Free The Marriage List by Jean Joachim

that's all that matters to me," he said, drawing her
closer, bending down to drop a sweet peck on the tip of her
nose.
    "Same here. Do you want a bathrobe? It's cold
in her," she said, getting up.
    "Doubt you have one my size," he
chuckled.
    "But I do," she said, retrieving two
bathrobes from the bedroom. She tossed a blue one to him and put on
the pink one.
    Grey looked at the robe then looked at
her.
    "You have so many men sleeping over you
bought a robe?"
    "And that concerns you, how?"
    "Want to know what I'm getting involved in
here," he replied, putting on the robe.
    "You don't think I'm celibate, do you?"
    "Hadn't thought about it."
    "I have…needs, just like you. I'll bet you
spent ten years sleeping with every female you could get your hands
on."
    She saw the heat rise in his cheeks.
    "That's what I thought. A man doesn't get as
experienced as you from reading a book or watching porn!"
    "And you?" he asked.
    "A woman never tells. I'm not a slut but I
have healthy…desires…needs... whatever you want to call it. My
past…you said you don't care about the past. It's now with you that
counts," she said, slipping her arms around his waist.
    "Fair enough," he said, kissing her.
    "Good. Let's get some sleep," she said,
scattering the smoldering coals in the fireplace, then taking his
hand.
    "I'm spending the night?"
    "You don't want to?"
    "Try to kick me out," he said, pulling her to
him for a hug and kiss.
    She pulled away, turned out the living room
lights and led him to the bedroom where she handed him a brand new
toothbrush she retrieved from the medicine cabinet.
    "These too? You really are prepared for
overnight visitors."
    She blushed.
    "I like my men to be comfortable."
    "Honey, if I got any more comfortable, I'd be
living here," he murmured in her ear, then kissed her neck.
     
    ****
     
    Grey's phone rang and he reluctantly moved
away from Carrie to check it. Jenna.
    "What' up?" He asked.
    "Nothing. Calling to see how your new
candidate is measuring up to your list of requirements," she
teased.
    "Jenna, this is no time for a question like
that."
    "Is this a baaadddd time?" she said,
laughing, "did I catch you…at it?"
    "Not exactly." Grey paced, keeping his head
down, looking at the floor.
    "But you're with her, right?"
    "Yes."
    "And you can't talk."
    "Right." He couldn't keep a note of
exasperation from his tone.
    "Oh, goody. I have you right where I want
you. So, did you get to all three items on the list with her
yet?" Jenna giggled into the phone.
    "I'm not going to answer that question," he
said, turning his back to Carrie while he felt heat in his cheeks.
"Oh, I see. So you have ! Well, well, how was it?"
    "Jenna!"
    "Come on, you can tell me…great, fantastic,
terrible? After all, you're the one who asked me if I make my
husband beg for sex."
    "Bye, Jenna. See you in a few weeks."
    "No! Wait! Okay, okay. Just tell me if it's
going well. Is it, could she…be…the one?"
    "Could be. Gotta go," he said and hung up the
phone, anxious to get away from his sister's prying.
    "Quite a cryptic phone conversation with your
sister… really your sister?"
    "You don't think that was another woman, do
you?"
    "Was it?" She cocked her head and planted her
feet firmly.
    "Absolutely not! Do you want me to call her
back so you can speak to her?"
    "No, no, I believe you," Carrie said, raising
her hands up.
    "Good."
    "So what were all those one-word answers
about?"
    "Jenna being nosy, that's all."
    "Nosy about what?" Carrie slid onto the bed
and sat cross-legged.
    Grey hesitated and looked down at his hands,
then up into Carrie's eyes.
    "About you," he admitted.
    "Me? Jenna knows about me? Why? How? Me?
Really?" Carrie sat up straight on the bed and coughed twice.
    He nodded.
    She blushed and clammed up. There was a heavy
silence in the room.
    "Your family knows about me?" She
repeated.
    "Should you be a deep, dark secret?"
    "I guess not."
    "I'm close with my family. We talk…often. Is
that a problem? You never talk about