thebathroom door, I glimpsed a wand vibrator and a double-endeddildo.
They’d been busy girls, indeed.
Charlotte turned to me, relief written allover her face. “Please tell me my surprise is an orgasm.”
“Oh, I’m sure it will be.” More than one, ifshe was as worked up as I imagined. “But later.”
“You said later when it was before,” shepointed out with a little pout that would have no effect on myresolve. “It’s later now.”
“It can bemuchlater, if you’dprefer,” I warned. I went to the wardrobe and opened it, removingthe garment bag Miranda had delivered that morning. “Would you likea hint as to what your surprise is?”
She sat on the edge of the bed, thighssqueezed together. “Please.”
I hooked the hanger over the wardrobe doorand pulled down the zipper, spilling yards of delicate pink velvet,virginal white linen, and woven gold trim out to their fulllength.
She gasped.
I thought she was probably getting a fullunderstanding, rather than a hint.
“Let’s get you dressed,princess,” Isaid, offering her nothing more.
I laid the gown on the bed. It was far morecomplicated than I’d imagined; an intricately beaded white dressunderneath the pink velvet outer shell that laced up the front.