Praying

The young woman’s stomach growled audibly.

“You hungry, sweetie?” asked the young man.

“Of course,” she replied. “Always.” The woman was lean and tall and her long, muscular legs were stretched out akimbo on either side of the man where he sat facing her on the rumpled bed.

“Didn’t you get enough to eat at the reception?” He was smaller than the woman and his eyes were pale and wet. She blinked languidly back at him with dark eyes that were set wide and she tilted her head quizzically at his question. She folded her slender wrists in front of her small breasts coyly.

“You know I always get hungry after sex,” she said.

“Yes,” he replied with a sigh. A moment passed and he watched her carefully. “I wish I could’ve been your first.”

“Really, why?”

“I don’t know. I feel, sort of, like we’re on different playing fields. Like you’re older and more experienced than me.”

“Well, that’s true. I am older. Does that bother you?”

“I guess I thought once we were married that I’d feel more like we were equal partners—especially in the bedroom.”

“You shouldn’t feel intimidated, especially on our wedding night.”

“I still feel young and clumsy.”

“Well, don’t.” She slid her foot against his hip and caressed him with her toes. “So, tell me, how was it? Good for a first time?”

“Earth shattering!” His eyes brightened.

“All that you imagined it would be?”

“Yes. You know the French call it ‘The Little Death,’” he said. She threw her head back and laughed loudly at this. Her slender neck arched and her throat bobbed in her mirth. Her mouth opened wide, revealing her large, white teeth.

“You’re funny.” Her stomach growled again. “Damn! Am I hungry!”

“I could order you some room service?”

“No. I need something hearty.”

“Like a cheeseburger?”

“You know what I need—what I’m in the mood for.”

“C’mon, really? So soon?”

“I need my strength.”

“To go again?” he asked hopefully.

“No. It’s for the babies.” She stroked her thin fingers across her firm belly. “I need my strength for the babies.”

“Do you think we’ll have a lot of babies?” he asked.

“Of course,” she replied. “My mom had lots of babies. I’m sure I’ll have lots too.”

“I wish I could’ve met your dad.”

“Yeah,” she replied wistfully. “You’re a lot like him.” She trailed one of her long fingers up the inside of his pale thigh. He shivered and pulled his leg away from her with an awkward smile. “Now, why don’t we see about something to eat?”

“It was nice to finally meet your mother,” he said, redirecting, “and all the rest of your family.” He tucked his legs up under him and sat up straighter, slightly away from her. “I didn’t realize you had so many sisters….” She sat up and moved towards him. “And nieces…” She grinned and her teeth flashed in the light. “And…how many aunts do you have?”

“Stop trying to change the subject.” She approached him on all fours and he backed up against the wall as she crept closer. When she traced her finger up his bare stomach, between his skinny pectorals, and up toward his throat, he flinched and jostled the lamp. In the wavering light, her enormous, slender shadow lunged and swayed across the back wall. “Come on,” she purred. “It’ll be good for the babies.”

“You really are hungry, aren’t you?” he asked. She pouted slightly and rubbed a hand around her stomach. “Right now?” She bit her lip and nodded.

He picked up a bottle from the bedside table and shook it vigorously. The product sluiced toward the cap where he could more readily squeeze it out. “You sure?” She looked at him demurely. He squirted a handsome dollop into his left palm and began to slather the thick, brown fluid onto his neck, shoulders, and chest.

The woman’s eyes fluttered and her pupils dilated like camera shutters. Her large teeth glistened as she smiled and threw her head back. “God, I love that!” she whispered. “You know how I feel about barbecue!” She opened her mouth wide and drew his marinated neck toward her face, clutching him fiercely between her forearms.

The man dropped his head back with a sigh of resignation and exposed his throat to her widening jaws. “I love you, Honey,” he said.

She sunk her teeth into his neck, severing the carotid artery. Blood spouted and mingled with the barbeque sauce already smeared on her face. She slurped the first chunks of his pale flesh down her throat as his eyes rolled back. She swallowed greedily and said, “God is great. God is good. Let us thank Him for our food.”