AN: This is the final chapter. Thanks for all of the support. I hope you enjoyed it. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Chapter 4
"It's suspect, I tell ya," Elizabeth's friend, Becky said, plucking the Camel straight from between her lips. "I think my last boyfriend wouldn't have minded if I held his dick when we crossed the street. And, you've got Henry, who won't let you come near his." The girl blew out a puff of smoke and flicked her ashes into a flimsy silver ashtray wedged in the window sill of their room. "Maybe he's a she?" Becky wiggled her brows at her friend and Elizabeth buried her face in the couch cushion and groaned.
"What do you think his deal really is?" Becky asked.
"If I knew I wouldn't be in this predicament, would I?" Elizabeth sighed.
"Maybe it's time to just come out and ask him?" Becky offered.
Elizabeth opened her mouth like she was going to respond, but then didn't. It took weeks for me to tell him about going to the doctor, and that was MY issue. What are the chances I'm going to confront him about HIS issue?
"I'm going to take a shower and then grab a late lunch. We'll see."
Elizabeth sat at their library table with her books open, but she wasn't getting much studying done. Her mind kept wandering to Henry.
"Hey." Elizabeth's head shot up and found Henry standing at the end of the table. His hands were shoved in his pockets and he looked uneasy. "I was wondering if maybe we could talk."
"Henry," she sighed. Then she mustered up all of the courage she could. "Am I wasting my time here?" she asked.
The look that crossed Henry's face was one of despair. "I hope not" he mumbled. "But, I don't know."
"Then I think we do need to talk. I'm parked outside. Do you want to take a drive?" When Henry nodded, Elizabeth placed the book she was reading into her backpack and stood. They walked side by side out to the parking lot and Henry stopped Elizabeth from getting into the car.
His hand settled on her hip. "I'm sorry about today. I reacted poorly." He shuffled in closer, pulling her in as well. "I don't want to lose you, but I'm so afraid that's what will happen."
"Henry?" she asked, but he closed the distance, kissing her softly, stopping her question. Then he stepped back, rounded the back end of the car and slid into the passenger seat.
No words were spoken as she steered the car out of town and they drove the back roads until she took a turn and they ended up at a scenic overlook. They walked down an old wooden walkway and sat on a bench overlooking a valley with a stream at the bottom.
"I remember when I told you that I wanted us to be more physical, you didn't seem particularly excited about that. Is it because you don't want to be with me?" Elizabeth turned to face Henry. "If you don't want that, you just need to say so instead of pretending. I pretended I was ok for guys I was with and it was awful. I wouldn't want you to go through that."
"That's not it. I do want us to be together," he began, and she cut him off.
"Then if it's an us thing, you have to let me be part of the us." Elizabeth's voice was strained.
"And what if you break up with me?" Henry asked.
Elizabeth's brows knitted together as she pondered the meaning of his question. "Why would I?"
"Because I'm not what you're looking for in a man." Henry turned away from her and stared out across the valley.
Elizabeth's expression deepened. "Henry, I don't know what you mean. You're kind, and smart. You tell the dumbest jokes that make me laugh hysterically. I'm happier when you're around." She leaned across the seat to get closer. "And no one has ever touched me the way that you touch me," she murmured. She placed her hand on his lining them up, his fingers a full inch longer than hers. "Part of me isn't ready to fully accept what it means yet, but I can't imagine you not being in my life." She stared at their hands for a moment, until the emotion was too much. Whether it was because she loved him, or the thought of losing him, she wasn't sure.
She sat back, pulling her hands into her lap. "But I feel like, when we're together, you get to show your feelings physically, but you won't let me reciprocate."
Henry stood and moved a few paces away, keeping his back to her. "I'm not sure why it matters as long as I satisfy you."
"Because you're not satisfied and eventually it will cause resentment. I don't want you to resent me, Henry."
She got up and moved to him, slipping her arms around his waist, pressing herself into his back. "There's something holding you back. Let me in. I came to you with a problem and you've been great about working with me, taking it slow. Give me the chance to do the same."
Henry tore away from Elizabeth and spun around to face her. "There's a big difference. Your problem is something that you have the ability to overcome. I can't do anything about mine." And with that he moved away and stalked off back toward the car, leaving a bewildered Elizabeth standing alone.
Maybe he's a she. Becky's words ran through her mind and she huffed. "Oh, shut up," she muttered, rolling her eyes as she took off after him.
"Henry McCord!" Elizabeth cried, as she approached the car. Henry spun around from his spot where he leaned against the passenger door and gaped at her. She stopped directly in front of him. They stood toe to toe and her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath. "Henry," she said in a much quieter voice. "I'm not sure why you're convinced that I'll break up with you, but I'm tired of playing these games. I want us to be honest with each other. I've tried to be, even when it's embarrassing and difficult to open up." Elizabeth's voice softened to a whisper and she shifted her gaze to the ground and shook her head, her hair falling around her face, shielding her from his view.
Henry shifted his weight back against the car putting a little more space between them. "I'm small," he mumbled. Elizabeth tipped her head up, and stared, deep lines forming along her brow as she tried to glean meaning from his admission. Henry shrugged. "As in not well endowed."
Her gaze inexplicably darted to his hands , which he quickly shoved in his pockets. "The size of one does not indicate the size of the other. I promise."
"Henry, it doesn't matter," Elizabeth started, but he cut her off.
"But it does matter. Everyone I've ever been with has said it doesn't, but then once they're with me, it's like they're looking for a reason to break up with me. I just like you so much, and when you said you weren't interested in that part of a relationship, I breathed a big sigh of relief and then you were, and I thought that if I could keep you satisfied, then you wouldn't have to know."
"What, you'd wait until our wedding night and then spring it on me?" Elizabeth asked. Her aim was to lighten the mood, but Henry's expression told her that he was serious.
"I didn't think I'd ever find anyone to marry-wait, you want to get married?" Henry somehow looked even sadder.
Elizabeth offered him a soft smile and stepped closer, pinning him to the side of the car. "We may be getting a little ahead of ourselves, but I think I definitely like you enough to make it work. Her hands gripped his biceps and she stood on tiptoes to kiss him. It was gentle and unassuming. "We'll work at it until we figure out something we can both live with."
"Really? You want to do that?" Henry looked stunned.
"Let's go home," she whispered, pulling him closer. She nibbled the shell of his ear before running her tongue over it. "We should start right away."
oOoOo
August 1987
Elizabeth had never particularly enjoyed giving blowjobs. But, it seemed that there was some unwritten expectation, which she thought was ridiculous since, until Henry, no one had ever considered reciprocating.
Henry wasn't wrong when he said he was smaller than average. Not that she would ever say it aloud, but he was a good three inches shorter than either of the previous guys she'd been with. That being said, she wasn't bothered by it. Because of the terrible anxiety she held about penetration of any kind, the fact that he was shorter actually seemed to be a good thing in her mind.
After he'd consented to finally letting her touch him, her curiosity was piqued. The first time he came on her hand and she stroked him through his orgasm, Elizabeth imagined putting her mouth on him.
They were cuddled on the couch one evening when she brought it up and Henry frowned. "I don't think so," he said.
"Why not?" she hummed, kissing his neck. When he didn't answer, she pulled back to look at him. "Henry?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. What if it's not good?" His insecurity was etched all over his face and Elizabeth's heart broke, but instead of addressing that, she grinned.
"If it's not good, then you'll have to teach me how to make it good?" She wiggled her eyebrows up and down. "I promise I'll be a good student, Professor McCord." She leaned in and kissed him. In a low voice, she whispered, "What do you say, Professor? Can I suck you until you come?"
September 1987
"It's okay," he whispered against Elizabeth's cheek. "It will happen."
"It's not, Henry. It's not okay," she sniffled. "How can I want you so much and then freak out? Theoretically, I am capable of passing a baby through that space, but sex hurts so much."
They lay naked across his bed. She had tugged him off the couch and they striped each other as they made their way to the bedroom. Elizabeth pulled Henry down on top of her. She was slick with arousal, but as soon as Henry pushed inside, her muscles seized and she inhaled sharply. Henry stopped and pulled out, but Elizabeth was embarrassed and frustrated.
"Maybe it would help if you're the one in control," Henry murmured, kissing her softly. "Don't worry. We'll get there."
October 1987
Desperate moans filled the room. "Oh, God, please," Henry choked out as Elizabeth sat perched on top of him, swiveling her hips before grinding herself into him. The flutter she felt deep within her forced her to increase her pace, chasing her high.
Henry's hands fondled her breasts, rolling her nipples between his thumb and index finger. The jolts of pleasure the action caused only served as a distraction, stuttering her rhythm. She grabbed his hands, pulling them away and settling them on her hips. "Help," she commanded and Henry immediately pulled and pushed in sync until he stiffened beneath her.
She stilled and waited for him to sink back into the bed and then she curled up against his chest. Henry held her for a few minutes and then surprised her by rolling her on her back. Her hand flailed to the side, sending the tube of lube and condom box flying off the edge of the bed, clattering to the floor.
Before Elizabeth could process the change, Henry's finger was gliding through her folds. Her circled her clit twice before sliding inside her. She gasped and grabbed Henry's forearm. He stilled, "Did that hurt?" he asked.
As she shook her head, her hair cascaded across the pillow. "I just wasn't expecting it."
"Oh, well then," he replied, grinning slyly. "Then I'll carry on." His finger started slowly moving inside her, massaging the spongy tissue that lay against the wall of her vagina. Her breath shuddered and the pull tightened and the hum formed in the back of her throat. Her grip on his arm tightened and the other hand scrabbled for something to hold on to.
Elizabeth forced her eyes open and caught him watching, a slight smile curled at the corner of his lips while he concentrated. Seeing her, he bent down to kiss her. As their lips touched, her eyes slipped shut, his tongue slid inside her mouth and the finger inside her increased speed, rubbing up and down in that one spot until warmth flooded her and she couldn't draw a breath..
As the feeling faded, she rolled sleepily into Henry's chest, fully sated. They didn't speak for the longest time, just reveling in the closeness. Finally, Henry kissed her forehead, and whispered, "Thank you."
"For?" she mumbled.
"For sticking with me until we figured it out."
"That's what you do when you love someone." Elizabeth's eyes fluttered open just in time to see the shock morph into happiness. She tipped her head back and pulled him closer to kiss him softly.
"I love you too," he said, snuggling against her.
Elizabeth let Henry wrap his arms around her and was thankful for taking the time to overcome hurdles.
