Sex Education

When You're Gone

Mary stood at the window wrapped in a shawl watching the sunrise. She smiled. There was a gentle ache as she sat down on the chair there, evidence of last night's activities. She hadn't slept much. There had been tender whispers and touches well into the night. And more... Everything felt different inside her, so she was surprised to see that the outside world looked remarkably the same as yesterday. She watched the golden barley move in the breeze and the black crows circling over head. The sweet smells of cut grass wafting in through the open window. The cockerels had started crowing she could hear them and Liam's gentle breaths breaking the silence.

She glanced over to him. Sound asleep. His lashes were fluttering. He was so beautiful. His skin was bathed in the early morning light. She couldn't quite believe that they'd slept together. It all felt surreal. Like how this had all started. And now Mary didn't want to end it. She'd never felt happier. He made her happy. And now she had to leave him behind. Liam had his own path to follow, and their paths would most likely never cross again. She glanced back to the window, begging the sun to stay exactly where it was. For it to never set on this day. For things to be frozen exactly as they were.

Liam stirred frowning slightly as he felt cool sheets beneath his hand and not Mary's soft skin. He blinked, looking around the room until he saw her silhouette at the window. He'd never seen anything so beautiful. She looked peaceful and serene. Her skin was bathed in the orange sunlight of early dawn. Her hair was wild and curly. Her eyes, soft and warm, turned to the window. Her body was covered in a thin, almost translucent shawl. Liam felt himself growing hard at the sight. She was a renaissance painting, and for a while, he'd been lucky enough to call her his. He wasn't going to waste any more time that they had left.

"Thought you'd done a runner then." He said huskily.

Mary jumped slightly at the sound of his voice.

She turned to face him smiling softly.

"Have their been girls that have?"

Liam nodded.

"Yeah and I've ran out on some too. Sometimes it can be awkward the day after."

Mary nodded.

"Is this awkward?" She asked.

Liam shook his head.

"It's early. Come back to bed." He said softly as he pulled the duvet back, gesturing for her to get in.

Mary walked over to him and sat on the bed near him.

Liam gently traced his fingers over the thin shawl, feeling her warm skin pimple beneath his hands. He smiled at her reaction.

"What's wrong? You're not having second thoughts, are you?" He asked softly.

Mary looked into his eyes. A slight hesitancy glittering in them.

"Of course not. Last night was...I can't even really put into words honestly."

Liam grinned his cockiness returning.

"Then come back to bed."

Liam's lashes lowered, and he slowly rolled the shawl from her shoulders, exposing her bare skin.

Mary looked deeply into his eyes that were already darkened with desire.

"Is this what it always feels like?"

Liam frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"Like you can't stop wanting to be with the person. Like you want to just stay in the moment."

Liam smiled and shook his head.

"It only feels like this if it means something. And...I just want you to know it's not felt like this for me before either."