Chapter Text
The next few weeks flew by, the semester in full swing. Between classes, frisbee practices, French club, and her relationship with Colin, Penelope was running full speed ahead. In early November, there was a trip planned with the frisbee team: a 3-day tournament where the team drove to their destination together in vans, stayed in an enormous house, and played ultimate frisbee every day. Pen’s 18-year-old self never would have believed it, but she was pretty excited for the trip.
“Three days?” Colin said, when she told him of the plans. He pouted, “I’m going to miss you.”
She nodded. “I know, it’s going to be crazy, but it’ll be fun. I’m actually excited for it. And of course I’ll miss you too.”
He looked skeptical, but drew her into a hug. “It’s okay, I’ll survive. Call me while you’re gone, yeah?”
Penelope looked at him as if to say of course, and hugged him back tightly in a reassuring way. “Of course I will. I’m sure I’ll find time between the tournament, cooking house dinners, and partying every night,” she said with a smirk.
He shook his head, “My god, the Bandicoots all in one house together. What a disaster waiting to happen.” He pursed his lips, clearly thinking about something. “Where are you going to sleep? Doesn’t seem like any house will be big enough for that team.”
Penelope smiled, “Yes, some of the freshies might end up on the floor, but Eloise and I will share a room, we’ve already decided. As some of the most senior women on the team, we earned the right.”
This seemed to mollify Colin, and he hugged her again, lifting her off the ground slightly. “Fair enough - I’m glad you’ll have Eloise. Just call me, yeah?”
Penelope nodded, “I just hope I come back to this house in one piece, leaving you and Will alone.”
At this Colin rolled his eyes, “Please, we are literally so much cleaner than you are and you know it. You’re kind of a mess.”
Penelope chuckled, she had to admit he was right - she was not exactly a neat freak and Colin and Will were actually pretty clean, for rugby players in their early twenties. “You make a fair point,” she conceded.
“But you’re my mess,” he said, and kissed her gently.
At this Colin looked around, apparently just becoming aware that they had the house to themselves. It was Friday afternoon, and Will was on campus for a few hours. He looked back at Pen with a devilish look on his face. “Well it looks like we have the house to ourselves, and I need to make sure you remember your dear ‘friend’ while you are away.”
Penelope gave him a dubious look, as if to say how could I forget , when suddenly his hands were under her thighs, lifting her from the ground. She wrapped her legs around his waist, as he carried her to his room. He tossed her on the bed, shucking his own shirt off in one motion, as she gasped and followed suit.
**************
Bandicoot parties were always a little much. Bandicoot parties during a 3-day tournament away from campus were at a different level. Tonight was no exception, and Pen was feeling it towards the end of the night. Eloise was in top form tonight. She was dominating the beer pong table, hooting at Pen and pushing drinks into her hands until at one point Pen had to remind her, “Eloise, I only have TWO hands, I cannot hold three drinks at once.” Eloise just pouted, and turned back to face some poor freshie boys, challenging them to take her on in beer pong. One of the boys looked downright terrified, so Pen stepped-in and suggested a break from the drinking games.
A short time later, after a dip in the rental house’s hot tub, Eloise turned in for the night, which Penelope agreed was a good idea. They were sharing a room, and Pen was also ready for sleep, but her head was spinning from double-fisting Eloise’s strong drinks, and she decided to get some air. She stepped out onto the porch, which was surprisingly empty, the party winding down inside, but the end-of-the-night smokers hadn’t wandered out yet.
Gripping a glass of water, Pen wandered over to the corner of the porch and looked out at the night for a few minutes. Yes, her head was definitely spinning. She took a few deep breaths, before suddenly feeling a presence behind her. Before she could turn around, she heard his voice say quietly, “Hey.”
It had been shockingly easy to avoid Alfie all week. Not entirely of course, but there were enough people on the team, and the house was large enough that they did not need to interact with each other beyond a few awkward glances in the hallway. Everyone on the team knew they were no longer together, and Eloise made a point to keep them apart to avoid any drama.
But now he was here, and Pen was feeling more than a little drunk and vulnerable, unsure why he was approaching her after all this time. “Can we talk?” He asked, his words sounding a bit slurry. Alarm bells rang in the far reaches of Penelope’s mind, acknowledging this was a bad idea, but inexplicably she found herself nodding her head. Instead of talking though, Alfie took her hand, and led her to an empty bedroom that was right next to the porch. More alarm bells rang, trying to fight their way through Pen’s increasingly hazy mind, thinking vaguely this is not a good idea .
The bedroom was small, with the only furniture being the bed itself. She stood and regarded Alfie with what she hoped was an expectant look. He looked back at her, closing the distance between them, and Penelope’s mind suddenly flitted to Colin. “Alfie,” she said with as much conviction as she could muster. Damn Eloise and those strong drinks, they were catching up with her more quickly than she realized. “What did you want to talk about?”
He looked at her, eyes unfocused, and kept moving closer, very slowly at first, until he moved the last distance all at once and crashed his lips into hers fiercely. Penelope was so stunned that she didn’t even move for a solid ten seconds, feeling outside her own body as Alfie’s lips attacked her own, one hand starting to move over her chest. Though thin and not overly muscular, Alfie was still a man, taller and stronger than her, and he pushed his body flush against hers so she was effectively trapped against the wall. One hand was planted firmly on one side of her head, the other began moving down her body, landing on her ass with a squeeze. This vulgar touch suddenly woke Pen from her catatonic state.
“NO,” she said distinctly, reaching for his hand and unsuccessfully trying to remove it. “No,” she said again, trying to make that word clear, even though she felt like she was speaking and moving under water. “I have a boyfriend,” she stated into his mouth, thinking of Colin and how much their relationship meant to her.
Alfie made no move to stop, but muttered into her mouth, “It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s me,” as if that was some sort of explanation that justified his actions. “It’s okay Pen, we’ve done this before, it’s me .” His tongue invaded her mouth, tasting like light beer and some sort of cheap liquor. Why was he doing this, what was going on? With every ounce of strength she could muster, Penelope shoved him away with a guttural grunt, and ran before he could trap her again, bursting out the door of the bedroom and into the hallway.
Somewhere in the dark of the porch, a lit cigarette burned, and she heard a voice mutter, “Well that’s interesting, I thought they were broken up…” observing what probably appeared to be a late-night hookup. Penelope was fighting back tears, and couldn’t be bothered with whoever might have witnessed her swift exit from the room. She made her way quickly back to her bedroom, where Eloise was passed out on the bed, snoring lightly and still in her party clothes. In the dark of the room, head reeling, Penelope finally let go and cried. How could this have happened, what did she do wrong? Questions swirled in her head even as she fell into a deep, but fitful sleep.
********
The next morning was rough for pretty much everyone in the house. Bleary, bloodshot eyes greeted her in the kitchen, as she waded through discarded red cups to line up for water, along with several underclassmen who just grunted what might have been “good morning,” in her direction. Thankfully there was no sign of Alfie that morning, with enough hung over teammates milling about to provide cover for any painfully awkward interaction.
Fortunately, the 20-year-old body was resilient, and once the team piled out of their vans to the playing fields that day, eyes were brighter and conversations more lively, shaking off the cobwebs of the night before. Pen tried to keep her mind on their games that morning, focusing on the burn in her legs and lungs, rather than the thoughts plaguing her mind.
After two morning games (one win, one loss), the women’s team had a bye, and most were using the time to rehydrate and rest. Penelope wandered off to be by herself for a bit, clutching her water bottle and settling into the grass at the far end of the playing fields. She sat there for a while, staring idly at another school’s men’s team playing in the distance, not really focusing on anything in her eye line.
At one point, Eloise wandered up and sat down next to Penelope, holding her own water bottle as if it contained precious diamonds, rather than lukewarm sink water from their rental house. Eloise stared ahead for a moment, before turning to Pen. “You’ve been quiet this morning,” she stated simply. It wasn’t a question. Pen looked at her for a moment, then looked away, feeling a sudden pricking of tears in the back of her eyes.
They sat in silence for a beat, and Eloise tried again. “Last night was crazy, huh? Sorry I was forcing drinks on you,” she said with a lopsided smile. “Hope you had fun.”
“I did, for most of the night,” Penelope replied, giving her friend a small smile to show she was definitely not mad at Eloise for letting loose. “You were the beer pong champion, I had to be supportive.” She was trying to be lighthearted, but the words fell flat.
Eloise chuckled lightly, and took a sip of her water. She still looked at Pen with sympathy, sensing something larger was going on, but not wanting to press her too much. “Did something… happen last night? You just seem different today.. sad. Is everything okay with Colin, did you guys have a fight?”
At the mention of Colin’s name, whom she’d been trying not to think about all morning, something broke in Penelope’s steely resolve. Tears quietly flowed down her face, as she continued to stare into the distance. Before she knew it, the story was coming out of her mouth all at once, tumbling out quickly. Penelope choked on the words “Alfie” and “kissed me,” since they felt so wrong escaping her lips. When she finished, she looked over at Eloise for the first time, who was regarding her with both compassion and anger.
“That motherfucker… I’m so sorry,” Eloise said once she was certain Penelope was done. She looked down for a beat, then back up at Pen, choosing her phrasing carefully. “I know you didn’t use these words just now, but I’m going to do it. I hope that’s okay. That’s assault, Penelope, you know that, right?” Pen did know that, deep in her bones, but for some reason she was taken aback by hearing Eloise say it out loud. Sexual assault was such a heavy phrase, something that happened on TV shows, in movies, involving violence, kidnapping unsuspecting women from hiking trails, being held at gunpoint. It didn’t happen at a uni party, with an ex-boyfriend, someone she already knew. It didn’t happen on holiday, during a party, when everyone was supposed to be having fun. It didn’t happen to her .
“Look,” Eloise continued, clearly not wanting to push Penelope any further when she was already so vulnerable. “I’m not going to make you say it, and I’m not even going to ask what you plan to do, unless you want to tell me. Alfie is a fucking asshole, and truthfully I am about three seconds from finding him and punching him in his stupid fucking mouth.”
Penelope shook her head, “Please El, don’t do that.” She appreciated El’s passion, but no part of her was ready to cause a scene or even acknowledge this with Alfie. The idea of confronting him, or filing a report, just seemed unfathomable, when all she wanted to do was forget it happened. She looked up at Eloise, tears still shining in her eyes. “Did I.. did I cheat on Colin?” She asked, posing the question more to herself than to El. Even the idea that she may have ruined things with Colin filled her with pain, it was a thought she’d been avoiding all morning.
Eloise looked at her carefully. “If you ask me, I strongly believe you did not - that brute forced himself on you,” Eloise said passionately. “But Penelope, I think that’s something you have to acknowledge for yourself. I can’t reassure you of that, no matter how angry I am at Alfie and how much I support you. This is your life, and your relationship with my brother.” After a beat, she asked, “Are you going to tell him what happened?”
That was the thought plaguing Penelope since last night, a thought she was turning over and over in her mind. Fresh tears pricked at her eyes, and she closed them, hanging her head and shaking it slowly. “I don’t know if I can,” she said, the words coming out more as a choked sob. “It’s two things really, I’m terrified he won’t look at me the same. Not only will our relationship be ruined, but our friendship, too. I just can’t even fathom that, it’s too painful to think about. The other thing I know deep down in my heart, is that he would never let this go. Without exaggeration, I truly worry that Colin would kill him. Or beat him within an inch of his life.. and then what? Colin goes to jail? He’s charged with a violent crime? I cannot have that on my conscience, I cannot let that be my fault.”
Eloise nodded slowly, clearly this was a difficult situation for her since Colin was her brother. “I get it. This is tough for me, as you probably understand. I hope you know I also want to kill Alfie, but… I’ll respect your wishes. I won’t tell Colin, if you’re worried about that… it’s not my place.”
They both sat in silence for several minutes, Penelope’s crying had stopped and her breathing was returning to normal. It was almost time for their last game of the day, and Eloise was out of water. She moved to get up, shaking the empty water bottle as an explanation. Penelope nodded, and let out a quiet, “Thank you.”
“Of course,” Eloise replied. “I love you, you know.” She put a hand on Pen’s shoulder and squeezed.
“I know,” Pen said. “I love you too.”
Eloise walked away, and Penelope was left once again alone with her thoughts.
*********
The trip back to Durham University was torture. They traveled back in the vans, but this way felt so much more difficult. The way back was always harder than the way there. Pen felt every hour, sitting in her seat, staring out the window. While others slept, or joked, chatted, or even discreetly drank beer, she did nothing but think. This experience was new, she didn’t understand how to deal with her feelings seeing Colin again after she got back.
When they finally arrived at the college, it was late afternoon on Sunday. They pulled into the main parking lot under the soft glow of the setting sun. Everyone was quiet, either hungover or sleepy, and most were just ready for rest.
Pen found her car, which she’d parked conveniently in the main parking lot for a quick escape when they came back. She drove back on the familiar road to her off-campus house, back to Colin.
She came into the house quietly - Will’s car wasn’t in the driveway, and she found Colin was taking a nap in his room.
She decided to shower first, having spent the last five hours in a van with objectively smelly students. She took her time, letting the hot water flow over her, washing away her anxiety, her sweat, and hopefully, her sins.
She stepped out, wrapping herself in a towel, and decided to just go to Colin’s room like this. He was still asleep, so she lowered herself into the bed, cuddling into his arms.
Even in a sleep state, he registered her presence and reached his arms out immediately. He began to wake up, as she settled into his arms, her back pressed against his front, still in her towel. “Oh hi.. ,” he mumbled against her back. “I wasn’t sure when I’d see you today, but this is a beautiful surprise.” He started to kiss the back of her neck, suddenly realizing she was only in a towel. “Oh my…”
She sighed into his embrace, turning her brain off and just trying to soothe herself in his touch. His kisses worked down her neck, towards her chest. “This.. is the best wakeup of my entire life,” he said with utter sincerity.
The rest of the towel fell away, as did Penelope’s anxieties at that moment. As his lips met hers, she only felt Colin, as they pressed their bodies together.
********
The thoughts crept in slowly, coming upon Penelope when she least expected it. She’d be in class, attention drifting, when suddenly out of nowhere a voice in her head echoed, It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s me. She’d come back to herself startled, a feeling of panic blooming in her chest before reminding herself of where she was. She’d close her eyes, breathe, and try not to let the panic overtake her whole body.
It was worse when it happened with Colin. She was so happy, their friendship had somehow blossomed into a blissful relationship. The easy banter and comfortability, when met with the romantic attraction, bloomed into a partnership that felt years in the making. In a way, it was, she mused. Most of the time, she felt comfortable, at ease with her boyfriend. He’d wrap his arms around her while making dinner, kiss her neck, and she’d melt into his touch. Every once in a while though, she’d suddenly hear Alfie’s words in her ear at the same time it’s okay, it’s okay, it’s me , and suddenly she’d tighten up. Colin usually noticed and would ask what’s wrong, while she deflected and tried to turn the focus elsewhere.
This went on for a few weeks, but nonetheless her relationship with Colin thrived. They were at the end of the semester, and the Bandicoots were hosting a holiday party, but were insisting on making it “classy and sexy.”
Pen chewed her lip while trying to explain this to Colin at breakfast. “So.. there’s this party.” She knew in general, Colin did not like ‘frisbee parties.’ “It’s kind of like a holiday party, but.. fancy?” She stumbled, realizing she’d already lost him.
He frowned, looking up from the stove where he was cooking them both fried eggs. “Do you want to go?” He said, in a very straightforward manner.
Pen swallowed nervously, “Yes,” she said decidedly.
“Okay, then we’ll go.” He nodded, and turned back to the stove.
Pen looked at the table, not sure how to feel.
*****
“What am I supposed to wear?’ Colin asked, while they stood in his room, both in their underwear. It was an hour before they were to leave for the party, and Colin was unusually nervous. He wasn’t usually phased by this type of thing, but for some reason the idea of a “fancy and sexy” party had him overthinking. Pen tried to soothe him, reassuring, “Khakis and collared shirt, that’s fine! Don’t worry.”
He looked at her doubtfully, “Where does the ‘sexy’ come in?”
She grinned at him. “I may have bought something.”
His eyebrows shot up at this statement. “Um. What?”
She smiled, and retreated to her room quickly, finding her recent purchase. She put on the shirt and walked back into Colin’s room. “What do you think?” The shirt was a glittery gold, thin and flowy, with a very low neckline. It fit Pen perfectly, showing her curves just right, and highlighting her breasts. She paired it with a skirt, and black high heels. Colin gaped, his mouth open.
“Yeah, that fits the theme,” he said, as his hand immediately reached for her waist. “My hands will not leave your fucking skin for one minute.” He pulled her hips into his body in a possessive gesture, and leaned in for a fevered kiss, tongue lashing into her mouth, claiming her in a way that made her melt.
“Okay, deal. Let’s go.”
When they got to the party, Pen was clutching a tray of brownies, which was her contribution to the evening. She put them down in the kitchen, alongside many other dishes of food. True to his word, Colin seemed to be attached, always with a hand lightly on her hip, or grazing her side.
As the night wore on, they continued to interact with more members of the team. Colin only left Pen to get them drinks or food, but seemed intent on holding her in a territorial way. Pen recalls buying this top at the mall, thinking at the moment it was never going to see the light of day. Seeing the way it affected Colin now though, she was very glad she bought it anyway.
At one point when Colin left her briefly, headed to the bathroom, Pen wandered into the kitchen in search of snacks. Suddenly, she saw who was on the beer pong table - Alfie was hooting, apparently winning. He turned around to high five his partner, and suddenly locked eyes with Penelope.
She felt like a fish out of water, suddenly breathless, panic rising in her chest. They’d done a surprisingly good job of avoiding each other since ‘the incident,’ so this sudden meeting came as more of a shock than it should have, given that she knew Alfie would inevitably be at this party. Alfie stared at her for a moment as well, taking a step in her direction, perhaps unconsciously. She felt her feet move backwards in reaction, her body moving of its own accord, when suddenly she felt a strong arm come around her from behind. The arm circled her waist and pulled her into an embrace. Colin had returned, and clocked what was happening.
For a moment they were frozen in time, Alfie’s mouth agape, agitated, with Pen standing rigid before him, Colin’s arms around her. After a moment, Penelope stepped back again, and looked towards Colin to break the spell. “I’m okay, let’s step outside.” Colin kept his eyes on Alfie, but nodded slowly, moving them both out to the porch to take a break as she’d suggested.
“Why does he still agitate you so much?” He asked aggressively, once they’d arrived outside. “That was really intense Pen, and if I’m being honest, I did not like it.” He was clenching and unclenching the fist on the arm that wasn’t wrapped around her, as if he was itching to use it. “Fuck it, I’ll just say it, I want to punch that guy’s fucking face. I don’t have a reason to do that though, do I?” He looked at her with a pained expression, frown lines creasing on his forehead as he searched her eyes for an answer.
Penelope looked up at him, she could feel tears stinging the back of her eyes, but refused to let them appear. She swallowed, and took a deep breath, looking back at him in earnest. “Specifically, you do not.” She took another breath, willing herself to accept the lie she’d uttered for the greater good. This is what’s best, this is what you have to say. “In general though, I wouldn’t mind seeing that, because he’s my ex and he sucks. But.. please do not punch him. I don’t want my boyfriend banned from further Bandicoot parties.” She tried to punctuate this with a smile that did not reach her eyes.
Colin could tell there was still something to unpack, but he appeared resigned to drop it in the moment. They stood on the porch for a few more minutes, he held her in the dark, until she suddenly started to feel the cold night air more acutely. “I’m freezing, I just realized I’m barely wearing anything and it’s December.”
He smirked back at her, “I’m acutely aware of what you’re wearing Penelope.”
“Can we just go back and enjoy the party for a while? We can avoid the kitchen,” she added, quietly acknowledging that it would be best if they didn’t encounter Alfie for the rest of the night (if ever). She knew Colin enough to guess that the itching in his fist hadn’t gone away, even if he was suppressing it for her benefit.
He nodded, and leaned down to give her a quick, but heated kiss. “Yes, of course. I’m not done showing you off. I’m not taking my hand off you though, for the rest of the night. It’s super glued to your delicious skin.”
She laughed into his neck, “What if I have to use the bathroom?” He thought about it for a moment. “I’ll be right outside, my hand on the door, ready to resume my grip as soon as you get out.”
With that, they headed back inside, Pen shaking her head lightly before quickly making their way away from the kitchen. Pen didn’t bother to glance back, not even wanting to know if Alfie was still there. They passed the next hour enjoying drinks and fun with Eloise and other members of the women’s team. True to his word, Colin’s hand never left her side. Superglue indeed , she thought to herself. Even as they climbed into the back of an Uber, his hand remained, until they arrived home.
As they walked through the door, Colin’s hand left her side, as if they were finally in safe territory and he felt he could let go. She suddenly felt cold, having become accustomed to his touch throughout the night. Will was playing a video game in the living room, while Colin grabbed a few glasses of water and started pushing her towards his room.
As they passed, he nodded at Will, who looked up briefly and clocked Penelope’s outfit and Colin’s expression. “Yeah, okay, good to see you guys. No need to tell me about your night, indulge in some conversation with your lonely roommate, that’s fine.”
“Fuck you Will!” Colin called out good-naturedly, as he literally pushed Pen into his room while she giggled. As the door closed, Pen could vaguely hear Will muttering to himself. “My one rule was ‘do not fuck up the vibes of this house,’ and look at these two.. Disgusting..” She filed a note in the back of her mind for them to spend a little more friend time with Will tomorrow, or.. whenever they got around to it.
**********
Love. One word, with so much implication, meaning, and heaviness. How could one word carry such weight? It defied logic that one word could mean so much. It was a word that was plaguing Penelope, as they faced the end of the semester, and a break in their close proximity that Colin and Pen hadn’t experienced since they started the romantic part of their relationship a few months ago.
Lately, Pen had been itching to say it. It rested in the back of her throat, on her tongue, and in her mind. In every touch, every interaction, she thought in the back of her mind, I love you , I love you. It was aching to come out of her mouth, but something held her back. Fear, it was definitely fear.
Normally she wouldn’t say or feel something so quickly, but they’d been friends for years, and this relationship felt like an extension of it. She’d loved him as a friend, and she realized recently that had blossomed into real love and she was itching to tell him. She just couldn’t fight the fear that he might not say the same in response, and the feeling clutched at her throat, preventing her from speaking every time.
The night before they were both going to leave town for the holidays, they decided to have a date night in the house. Will had departed the night before, giving them both a hug, and saying that he hoped to return in the new year to “better fucking vibes,” before patting Colin on the shoulder and leaving with a brief “go fuck yourself,” getting into his car and driving away.
Colin held her shoulders as they watched him drive away. He turned her around to face him, a smile sneaking on his face. “So, you want to play shot checkers?” He asked, with a grin. They hadn’t actually played in quite a while, so Pen felt a smile bloom on her lips.
She nodded, “Absolutely I do.” He grinned, and grabbed her hand, dragging her back inside. “Hell yeah,” he said, as he went into her room to grab the set. It took about ten minutes to put everything together, and fill the glasses with a mix of liquor and juice. (Again, cannot stress this enough, only a psychopath would play this with full liquor shots).
The game played like many others, until they got about halfway through, and Colin decided to up the ante. “I think I’m going to win. And I’m so confident, I’m going to make this more interesting.”
Penelope quirked an eyebrow, looking at him with interest, but said nothing, waiting for him to continue. “We’re officially making this shot-checkers-slash-strip-checkers. Each time you take a piece, you also make the other person lose an item of clothing.”
Pen barked out a laugh at the absurdity, but agreed it was actually a great idea. She looked at the board, considering her moves, and realized she had one. She made direct eye contact, took one of his pieces, and passed him the shot.
Without breaking eye contact, he sat back, and grabbed the hem of his shirt, pulling it over his head and throwing it on the floor. He then took the shot in his hand, throwing it back, eyes never leaving her face.
Oh, this is going to be fun . She thought, as she returned his gaze, flitting her eyes down to take in his now bare and muscular chest. I’m fucking game if you are. She watched as Colin surveyed the board, finding a move quickly, and taking two of her pieces, to Pen’s disappointment.
“That’s two,” he nodded towards the board once, then up towards her body. Pen bit her lip, understanding the implication. She leaned forward to grab two of the shots, but being the gentleman he was, Colin grabbed one out of her shots and toasted it with her, sharing the burden. “I’m not going to offer you the same kindness on the stripping though.” His eyes moved downwards at that, eyebrows raising expectantly. She had lost two pieces in that round, afterall.
Penelope looked at him with sultry eyes, realizing he’d already taken off his shirt. She pouted her lips, let out a breathy sigh, then moved slowly and sensually to take off.. both of her socks. She pulled them off with a flourish and threw them over her shoulders, taking a moment to laugh only after completing the act.
Colin couldn’t help but laugh as well, shaking his head and lightly giving her a golf clap. “I probably deserved that, thank you. The game’s nowhere near over though, so I’ll wear you down. You don’t have that many layers on.”
Pen agreed that she was on borrowed time, but was immensely pleased with her ruse thus far. The game continued, and the next move she took one of Colin’s pieces; he threw back the shot and pulled off his jeans with a smirk.
The next move he took another of her pieces, and Pen gave him a half-smile as she shimmied out of her leggings, sitting on the kitchen chair in only her knickers and shirt. He coughed, motioning to the shot glass, and she remembered the other part of this game. She threw back the shot, laughing at the sheer absurdity of it and the fun.
Towards the end, Colin ended up naked (to be fair, he’d been wearing less layers than her) , and Penelope was only in her knickers. Pen had won in a very close match, hooting in her victory, only to have Colin tackle her, pushing her towards her bedroom since it was closest. They fell onto the bed, and any remaining clothes and competitiveness fell away as they melted into each other. The sex was quick and dirty, Pen came in about five minutes, with Colin following right after her, panting and shaking in the aftermath. Pen realized that the game had been a sort of foreplay, and they were both more than ready to go once it ended.
As they both lay in each other’s arms, fighting off sleep, Pen felt herself slipping. Maybe it was the drinks from the game, maybe it was the fun, loose, feeling of the night, but she just couldn’t hold it in anymore. Her face was against his chest, feeling it rise and fall with his breaths. “I love you..” She breathed, almost too softly, though she knew he heard it, since she felt his breath hitch in his chest under her ear.
He was quiet for a moment, and Penelope thought her heart might have stopped beating. She didn’t dare look up to his face, terrified of what she might see. A few more seconds passed, as Pen tried not to pass out. Finally, she heard him exhale, and put his hand back on her head, running it through her hair. “I love you,” he said, in a low voice. The relief that pooled through her system felt like a drug. She couldn’t believe how tense she’d been until that moment, letting the words rush through her like heroin. He pulled her head back up to his face, and captured her face in a kiss. Their mouths met furiously, as if trying to pour all the emotion of their words into this kiss.
They fell asleep intertwined, Colin falling first, his breath steadying and a low snore coming from his nose while Penelope lay in his arms. She allowed herself to settle in, amazed at what had happened that night.
He loves me
.. She thought, letting out a sigh. She drifted off to sleep, thinking only of his arms, and the love they shared in that moment.