Sleep was hard for Kate that night. She lay in bed but whenever she closed her eyes, she was instantly transported back to what had just happened. Steve had never said or done anything like that before. What exactly did it mean? Did he like her breasts because he was a man and they were breasts. Or did he like her breasts because they were HER breasts. It was probably the former, but she secretly was hoping there was a chance it could be the latter situation. That would mean that he might like her in the way she was beginning to think of him.
Steve had no such problems sleeping. He fell asleep dreaming about boobs and continued on the subject for most of the night judging by what he found when he awoke. The front of his boxer shorts and the bed sheets were a bit wet. He usually would have been a bit embarrassed by it, but not today. At least he knew that part of his arousal was also working.
Looking at the clock on his bedside table he realised it was probably time to get up. He would need a shower before breakfast as he was a little sticky after his wet dream. Reaching for his aid he made his way to the shower and took a seat on the stool in the cubicle that had been provided for him by Dan before turning the faucet on. Hopefully soon he would be able to get rid of it and stand in the cubicle like a normal person he thought as the water cascaded over him. Maybe with a woman. Kate. Shit!
Steve stopped his washing routine. What was going on? Why was he thinking about Kate in this way? Come to think about it, it might have been Kate's boobs he had been dreaming about last night. He was going to have to reign his thoughts in. He had no idea how she felt about him, although she had allowed him to ogle her a little longer than necessary yesterday evening. He had thought she might hit him after those complimentary words about her anatomy had slipped out, but she hadn't. Could she like him?
He resumed his washing and soon was turning the shower off whilst deep in thought. Maybe she had had a change of heart after pretty much telling him where to go when he'd tried chatting her up all those years ago in that car park. He couldn't help but smile as he remembered how angry she had been as he began to towel himself dry. He should have known then that she was going to be more than a handful. But he liked a challenge!
He got changed and headed to the kitchen, the balloons on his frame still bobbing around as he went. He wondered how long was acceptable for them to remain attached to it before he set them free.
Kate heard Steve bustling about as she lay in bed. She hadn't had a great sleep but knew she should get up. She knew it was a cop out and she was slightly disappointed in herself, but she had decided to just let Steve's comment from last night pass by. Now wasn't the time to get in to a difficult conversation, especially as Steve's parents would be arriving shortly.
Sighing, she pulled the duvet off her and slowly got up, when a mischievous thought entered her head. Just because she was going to ignore his comment, didn't mean she couldn't have a bit of fun. She was going to go out and have breakfast in her pyjamas before having a shower. See if Steve would say anything.
He didn't. But he couldn't hide the appreciative look he gave her as she entered the kitchen. He was at the table, having a bowl of cereal when she saw a laden spoonful pause on it's way to his mouth. Kate bit her cheek to stop a smile forming as she nonchalantly went about making her own breakfast.
Was Kate playing games? Steve thought as he watched her make her meal. Teasing him by coming out in those pyjamas again. Was she challenging him to get her to lean forward again? Challenge accepted! He looked around himself. Maybe if he dropped something on the floor Kate would retrieve it and in doing so allow him a peek down her top. He spied the lid to the milk bottle and picked it up. Perfect.
"Don't even think about it," Kate warned from the kitchen.
Steve startled and looked at his friend. She was leaning against a kitchen top, cereal bowl in hand, shrewdly keeping an eye on him as she munched away. How had she known what he was up to? He blushed with embarrassment at having been quite so obvious before putting the lid back down.
"So, have you decided where we are going for our walk?" Kate asked, attempting to diffuse the charged situation with a simple question.
"I think the country park," Steve replied. "The path around the lake is quite smooth. Easy on the wheelchair tyres," he explained and Kate nodded in agreement. "And that old pub nearby does a great Sunday lunch," he added.
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"Good choice," Kate agreed as she finished her bowl. "I better get in the shower. Don't want to hold us up," she continued as she headed off.
It was a nice sunny September day and the group had a lovely trip around the park. As Steve had predicted, it was easy to wheel himself around and he could keep up with the walkers without any difficulty. The exercise helped them build up an appetite for their roast lunch which they were able to eat outside.
With the meal finished the quartet headed to Steve's parents car and they headed back to Steve's flat. After a quick drink Steve's parents finally bade farewell to their son and Kate before their long journey back to London.
"Let us know that you've got back safely," Kate suggested once they had said goodbye to everyone.
"We will do," Linda promised. "And see you both for our anniversary party,".
The friends spent a lazy late Sunday afternoon together watching a football match on TV together before Kate did a bit of prep work for the week ahead at work and made her regular weekend catch up phone call to Josh whist Steve channel surfed. He was fixing them a light evening meal not being all that hungry after their large lunch when his mum phoned to say they had made it back home.
"You wanna watch something before bed?" Steve asked as the evening went on.
"Ok but nothing that goes on too long. I've got work and you've got physio tomorrow," Kate reminded Steve. "Don't want to be half asleep for Dan,".
"I won't be!" Steve retorted.
They managed to find a new police detective drama which looked a good watch. Since becoming flat mates they had started a competition whilst watching who-dunnit's. As police officers they prided themselves in knowing who the guilty party was and they each would nominate their chosen character. It was a tight competition and currently they were drawn. That remained the result at the end of this particular episode as neither Kate nor Steve was watching the TV by the end of the episode to know who had won.
At some point whilst sitting close on the sofa and with the flirtatious undercurrent that was currently flowing through their friendship they somehow ended up kissing. Things progressed and they moved from sitting to lying down on the couch. Kate's top was removed, leaving her in just her bra as Steve moved to position himself on top of her. He was a little clumsy still in his movement and in doing so, ended up kicking an empty mug off the coffee table that was in front of the sofa. The sound of breaking pottery as the mug hit the floor, broke them from their spell. For Steve in particular, he realised things couldn't progress much further.
"I can't do this," he uttered, very disappointedly.
He saw a hurt look cross Kate's face as she reached for her discarded top to restore some modesty to her. "Sure. I understand," she said. embarrassed, hoping they hadn't screwed their friendship up for good.
Steve realised she had interpreted his words wrong and knew he had to rectify things quickly. "I'm not sure you do," he said as he took one of her hands and placed it on his crotch. He felt it twitch at Kate's gentle touch. "I want to do this but I can't," he repeated. "I'm having problems getting hard after my back injury,".
"I didn't know," Kate said.
"Well it's not something I want to admit to a woman," Steve replied as he removed himself off Kate and returned to his seat.
"Is it long term?" Kate asked as she followed his lead and sat back up, putting her top back on as she did so.
"Well until yesterday I wasn't getting hard at all," Steve answered. "You in that dress made things start to happen,". Kate smiled at his admission. That was what was going on with him last night. "Doctor said there was no permanent damage and I just have to wait for my back to get better. And it looks like she was right,".
"That's good," Kate said, encouragingly. "So how long until you are back to normal?".
Steve shrugged. "Don't know," he replied. "But it might be a good thing,".
"Yeah?".
"Apart from my parents, my friendship with you is the most important relationship I have," he admitted. "I don't want to ruin it in one lustful moment. Maybe it will give us time to decide what is going on between us whilst I'm recovering,".
"You growing up, Steve?" Kate teased. "That sounded way too mature for you," she continued. She felt exactly the same as Steve and was happy to wait whilst they figured things out.
"My doctor has even given me some information on resuming having sex...when I can," Steve explained bashfully.
The leaflets! Suddenly it all made sense to Kate. She'd jumped to totally the wrong conclusion. "Can I read them?" She asked. She was a person who liked to have as much information to hand as possible and wanted to be fully informed if her and Steve were ever intimate.
"Knock yourself out," Steve replied. "They're in the pocket on the wheelchair,". He hadn't looked at the leaflets since he'd flicked through them. He wouldn't be needing them as far as he was concerned.
"I know," Kate admitted. "They fell out some time ago when I was putting the chair in the car. Thought you might have been wanting to start things up with Sam again,".
"I said I wasn't interested in her," Steve reiterated. "Is that why you were a bit moody?".
"Might have been,".
"Mate," said Steve as he pulled her in for a hug and kissed the top of her head. "Just wish it wasn't all so complicated, what with work and everything,".
"Yeah. It's good we're going to take our time," Kate replied.
They stayed wrapped up in each other's arms for a little while before Steve yawned. "I don't know about you but I've had a pretty exhausting weekend and need some sleep,".
"Me too," Kate admitted as she got off the sofa before helping Steve to his feet.
"Night, mate," Steve said as he gave Kate a kiss on the cheek this time and walked off with his aid.
"Night," echoed Kate before heading to the cupboard where Steve's chair was kept and retrieving the leaflets inside before also heading to bed.