gaze. “What do you mean? I think Max is going to be the best dad ever.”
“He will, that’s not what I’m talking about. I want him to tell her how smart she is, not just how pretty she is. And I want him to encourage her in whatever she wants to do—whether that’s ballet or hockey, you know? The only thing I really want for my kids is their future happiness. And that only happens when they’re allowed to spread their wings and fly.”
A light tap on the door and Laura pokes her head in. “Hey, Sue-Ann. Another package just got here.” She hands a small box wrapped in brown paper through the stall door. “Are you almost done? Jason’s having a hard time keeping Max and Blaine occupied. They’re arguing about what you two are doing in here, apparently.”
Sue-Ann snorts a laugh. “Just tell them we’re having hot female on female sex and they can stuff it. See what I’m talking about, Cora? It’s like two grown men can’t keep themselves occupied for fifteen fucking minutes without their female cruise directors. Jeez.”
Laura laughs as she exits. “Jason does the same damn thing. They’d be lost without us.”
Sue-Ann rips open the paper. “Yup. This is just the ticket. Tonight, my dear Cora, you are in charge of protection and how soon Blaine gets off.” She tucks a few condoms into my handbag. “This is my first trick. This is the Performax condom especially designed to delay ejaculation. I don’t care what he says or what he has in his dresser drawer. Insist on this one. You can even put it on him.”
My cheeks blush several shades of red judging by the wave of heat that flows over me. “Um… I don’t know if I can do that. I’ve never done it before.”
“You can and you will. This man loves you, Cora. He didn’t come too fast because of anything that’s wrong with you. He came too fast because he couldn’t hold it back. He’s lovestruck, that’s what he is.” She lowers her voice as the toilet next to us flushes. “And here’s my next tip. If he’s inside you and you think he’s getting overeager, you can do the squeeze technique.”
I can’t stop my eyes from widening. “What’s that?”
“You’re going to ride him.” She pokes me in the shoulder. “And don’t give me that look. Missionary is not good for men who are a little too quick off the starting blocks. You’re going to control everything. The pace. The mood. Everything. If you need to, just put your hand between your bodies and lightly squeeze the head of his dick and he’ll edge off the need to come.”
I glance down at my outfit and wonder if I can even pull off this performance that Sue-Ann is helping me craft. I just don’t know if I have it in me. But then again, this is Blaine. And I’ve loved him for so long. Surely, I can summon my courage for a perfect night with him. Because this time—it just has to be perfect.
I nod. “Okay. Got it. Give the tip a little squeeze.”
She clasps my hand in hers. “And one final thing. You come first. And if you feel like penetration isn’t putting enough pressure on your G-spot or your clit, touch yourself. It’s hot and a woman has to take care of herself if a man doesn’t know how yet. He’s nervous too, but he’ll get better every time you do this and pretty soon you’ll wonder what all this fuss was even about. I promise.”
I can’t keep the flashback from the other night from flooding back and stoking my fear again. “You really promise?”
“Absolutely. This one is only tough to navigate because you care so deeply for each other and you both feel like your decades-long friendship is on the line. But you want him. And you love him. A woman must own her pleasure and her future. For tonight, Cora, you are a seductress who knows who and what she wants. You must shove your shyness aside and be as bold as you are beautiful. Now, pinky swear that you’ll at least try.”
We hook little fingers. “I swear.”
Twenty-Two
Blaine
Back at my place, I stare at the lake, watching the waves lap the shoreline. It’s too cold to step out onto the terrace, but I want to because I feel like my entire body is on fire. Cora putters around in the kitchen collecting beers and chips. But I don’t