"You want to have sex?" I asked Alani.

"Yes."

"I thought we agreed just to be friends?"

"Then why did you kiss me back?"

"I don't know, Alani," I said, frustrated with my conflicting emotions.

"River, we both want it. At least, I think you want it too."

"I do," I said quickly.

"Well," Alani said, pulling her shirt over her head, "Then let's do it."

"It's not that simple," I said, trying not to stare at her breasts that were spilling out of her red bra.

"Yes, it is," She said, removing the bra. As I looked at her bare breasts and puckered nipples, I could feel my jeans tightening.

"Well, what happens after this?" I asked as Alani thought for a moment.

"What about friends with benefits?" She said as I thought about that for a moment. That would be perfect if it weren't going to ruin our friendship, but I had a feeling it might.

"What about when one of us gets into a real relationship?" I ask, not liking the thought of Alani with someone else.

"We stop and go back to being friends."

"That simple?"

"That simple."

"Okay," I said, surprising myself as Alani got closer to me.

"Okay?"

"Okay, let's be friends with benefits," I said cautiously. I was insanely nervous about doing this, but I couldn't resist a topless Alani and those big brown eyes.

Alani pounced on me, wrapping her legs around my waist and squeezing tight. My fingers found her hair as I kissed the hell out of her.

"Bedroom," She said as I began to walk toward my small room.

I lay her down on my bed before taking my shirt off.

"Take your pants off, too," She said as I obeyed, undoing my belt.

Once my pants were off and I was left in nothing but boxers, I climbed on top of Alani, careful not to crush her by holding myself up on my arms.

My hands roamed her body as she reached her hand under the waistband of my boxers and gripped my dick.

"Someone's eager," I said.

"Shut up," She said, connecting our lips again.

My hands found their way down until I was at the top of Alani's leggings. I pushed them down, but they got stuck on her knees. We laughed as Alani sat up and peeled them off. Both smiling, we reconnected as Alani took off my boxers altogether.

Next to go was her underwear. Once we were both naked, I leaned back and looked at her.

"Spread your legs, sweet girl,"

She did as I said, and I stared at her center before bringing a hand down and touching her wet pussy. She moaned as I began to feel her.

"River," She groaned, "I'm ready for the real thing."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," She said with a lustful look in her eyes.

"Okay," I said, grabbing a condom from my nightstand, putting it on, and lining myself up with her middle. I rubbed the most intimate parts of each of our bodies together before starting to push in.

Alani made a face at the pressure.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, keep going."

I kept going, and Alani did her best to stifle her cries, but I could tell I was hurting her.

"It's okay," I said, stroking her hair, "I'm right here."

Her face softened as I realized I was all the way inside her. I didn't know how long I was going to last like this. "Tell me when it's okay to move."

"Now," She said after a moment.

I started moving, and Alani cried out in pain, and I wanted to stop, but she kept urging me to keep going.

After a little while, her cries turned into moans as my hands explored her body and I thrust inside her.

"Fuck, River."

"Feels good?"

"Yes, yes!" She said as I moved in and out of her.

I smiled down at her and began kissing her neck as our bodies moved together.

"I'm gonna come," She moaned as I reached down and rubbed her clit. After that, she was gone, and I came soon after her.

I lay on top of her as we both came down from our highs, our heavy breathing filling the room. I rolled to the side, got up, and disposed of the condom before climbing back into bed.

"River?"

"Yeah?"

"Can we cuddle?" She said nervously, causing me to chuckle.

"Yeah," I said as I wrapped an arm over her side and spooned her.

"Thank you," She said.

"For what?"

"For everything," She said before dozing off.

I woke up to a sunray across my face. I looked down and realized that somehow, in the middle of the night, I had become the little spoon. I didn't mind, though. It was pretty comfortable.

"Alani," I said, wiggling her arm.

"Hmm?"

"Good morning," I said.

"Shut up."

"That's nice," I laughed.

"What time is it?"

"8:00."

"In the morning?" She exclaimed.

"No, at night. Yes, in the morning," I said sarcastically.

"Why did you wake me up so early?"

"I was lonely."

"That's not a good reason. You're lucky you're cute," She said, pouncing on top of me and kissing me lazily. We made out for a few minutes before Alani's phone beeped.

"What is it?" I asked as she looked at her phone?

"Crap."

"What?"

"I totally forgot about the trip to Hawaii. I'm supposed to leave in four hours, and I forgot to get a date."

"Take me," I said. Spending a few days in paradise sounded like fun.

"Are you inviting yourself?" She laughed.

"Kinda."

"Well, yes, you can come, but you're going to have to pretend to be my boyfriend.'"

"I can do that easily," I said, sitting up and kissing her again.

"Good."

"Four hours, you said?"

"Yeah. I better leave and start packing. Will you pick me up around noon?"

"Sure," I said as Alani got out of bed and started getting dressed.

"I can't believe I forgot about it. That's the second family event that I've forgotten about this month."

"It's cute how forgetful you are."

"Be quiet."

"Alani?"

"Yeah?"

"Want to take a shower together?"

"River!"

"What?"

"I have to go get packed."

"Packing takes you four hours?" I said.

"Yes, it does."

"What are you packing? Your entire dorm room?"

"River, I can't take a shower now. I'll take one at my dorm after I finish getting all my stuff together."

"Fine," I grumbled, disappointed we wouldn't be showering together.

"Okay, bye!" Alani said as she hurried out of my room. I heard the door to my apartment close and hopped in the shower with the biggest smile on my face.

This "friends with benefits" thing might actually work.