After dinner, he cleaned up the kitchen while she sat on the sofa watching. Once he finished, he joined her on the sofa with a cup of tea.
“Thank you.” She took a sip. “I could get use to this.”
“That’s the plan.” He smiled. He looked over and saw her book sitting on the coffee table. He picked it up and saw where she had left off. “I see you’re reading one of the books. How is it?”
“It’s pretty good.” Rubbing her stomach and cringing.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, just a little cramp.”
“Do you want to take something?” he asked. She shook her head. “Are you sure? Where’s the heating pad?”
“The hall closet.”
He got the heating pad, plugged it in and placed it on her stomach along with a pillow. “Better?” She nodded. He sat down and picked up her feet.
“What are you doing?”
“Taking care of you. That’s what a good boyfriend does.”
“Some boyfriend, you haven’t even kissed me.” She pouted.
He continued rubbing her feet. “Why do you want me to kiss you?”
“Because that’s what people do when they’re attracted to each other. It lets the other person know how they feel.”
“Is that what you think?”
“Yes.”
“Why do you want to kiss me?” he asked.
“So you’ll know how I feel about you.” She looked over at Simon and Winnie nuzzling each other. “Winnie is getting further than I am. I thought part of this experiment was for you to show me—”
“What’s the most intimate thing a man and woman can do?”
“Make love.”
“Make love?” he questioned her response.
“Yeah, you’re exposed and naked sharing yourself with someone else.”
He nodded, “That’s not true.”
“I know it’s been a while for you, but—”
“A long time ago, people used the term, “make love” to indicate courting, spending time together, showing affection. Over time, the phrase got distorted to suit our version of what making love is.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Making love is not h
aving sex.”
“Then what is it?”
“It’s what we’re doing right now. Talking, spending time together, sharing. When you have sex with someone, you don’t have to be there mentally or emotionally. Heck, you can even visualize someone else, meaning you’re not being intimate. You’re just passing time.”