Where the Streets Have No Name
Chapter 26
It was fairly late when Carmen showed up at Edward's door. By the time they finished working out the finer points of their future life together, it was only a few hours shy of dawn.
Edward invited her to stay the night and Carmen reluctantly accepted.
Allowing her to use the bathroom for her nighttime ablutions first, Edward cleaned up the bedroom quickly and straightened out the sheets. He wondered what protocol dictated with regard to sleeping arrangement in this particular circumstance.
Would she be okay with sharing a bed with him? They had done so before, but things were different now.
He could sleep on the living room couch, letting her have the bed. But what if she took it as sign of him trying to distance himself from her? That might be upsetting to her even more, he reckoned.
Before he had made up his mind, Carmen emerged from the bathroom. She had stripped down to her underwear in preparation for the night. "I'm taking the right side, okay?" she said unceremoniously, then climbed on to her chosen corner of the bed.
Edward swallowed hard. Did she expect them to be intimate tonight?
"Uh... I'll just brush my teeth..." he mumbled as he made a speedy get away to the bathroom.
"Come back soon," he heard her say before he locked the door.
He couldn't recall a time since his induction into puberty when his body desired sex less than he did right then. It wasn't that he didn't find Carmen attractive. She was adventurous in bed and had all the physical attributes a man could hope to find in a woman; a curvaceous body, ample breasts, luscious lips, and above all, curious hands and a willing mouth.
Yet, the thought of making love to her right then was... almost repulsive to him.
Not tonight.
He looked down at his crotch that held a very limp, very shriveled cock. He wasn't even sure he would be able to make it cooperate if the push came to shove tonight. Not after the verbal beat down he had gotten from Carmen earlier. He felt emasculated and weak.
He would have to get over his hangups if he were to keep his promise to Carmen. He would, he vowed. Just not right now. Would it be too implausible to say he had had a very long day and was too tired? It was not untrue. Not completely.
Edward brushed his teeth with thorough precision, taking as long as he possibly could. He splashed cold water in his face and looked at his reflection in the mirror.
He looked as he felt; weak and defeated.
Just bite the bullet and get it over with.
I can do it.
Wiping his face dry, he returned to the bedroom.
He was relieved to find Carmen's sleeping form lightly snoring on her side of the bed.
Thank God for small favors.
Thank you Lulabelle98, HeidiJoVT, and Dinx.