I'm Ready

"Ugh! You're getting on my damn nerves!" Miranda said as she put on her boots.

"Not as much as you're getting on mine," Ben said zipping up his coat.

"Shut up," she said hoping that her dismissal would end the conversation.

"No," he responded. Miranda hid a smirk. He walked to the door and opened it. "Ready?"

She sighed. "Let's go." The two of them walked across the snowy campus.

"I don't know why you couldn't just wait until Monday to get whatever it is that you needed to get." He shoved her playfully with his body.

"I need to return those library books."

"There's a blizzard."

"I guess someone doesn't want me to graduate."

"Of course I do." He bumped her again, her foot sliding over some ice. She lost her balance and he reached out and caught her. "Sorry."

"Yeah, right."

"Next time I'll let your ass fall."

"Jerk."

"Takes one to know one. And you're going the long way to Eldridge Hall."

"I'm not going the wrong way. I think I know how to get to Eldridge," she said, her scarf flying into her mouth.

"I said 'long'."

"Oh," she giggled.

Ben laughed along with her. "You never listen to anyone else."

She scoffed. "Why should I when I have the best ideas and the right opinions?" He touched her elbow. "What?"

"Kiss me, babe."

"It's cold."

"I'll warm you up," he said putting his gloved hands on her stomach.

Her body jumped and she moaned. "Bennn!"

He nuzzled her with his face. "Mmmhmm."

"Mmmhmm," she echoed. "Feels good." They kissed for a few minutes, ignoring the passage of time and the space that they took up on the sidewalk. After they'd kissed freshmen year, Miranda realized that, like Ben, she was all-in. Her feelings were real and he confirmed his by declaring his love to her every day. When they had gone home for the summer after that first year, no one seemed surprised that they were finally a thing. Raven had said that it was about damned time and said that if they hadn't made it official, she would have fought both of them. And falling into a new relationship made Miranda so happy. Ben was perfect. He'd promised to make her happy and had fulfilled his promise. When Ben held her hand, Miranda could feel her pulse sync with his. It felt so right. They'd been so worried about their friendship getting ruined, but they were wrong. Everything about it just got better. They knew each other so well. There wasn't anything that they couldn't say to each other. She smiled into his mouth thinking about it all. "I love you, it's the weirdest thing."

"That was random," he said. They kissed one last time. "My lips are frozen." Ben started to walk away and Miranda pulled him back.

"Come here," she baited. She stood on her toes and kissed him again, biting his bottom lip gently. Even through their many layers, she felt his body rise against hers. Her body grew hot; she felt like removing her clothes in the single digit weather. For the first time, she wanted a guy so badly that she didn't want to wait. She wanted to feel Ben's skin on hers and complete their connection. She wanted him. They'd talked about it over and over and over again; weighed the pros and cons and the answer, in her eyes at least, so simple. Miranda walked off leaving him, watching her.

When they got back to her dorm, she peeled off her jacket and put it on the back of her computer chair. She was glad that she didn't have a roommate. She and Ben had some things that they needed to discuss and interruptions would be a hindrance. "Ben…"

"You don't have to say anything or explain anything," he told her taking off his own jacket and sitting on the bed.

"You don't even know what I was going to say," she snapped. He made a face. She knew he knew. "I think I'm ready."

"Babe," he started. He scratched his head. "Miranda…" He did know what she was about to say.

"You don't want to?" She said softly. He patted the space next to him and she sat down. "I thought every guy wanted to hear that."

"I'm not every guy."

"No, you're not."

"And I do want to. I do, but I know how your mind works. And I know how you toss an idea around back and forth until you see all sides. But the only thing that matters is that I'll love you no matter what. There's no rush."

Miranda touched his chest and looked into his eyes. "I know." She rushed into a kiss, accidentally bumping their teeth together. "Sorry," she winced.

He laughed and kept kissing her. "I'm following your lead." She touched the bottom of his sweater and pulled it up and over his head. Her shirt followed. His hand in her pants made her tense up. They'd been in this position before, both near naked, both primed and ready for anything. And each time, she'd stopped herself from falling into something that was all she could about think about lately. Nineteen and still a virgin. It didn't embarrass her, but she didn't want to keep Ben or herself waiting any longer. He'd told her that he was a virgin, too. But she didn't quite believe him. He was one of the hottest guys in their high school and on their campus. He could have had his pick of any girl he wanted. "What are you saying?"

"Huh?"

"You're mumbling stuff."

"I am?"

He stopped kissing her and laughed again. "And, for the last time, I'm a virgin, too."

"You heard me say that?"

"Yes."

"You're the only girl I've ever wanted to touch or make love to," he said with a blush. She blushed, too. "I've been… saving myself for you."

"I feel the same way," she whispered. He kissed her chest and swiftly unhooked her bra. His tongue touched her nipples. Her heart was pounding and her thoughts were a mangled mess. Ben was doing all of the work. She couldn't concentrate. "Ben…"

He stopped again. "Are you okay?"

"I think I'm thinking too much," she admitted. Her lips went to his chest, her hands to the front of his pants.

"Probably, but it's okay." He was very understanding and Miranda loved that about him.

"No, it's not," she laughed. "I should want this."

He looked at her body, scanning her brown skin in the dim lights. "You do want it, babe. I can tell every time I do this." Ben bit his lip and then kissed her neck making her moan. "So know that I'm not pressuring you. That's not something that I'd do." Their eyes met and she smiled; she circled her fingers on his stomach.

"I know," Miranda said climbing on top of him. His body responded immediately. "I really do."