Love doesn't have to be hard

Chapter 6: Exploring our relationship

The next morning, Tessa wakes up and feels a weight on her side. She is disoriented and confused about where she is.

She hears light breaths behind her ear and realizes it's Zed. She remembers watching movies but not coming to bed. He is breathing so lightly, and he has his hand on her waist, and her head is in the crook of his shoulder.

She tries to ease up without waking him but feels his grip tighten on her waist. She turns her head and smiles.

"Good morning, I didn't mean to wake you."

"Good morning, and it's okay. Are you trying to sneak away?"

"No, I really have to use the bathroom. I would have to walk back to my room, and to be honest, I wasn't paying attention last night, so I would be so lost."

"Good girl, the restroom is waiting." He smiled at her with his half-sleepy smile, his eyes not fully opened. He looks very sexy in the morning and has a gruff voice when he wakes up.

She eases out of bed and goes to the restroom. She uses some toothpaste and her finger to freshen her breath the best she can. 

When she walked back into the common area, Zed was standing in the kitchen making a pot of coffee. 

She smiles her shy smile as he leans against the counter. He smiles back at her and motions for her to come to him. 

She walks to where he is standing, and he wraps his arms around her back and pulls her to his chest. He kisses her head and just holds her. 

She likes this feeling of his arms around her. She looks into his eyes, and he leans down and kisses her. 

"You brushed your teeth. Which toothbrush did you use? Mine is the red one."

"I didn't use a toothbrush; I used my fingers."

"I know you don't feel comfortable with that. Come on," he walked her back to the bathroom and opened the drawer. "Pick any color you want; you can leave it in my room."

"Thank you." She grabbed a purple one and brushed her teeth while Zed brushed his. They walked back into the kitchen, and Zed fixed them both a cup of coffee. They sat on the couch and drank their coffee.

"So, what do you want to do today, baby? I like that I get to call you baby."

"Me too, babe." She laughed. "I don't know. I'm good with whatever you want to do."

"Well, we can't do what I want to do, but we can get some food and then relax here until you are ready to return to your dorm."

"Why can't we do what you want to do?"

"Tessa, I know you are a virgin, and what I really want to do is make love to you, but we are going to take our time. So, that is why we can't do what I want to do."

"We can do other things tho."

"We can, yes, but we just became official, and I would like to wait before we start any of those things."

"Okay," she looked down. 

He tipped his finger under her chin so she had to look at him, "Baby, I want to do right by you. I don't want you to feel pressured into anything, and when you are ready, we can take baby steps to the final step. I am willing to go at your pace."

"Thank you for saying that and being so kind about it. Let's start out with just kissing and touching each other's bodies."

He smiled and leaned in and kissed her. He pulled her into his lap as she straddled him. He rubbed his hands up and down her back to her butt.