She wished he would stop. Couldn’t he tell he was making her feel gross? When she parted her thighs, she saw that he was immediately intimidated by what he found there. He gave her slit a few light licks, avoiding the slimy areas, then puckered his lips and hastened back up to more familiar territory. Her gold pendant he sucked on like it was candy, metallic candy that would chase away the taste of the ocean on his tongue.

“Arik . . .” She wrapped her legs around him. “Arik, I want you to fuck me.”

“Wait,” he gasped, “hold that thought.” He bounced off the bed like a golden retriever sent to fetch the paper and rummaged through his backpack. Hands shaking, he pulled out a thirty-six-pack of condoms: “I was being optimistic!”

He plucked open the box ceremoniously so she could see it was sealed and untouched, and withdrew a chain of little foil packs. Fingers trembling and breathing heavily, he removed one and tried to peel it open with his teeth.

“Hurry, Arik! You’re already dipping.”

“I’m trying, I’m trying.” The foil wrapper finally tore. He spat out the loose flap, wincing like a baby when the tang of spermicide hit his tongue. Now he had to get the thing on. “I want to . . . ram myself inside you!” Even as he said this, his cock grew soft.

“Hurry . . .” Rosemary went over and kissed him hungrily.

He rose for her again. Everything smelled of rubber gloves and antiseptic, like the hospital where she’d had her tonsils snipped off.

“Let’s just do without it,” she said.

“Are you crazy?” The condom kept slipping off. Finally she flicked it off his penis and it landed on the rug like a piece of skin.

“Great, now there’s going to be dust and hair and bacteria all over it.”

“Don’t be such a girl about it.” She pulled him by the hand, and he followed, all buzzed and confused. “Just come to bed.”

“Rose, you’re crazy . . .” Then he reached between her legs; she was sopping wet.

She lifted herself up to meet him and gently rubbed her bush against his balls.

Arik smiled, daffy, dazed and full of mixed feeling. “I love you, Rose.”

She let that line hang in the dark so her mind could authenticate it before her heart lapped it up.

“I love you, too, Arik.” She stuck her tongue into his ear, making him quiver and moan.

He relented. He let her pull him down on top of her. After another lingering kiss, he pushed himself inside. She was so slick that he was halfway in before he realized what had happened. They were no longer virgins. He gasped with joy, almost laughter. What a relief. He looked down at Rosemary and saw her face all scrunched up.

“Are you alright?”