BeForeplay

by Josie Charles

  When I finally get my wits about me I speak. “Alex?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Sidney, I presume” His smile is bright so I assume that’s a good thing.

  “The one and only.” That made him chuckle. I may have an enjoyable evening after all. Yay for me.

  “Are you ready to go?”

  “Yeah, let me grab my purse.” I walk out the door and he’s still holding the screen door like a gentleman. I lock the door and we start walking to his truck. It’s a nice new truck too. He’s guiding me with his hand on my lower back and I think my panties may be melting and running down my leg at this point. He even opens the truck door for me. I have to tell myself to calm down before I drool down the front of myself and start humping his leg. I can’t take my eyes off of him when he walks around and jumps in the truck.

  “When we were texting I didn’t think to ask what kind of food you like so I thought about a Mom ‘n Pop Diner that I love, is that okay with you?”

  “Sounds good to me. I’m not a food snob.”

  He starts laughing and asks, “What’s a food snob?”

  I turn my head to gauge his reaction. “A food snob is someone who is picky about every little thing they eat.”

  “Good to know.”

  “So you don’t have a strict diet for your competitions?”

  His eyebrows are scrunched up when he asks, “Who told you I compete?”

  “Tasha, Danny’s girlfriend. She said you were a bodybuilder.”

  “Ah, I see. No, I don’t compete anymore but I do try to stay in shape.” He’s smiling again.

  “I can definitely tell that much.” I cover my mouth so fast you can hear the smack. I didn’t mean to say that out loud. I can feel my face burning so I can image how red it is. He’s chuckling. And fuck me if that didn’t kind of hurt.

  “Thanks. Don’t be embarrassed. I can tell you keep in shape too.”

  “I mainly get my exercise running around the ER.”

  “Danny said you worked with his girlfriend. What do you do?”

  “I’m an RN.”

  “Impressive. Do you enjoy it?”

  “Very much. I love helping people. Every day is different and satisfying by the end of my shift. Well, most days. When we lose someone those days aren’t good.”

  We get to the diner, when we’re seated and drink orders are placed I ask, “What do you do at work?”

  “My job title is a Civil Engineer but I do a little bit of everything. I really enjoy my job too.”

  We ordered our food and talked all through dinner and dessert. When he dropped me off at home he asked if he could take me out again and of course I agreed. He kissed me on the cheek and said goodnight. He’s nice, has manners and is a damn fine specimen of the human race.

  After I was done jumping around and squealing, I text Tasha.

  Me: Wow!

  Tasha: Told you so

  Me: Not just looks but personality too. Jackpot!

  Tasha: Cha ching!

  Alex and I had been seeing each other for almost two months when I decided to stop seeing him. I was extremely disappointed. We were talking about things we want in life and I learned he doesn’t want children. He’s nine years older than me so I don’t think it’s a decision he made lightly. I want a house full of kids. My own, adopted, foster, it doesn’t really matter how I get them as long as I have a house full. We both agreed there was no sense in seeing each other romantically but will remain friends. It sucks because he is a very attentive lover and damn fine to look at, naked or clothed. He’s a good man though and I hope he finds someone that wants the same as he does in life.

  Chapter

  4

  I’m excited about today. It’s the official start of my housewarming party weekend. I’ve stocked up on all kinds of liquor, wine, beer, mixers, soda and water. I’ve also bought a few air mattresses. If you don’t have a DD or take a taxi then you’re staying the night, and we plan on partying all weekend long. I made some of the food the rest I had catered. I also bought steaks, chicken, sausage, burgers and dogs for the grill. I think I have plenty of everything. We’ve rearranged schedules and traded off so everyone from the emergency department and some of the other nurses and doctors I know can come.

  I have cards and chips for poker. Two dry erase boards for Pictionary, my favorite game ever. And a new net and volleyball for the pool so we can play drunk pool volleyball.

  I gave everyone an invitation so the security guards wouldn’t have to keep calling me to ask if they’re invited guests. I’ll have to remember to take them up some food later.

  Tasha and Danny were the first to show up. They thought I might need some help but I had it all ready and waiting. Everyone else started showing up after that. Then I get an odd text from Emily, one of the nurses I work with.

  Emily: Would it be ok if Jack brings his piercing kit and pierces us at your house?

  Me: Umm sure?

  Emily: Bitch you rock!

  That made me laugh. Her twin Erica works with us also. Those two are the craziest girls I have ever met. They usually have me about to pee my pants with the adventures they talk about. They are into some kinky shit and have no problem sharing the details.

  The party is in full swing and we’re having a blast. I can’t believe all of the people that came. Mostly everyone who was invited came and some who weren’t, but came with other staff members. Fine by me, the more the merrier.

  Tasha, Danny, Erica, Brandy and myself are sitting on the patio furniture telling blind date horror stories when Emily comes bounding up.

  “Hey bitches! Who wants to get pierced?” She’s smiling like a Cheshire cat.

  I ask,. “Exactly what kind of piercing are we talking about?”

  “Hood, of course, but I’m sure he’ll pierce you wherever you want to be.”

  “Fuck! I’m out of here.” Danny’s a little red in the face when he gets up and leaves.

  Tasha asks, “Isn’t it supposed to make you more sensitive?”

  “You guys come in the house, Jack has everything almost set up and you can ask the sexpert.”

  We all laugh and follow her in the house and into one of my spare rooms. She’s right. Jack is all set up and even has sterile paper across my bed.

  “Hello ladies.” He’s looking at all of us like the dirty, cocky boy we know he can be. “Is everyone getting the vertical hood piercing?”

  We all say hi and I ask, “I have a question. Isn’t it supposed to make you more sensitive?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Please tell me you’re getting pierced too so I can finally say I’ve been in your pants.”

  Everybody busts up laughing except me, I turn a little pink. Damn, Jack and his flirting.

  “Aw, Sid, I’m just messing with you. I’ll put my doctor hat on. Everybody have a seat so I can give you my speech.” We all sit down and he continues. “What happens is I’ll first check and make sure you don’t have a vein going down the middle where the piercing goes. If you do I won’t pierce you. Then I’ll check to make sure you have enough depth. Third, I’ll place a needle receiving tube, pierce and place the jewelry. It’s easy and you’ll only feel a sharp pinch. And yes, it does make most women more sensitive. Any questions?”

  Erica asks, “What about sex, do I have to wait for weeks?”

  “No, you don’t but if you do have sex make sure you use condoms and if you have oral sex make sure he uses a dental dam. I have a sheet of aftercare instructions and suggestions. Anything else?”

  I raise my hand like we’re in class. “What about swimming in the pool?”

  “I would wait until you’ve healed. But that can be as little as a week or can take up to four.”

  “I’m out. I want it done but I’ll wait because I want to swim the rest of the weekend.”

  “I can come back and do it Sunday for you, if you want.”

  “Thanks, Jack, I might just take you up on that offer.” A triumphant smile takes over his face.

  I leav
e the girls there and get back to the party. Not even ten minutes later Tash comes out looking like someone ran over her dog. “What’s wrong? Did it hurt that bad?”

  “No. I couldn’t have it done because he said I didn’t have enough depth.”

  “Well, did you ask him if he wanted you to wax poetic?”

  That got her laughing. “You’re such a dork but I love you anyways.”

  I hug her, we get a drink and head out back.

  The group comes out from being pierced to join us and I have to know. “Jack, when did you start piercing people?”

  He leans back and props his legs up on the end of a chaise settling in. Must be a long story. “When I was in college I did it to make extra money.” I know he sees the bewilderment on my face because he continues with a sly grin. “My mom was in control of my trust fund until I graduated med school. What can I say, I needed extra beer money.” He has us all laughing. “Sid, am I coming back Sunday to pierce you?”

  “Yeah. I suppose I can stay out of the pool until it’s healed.” I roll my eyes and let out a huff when I say, “And you can finally tell people you got in my pants.”

  He winks at me and smiles. “I wouldn’t tell a soul, we could keep it our little secret. You could put a man out of his misery though. Do you have any idea what dating has been like? My mother keeps fixing me up on blind dates.” His entire body shivers and I have to laugh because I do know.

  “You think you’ve had it bad imagine what it’s been like for us girls.” I look around at the other three sitting with us and say, “Okay, so let’s swap our worst horror story of blind dates. Tash, you go first.”

  “Umm, okay. Well, it was a few years ago right before I graduated. My mom set it up, which should have been the first indication to run. He called and was nice, had a sexy voice too, so I thought why not. We were going to have dinner and then see a movie. We met at a coffee house and he wasn’t bad looking but I could tell he’d been drinking already, clue number two. Anyways, we were walking to dinner and the bastard took me to McDonald’s. Now I’m no genius but if you ask me out and have money for booze then you have money to take me to a decent sit-down meal. I ate because I was hungry and then promptly left, by myself.”

  Brandy says, “That’s not too bad. Listen to this. About a year ago my roommate wanted to double date so I agreed. Her boyfriend was hot so I thought maybe his friend would be too. Oh my god, he was fucking gorgeous. So here we were at a nice restaurant enjoying ourselves and all of the sudden I hear someone hollering ‘you’ve got to be fucking kidding me’. I looked up and there was a waitress screaming at my date about how he could be seen in public with such a slut and in her restaurant. It was his ex. Then she picked up his glass of water and threw it on me. I was just about to punch the bitch when he started crying and apologizing to HER! Come to find out they had been broke up for a year but she kept stringing him along. He didn’t even know she worked there. Needless to say I left.”

  Tasha tells her, “I still would have punched her on my way out.”

  “I still have you all beat.” Jack says. He takes a drink of his beer and begins, “My mom set me up with one of her friends daughters. She was new to town and thought it would be nice. What could it hurt I enjoy meeting new people so I called her and asked her out. She was hesitant but really nice on the phone so I made dinner reservations. It was fall so I thought the movie in the park would be fun too. I picked her up and man she was beautiful,” he pauses, “except for her Adam’s apple. Oh, it was shaved down and not that noticeable but I’m a doctor for crying out loud! It was the first thing I noticed when I was looking at the shape of her neck. Anyways, we got in the car and before I started it I turned and told her, ‘I’m sorry but I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to date.’ She burst out in tears and begged me not to tell my mom and tried to get out of the car. I told her to hold on and calm down. Once she was calm enough I said, ‘I have no problem going out as friends and it’s no one else’s business so don’t worry’. She looked at me like I was crazy. We wound up going to dinner, had great conversation and enjoyed the movie in the park. She’s still a good friend of mine.”

  Everyone collectively awes over his story.

  I say, “See, Jack, you’re not as arrogant as you want people to think.”

  “Um, ok. Thanks. I’ll take that as a compliment I suppose.” He looks hurt by what I said. Shit, now I feel bad.

  “I didn’t mean it like that. What I meant was you’re a decent guy and you don’t let that side show very often.” I pat his arm and ask if he wants another beer.

  Chapter

  5

  The partying has wound down to just a few people by Sunday early afternoon. I made brunch and everyone is just relaxing in or by the pool. Jack shows up around three and the last person leaves around four so it’s just he and I.

  “Are you ready to get pierced or did you change your mind?” He asks.

  I jump up off the couch and tell him, “Nope. Let me go to the bathroom and then I’ll be ready. You can set up in my bedroom this time.”

  I head to my bathroom and freshen up when I come out he’s got everything ready. He even picked the jewelry.

  Before I take off my panties he stops me and asks, “Do you want to be pierced by Dr. Lawson or by Jack?”

  “What’s the difference?”

  He has a sheepish look on his face. “Well, Dr. Lawson won’t ogle the goods but Jack will.”

  “Oh. Ah, um.” I’m stuttering because he just threw me off. “How about the doctor does this, I’d feel more comfortable.”

  “You got it.”

  Now I’m embarrassed to pull my panties down and I’m stalling. “Sid, take your underwear off and lie down, it’ll only take a minute.”

  “Okay.” I take my undies off and lie down. He’s putting his gloves on and opening the packages. When he turns around to pierce me he cusses and shuts his eyes for a second. “Jack, are you okay?”

  “Yup. Just give me a second.” He opens his eyes and apologizes. “I’m sorry, that wasn’t very professional of me.”

  “It’s alright. Let’s get this done.”

  It was over in about a minute from start to finish. I go to put my panties back on and Jack says, “You shouldn’t wear lace panties. The piercing can get caught on the material and make it uncomfortable and bleed.”

  I go to my dresser to find different panties and some loose shorts to put on while he cleans everything up.

  We go back to the living room and I ask, “Would you like to watch a movie?”

  “Not right now. I’d like to talk.” This makes me nervous for some reason. We sit on the couch and I face him.

  He smiles at me and says, “I know I’ve been teasing you about going out with me at work but I really would like to take you on a date. We get along. Our work schedules are similar. Why not just try it? Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

  “True, but what if it doesn’t go so well? We still have to work with each other.”

  “Yes, but we’re both adults and, contrary to popular belief, I can be professional.”

  That got a chuckle from me. “I don’t know, Jack. That’s really the only thing holding me back. Can you promise me a few things?”

  “What are they?”

  “First, I’d like to keep it to ourselves. I don’t need to be gossiped about. Second, if it doesn’t go well I want to stay professional about things. I don’t want to be written up or transferred from the emergency department.”

  He looks me in the eyes with such sincerity when he says, “I can promise those. But let’s not sabotage anything before we have our first date by thinking it won’t go well.”

  I nod. “I can do that.”

  He smiles, grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze. “How about that movie now?”

  “Sounds good to me.” I turn the television on and we find a movie to watch. When I press the start button he pulls me to him and I nestle into his chest. Damn, he smells good.
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br />   Chapter

  6

  Jack and I have been dating for three months now. We get along great in and out of work. No one has a clue except Tasha. But that’s only because she lives next door and sees us coming and going or his car staying all night. Plus, she is my best friend, whom I’ve sworn to secrecy. She says she’ll keep her mouth shut as long as I keep giving her details. I would give her details anyway. I want to tell her everything, after all I am a girl.

  We were working one night when we got a call about a level one pediatric trauma coming in. This is not good. The department looks to be in chaos after the call but in reality we’re synchronized getting everything in place and ready.

  I can’t believe my eyes when they bring the baby in. She’s three and is tiny from malnourishment. She’s black and blue from her head to her feet, her eyes are almost swollen shut. I can tell her humerus on the right arm is fractured. So is her right tibia. I don’t hear much after that except the orders being given. I have to shut my mind down and be in total nurse mode. They lost her on the way here, but have been doing CPR for only ten minutes when we take over. We try for another thirty even using the defibrillator and still nothing. Jack finally pronounces the time of death. The tears are streaming down my face on their own accord and I know I’m not the only one.

  We leave the room and I hear one of the paramedic’s saying that the boyfriend of the mother should be here soon because he has a broken nose and a contusion above the eye.

  I know what happened to her, but I have to ask. “Is he the one that tortured and killed that baby?”

  Brady looks at me with fire and sadness in his eyes his body stiff. “Yeah, that fucker did it. So did the mother. He’s lucky he didn’t wind up in my rig. I’d be bringing him in DOA.”

  I nod my head and walk away. I want to go home now but need to finish up my paperwork so I can leave. I’m at the nurses’ desk on auto-pilot when Jack comes up. He sits next to me and asks, “Are you okay?”

  “I will be. I’m getting ready to go home. How are you?”