Page 51 of Perfect Enough
Sliding onto a stool, I shoved a forkful of eggs into my mouth.
“Why has no woman ever seen you naked?”
Rolling my eyes as I thought we’d left that discussion behind, I sighed. “A womanhasseen my junk before. Happy now?”
She tilted her head slightly. “Just one woman? And just your…I wouldn’t use the word ‘junk’ to describe your penis.”
“Please don’t call it a penis. That’s what my mother called it when she was teaching me all the proper names of the body.”
“But that’s what it is. Would you rather I call it your dick? Cock? Pecker? Prick? Shaft? Stick? Winky? Warrior King?”
I choked. “Warrior King?”
She smiled. “You like that one, huh?”
Shaking my head, I said, “Just call it my dick. Wait, why are we even calling it anything?”
Tilting her head, she said, “I like Warrior King or Piston. Are you a fast lover? Like to pound it hard and fast?”
“Oh my God, you did not just ask me that.”
“We won’t go with Piston then. I heard a guy in high school once refer to his as a bald-headed giggle stick.”
“Sophia…please stop.”
She pressed her lips together into a tight line, and for a few moments, I thought we were done.
“So no one but me has seen youcompletelynaked?”
“Yes. No. I mean, no one has seen me completely naked except you.”
“Butwhy?”
Sighing, I felt my shoulders drop. There was no way she was going to let it go. I could lie or simply tell her the truth.
Drawing in a deep breath, I let out a defeated sigh. “I’m, um…I’ve never had sexual intercourse with a woman. I’ve had women give me hand jobs, and I’ve returned the favor withmyhand. But I’ve never slept with a woman, or given or received oral sex.”
Her fork dropped to her plate. I looked up at her and grimaced. Her mouth was hanging open…with eggs in it.
“Soph, your mouth is full of eggs. Could you please close it?”
She snapped it shut and slowly shook her head. She chewed and swallowed and then reached for the orange juice. When she gently placed the glass on the counter, she cleared her throat.
“Again—why?”
“Why?” I repeated.
Her mouth opened, closed, opened again, then closed. With a slight shake of her head, she asked, “Why haven’t you slept with anyone? You don’t have to answer that if it’s too personal of a question. I guess I’m just…shocked.”
“Why are you shocked? Would you be shocked if you were speaking to anotherwomanwho’d said she was a virgin?”
Sophia blinked a few times. “You’re right. I wouldn’t be shocked. What a sexist way for me to think. You have every right to save yourself for someone…if that’s what you’re doing.” When I said nothing, she asked, “Isthat what you’re doing?”
I put my fork down and looked at her. “Yes. Call me old-fashioned, but I think if you’re going to share something so intimate with anyone, it should be with someone you truly love.”
“Have you not had girlfriends?”
I nodded. “I have. And I’ve pleasured them and never asked for anything in return. Some offered, some didn’t.” I took a bite of my toast as Sophia looked at me, still in obvious disbelief.