Legal Briefs (Lawyers in Love) by N.M. Silber

the bathroom.
    “You just took one.”
    “I need another one. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” I took our plates into the kitchen and washed everything up. By the time I was done, he was coming back out. It was getting late and I was getting tired.
    “I’m sleepy,” I said, yawning.
    “You look it. I’ll go grab a pillow and a blanket for out here and you can have the bed.”
    “You can sleep with me if you want,” I said casually. The fact was that I really did want to sleep with him. Something about the thought of it made me feel warm and safe. He tensed up, though, and looked at me a little desperately.
    “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I wouldn’t be able to sleep.”
    “You slept with me that night in Bucks County.”
    “I was completely exhausted that night. Under most circumstances, though, I find it hard to doze off next to half-naked women who I want to bang.” With that, he went off to search for an extra blanket and pillow.
    “Do you have an extra toothbrush?” I called out, heading for the bathroom.
    “Use mine.”
    “Use yours ? That’s kind of gross.”
    “Is the thought of my tongue in your mouth gross too? Because that could have an impact on our romantic relationship.” I guess he had a point there.
    I went into the bathroom, washed my face, did everything else that half a bowl of rum punch and three glasses of water made necessary, and then contemplated his toothbrush. Fuck it, I was going for it. I brushed my teeth and headed for the hall. I saw him lying on the sofa, punching a pillow to soften it up and I wandered in to say goodnight. Okay, and to ogle a little because he had taken his shirt off again and his body was beautiful.
    “Goodnight,” I said, trying not to stare. I wasn’t succeeding very well and the amused look on his face told me that he had noticed.
    “Goodnight,” he said, trying not to look at my boobs bouncing around jauntily under McGruff as I moved. He wasn’t succeeding too well either, I might add.
    “If you need anything I’ll be in there,” I said glancing off toward his bedroom.
    “It’s my apartment, I’m sure I can find whatever I need.” He gave into temptation and let his eyes drop for a moment to my body. “Whatever I need that it would be appropriate for me to have tonight,” he added, sounding frustrated. He grabbed his iPad from the end table, and settled in to read.
    “What are you reading?” I asked curiously.
    “Espionage thriller.”
    “Ah, I thought you wanted to read the rest of my…”
    “I do want to read them, but I couldn’t handle that tonight with you here and half naked. I might forget my rules about women who have been drinking to excess. Now go get some sleep, because you’re getting me hard again, and if I practice any more self-love tonight, I might get carpal tunnel.”
    “You mean you were…” I must have looked surprised.
    “What did you think, I was just really hygienic?”
    “I thought maybe you were taking cold showers,” I admitted.
    “Hell, no. I don’t waste God’s gifts.”
    I didn’t know how to respond to that, so I just wished him goodnight again and headed off for the bedroom. I slid under the covers and snuggled down. I was just drifting off when I heard a knock at the door.
    “Yes?” I called out in a thick, sleepy voice.
    “Are you decent?”
    “Depends on who you ask,” I replied. The door opened and Adam, pillow and blanket in hand, stood there.
    “I can’t sleep out there either. I might as well not be able to sleep in my own bed.”
    “So, what do you want, an engraved invitation?” I asked, stretching out languorously like a cat, and turning over on my side.
    He came in and returned his pillow to the bed, tossing the blanket on a chair. He walked around to my side of the bed and shut out the light, as I obviously was starting to drowse. Then he slid in beside me and laid there quietly for a moment, before speaking out in the dark.
    “Okay, here’s the deal,