Sister Laurel & the Atheist Read online

  Then Tess dropped the lid on him.

  He jerked up. His eyes teared up and she saw water running down his cheeks. His hands each grasped a fistful of his beautiful long hair. "What do you mean, she's dedicated her life to God? What are you telling me? That she's a nun?"

  "Close enough. She's a Religious Sister. After our Daddy survived, she revealed to me she'd promised God, if he spared our father, she'd dedicate her life to helping others in His name. When the operation proved to be successful, she decided it was because God had accepted her proposal. We love our father and I can understand why she did this, but it was the operation that saved Dad, not God. I tried to convince her, but she wouldn't listen. She is convinced that God intervened and she would hold up her end of the bargain."

  Julian rose and began pacing. "Is that why said you said you wished we'd become involved? So we'd become intimate and she couldn't be a sister any more."

  "No, she could still be a sister. Just confess her indiscretion to a priest and all would be forgiven."

  "Then why—"

  "Because, love is a gift, God bestowed on all his children. Love not only provides the method of procreation, but just as important, a gift of pleasure between a man and woman. Laurel has never had the—"

  Julian waved his hands in front of her face. "Wait a minute. Hold your horses. Laurel is a virgin?"

  She nodded emphatically. "To the best of my knowledge, yes. I suspect if Laurel experienced bliss and fulfillment from a close relationship, she would not give it up so easily. You're the first man she's shown any interest in. You're the best chance to show her the joy of being fulfilled with someone she's attracted to and cares for.

  "I insisted she go to college and she agreed. After she graduated from Loyola Marymount, she joined the Little Company of Mary Sisters as a postulant. She lives in a dorm near the campus of one of their hospitals in Torrance. She initially worked there as a nurse's assistant, but when she took her temporary vows, they made her a nurse in training. Soon she'll be expected to renew her vows. If she does that, it'll be much harder to break away from the sisterhood."

  With his jaw tight and neck muscles straining, the tension in Julian was evident. "Teresa, what can I do?"

  "That depends."

  He stood and began pacing. "On what?"

  "You."

  "I'll do whatever I can."

  "You seem to be genuinely fond of Laurel and if anyone could change her priorities, I'll bet you could swing it. However, I'm not going to help you charm my baby sister into bed, if your motives are suspect. I won't be a party to someone—you—breaking her heart."

  Julian shook his head and held his hands out, palms up. "What do I have to do to convince you that I would never hurt her?"

  She gave him a withering stare. He didn't shirk. She believed him, but this was Laurel. "If I've heard you right, you'd like to court my sister for possible matrimony. Is that right?"

  He looked conflicted, but answered affirmatively. "Yes, yes, yes. If I was going to ask Santa for the perfect woman, Laurel is whom I would describe. Tess. May I call you Tess?"

  She nodded.

  "I would like you to be my sister-in-law. I will do whatever it takes to get Laurel out of the sisterhood."

  "All right then. Here's what I have in mind."

  * * * *

  Slowly, the lids of Laurel's eyes rose. It was dark. Where am I? She hadn't a clue where she was. Slivers of light passed through the window coverings—likely from the full moon. She felt her body. Goodness, I'm naked. She glanced to her left. A nightstand. The digital clock upon it read six thirty-six AM. Think. I went out with Julian. Did I drink too much? I don't remember. Why am I naked? My goodness, could this be his bedroom? Oh my God! Where is Julian?

  She reached out and patted across the bedspread. Suddenly the spread rose around the contour of an object. Her hand followed it lightly to the apex. It was a hip. Julian's hip? Relieved, she pulled her hand back up to the top of the cover and slipped it under. Slowly and carefully, she moved her hand back toward the spot she'd touched before. All of a sudden she came to something warm with the feel of skin, but different. Curiosity overrode her foreboding and she ran her fingers ever so lightly along it. It was long, with something like a ridge near the end. She changed direction and went back down the object. Hair—curly, fuzzy pubic hair.

  Laurel scrunched her nose and mouth. Mary, mother of Jesus, forgive me. I think I've I sinned.

  She jerked her hand back to her chest, where her fingers touched the necklace she'd wornn last night. She sat up.

  "Eeeeeeew." I touched a penis. I hope, to God, it was Julian's.

  The man in the bed stirred. Without warning, a bright light flashed on, blinding her, as he turned on a nightstand lamp. She quickly pulled the sheet up to her neck to cover herself.

  "What's the matter sweetheart? Can't sleep?"

  Thank God it was Julian's signature voice.

  "You were wonderful last night baby."

  Dear God in heaven, I did sin.

  Julian slid over and wrapped his arms around her. His arm accidentally brushed a nipple sending a pleasantly, naughty sensation throughout her body. As they embraced, her bare breasts rubbed against his chest redirecting the wicked sensations to the heated area between her legs. She tried without success to remember her sinful night.

  This is maddening. I have sex for the first time and don't even know if I liked it.

  After teasing her by nibbling on her lips, shivers shot through her when he whispered breathily in her ear. "Don't tell me you're ready to go again?"

  Go again? She was incredulous. Here I sit, in a very handsome man's bed, having made love, totally naked wearing only my necklace, and I can't remember any of it. It must have been a wild night, for as he held her close, kneading her back, She glanced over his shoulder and spied their discarded clothes spread around the room in some or the most disingenuous places. Her beautiful dress hung from a single strap draped over a finial on the dresser mirror. Her nylons rested on the top of the TV and draped over the screen. Her bra hung from the shade of the lamp Julian had turned on and her panties lay across the footboard.

  "Julian, why are my clothes strewn haphazardly all over the room? Were we in a hurry last night?"

  "Don't you remember? We were burning with desire. Especially you. You said you had to see what it would be like to be with me at least once. We frantically undressed each other and tossed the clothes wherever they landed."

  A flush of warmed her cheeks. "No, I don't remember. That's the problem. We made love and I don't remember."

  A sinful smile formed on his lips. "Really. You don't remember? Maybe you had too many strawberry daiquiris."

  "And you undressed me?"

  He nodded, his smile growing wider and more sinful, while the flush in her cheeks spread to her whole face. "Yes, except for your necklace. You said you wanted to keep one thing on so you weren't entirely undressed. At first you wanted to keep your bra on, but I didn't like that so I suggested the necklace and you agreed."

  "And then we made love. Did I like it?"

  "You loved it. Laurel, it was wonderful. You were wonderful."

  "What did we do? I mean how…what…po…sition?"

  "We started in missionary, then on our sides facing each other. Then for the finale you were on top."

  She got aroused thinking about it. She'd straddled this dreamboat with his thingy buried in her.

  "Did I…you know…come?"

  "Did you ever." With a big grin on his face, he held up three fingers. Sideways, missionary and last, you on top. That was the biggie."

  This wasn't fair. She had three orgasms and couldn't remember how they felt. She should be ecstatic. She had sex for the first time in her life—with someone she really liked—and it's a blank. "Did we use protection? I'm not on contraception and you…you get around."

  He laughed and kissed her ear. "Not anymore. I'm a one woman man from now on."

  Her heart soa
red at those words and then she remembered her vows.

  "And yes I used a condom. I flushed it down the toilet."

  Julian held her. She was getting hot. She thought about throwing the sheet away from them. After all, they'd made love, but she held off. Between her legs, dampness developed. Something yielding, but hard poked her thigh. It was his penis ready for action. She reached down and grasped it.

  He jerked upright. For the first time in her life, she held that object of mystery---a man's penis. Its smooth silky feel was sexy. A powerful yearning made her wanted to feel it between her legs. "Sweetheart, since I don't remember last night, can we make love again."

  When he didn't answer, She pulled back to look at him. He seemed puzzled. His mouth was open as if he wanted to speak, but nothing came forth, then he stuttered, "Uh…I'm…I'm not sure that's a good idea. After all it was your first time and you should recuperate."

  "How do you know it was my first time? Did I tell you?"

  He shook his head. "Not in so many words. You said you never felt like giving yourself to anyone until now. And then there was a little blood."

  Blood? She lifted the sheet and looked between her legs. There were some brownish-red stains on her thighs and pubis. She reached down and rubbed her sex. The moistness upon her hand had a reddish cast. She looked at the sheet. There were Brownish-red smudges here and there. There was something else she saw—his erection. It looked so good to her she had a strange urge to put it in her mouth. Disgusting!

  She pulled the sheet back down. "Julian. I'm so sorry about your sheets. We should get them off and put them in the washing machine right away."

  "Okay, let me put on my briefs."

  He turned away from her and sat up at the edge of the bed. Feet on the floor, he reached down, apparently picked up the briefs and tugged them up. When they were to his knees, he stood up and pulled them hastily in place. Nevertheless, the two second vision of his tight, sexy buns was burned in her mind and replaying over and over.

  The fact that she'd been virtually naked last night in front of this man allowed her to overcome her innate timidity. As Julian padded to the closet and tossed on a robe, she jumped out of the bed and started removing the sheets. It must have surprised Julian, for when he turned back toward her his eyes grew large and round. "No Laurel, you should stay un…" He rushed to the lamp, took her bra off the shade and after he tossed it to her, turned away. "I'm going to fix us breakfast. Your panties are on the footboard. After you put them on, you'll find another robe in my closet. Or if you prefer, you can wear one of my shirts."

  She did, and donned one of his white shirts. Then she spied her overturned purse on one of the two chairs in the room. Half the contents had spilled out including her cellphone. She picked it up, opened the cover and dialed her sister.

  "Hello sis. Did I wake you?"

  "Yes you did. What time is it anyway."

  She glanced at the alarm clock. "It's almost seven. Aren't you usually up by now?"

  "Yeah, but I got to sleep late last night. Don't worry, I need to get up anyway. What can I do for you?"

  "I'm not sure, but a lot has happened and I need to talk with you. I don't want to talk about it over the phone. Can we meet sometime today?"

  "Can it wait until tomorrow? Remember, Seth's mother is taking the kids then."

  "I'd rather not." She paused to think, then an idea flashed through her mind. "How about if I make reservations for Loving Touch Spa's for later this morning. Can you get a babysitter?"

  "Sure. I'll see if she can watch them today too. If not I'll handle it. Oops. I have another call coming in. Let me put you on call waiting."

  "No, wait Tess, I'll see you at Loving Touch Spa's at eleven, unless I call you back. Okay?"

  "Okay, baby Bye. I love you."

  "I love you too. Bye?"

  Chapter Five—Loving Touch Spa

  "The most precious possession that ever comes to a man in this world is a woman's heart." - Josiah G.

  Q uickly, Tess switched to the incoming call. "Hello?"

  "It's me. I can't talk long or loud. She's in the bedroom," his voice was higher than usual, with a hysterical edge.

  "Calm down Julian. Tell me what happened."

  "Everything went just as you thought it would. That was a good touch with the blood. How did you do it?"

  "Just pricked my finger. If everything went fine, why do you sound in a panic?"

  "I didn't say everything went fine. I said everything went as you said it would, however, there's one catch. Since she doesn't remember any of our lovemaking, she wants to do it again, for real!"

  "That's great. Enjoy yourself. Make it official. Just don't get my baby sister pregnant."

  "No! As much as I'd love to have sex with your sister, I'm not going to stoop so low as to make love to her through trickery. That would be dishonest."

  Hmmm, The man has character. That's good. "We already tricked her. What about that."

  "Yes, we did, but it was your idea and I went along because it's for her own good."

  "You mean for your own good. Don't you?"

  "What."

  "Never mind. Tell you what Julian. I'm supposed to meet Laurel at your sister's Spa. Is there a coffee shop nearby where we could meet?"

  "There's a Denny's a couple blocks east of there. Is that all right?"

  "That'll be great. See you at ten. I have to go now. I need to find a babysitter, quick."

  * * * *

  As Laurel walked into the kitchen, Julian put the phone back in its cradle. "Who were you talking too?"

  He seemed to be in thought, running fingers through his mane. Looking at her, he snapped his fingers, "Breakfast. Oh, I had to tell my secretary, Connie, something." Then he bounced over to the refrigerator and pulled out a package of frozen hash browns, four eggs, cheddar cheese and ham. After carrying the items to the cooktop, and bringing two frying pans up from the lower cabinet, he proceeded to make a giant ham and cheese omelet.

  He was quiet—reflecting, as he fixed their breakfast. "Is something wrong?"

  He glanced at her, reached out to her hand and pulled her into him. "Heck no everything is right." Then he kissed her lightly, on the forehead, the nose and finally, the lips.

  She hadn't put her bra and panties on and was wearing only his shirt. He'd made love to her last night, her first ever, but it didn't seem like it. She wanted to know him intimately. She needed to feel him inside. She wrapped her arms around him. "After breakfast I'd like to make love. It may be my second time but it'll feel like my first time. I need to know what it's like before…"

  He sighed, "I'd like nothing better, but we wouldn't have time. That's what the phone call was about. I have an important meeting at ten, which I can't miss."

  He gently took hold of her chin as his lips came forward for a kiss. "I'll tell you what. Let me get this business behind me and I'll fix you a gourmet meal tonight. Veal piccata. How does that sound?"

  "Sounds yummy. Especially, if we encore last nights activities afterward."

  He smiled and wagged his eyebrows. "It's a date. Have a seat. Breakfast is almost ready."

  * * * *

  Tess had started her third cup of coffee when Julian finally arrived. Silently, he sat down and she poured his cup full. He put a little cream in and took a sip. She waited, but he said nothing. "Good morning, good looking."

  He smiled. "Sorry. I was thinking."

  "About what?"

  "Your sister. What else? She has me hornier that a three peckered goat and I don't know what to do. I'm cooking dinner for her tonight and she's specifically requested that we repeat our intimacy of last night." He raised his hands in apparent frustration. "Except we didn't do anything last night."

  "And you don't want to have relations with her under false pretenses."

  "Right. From the start, I wanted her to want me before we made love and now she wants me, but for the wrong reasons. And I don't know how to get back to the right reasons. Oh h
ell, it's all screwed up. How the hell am I supposed to know if she wants me for me or to see what she missed?"

  "Hmmm. Good point. I foresee another problem as well."

  He put his coffee cup down. "What?"

  "If you do have sex, you'll perforate her membrane for real and she'll spot, this time the blood will be hers."

  His hand ranged through his hair. "What are we going to do?"

  She sipped her coffee. "I don't know, but I need to get going or I'm going to be late."

  She picked up the check and his hand covered hers. "Leave that, I'll get it."

  She stood up and caressed his cheek with her hand. "You'll be good for Laurel. I hope we can pull it off." She turned and walked out.

  * * * *

  Laurel arrived early so she went back and visited Sarah. She just put her customer under the dryer and her next client wasn't due for twenty minutes, so she grabbed her hand and led her to a small employee coffee room. As they poured and fixed their coffee she asked, "So how was your big night out?"

  She'd been opening a packet of Splenda and when Sarah asked, she jerked and Splenda powder went everywhere. Some landed on Sarah. She tried to brush it off, but she stopped her. "Stop it Laurel. It's nothing. Why did you blush? Did Julian hurt you?"