Not knowing how long he had been watching, Sally hesitantly placed her arms around Tom’s waist and pulled him close. She could feel the bulge in the front of his pants straining firmly against her pubic mound, which told her he had been at the entryway long enough. Tom’s hands immediately found their way to Sally’s lower back. It was an automatic reaction beyond his control.
She moved one hand to the back of his neck to draw his lips down to hers. As Tom began to lean in closer, he abruptly stopped himself. “I’m sorry. I’m not ready to let someone else into my life yet. It’s still too soon,” Tom said as he pulled her arm down. “I can’t…” his voice trailed off as he reluctantly stepped away from her grasp and hurried back down the stairs to the control deck. Sally slowly went back over to the bunk and lowered herself to the mattress, placing her elbows on her knees and hiding her face in the comforting shelter of her palms, allowing the stillness to envelope her.