The kitchen door opened, causing Laurey to wake up from a nap she didn't know she was taking.

"You all right?"

She nodded "Get so sleepy in the summer"

"C'mon, lemme help you up"

She reached out her hands to him, and he pulled her up from the couch. He used more force than he needed to, pulling her against his chest.

"Sorry, I didn't—"

"That's okay." They stood face to face, so close she could feel his breath against her. It was hardly romantic, he was dirty from farmwork, she was mussed up from sleeping on the couch, but their closeness made her heart pound in a way it hadn't since…

"Can I…"

She nodded, and his lips met hers. Strong and soft and warm and before she knew it, her arms were wrapped around him, fingers tangling in his thick hair.

"D'you want to…" he murmured against her ear.

"Yes. Yes, I want to."

With one deft motion, he swept her up in his arms and carried her up to her room.

They undressed in silence, his hands and lips wandering over her. She couldn't help but remember Curly, who could keep up a conversation during their most intimate moments, who could make her laugh and dispel any tension with a well-timed word or two. He made it seem as though they were just having fun, like it wasn't anything especially important or special they were doing, like it was no different from going swimming together.

Jud was so different, studying her and kissing her like words would make her disappear. She allowed herself to do the same, to really look at him in the soft glow of her lamp and appreciate his body the way she never had before.

"You have freckles," she pointed out, breaking the silence, "on your shoulders. I love all your freckles." He had muscles, too, which she gladly traced with her finger.

"Like that?" He flexed his arm slightly, making her giggle.

"Yeah, I-I do." She was emboldened to talk, to tell him how handsome he was, knowing he wasn't going to tease her about it, knew it would make him happy. "Your chest hair, too. God, it's so thick"

"I love you so much" he blurted out.

She giggled, embarrassed but flattered nonetheless. So much had happened in the last two years that made her feel like an old widow lady; it was nice feeling young and pretty again. Nice feeling desired by a handsome man. Nice feeling like she could let someone else take control.

He guided her onto her back, touching her and kissing her the whole time, kissing her in every possible place.

"So goddamn pretty"

"Thank you," she purred. "Thank you, Jud, I…oh!" She leaned her head back and sighed.