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Rational Behavior

By: idleardor



These characters are eighteen years of age.

-----

"I wish I could squirt," Mara sighed just as Henry walked into the room.

"Jesus," he said, clearly agitated. He looked at the porno in her hand, then up at her. She didn't even acknowledge him-just stared longingly at the DVD.

"Where did you find that?"

He was constantly changing his porno stash location because she was always going through it. Her curiosity didn't bother him in the least. But Mara didn't pick through it to find something to stroke to. She hated watching porn. She preferred to read her porn, which completely baffled Henry. What pleasure could she possibly find in words on a page? There were no sighs, no moans, no wet flesh slapping against wet flesh. Mara, she liked to look at the covers and imagine the sex that she wasn't getting.

So depressing. It drove Henry crazy.

"Top shelf of your closet again? There are only so many places a teenage boy living at home can hide his porn."

"I'm a high school graduate, which means I'm a teenage man living at home."

"We just graduated and you're already on a 'I'm a man' kick?"

Henry plopped down onto the bed with nachos in one hand. He snatched the DVD out of Mara's hands with the other. He scanned the covers and nodded approvingly. The front cover showed a woman naked with her legs spread wide. Her fingers plunged into her pussy as she squirted onto the camera. The back cover had various stills of women with fingers or dicks inside of them as they squirted. Not exactly artful or innovative, but they served their purpose.

"Good?"

He nodded. "My new favorite."

Henry tossed it with a flick of his wrist. The DVD clattered into the box of movies and the two of them settled in to watch television. Mara had finally convinced Henry to watch Breaking Bad and now he loved it. 

Henry stacked a few chips together, held together by cheesy goo, and took a bite. He stilled mid-chew.

"You've never squirted?" 

Mara shook her head, still focused on the television. She wasn't embarrassed or shy about answering. On a regular basis, they had conversations that many would deem inappropriate. Hell, after how they'd met it was clear that boundaries weren't going to be an issue. She thought back on the first day they met, four years ago...

~ ~ ~

It had been their first day of high school. The students sat in homeroom, waiting for the teacher to show up. Mara had told her friend Harriet the joke about the escaped prisoner who breaks into a home and takes a young couple hostage. 

"He orders the guy out of bed and ties him to a chair. While tying the homeowner's wife to the bed, the convict gets on top of her, kisses her neck, then gets up and goes into the bathroom. While he's in there, the husband whispers over to his wife: 'Listen, this guy is an escaped convict. Look at his clothes! He's probably spent a lot of time in jail and hasn't seen a woman in years. I saw how he kissed your neck. If he wants sex, don't resist, don't complain.....do whatever he tells you. Satisfy him no matter how much he nauseates you. This guy is obviously very dangerous. If he gets angry, he'll kill us both. Be strong, honey. I love you!' His wife responds: 'He wasn't kissing my neck - he was whispering in my ear. He told me that he's gay. He thinks you're cute, and asked if we had any Vaseline. I told him it was in the bathroom. Be strong. I love you, too.'"

It was immediately apparent that others had overheard. Mara saw a few pairs of eyebrows furrow in disgust. Some snob actually tisked at her before switching seats to be farther away. Even Harriet shook her head and called Mara a damn fool.

"Where do you find gross shit like that," she said, rolling her eyes and turning back to her book. 

Clearly, Mara's brand of humor was an acquired taste. She'd lost some popularity points with that one. She heard snickering off to her right and turned in her seat to see who was laughing.

His emerald hazel eyes glittered-that was the first thing she noticed about him. He turned toward her and his hair caught the light. The tame red of it caught fire, revealing rusted ocher tones.

"I thought it was funny." His voice was sincere enough. 

Mara shook herself out of her haze and spoke. "Thanks."

He ruffled his hair a bit and looked away, an indication of nervousness that she'd come to recognize. She watched as he clicked his pen sporadically for a few moments before realizing what he was doing and dropping the pen on his desk. He tapped his foot for a bit before stopping that too. Very fidgety. Was he always like that? After a moment, Mara reluctantly looked away. 

She'd never really been choked up by a boy before. Then again, she'd never reacted to them the same enthusiasm that Harriet and her other friends had. So why was she feeling like such a spaz with this guy? He hadn't said more than five words to her, yet she'd totally clammed up. The quirk of his lips as he'd spoken, still laughing from her joke, was adorable. Those eyes were mesmerizing. She'd never seen eyes that color before.

Henry snuck a glance of her profile. He hadn't noticed her when he'd first come in because her back had been turned. He couldn't help overhearing her tell that joke and when she turned to face forward, he couldn't help but be taken aback by how pretty she was. He hadn't thought a girl like her would know a joke like that, let alone seem so pleased by the reaction it got.

A girl he recognized from his middle school, Josceline, tisked and he watched the girl bite her lip to keep from giggling. The girl pulled her glasses off of her face and perched them atop her head. They were obscured by the tight, unruly curls of hair that escaped her head band. He reveled in the contrast of their skin. Where his was only tan and slightly sunburned, hers was the indelible shade of toasted almond. The yellow sundress she wore contrasted her skin beautifully. She shot him a look when she felt him staring.

Henry went a bit red, quickly clearing his throat before he spoke.

"I'm Henry."

She smiled, first with her full lips, then with teeth. "Mara."

~ ~ ~

"Mara!" Henry's shout jarred her back into the present. "Are you going to answer my question?"

She looked confused. He rolled his eyes.

"Why haven't you squirted?"

"I've tried to make myself...but I don't know. Guess I'm not doing it right. Also-" she paused, biting a fingernail. "I know it sounds stupid-"

"Just say it!"

Her words came out in a rush. "I know it isn't pee, but some small part of me is convinced that it is." She slapped her hands to her face, shaking her head. 

The sudden choking sputter forcing itself from his throat eclipsed the sound of the television. Mara came to his side, panicking. Only after a moment did she realize that this wasn't cause for alarm. He was laughing.

He couldn't stop laughing.

Finally, he composed himself. "I wouldn't mind a little pee."

"What?"

"If I made a girl come so hard she lost control of her bodily functions...I'd be a god."

Mara snorted and rolled her eyes. "First it's pee-"

"Then shit ..." Henry pretended to jerk off as they continued this absurd tangent to their conversation.

"Don't forget vomit," Mara added. 

Henry pretended that this was the one that pushed him over the edge. Mara clutched her stomach in laughter as he made a ridiculous come face.

"You're disgusting," Mara said, giggling. 

"Says the girl pretending to vomit all over me."

They continued on watching Breaking Bad. Henry sat against the headboard, absentmindedly massaged Mara's calves, gripping them during moments of suspense that occurred on screen. Mara mulled over their conversation in her head. They may have done a bit of flirting, but the two had never crossed that line.

What if he says no? 

Mara was horrified at the thought. It almost stopped her from asking, but she rationalized. If he said no and this broke them, they'd have no reason to speak after the summer. He'd go to UCB and she'd go to UCLA. Everyone would go their separate ways and start the next part of their lives. 

That's the point of going to college, right? No big.A few hundred miles is plenty of room for forgetting.

Mara felt a stab of pain in her chest, but she ignored it.

And if he says yes...

Mara became increasingly aware of her legs slung over Henry's thighs and his hands on her calves. An image of her on top of him, riding him to orgasm, sparked in her mind. 

Will he call my name when he comes? 

Mara imagined the hands on her calves grabbing her thighs in the fever of his orgasm. 

Will it be a gentle caress or will he leave bruises? 

Mara bit her bottom lip, stopping the sigh that threatened to reveal her thoughts. 

Now or never. Now or never. 

Mara propelled his name from her lips, "Henry-" 

"Yes." 

He was curt. It wasn't a question. It was an answer. His tone caused her to roll over and face him. His piercing gaze was focused on her. Mara wondered if he'd been watching her this whole time. Were her thoughts that transparent? 

To him? Probably.

"You don't even know what I was going to ask."

He pulled himself from under her and crawled up between her legs, poised over her. Bombarded by the familiar smell of soap and earth, it took a moment for her to gather her thoughts and focus her eyes on his.

"Do you think I'm an idiot? Of course I know what you're going to ask." His voice lowered, just above a whisper. "I still want you to ask though."

Mara's thighs tightened around his hips on their own accord, her body already responding to the change in his voice and the lust in his eyes. His dick hardened against her inner thigh. 

Henry resisted the urge to kiss her, waiting to hear what she would say next.

Her voice was just as low when she spoke. "Do you want to make me squirt?"

He nodded, mute. That had to be the sexiest string of words ever put together. He leaned forward to kiss her.

"Really?" She pulled away, thwarting his advance. "You want to?"

What threw him about her question was that she looked legitimately surprised. 

Did she honestly think I'd object?

His expression was so serious, it was comical.

"Make my best friend come like a fountain? Fuck yes."

~ ~ ~

Henry hadn't kissed her like he'd planned. Somehow, Mara convinced him that they should wait. The tension will make it better, she'd said. It would only be a two day wait. Mara's father was away on a cruise with his girlfriend. Henry's father would be gone on a business trip to Sacramento. Now, two days later, Henry's entire body thrummed with the excitement of that kiss. He couldn't sit still. He prepared his room. He showered and dressed. He went for a jog, then showered and dressed again. He changed his clothes twice. All the while, he tortured himself with thoughts of them together. Though his dick told him to strip and take her as soon as she came in the door, his rationale and desire to get her back for this won out.

Mara banged on the door a few times and Henry was quick to answer. The warmth of the house came out in a whoosh as he opened the door and yanked her inside, slamming the door behind her. Warm lips were the first part of his assault, then tongue and teeth. He cradled her head with one hand and held her tight to him with the other. He explored, his hands blazing a trail across her body, squeezing to feel the pliancy of her soft skin, sliding under her top, caressing her. Mara wrapped her arms around Henry's back, pulling herself tight against him. She gripped his shirt, dragging her nails across his lower back. She knew she'd hit a sweet spot when he bucked against her. The bulge in his pants was hard against her thigh and Mara shifted, pressing more firmly against it. When Mara coaxed his tongue from his mouth, sucking rhythmically, Henry sighed and groaned with wanting. Their heavy breathing was deafening in the quiet of the house. 

Mara tried to take Henry's shirt off but he stopped her, lips still attached to hers. The kiss simmered as Henry seemed to regain control of himself. His hands cupped her neck as he pressed his closed lips to hers. Mara whined when he tried to pull away. He opened his mouth once more, letting their tongues dance for another moment.

By the time she actually let him pull away, it was only because of a lack of oxygen. They still hadn't spoken a word and their heavy panting thrummed in their ears. Each felt the others warm breath on their face. Considering the usual quips and banter passed between them, this silence intensified the impasse of the moment. The static excitement and barely suppressed lust were all the communication they needed. So when Henry took Mara's hand and led her toward the room, Mara trusted the heat of his palm against hers and the tingle on her lips that promised so much more.

~ ~ ~

Candles. They were everywhere, encasing Henry's room in a glow and warmth that made it ethereal. Henry watched Mara's lust take a momentary backseat to awe. She couldn't stop smiling as she slowly spun around taking in the ambiance he'd created. The floor wasn't littered with clothes. Even the wine-colored sheets on his bed were different from the usual mix matched layout. There was instrumental music playing on his mp3 player. Mara's eyes zoned in on his bedside table. A box of condoms and a bottle of lube were neatly lined up on its edge. Suddenly, she was very warm. Her throat was dry. They were actually going to do this. 

Mara realized that Henry was still standing in the doorway watching her and gauging her reaction.

"You didn't have to set this up, you know. Tonight's a sure thing." 

She laughed. He didn't. Just rolled his eyes.

"Come here," Mara said, reaching out to him. 

Henry ran a hand through his hair, approaching slowly. Up close, Mara could see the slight blush on his cheeks. His brow slightly furrowed with worry. He knew something was on her mind. 

"Do you like it?"

She nodded, then wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a chaste kiss. The yearning in her eyes when she pulled away was anything but. He pressed his erection against her thigh before pulling away to focus on his task.

Henry bent down on one knee to untie Mara's shoelaces. She stepped wider to make it easy for him. That's when he smelled it-the drug inducing scent of her arousal. His mouth watered. A surge of pre-cum throbbed from his cock. 

Remember, slow torture. 

Focusing on the plan was becoming increasingly difficult.

If I can smell her with her jeans on, how wet is she? Has she been like this for the past two days? 

An image of Mara masturbating popped into Henry's mind. 

Does she just play with her clit? Or does she ride her fingers? Is she loud when she comes?

"Henry?" He felt her fingers in his hair and looked up. She smiled down at him, curls an unruly mess on her head, totally gorgeous. 

What was the plan again?

"You all right?" He'd stopped unlacing and hadn't even realized it. 

He rose slowly, towering over her by about half a foot at his full height. He rested his forehead against hers, taking a deep breath before he spoke.

"You smell amazing. Do you know that?" Henry slid a hand over Mara's ass, reaching until he cupped her mound through her jeans.

He brushed his lips against hers, not hard enough for a real kiss. "I can't wait to taste you."

Mara stood on her toes, pressing herself into him, grinding herself on his hand.

"Then taste me. Touch me." The words sounded like a dare. Her little whimpers turned to full moans when he started massaging her.

"Like this?"

"Tease."

He dug the fabric against her pussy and Mara's hands gripped Henry's shirt.

"Like this?" 

His lips quirked into a lopsided grin when she pushed him against a wall, attacking him with a kiss. Henry's other hand came up to grope her breasts. He reached under her shirt, squeezing and molding the soft flesh through her bra. Mara reached between them gripping his dick through his pants.

"Shit," he stammered, rocking against her. With Mara's pussy literally in the palm of his hand, this was getting to be too much. He felt himself on the verge of coming.

"Stop, Mara." She didn't want to stop. She wanted him to come. Henry let go of her breast to snatch her hand away, trapping it behind her back. 

"What the hell, Henry?" Mara growled, her own pleasure put on the back burner. She started to chew him out, but he stopped that train of thought. Henry slipped his hand into her jeans, over her ass, sliding his middle finger right into her pussy. Mara gasped and bucked against the violating digit.

"Jesus, Mara." She was soaking wet. He sunk his finger into her as deep as he could. 

Surprise, Mara was no longer in an arguing mood.

"You like that, babe?" 

He got his response in the pulse of her pussy around his finger. Just as Mara was starting to melt into him, the delicious violation was gone. Henry knelt down, yanking off Mara's shoes and socks. She laughed as picked her up and tossed her onto the bed. Quickly, her pants, bra and underwear were left in a pile on the floor. Henry peeled off his shirt and jeans, finally giving his dick some relief. Then he was over her with two fingers violating her pussy.

Mara cursed, loving his sudden roughness.

"I've imagined this so many times, Henry. With you just like this...with my wet pussy on your fingers." Henry took a moment to stroke Mara's clit with his thumb.

"Me too, Mara. This is so much better," he said, letting her pull him down for a crushing kiss. She bit his bottom lip and tasted his tongue.

"So. Much. Better." She moaned with each thrust of his fingers. She reached down, rubbing her clit and he pulled his fingers away to watch her.

"Touch yourself...touch yourself the way you do when you think of me." 

Mara's pussy throbbed at the request. She went to work on her clit with one hand and stuck two fingers of the other into her pussy. Henry finally pulled his cock out of his boxers, pumping furiously with his fist. She watched him stroke himself as she fingered her clit.

Mara hadn't seen his cock before. It was about average length, and thick. His dick was flushed the shade of red he turned when he got really hot. His stomach and thighs tensed and released in time with the stroke of his hand, his cock slick from fingers playing with her pussy. Mara kept watching. She licked her lips. Henry grunted and jerked against his hand. It wasn't lewd like in the videos, all exaggerated and sloppy. It was just...hungry. A genuine gesture if need. She didn't even seem to recognize that she'd done it.

"I want to taste it," she said, reaching for him. 

Not yet.

He pinned her arms above her head, shoving his fingers back inside of her. He watched her arch her back, thrusting her breasts up for him to taste. They were full with nipples the color of burnt brown sugar. He sucked a nipple into his mouth and felt her pussy flutter around his fingers. He upped the ante, sticking a third finger inside of her. He held her wrists as she bucked against him. He kept pumping even as she locked her thighs around his hand and started to come.

"That's my girl" he cooed against her lips. Finally, she relaxed under him. Mara's voice was a soft purr when she spoke.

"We should have done this ages ago."

Henry's responding laugh was so sexy and graveled with lust that she couldn't resist kissing him. The kiss was almost better than everything else. It was the tease and promise of what was coming and what they were feeling. Mara pulled away, stretching and drawing Henry's eyes to her nude form.

"So where do you want it?"

Henry looked confused.

"Your come," she whispered against his lips, grazing his cock with her nails, "Where do you want it?"


Rational Behavior Ch. 02



Please comment. This chapter has more character development. I'd appreciate any constructive feedback that will help me improve my storytelling skills. Thank you! 





It'd been three weeks and they still didn't have the answer to that question.

Henry had just been responding to Mara's pull. She'd initiated this whole thing, stirring up the courage to ask before he'd gathered the nerve himself. He wasn't complaining about that. They seemed to want the same thing. But that was the problem. What was that, exactly? She dodged the question whenever he asked, but he couldn't resist asking. It was this little cut that he couldn't stop itching, despite the fact that it only made the wound worse.  

The only reference point he had for this sensation was their first night together. The panic and intensity turned into a euphoria he hadn't experienced before. So did the fear that came with thinking that it could end. When he pinned her under him and made her come on him...It was this power, this strength that she'd given him that constantly hummed throughout his being; an energy he'd absorbed into himself, but hadn't figured out how to use. Really, 'girlfriend' was just a jumping off point to what he wanted her to be-his fiancée, his wife, mother of his children. But Mara held out.

She was avoiding telling their parents. Once they did, they wouldn't have the same privacy. Plus, they'd have to answer the question about how they'd carry on their relationship. The words 'long distance' would probably cause people to look at them with a shit ton of sympathy-like they were doomed to fail. That negativity would not be received kindly, on Mara's part. Meanwhile, she and Henry spent more and more time butting heads. 

Then there was the wedding. Mara's dad went on a cruise with his girlfriend and they'd come home engaged. The house buzzed with the excitement of wedding planning-flowers, dress boutiques, cake, location. Terrance and Dionne were hashing out the last subject as Mara came down the stairs. 

The love birds sat leaning against one another on the area rug as they looked at the laptop sitting between them. Mara couldn't help but laugh at the image before her. Her father ran a hand over his short, peppered black hair. A 6'2'', forty-three year old man with an athletic build from going to the gym, hiking, and the like; he could be intimidating when he wanted to be, even when just sitting. Dionne's chocolate brown skin was striking against shoulder length night black hair. It gently framed her heart-shaped face. A 5'2" thirty-eight year old, fairly active herself, each movement of her lithe frame displayed the shadow of muscle underneath. 

Despite their size difference, Dionne was a forced to be reckoned with and Terrance was putty in her hands. 

"We should get married in a church," Terrance insisted. 

"Where is this coming from, Terry? You're not even religious." 

Mara continued on into the kitchen, eavesdropping on their conversation.

"It's important. I want to stand on holy ground and make our union official before God."

For a moment there was no reply. 

It was true, they weren't religious. But her father's sense of tradition reared its head every once in awhile-like opening the door for women and keeping his worries to himself. Apparently, this list also included getting married in a church.

"That's romantic," Dionne confessed. 

Her father's phone rang. 

"Hello?" The person on the line said something. "No. The stagers need to be there on Monday. I start showing the house on Wednesday."

He excused himself from the room, saying he needed to go to the office and straighten some things out. As soon as Terrance left, Mara skipped into the room, plopping down next to Dionne. The two had grown comfortable over the last six years. Their relationship was more friendly than parent-child oriented. So Mara had no apprehension about asking Dionne to tell her the story of how her father proposed. For the umpteenth time, Dionne happily recanted the story to Mara.

"So we were sitting on the deck, sunbathing." Dionne giggled. She leaned back, stretching luxuriously. The sun beamed down, hot enough to make her skin prickle. She could smell the ocean salt. "He wasn't even complaining. You know he hates to sit for too long, but I wasn't even thinking about it. I mean, your father tanning. Can you imagine?"

"I don't want to!" Mara shook the image from her mind. "Why can't we skip this part when you tell it?"

"But that body-"

Mara covered her ears, humming over Dionne's words.

Dionne rolled her brown eyes and sat up. "Well, anyway. We're sunbathing and your father wasn't complaining. I was suspicious, but, you know, whatever. That's what cruises are for-relaxing. So, I'm lying there...and I hear this music. And it's the song. And I open my eyes and look at your father and he's grinning like the devil. Then the band comes up the stairs from the lower deck and they start singing 'Wise men say only fools rush in..."

Dionne clapped her hands to her face, smiling uncontrollably. That song was his favorite. He loved singing it to Dionne. It was their song.

"They came up the deck and fanned around us and your father went down on one knee. My heart was just racing." Dionne sighed and looked at her ring.

"And you knew you'd say yes?"

"Of course." 

Mara was always interested in their talks about romance. Dionne weighed many of her decisions with her heart as her guide. She once told Mara, 'If you're going to be in love, you can't walk the line with a net under you. There is no net. You just have to believe it was all worth it. Even if you fall on your ass'. Mara hadn't thought about that again, until now. Dionne wasn't a flighty, senseless person. She was just open and willing to value the things that made her happy. In Mara's opinion, Terrance was privileged enough to be one of those things. She was glad they'd found one another. But Mara didn't see romance that way at all.

She'd thought, Why wouldn't I have a net? I'm not walking a tightrope with no net. 

Now look at her. All of that baloney that Dionne spoke about was actually starting to make sense.

"Thinking of a certain someone?" Dionne asked.

Mara didn't even ask how Dionne knew. "What do you mean?"

Dionne ignored the terrible attempt at deceit. "Do you think you'll make it this far?"

Mara shrugged. Dionne smiled at the Terrance-like mannerism. "Don't know. We're still pretty new."

"But you've thought about it?"

Mara shrugged again. "We have to get through college first. We still don't know what to do."

Dionne rubbed Mara's back, comforting her. "I can't tell you what to do, chick, but if you want it to work you have to fight for it."

And fight they did.

~ ~ ~

"I don't know what your problem is," Henry hissed. He was as tired of saying it as Mara was of hearing it.

But I still don't have an answer. Do I?

"Can we not do this right now?" Mara grumbled, rummaging around her room, looking for her bright orange sweater. It would go perfectly with her white floral printed sundress. 

"No!" Henry answered.

Mara snorted at the ambiguity of his response. She tried to cover it, focusing in finding that stupid sweater. 

He thrust his finger in her face, forcing her to acknowledge him. "You know what I meant."

"I have work in thirty," she barked, impatient.

Her friend Hannah had done some print work with some photographer and it turned out that the magazine he worked for was looking for a writer to replace a woman who'd moved on to other opportunities. Mara sent in some samples along with the usual paperwork. Already a couple weeks into the job, she was really enjoying it. Usually, she was excited about going to work, but this argument was piling on anxiety she didn't need. 

"I'm already fifteen minutes late. Next excuse."

Mara didn't want to tell Henry that she was afraid that he'd find someone else. Ever since their first night together, the thought cast a shadow over their summer bliss. To top it off, guilt weighed on her for even considering that she couldn't trust him. Saying that to him would hurt him way more than her attempts to avoid his questions. 

"Things happen! What is going to happen with school? Where are we going to find the time-or money-to see each other? I'm going to be meeting new people. You are too." She let out a heavy sigh. "I don't want to be the girl sitting alone in a dorm on a Friday night, hoping you'll remember our, like, Skype date or whatever."

Henry only got one thing out of all of the nonsense she'd just spewed. "You wanna fuck someone else?"

Mara reeled around to look at him. "Do I what?"

He enunciated each word. "These 'things' and 'people'. Do you want to fuck other people?" To Mara, each word was a shiv to the gut. "Because you should just say so instead of cheating and bailing on me halfway through the semester."

"No. I would never-"

"It's not that hard," Henry interrupted, gesturing wildly with his hands. He was hysterical with this logic that she didn't seem to possess. "It's not that hard. Either you want to be with me or you don't."

"I do. It's just-"

Henry snatched his keys off of her dresser. He was done listening to her excuses and he was late to work. 

"Stop jerking me around and stop being such an ass!" he barked. He marched out of the room, slamming the front door on his way out.

~ ~ ~ 

As soon as Henry made it onto the house lot he shut out thoughts of Mara, hoping that work would be the distraction he needed. 

Twenty minutes in the sun beat down on his back as he nail gunned beams together for a wall frame, mind Mara-free.

"Campbell," someone called. They called again, louder. Henry looked up.

"It's dead, dude. Chill out."

He looked down at the beams. There were five unnecessary nails, all askew.

Shit, this is gonna be a long day.

~

The office was about 800 square feet. In the middle of the space there was a long table; at one end was a cork board already tacked with a few story ideas. Mara's boss, Gretchen Kinsey holed herself in her office. Mara could see her through the glass, simultaneously taking a call and typing away on her laptop. 

Mara greeted people sitting at the table in front of her. "Wayne. Soph."

Sophie grunted her reply, not turning away from her computer screen. She was in the zone, making some update to the site graphics.

Wayne acknowledged her with a glance, his fingers still skipping across the keyboard. "Hey Harper." 

"Erin and Micah?"

"Erin is out on a lead. Micah's getting more photos for the food crawl article."

"He went with me on the crawl. He snapped shots all through the interviews. How many more can he take?"

"You know Micah. Gretchen doesn't have him on anything until we have the meeting at one. He probably wanted photos of the curbs and shit."

Mara snorted, settling in next to him and pulling out her notes and her own laptop.

~ ~ ~

Terrance set down his glass of wine and checked the time on his watch. It was a quarter past seven. Mara would be home by now. He looked at Dionne. The cap sleeve navy dress she wore fit her beautifully, coming just above the knee. She'd pulled her hair up in a bun; her gold teardrop earrings accentuated her soft neck. To be out to dinner with his beautiful fiancé and worrying about his 18-year-old daughter was ridiculous. She was perfectly capable of caring for herself, but he couldn't fight the nagging feeling that something was off with her. 

"What's on your mind?" Dionne asked. Her tone was light, but her eyes conveyed a deeper worry. 

"I'm going to ask Mara to be my best man. Do you think she'll want to?"

Dionne put down her glass, taking his hands in hers. "Terrance. That's a great idea. She'll be thrilled. What are you worried about?"

He shrugged. "She's been distant."

Dionne sympathized. "I've noticed. Why don't you just talk to her? I mean, why do you think she's been distant."

Terrance pulled his hands from hers. He took his time cutting off a piece of his steak, chewing slowly.

"You're her father, Terry. She'll always need you."

"Will she? She's acting strangely. She's going off to college. Things are changing."

"UCLA is an hour and a half drive from here. And that's in heavy traffic. She isn't going to Berkeley like Henry. Change isn't a bad thing. It's how you found me." Dionne smiled and leaned forward, kissing his cheek.

Terrance beamed back at her. "True."

"And how many times have you told me how mature she is?"

"Well when your mother abandons you at three years old and you're left with a dad who doesn't know a french braid from a fishtail braid, what choice do you have?" Dionne chuckled at that, but Terrance went on.

"She's always been too old for her age."

"Terry, just talk to her."

Terrance nodded. They both drank sips of their wine.

"Now perk up." Dionne set her napkin on the table. "I didn't wear this dress for nothing. Are we going back to my apartment so you can ravish me or what?"

Terrance didn't miss a beat. "Check!"

~ ~ ~

Henry was brisk in his walk from his driveway to the front door. When he came inside, he didn't even pay attention to what his father was saying. It was straight autopilot to his bedroom. He closed the door behind him, happy to relax in his own domain. 

"Hey. Can we talk?"

Henry jumped, startled. A new wave of exhaustion hit him after that small burst of energy. 

"I'm not in the mood for this. I need a shower. Can it wait?" 

Henry stomped past her to the bathroom. 

Though she'd come here to talk, this simple act was a distraction in itself. He looked tantalizing in his gray t-shirt and slightly baggy jeans. At the same time he appeared to be an overgrown kid who'd just come in from playing. A sun tan, possibly a sun burn, flushed his skin a shade of pink usually reserved for mild embarrassment. A thin layer of dust coated everything he wore. His work boots left a trail of dirt with each step. He didn't smell at all like soap, but the combined smell of dirt and sweat and wood-the smell of the building site-suited him just as well. 

Mara finally opened her mouth, letting Henry in on the conversation that had been brewing these last few weeks.

"I don't want to get cheated on."

Henry stepped out of the bathroom sans shoes; his belt hung from the jean loops, unbuckled. 

"What?"

She stood from her position on his bed. "The 'things' that happen. It's not me wanting to cheat on you, Henry. It's the chance that you'll cheat on me." 

"Mara you are making this so one-sided." Henry shook his head, finally piecing her thoughts together. "Is this about your mother?" 

Henry didn't really understand where Mara was coming from. His parents divorced when he was young, but they got along more so than they had when they were married. Mara's parent situation was uncharted territory. She talked about it so rarely; it was basically off the map. He knew the major points. Her parents met in college. Her mother got pregnant and they dropped out. Three years later her mom left both of them to pursue the life she was missing out on. 

He walked over to her. "This isn't even the same scenario," he said, pointing out the obvious. 

Her fear sounded much more ridiculous coming from someone else. Mara looked away, ashamed. "No. It's worse than that. We just started this and it's already-"

"And," Henry added, "I won't be around to knock you up, so who would get you pregnant?" He said it with such matter-of-fact arrogance that Mara finally snapped.

"Stop interrupting me," she demanded, hands balling into fists. "I didn't even say anything about babies. Thank God I'm on birth control so it's one less thing to worry about. And even if I was worried about it, I wouldn't tell you. You clearly wouldn't get it or at least try to understand because you're too busy being a prick." 

Henry took a few steps away from her, massaging his temples. He inhaled slowly through his nose and exhaled through his mouth. "You decided to take us into your own hands, without talking it out. And now you're pissed because I'm calling you out on it."

"You wish it was that fucking easy. I avoided talking about it because I know you. You just hammer until things go the way you want. You're not even listening." Henry watched Mara do a ridiculous affectation of him. "It's like 'I'm Henry. Tell me your problem. But only if you want me to fix it.'"

"Do I stomp around like that? Like Grumpy the fucking dwarf?" He was so furious even his ears were red. "And problems are supposed to be fixed. So how am I in the wrong here?"

Mara let out a wail of frustration, turning away from him. Henry caught her arm, demanding her attention. His expression softened, but his tone maintained its edge.

"I have to 'hammer'. Do you know why? Because you weren't even going to tell me this." He leaned toward her, his face a breath away from hers. "I know you. If I hadn't hounded you about it, you would've kept this shit to yourself."

"I didn't want to hurt you."

It was Henry's turn to turn away. "By implying that you can't trust me? Why would I be hurt about something like that?" He scoffed. "You know, I've been just as paranoid about you cheating on me, but when you said you wouldn't, I believed you. So, how does that feel?"

"But that's just it. I told you I wouldn't."

"And I would've said the same if you'd given me the chance. Goddamnit."

"What the hell is going on in here?" Benjamin's voice boomed from the doorway. The two hadn't even heard the door open. 

"Nothing, Dad" Henry responded. If it weren't for his suddenly sore throat he wouldn't have noticed that he'd be shouting.

"Sorry Mr. Campbell."

Henry's father stood in the doorway for another moment. "Mara, maybe you should head home."

~

Silence hung heavy in the air after Mara left. Henry paced room, unable to even process what had happened. He didn't even make it to the shower. After a couple minutes, he flopped onto his bed and dozed into a restless sleep. 

~ ~ ~

The next day Mara called the only person she trusted to have an unbiased opinion on the issue.

"He just told you to leave?"

"Yeah, Harriet. You should have seen the look on his face. I don't think he's ever been this mad at me."

"Shit. Okay, I know this is a serious problem, but...you had sex with Henry?"

"Harry!"

"I'm sorry. You're throwing all of this crazy info at me. So much has happened since graduation."

"Well that's what happens when you go off to model and travel the world."

"I totally knew this would happen. Is he any good?"

"Stop it! What am I gonna do?"

"I don't know, M. Ow, you got glitter in my eye!"

"What?"

"Sorry. I'm in make up."

"Why didn't you say so?"

"You call. I come running," Harriet responded easily.

"I love you."

"I love you too. Honestly, just talk to him. If he's willing to fight, he's willing to make up. Just show up."

Mara sighed. Harriet could make such a complicated situation seem manageable. "Thanks. You're coming on the fourth, right?"

"Hell yeah. I wouldn't miss out on your dad's barbecuing skills. I can't wait."

"Okay. I love you."

Harriet laughed. "You said that already."

They said their goodbyes with Mara more confident in her ability to make this right. She wouldn't show up tonight after he got off work. It didn't work well for her the first time; it sure as hell wouldn't work now. She'd go in the morning.

~ ~ ~

Mara grabbed her keys, heading for the front door.

After she said what she had to say to him, she'd give him space to think about it. Lunch with her father would be the perfect distraction to stop her from obsessing over their discussion. Either way, she was really looking forward to having some time with her dad. They were both working; they had different schedules. More and more often, he was staying at Dionne's-they seemed to be in the honeymoon phase of their engagement-and she was absorbed with Henry. 




Rational Behavior Ch. 02



Mara checked her phone. Two hours until their noon lunch.

She heard the sound of heavy footsteps; someone took the few steps to her doorstep. Mara looked through the peephole, a smile breaking across her face. 

One hand slicked back his red hair, slightly damp. He slouched. The collar on his denim blue button down popped up on one side, but laid flat on the other. The sleeves were bunched up to the elbow. She could just see the top of his khaki slacks. She sobered her expression before opening the door.

Henry squared his shoulders, giving Mara a once over. Her outfit-a white tank top tucked into teal high-waisted shorts-accentuated her classic curves. Her hair wasn't its usual lion mane, but teased into a pompadour style. The urge to touch it itched on his fingertips. 

"I'm sorry," he said.

"I'm sorry too. I should have said what was going on before. I'm saying something now." 

"But it's after the fact. After you made your decision and then let me in on whatever craziness is going on in your head. Seriously, what were you going to do? Just dump me one day out of the blue?"

"No...Well-I was going to tell you," she stuttered. 

Henry scoffed. The disbelief on his face showed as blatant as the guilt on hers. "Jesus. You can't do this. This is not how relationships work."

"Don't treat me like I don't know how to be in a relationship."

"Don't treat me like I don't get how you're feeling. I'm worrying about the same shit."

"So why don't you say so?"

"'Cause we don't have time to focus on that."

"Not talking about it doesn't make the problem disappear, Henry. That's just doing to me what I did to you and saying it's better. It's not."

They stared each other down. Mara still stood in the doorway; Henry still stood on the porch. They were toe to toe, teetering on the threshold.

"I want this." She reached up, hooking her hands around the back of his neck. "I want to be with you. We'll figure out the other stuff." 

Some tension left Henry's shoulders, but he remained quiet. Mara reached around, giving his ass a playful squeeze. A twitch of a smile flashed across his face. 

"What are you gonna do about it?" she asked. 

Henry finally broke, hoisting Mara over his shoulder. He promptly jogged them up the stairs, stripped them and got to work on making up. They fucked three times before ending up in her grey-tiled shower.

~

Mara watched the water drip from Henry's hair as stood under the spray of the showerhead. The rivulets slid down his neck, over his shoulders. They raced over his back, over the fresh welts.

Mindlessly, she lifted a hand, tracing a finger over the damage she'd inflicted. His shoulders twitched, but he didn't turn. She watched his ass as he shifted his weight, transfixed by the muscle that moved beneath the skin. She wrapped her arms around his waist; his stomach contracted at her touch. 

Henry felt her nipples hardening against his back, heard her slightly laboring breath as she reached for his dick. He caught her hand and turned. "Give him a minute, will you?"

She relented with a pout. "Fine. Swap." 

"I didn't even get to wash off yet."

"Swap."

They changed places. The hot water cascading down Mara's body immediately soothed her sore limbs. She pulled her hair back into a tight bun and picked up her loofah, but Henry grabbed the sponge from her hand. 

"I'll do it." 

He picked up the bar of soap and scrubbed the loofah against it. He smiled as the scent of vanilla and cinnamon filled his nostrils. 

So this is where it comes from. 

They hadn't showered together before, so this was new to him. He'd unlocked the door to a secret, one part of what made Mara who she was. 

Mara moved from under the stream of the showerhead and Henry started on her arms, gently massaging, stopping for her giggling fits as he cleaned her underarms. Mara's back arched as Henry moved the rough, porous material across her shoulders, down to the middle of her lower back. The loofah dropped with a thud and Mara glanced over her shoulder, seeing Henry on his knees. The surprise of his fingers kneading her ass was merely pleasant compared to the jolt of fingers slipping between her cheeks. They drifted along the crack of her ass before sliding down to thoroughly clean her. Mara moaned and squirmed, but Henry focused on the business of the task. Then his fingers were gone and the loofah was back, buffing her legs, cleaning her feet. He couldn't help laughing as Mara started giggling again, curling and flexing her toes. 

He stood and Mara turned so that he could start on the other side. He ignored his erection bobbing between them as he washed her breasts. He brushed her nipples until they were hard points before casually moved down to wash Mara's stomach. Her hands rested on his shoulders as he knelt in front of her. Again, he abandoned the loofah, lathering soap on his hands before letting his thumbs glide against her outer labia. They swelled with her building arousal. A calloused finger dragged delicately against her clit. When Mara started to wiggle, he lightened his touch. She'd start rocking, he'd stop 'cleaning'. After a couple minutes, Mara just stood passive and trembling with the need to come. Her juices mixed with the suds that seeped onto his fingers. Henry dragged his thumbs along the hood of her clit. Once. Twice. He dropped his hands and stood. 

"All clean?" 

With great amusement, Henry watched the spectrum of emotion that crossed Mara's face. 

"If you won't get me off, I'll do it myself," she seethed. 

"You won't. Kitty likes me better than you." He lifted his hands to pinch her nipples, but Mara smacked them away. 

"Don't call my vagina 'kitty'. And, no she doesn't." 

Henry wrapped a hand around the back of Mara's neck, turning her away from him. She propped herself against the back wall of the steam filled space. Her legs opened wider to keep balance. Her dripping wet pussy was exposed to the cooling air. Mara grunted, feeling Henry's other hand trace down her spine and over her ass. He parted her pussy lips with his fingers and lifted the glistening digits to her mouth. She sucked them clean before he took her lips in a soft, sultry kiss.

"It sure seems like she does." He pressed himself against her back. His dick slipped between her ass cheeks as he nibbled her ear. His large hands palmed her breasts. He plucked her nipples as she backed herself against him. He twisted them, feasting on her neck. "You're my good girl, aren't you?"

The steam and Henry's hands all over her were getting to Mara's head.

"You know I am. I'm already so wet for you. Please. Please.  I can't wait anymore. I need to come."

He prodded her with the tip of his cock, pushing in just far enough for her muscles to grab him. One hand held the small of her waist; the other twisted her tresses around his hand. He planted his feet on the wet floor. Mara mewled as he cocked back his fist, jerking her head back as he speared her on his cock.

"Oh, just like that." She sighed with relief. He thrust into her with deliberate slow, deep strokes. "Yes. Oh, God. Yes! I love you so much babe." 

Shit. No. No. No. He didn't hear that. He didn't hear it. I didn't say it. 

His fist tightened in her hair, bending her back with another yank. "Show me." 

A few deep, well angled strokes and she came, yielding in his grasp. That wave crested and another followed.

"Oh, what the fuck," he rasped, watching his pale, sinewy flesh appear and disappear beneath the almond hill of her jiggling ass. He traced her neck with his tongue, panting against her neck.

"Good girl. That felt so good. Do it again. Show me. Show me." He released her hair to clutch her hips. 

"Motherfucker," She cursed under her breath, succumbing to another savage orgasm as Henry came inside of her. 

~

When Mara felt her legs less like noodles, more the consistency of jello, they washed and dried off. Henry followed her into her room. 

He hadn't said anything about her bathroom confession. He'd been mulling it over. Mara said that their flaws in communicating were the same, but they weren't. Not really. She'd been planning an escape route just in case shit went south. That was the real difference between them. He was really in it for the long haul while Mara had her emergency pack at the ready. 

Will she bail when things get really hard? 

Henry leaned against the dresser, bowing his head. "You weren't just saying it because I made you come?" he speculated aloud. Mara's tangerine colored toenails came into view.

"Well, you hadn't let me come yet." She caught him rolling his eyes. "No. Of course I didn't say it because of that." Mara's assuredness radiated through her eyes. She whispered in his ear. The steadiness and sweetness of her voice made his heart thud in his chest. "I love you. I'll show you. Really." 

Henry cleared the catch in his throat and smiled. The smile elevated to a chuckle.

That has to be a good sign she thought, hopping up onto her dresser.

"Motherfucker? That's a new one," he said, preening. He parted her legs to stand between them.

"Well that's what happens when you give a girl multiple orgasms."

"Really?" He smiled wider. "That was just-I mean over and over. Ugh." His words muffled as he nuzzled his face against her neck. "What did it feel like to you?"

She tried to focus as his hands drifted along her thighs. "Like...Like a chocolate chip cupcake with peanut butter filling, topped with hazelnut frosting." 

Henry's mouth fell open. "We should do that again. Like, now. Right now." 

Mara couldn't help her hysterical laughter as he picked her up and carried her to the bed. 

~

Terrance heard Mara's laughter and knew she was home. They were going to her favorite burger joint for lunch. He looked forward to their catching up. Like Dionne said,

"Of course she'll say yes," he repeated to himself out loud. He took the stairs two at a time, pushing the bedroom door completely open.

"Hey, sweetheart. You ready-"

And then Terrance saw them or they saw him. It didn't matter either way because Terrance was hollering and Mara shrieked, yanking the covers up around her. Henry launched himself off the bed, shielding his groin with his hands. Terrance slammed the door shut, trying to block the scene from his mind. He took a moment before speaking through the door. 

"Downstairs. Now."

~ 

Henry and Mara sat on opposite ends of one couch; Terrance sat across from them on the other. Terrance had a terrifying calm about him that had Mara averting her gaze and had Henry sweating like he'd stolen something. Or-worse-been caught naked with his girlfriend by his girlfriend's father. It was Terry's body language. He leaned forward, forearms on his thighs. So chill.

"Dad, it's not what it looks like."

"This is completely my fault." They spewed at the same time.

Terrance shook his head and laughed. "That's bullshit," he said to the first and, "I believe that," he said to the second.

Mara jumped to Henry's defense. "He's lying. I started it."

Terrance waved his hands, gesturing for this madness to end. "I don't want to hear it." 

He took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose, bracing for this conversation. Even though he'd been preparing for this for 18 years, he wasn't prepared for it at all. His fear of Mara turning down his proposal disintegrated to nothing.

"Mara, will you excuse us?"

Mara looked from her father to Henry and back again before leaving them to it. Whatever it was.

"Henry, this is really hard for me. I know you and Mara are best friends, but I should have seen this coming."

Henry heard incessant tapping. A charlie horse seized up his left calf. He pressed his feet to the hardwood floor, focusing on the grooves in the grain. "I'm sorry Mr. Harper."

The formality tripped awkwardly off of Henry's tongue. He'd been calling Terrance 'Terry' for most of their relationship. 

"How long has this been going on, Henry?"

His eyes squeezed shut as he recalled the information. "One month, one day, twelve hours and-" he looked at the clock, "sixteen minutes. Roughly."

Terrance straightened, his scrutinizing gaze intensified. "Are you taking care of my daughter?" 

"Yes, sir."

Terrance was comforted, yet unnerved by the ease and confidence with which Henry answered the question. It was immediately clear to Terrance that Henry had serious intentions with his daughter. He was already deep in it.

"And this isn't just a summer thing?" 

Henry said nothing, but his steady gaze was all the answer that Terrance needed.

"You love her, don't you?"

Henry ran a hand through his hair. He pressed his toes against the hardwood floor to stop his tapping feet.

"Yes, sir."

"And what will happen when school starts. You know she won't-"

Henry cut him off. "I know Mara. I would never-School is the most important thing to her. I would never distract her from that or try to take that from her." 

He didn't add that he was afraid that, if it came down to it, she wouldn't choose him. But Terrance was thinking the opposite. If she felt as strongly about Henry as he did about her, she wouldn't need him to ask. 

"Henry, if you hurt her..." 

Henry ran a hand through his tousled hair. "The bullets in your gun will find a new home?" 

Terrance guffawed. "Just be careful, son," he said, standing. Henry followed suit. Terrance gave Henry a firm pat on the back. 

"And, Henry? Stop calling me sir."

~

Henry trekked out of the living room, reaching the end of Terry's interrogation, only to walk into another.

Mara came in from the back yard. "How'd it go?" she asked in an urgent whisper.

"Mara," Terrance called before Henry could answer the question. She looked to Henry for strength, for any indication of what she was in for. 

"I'm gonna go. Call me." He gave her a reassuring smile and a little push toward the living room. Henry shook Terrance's hand before leaving.

Lead feet carried her to the couch across from her father. With enraptured focus she studied the patio furniture in the backyard. She adjusted her top, choking on the stifling heat that suddenly clouded her body.

Terrance's eyes trained on his daughter. "This explains why you've been so strange lately."

"I'm so sorry that you walked in on us. I'm so embarrassed," she admitted, burying her face in her hands.

"Yeah, well that makes two of us." There was a long pause. "Look, you're eighteen. I know that things are happening with you."

"Dad, don't. Really. The sex talk was awkward enough the first time."

"And it wouldn't do any good now," he retorted with the quick lash of his tongue. "I can't believe I didn't see this coming."

Mara shrunk to about four feet tall. She was eight years old and Terrance was scolding her for staying out playing after the streetlights came on. His stern expression, brows furrowed with worry, was the same look he gave her now. Only now, a sadness, a sense of loss loomed over the whole thing. 

Mara couldn't wipe the tears away quickly enough for Terrance not to see them. He went to her, rubbing Mara's back as he gave her a bear hug. 

"Sssorry-didn't tell you-disappointed in-in," she blubbered against his shirt.

"Honey, I'm not disappointed in you. I'm caught off guard. It's hard for dads. We know what these guys want." He shook his head. "If it were up to me, you'd be a nun or a lesbian."

Mara laughed against his chest. "He's a gentleman dad, I swear."

Terrance wiped Mara's face with the back of his hand. "He better be. Honestly, if you're going to get serious with someone, I'm glad it's him." 

"So you didn't threaten him, right?"

Terrance cocked an eyebrow. "I didn't say that."

"I was going to tell you at lunch."

"Don't worry about it, kid," he said simply. "Is he taking care of you?"

Mara actually turned red with embarrassment, but her tone was bold. She stood, throwing her hands in the air.

"Jesus, Dad. Yes. Actually, no. I'm taking care of myself. You know that. You taught better than to be an idiot about it."

Terrance laughed allowed at the surge of shame he felt about asking her that question. Like she was the adult. Pride ran through him at this confirmation of him being a decent parent. If she approached this with maturity, then she could handle everything else. They stood and Terrance hugged his daughter. 

"Just know that you can still come to me with stuff, okay? It might be awkward, but I'm still here for you." 

"I know." Mara ran upstairs to grab her purse. She came back down just in time to catch him getting in his car.

"Hey wait!" She jogged up to the driver side window. "You aren't just leaving, are you? You said you wanted to ask me something at lunch?"

Terrance grinned at her. "Get in."

~ 

That night, Terrance recounted the afternoon's events to Dionne. Her expression went from shocked to nervous to happy in the span of five minutes. 

"I told you she'd say yes. You know that Henry and Ben are coming to the 4th party, right?"

"Of course they are. They have the past two years. Plus, it'll give me a chance to berate Ben for letting his son near my daughter."

~ ~ ~

Mara's dress fluttered around her. Her wedge heels tapped and clunked as she danced around her room preparing for the party. She smiled and hummed as she looked in the mirror, swiping eyeliner along her lids. 

"Are you excited?" Mara asked, ribbing him. She sat down next to Henry on the end of her bed. 

It would be the first time she could introduce Henry to her family. Everyone already knew him, but she knew they'd have a field day when they found out that he and Mara were dating. 

"Yeah," he dragged his hand across his face before pulling it through his hair. He was feeling the pressure. In hindsight, Mara's desire to keep things a secret seemed more and more like a good idea to him. Sure, everyone already knew him, but this would bring a whole new level of knowing. And PDA was not his thing.

This is what you wanted, he thought to himself. 

It was so strange, this pull between wanting to hide from the attention and wanting to holler and shout that he had her. He imagined himself jumping on one of the fold-out tables set up outside and thrusting his clawed hands into the air, victorious and shouting. 'Yes! This girl." He'd point to her. "This girl right here. Dibs!'

He chuckled at the scenario. Mara would kill him. He'd suddenly be very single, he knew.

People trickled in over the next couple of hours, hugging and catching up with each other. Terrance let the cat out of the bag and then aunts and cousins were rushing up to Mara, asking for confirmation. Looking for Henry to help, she saw that he had already been cornered and congratulated by Uncle Bobby. Possibly even threatened, judging by his reddening cheeks and the somewhat defensive posture that he seemed to take on. But then they were ribbing each other. Play fighting the way that boys do. 

Terrance provided the perfect excuse to escape from the cacophony of activity. "Mara, get more burger patties, will you?"

Mara gestured Henry away from her family with a wave of her hand.

"Why don't you kiss her? Give her a hug or something!" Bobby called, but Mara and Henry ignored it, heading into the house. 

Henry took a seat on one couch as Mara went to the fridge, grabbing the pack of burgers. She watched him leaning back with his eyes closed, relaxing. The mere sight of him made her smile. 

"Stop looking at me like that." He cracked an eye open, confirming his suspicion.

"Like what?" She asked, still ogling him.

"Your dad is going to come in here looking for those," he said, gesturing toward the abandoned burgers on the counter.

Mara sauntered toward him.

He sat up straighter. "Don't." 




Rational Behavior Ch. 02



Mara stopped where she stood, sighing heavily. Henry wasn't much for public displays of affection. He considered it to be too much of an exhibition. It wasn't like Mara wanted to eat his face in the middle of a crowd or anything like that, but anything beyond holding his hand was too much.

What happens between us isn't anyone else's business,  he'd said one afternoon when she'd pressed the issue too much. It just made him uncomfortable. 

She'd felt so guilty about pressuring him about PDA when he was so affectionate and passionate in private. But it was that same passion that had her yearning to touch him at every possible moment. He had some superhuman ability to control his affections in front of other people. Except for when he looked at her. No matter how restrained his body was his eyes gave him away. She'd look up and catch him staring at her. Sometimes he'd be smiling, but other times, like now, there was no smile. From fifteen feet away, his hands tickled her naked waist, his lips kissed her hair. That look gave her the courage to take another step closer. And another, until she was straddling his lap with her arms slung over his stiff shoulders.

"You have about two minutes to torture me before he comes in here," Henry ceded.

Mara captured his lips with a sweet kiss. She tangled her fingers in his hair, tugging gently. Henry groaned, fingers dancing under her dress, along the backs of her thighs. They dug into the skin.

Mara wiggled in his lap. "I thought I'm supposed to be torturing you."

"Every goddamn second," he responded, just as breathless. 

"I love you," Mara whispered. She hadn't said it since the day they'd been caught a week ago. 

"Oh my god," a voice behind them gasped. And then there was a squeal. "I can't believe this!"

Henry jerked Mara off of his lap. She was stunned for a moment. Gracelessly righting herself, she gathered her wits and identified the speaker.

"Harry!" Even though Harriet wore flats, Mara still stood a head shorter than her in wedges. Mara wrapped her arms around her friend's waist. The two hugged like they'd been apart ten years. Harriet had taken up homeschooling in their junior year. Aside from graduation, this was the second time they'd all hung out together in the last thirteen months. The two finally released each other and Henry hugged her lithe frame.

"Hey, Chubs," he used his affectionate nickname for her. 

"I would call you string cheese, but you're not looking very stringy these days," she responded warmly, squeezing his bicep. She turned back to Mara. "Am I interrupting? Should I go mingle with the folks?"

"No!" Mara insisted. "I mean, yes. Let's mingle." She linked arms with Harriet and they walked out into the yard, gabbing away. 

Henry stood dumbfounded for a moment before grabbing the burgers from the counter and joining everyone outside. Twenty minutes later, they were sitting to eat.

Aunt Penny asked, "So how did this happen?"

Henry looked to Mara, but she offered no reply. Henry spoke up.

"It just happened." 

"From the way you two look at each other, we can tell that something is happening." She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

Terrence grumbled irritated and uncomfortable with this conversation. Mara was too preoccupied with feeling rejected to register embarrassment on top of it. Plus, it was only teasing. She'd seen her other cousins subjected to the same treatment. Henry, on the other hand, looked as uncomfortable with the subject turn as her father did. Mara made no attempt to ease the tension. When Henry went to touch her hand, she subtly shifted away. 

He raised an eyebrow, lips pressing into a hard line.

"You actually threw me out of your lap," Mara whispered in answer to his silent question.

"I was a bit caught off guard."

"You could have just said so."

"Not by what you said, by Hannah walking in on us. I've been trying to get your attention all night, but you keep avoiding me."

Mara went back to picking at her coleslaw. Henry rolled his eyes.

Nothing about being with this girl is easy.  

His left hand swept across her back, sliding up to cup her neck. He leaned toward her, letting his lips hover close to her ear. The feel of his lips this close to her, while they were in public no less, piqued her interest. The feel of his breath raised goose bumps all over her body. 

"I love you too."

Henry kissed her gently, lips parting slightly. People started whooping and someone cat called. But despite turning four shades of red, Henry's lips didn't leave hers.



Rational Behavior



He let out a sound between a groan and a whimper, before smoothing his lips against hers again. He pulled away and his fingers stayed on her face, sweeping across her plump lips. She licked them again, the way she had when he was jerking off.

She propped her head on a pillow, motioning for him to come to her. Henry knelt over her and pumped his cock for a moment before Mara sucked it into her mouth. He felt her tongue sliding along the head. It ran up the underside of his dick and lapped at the precum that gathered. Mara gave it one voracious suck and he bucked into her mouth, feeling the smooth skin of her throat. He pumped once, twice, feeling her gag and choke on him before pulling back.

"Again," Mara demanded. 

That one word triggered a reaction Henry never experienced. He clutched her hair in his fist, driving his dick into her waiting mouth. Mara swallowed and gagged again, digging her nails into the flesh of his ass. That combination of soap and earth filled her nostrils. It was the taste in her mouth. She loved it. She tried to hold him there, but Henry pulled away, leaving Mara to pant for air. 

Looking down at her, seeing the spit on her lips and hearing her ragged breathing, Henry felt that first itch of an orgasm about to pull him under.

He growled a slew of curses as she took him in her hand, guiding her back into her mouth.

Suck, pump, swallow, pump. Her free hand alternated between squeezing his balls and teasing his ass. The quiver of an oncoming orgasm hit him harder. His balls tightened in her hand; he felt his blood drain toward the suction of her mouth. Then he felt her moan around him. He felt the slight scrape of her teeth against him.

Henry shouted his release; his dick throbbed with each spurt of come that emptied into her mouth. With her fist, Mara sealed the sticky liquid from escaping, swallowing all of it.

He collapsed down next to her, pulling her flush against him. His mouth latched onto hers and he tasted himself. Their lips parted and Mara rested against Henry's chest.

"I'm sorry I grabbed you like that," he said, massaging her scalp where he'd gripped her.

"I didn't mind." Mara guided his fingers to her cunt. He felt how wet she was and smirked. Full of surprises, this one.

"Do you like it rough?"

There was a loud crack as Henry's hand smacked Mara's ass. She yelped. The surprise of his attack shocked her more than the slight sting of her ass. She kissed his neck, trailing up to his lips.

Her delectable kiss was the perfect distraction. Mara tugged his bottom lip between her teeth, biting. She found a nipple and pinched it roughly. He snarled over Mara's giggling. Victory!

"Do you?" She quipped, grinning.

Henry laid Mara on her back. "You better be nice to me." 

Mara's quick retorted died on her tongue when she felt his index finger circle her clit. She closed her eyes, ready to fall into the ecstasy of his fingers inside of her.

A few moments passed and nothing happened. As soon as she opened her eyes and met his gaze, Henry sunk two fingers deep inside her pussy. Mara gasped and arched into his hand.

The heat of his skin upon hers and the slack-jawed awe with which he watched her shot jolts of desire straight to her pussy.

More. God, she wanted more of this. She needed more of this. How had she staved off her desire for him for this long? How long would she be able to go without it? Mara's thoughts drifted back to the argument she'd been having with herself over how they would survive college apart.

Will he fuck someone else...or forget about me?

As he watched her expression change, her thoughts became more and more transparent. Of course she wasn't focused on his fingers inside her or his steel erection pressing against her thigh. The deepening crease of her brow only meant one thing-she was going into worry mode.

He pulled his fingers almost completely out and stopped. When it became clear that this wasn't a momentary pause, Mara opened her eyes.

"What?" she whined, trying to force his fingers back inside. He freed them from the warmth of her pussy.

"Stop thinking."

"I wasn't," she lied, clenching his hand between her thighs so that he couldn't get too far away.

She tugged him down for a kiss, slipping her tongue into his mouth as their lips met. The swirl of her tongue made his dick jump. Momentarily, he was derailed with flashbacks of that tongue against his rod. But he got the hint. She didn't want to talk about whatever it was just yet. The least he could do was make her forget about it.

"Focus on this." The pad of his index finger teased her clit from its hood. Mara's eyelids fluttered as he applied pressure to the little nub. He felt her thighs part wider to allow him greater access.

"You look so fucking sexy right now." 

Mara moaned, slamming her eyes shut as his fingers speared into her-a few quick, deep strokes that caused spots to dance behind her eyes.

"Look at me." 

Her chocolate eyes focused on his emerald ones. Her heart skipped a beat before racing in her chest. She couldn't pinpoint why his stare made her react this way, but at this particular moment she didn't care.

"Keep them open," he ordered.

Henry rubbed her clit before sinking his fingers back inside. He leveraged the full strength of his arm into driving his fingers in as deep as they'd go. Mara met his pace, arching her hips in time with his penetration. Mara groped any part of him she could get her hands on- his back, his stomach that jumped when she traced his belly button. The simmer of her body rose to a boil as Henry mercilessly alternated between rubbing her g-spot and digging his thick fingers into her. Mara gave up groping him to grip his shoulders. A steady chant of 'fuck' coming from her mouth egged him on.

How did she make a curse sound like a prayer?

She pinched her nipple, tugging the pebbled skin, and felt Henry bite the other. Her muscles clamped down on his fingers and Mara cried his name as she started to come. Slick come gathered on his fingers as she pumped her hips against his hand. He stroked in time with each pulsing contraction of her pussy, not letting up until she locked his hand in a vice. She still hadn't squirted, but if this was the constellation prize, she'd take it gladly.

Henry rolled Mara on top of him. He propped himself against the headboard, taking one nipple in his mouth and the other between his fingers. The sheath of her pussy lips bumped against his cock and it reacted of its own volition, sliding against her, seeking refuge in her channel. With her tucked into the cradle of his lap, they writhed against one another, delaying in sweet torture the moment to come. They humped against one another, his tool scraping against her clit and slipping along her opening.

Mara heard the pop of a top and felt Henry's hand fumbling between them. She looked down to see that he was spreading lube over his cock.

"Just in case," he said before kissing her full lips. It was more reassuring than erotic, but it still had that edge that made her dizzy.

"Thanks," she said, breathlessly. Mara took his tool in her hand, guiding it toward her. His weeping head pressed against her and she was hit with the enormity of this moment. When she looked up, Henry's eyes were already trained on her.

"You sure about this, M?" 

The strain of his body, the tension in his muscles, his clear yearning for her, made her sure. The burn of her flesh stretching around him made her gasp. The tremble of her thighs gave her away.

Henry's hands came to her hips, aiding her descent. He watched each flicker of emotion on her face-the nerves and desire. With eyes never leaving his, Mara pressed herself down onto him. The feel of his hands on her back soothed her; his sharp intake of breath urged her on. Still they kept their eyes on one another. After what seemed like a lifetime, he bottomed out inside of her. At least she thought he had, until he tucked his hips under, impaling her further.

Mara whimpered, going stiff on top of him.

"I'm sor-sorry," he choked out. Henry's entire body tensed as he resisted the urge to bury himself inside her.

"Maybe if you didn't have such a fat dick, we wouldn't be having this problem," Mara grumbled. 

Looking at her serious and determined expression, hearing the accusing tone in her voice, Henry couldn't help but chuckle.

"Not such a problem for me, love." 

His lips grazed the side of her neck, sending a shiver through her that settled between her legs. Henry tightened his grip on her hips at the feel of her tight cunt grabbing him so deliciously. He kissed her there again, loving that pulsing, wet grasp.

Mara levied herself away from him before sliding back down at such a slow pace Henry broke out in a light sweat. When Mara circled her hips, he slammed his eyes shut, panting. She smirked.

"Seems like a bit of a problem for you."

Mara rocked and bounced against him. Henry's hands on her hips followed her movements, pulling her tighter to him or holding her still as he pumped into her. She shoved him down onto his back, leaning over him to leverage her body against his. Henry snaked his fingers between them to rub her clit.

The light flutter of her muscles around him grew increasingly stronger. Henry watched Mara's breasts jiggle and bounce as she rode him, saw her arms shaking. He couldn't hold out.

"Mara..." he warned. She rose and her muscles pulled at him. She slammed down, taking him back inside. That roughness and the suction of her pussy trying to milk him set him off. A shudder ran through him as the first spurt of come ejected from his body. Henry shouted, digging into her thighs and pumping up into her as he emptied himself.

He finally relaxed under her. The exertive red of his skin faded, replaced by a warmer flush. Henry finally opened his eyes. Mara didn't look disgusted or upset that he'd come before she did. It was a look of awe.

"Wow."

Slowly, her lips quirked into a self satisfied little grin. She reveled in her ability to make him lose himself, to make him come like that. She trailed her fingers along his chest and the thin trail of hair below his navel. Her thighs tightened around his hips, her pussy pulsed around his deflating cock.

Damn, he was hungry for her. He felt himself inside of her, felt his come inside of her, but that wasn't enough. It hit him that it would never be enough. He couldn't imagine not wanting her, not needing her. He hadn't planned for this. Something in his body registered that fight or flight should kick in. He went rigid under her, his heart beat rapidly in his chest. 

"What's wrong?" Mara asked, alarmed. "What is it?" 

He shook his head, kissing her. Mara squealed when he flipped her onto her back, kissing his way down her body. There was no way he could tell her. 

He parted her thighs, drawn to the sight of his come trickling from her pussy. Again, his mouth watered and he dragged Mara to the edge of the bed. When Henry leaned forward, she slammed her legs closed. 

"What are you doing?"

The bravery he mustered to utter his next words were spurred by his embarrassment to say what he really wanted to say. 

"Can I eat you out right now?" 

Mara pulled a face. "You want to eat your come out of my pussy?"

And chew. And suck. And lick. 

"Please, M." 

~ ~ ~

His cum was the first thing he tasted. It was thick, salty. As he chewed at her, his heady flavor gave way to the taste of her sweet essence.

Goddamn...this is wonderful, he thought, pillaging her with his tongue. 

Mara's squeal was muffled by her thighs, but he got the hint when she began trembling beneath him. He curled his tongue around her clit. His tongue worked in earnest, trapping and battering the hardening little nub. Mara's nails dug into the sheets as her wails filled the room.

Henry felt the impulse to press a finger against her ass hole. The fact that he touched her where she'd never been touched sparked a surrender of control to him and her body's wild hunger. She ground her pussy on his face, numb to everything except that prickling peak of pleasure. Henry's finger slipped past her puckered sphincter. Mara squirted on his tongue. He lapped up the liquid as it streamed into his mouth. Her body jerked and jolted in an overload of pleasure, but he was having none of it. His finger continued to violate her ass, grazing that thin barrier of skin that separated it from her pussy. His rough tongue abused the spot from the other side, drawing out her orgasm until she was a whimpering, twitching mess. Mara tasted blood when she bit her lip to stop the slew of cries that poured from her mouth.

Her trembling exhaustion was the complete opposite of his sudden determined urgency. His dick was harder than it had ever been in his life.

Henry quickly repositioned them, settling on top of her. Mara knotted her hands in the sheets as he sunk into her.

"Wait," Mara begged. Her nails dug into his shoulders as she tried to leverage her body away from him. Henry slowed his pace, allowing her time to breathe.

He kissed her. One gentle kiss that made her catch fire and flame up, but she was too stimulated. Her entire body was one pulsing nerve. But he was too cunning, too charming, so in tune with her body. Henry pulled out. His lips trailed kisses across her skin. His soft, warm lips trailed along her inner thighs-a peace treaty, a white flag. It was disorienting.

He smiled and it was so charming and sweet, like his body wasn't wet with sweat and pussy juice, like the air wasn't dank with the smell of sex and come. He leaned down, his face hovering over hers. For some reason, Mara remembered the first time she saw those eyes. Mesmerizing, she'd thought, but harmless. How she'd believed that was beyond her. Those eyes were the means by which he dazed her, rendered her vulnerable.

Her face tingled with the feeling of being hairs away from his. Henry nuzzled his nose against hers before capturing her mouth in a kiss that started their hearts racing again. Mara only recognized that she'd gotten wetter and parted her legs when he was sliding forward to the hilt. Her muscles fought against his entry, still spasming from aftershocks of Mara's last orgasm. He took his time sliding back into the swollen furnace of her pussy. The pillow he propped under her aligned them perfectly. They stayed like that for a while, completely still. Filling and being filled. Henry licked and nibbled Mara's neck and she slowly relaxed under him. When she started wiggling against him, Henry knew she was ready.

He rolled his hips; his pelvis rubbed against her clit. Then he slid his arms under hers, hooking his hands over her shoulders.

Henry's first jut forward caught Mara off guard. He watched her arch and cry out. The direct contact of his dick and that rough patch of nerves stunned her. Stars danced in front of her eyes as she absorbed the strength of each rough thrust.

She clawed and tore at his back in her passion. A chill ran down her spine as she looked up and saw the animal hunger in his eyes. She wanted to come for him, to run from him, to fuse their bodies together so it'd always be like this.

"Don't you want to come for me again?"

Henry slowed his staggering pace to emphasize his words with a few deep strokes. 

Mara's response came in the gasp of his name on her lips.

He focused his eyes on those lips, bruised from their kisses. Every one of her attempts to put space between them, to give herself room to recover, only served as leverage for Henry to pull her back to him. She bared her teeth at one particularly deep thrust, rolling her hips and squeezing him with her inner muscles. Their eyes met and he saw this wild glint that he'd never seen in her before. He tightened his grip on her shoulders and started thrusting in earnest, swinging against her body. He was positive he was hurting her, but her legs were a vice around him now. Her muscles started twitching sporadically, desperately close to orgasm.

Mara tried to match his thrusts, but her hips had a mind of their own, moving in a rhythm-less dance in her blind quest to reach release.

Henry was monstrous. His hair matted with sweat. The flame of the candles seemed drawn to him, shrouding him in their wild, flickering heat. The burning rapture of aching in his chest was liberated in the staggering vigor of his hips. With each heaving breath, his nose filled with the maddening scent of Mara. The shriek of his name from her lips only fueled it. In that moment he'd kill for her, even destroy himself for her. Her slick, sweaty thighs clutched tighter over his shoulders. Henry watched her strain to reach that point. She fucked him back, squeezing his cock inside her with such strength that he felt his nut rising. Henry willed himself not to come as he heard a keening noise rise from her throat.

She was so close. He growled, fighting the vice grip of her pussy.

"You gonna to come for me babe? Are you gonna squirt all over my cock like you squirted on my tongue?" 

He grabbed a bouncing tit, pinching her tight little nipple.

Her entire body shook violently.

"Fucking come on it." The low timbre, the rumble of his voice, set her off.

For one moment there was nothing. Mara went rigid, feeling weightless while the density of his body pressed her into the bed. Her mouth opened and there was no sound. She gasped-a desperate vacuum of noise. For one moment Mara imploded. Nerves short-circuited. Her body was on fire. Her toes curled and her fingers dug into his biceps. The skin peeled from his arms, folding under the scrape of her nails. This pinpoint of time lasted for ages, bridging the gap of euphoria and pain. 

And then there was gushing, cursing, screaming, crying flesh. The sound of their wet bodies slapping against one another was obscene, but coupled by her cries and his moans it became the melody of their lovemaking. Mara's come soaked his dick and balls. It drenched the sheets and mattress. 

Henry clung to her as he surrendered to his own release. He'd never had an out of body experience, but right now his only tether to the world was this woman beneath him. With each pulse of blood through his veins, his head swam. His come filled and overflowed. Sweat dripped from his hair, falling onto her skin, mixing with her own sheen of sweat.

He saw Mara's lips moving, knew she was crying out, saying something, but the words were lost on him in the sublimity of his orgasm. Later, he'd replay this moment in his head, but not to try to recall what she'd said. What mattered was the look of pure ecstasy on her face. And he decided that if she spoke nothing but tongues and his name for the rest of her life he'd be more than happy with that.

Mara's body jerked as the high tapered down. Their bodies tremored and melted together. Mara unhooked her thighs from his shoulders, but kept him locked between her thighs. Henry rested his head against her shoulder. The warmth of his breath against her neck came in shaky puffs. The lub dub of his heart coursed through him and he felt each beat mirroring Mara's own. 

Henry pressed his lips to the pulse at her throat, lulled by it. He rolled them onto their sides, finally slipping out of her. They lay like that for a while.

What will happen now? Henry thought.

I can't just pretend this hasn't happened. And I'm not giving this up.

"Mara?"

She mumbled against the crook of his arm, half asleep. He'd take that as an acknowledgement.

"Mara, what are we gonna do?"

She said nothing, but tensed in his arms.