She lay panting looking up at him in wonder from the living room floor. He had his head propped up laying on his side pressed close while smiling down at her.

"Why exactly are you single, with skills like that?" The look on Jesse's face said she was entirely serious.

"Jesse, I don't sleep around," he said quietly.

"Then what happened, why aren't you married or in a steady relationship with your first time if not the second?"

"You really want to take a walk down sexual history lane?"

"Well, uh yeah. I mean why would anyone not want to be with you?"

Rolling onto his stomach he rested on his forearms looking over at her. "My first was, you guessed it a cougar as you and Marty so charmingly put it. He shrugged. My second wasn't that great. It was her first time and I wasn't exactly gentle. She moved away with her family. You sure you want to know about this stuff?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

He shrugged taking a breath. "My third girlfriend was using me to make her boyfriend jealous."

"Really, she chose someone else over you?"

A blush filled his cheeks, "Yeah I know I was shocked too. The fourth I broke up with." He had used a cold curt tone, one she didn't recognize.

Her eyes met his, warmth and understanding within their depths. "Why? Or don't I need to know."

"She was scary jealous and tried to keep me away from all other females including Marty. I didn't find out until it was too late."

"What do you mean too late?"

Gage frowned, angry at himself for saying anything.

Jesse laid her hand on his, "Hey I'm sorry, if its private keep it. I don't mind."

Nodding he released a sigh. "I've been careful ever since that one. She is the reason I don't get involved and haven't dated long term. I see how jealous women get and it worries me, I-I don't know how to explain it."

"You mean like Erica."

His smile widened when he realized that Jesse did understand, "Yes exactly, I didn't like that especially when she turned that anger on you I just wanted to smack the crap out of her."

Jesse laughed, "I'm glad you didn't, but at the same time I appreciate the thought. So, why me?"

"Because you're different. You don't ignore Marty whenever I'm in the room and you don't hit on me, you're just you. You're also the only person who offered to give me a sponge bath," he said only half joking.

"Well, you needed one," she countered.

"Wow that's so not nice." Gage said grinning.

"The truth hurts."

Leaning down he pressed his lips to hers to keep her from speaking. "Mmm that's better."

He started to lift himself up before she placed a hand on his cheek, "More."

"Not on this hard floor, not when there's a soft bed less than ten feet away."

Coming to his feet he pulled her up wrapping his arms around her from behind.

Then they made love one more time before collapsing into a peaceful night's sleep together.

🧜🏻‍♀️