Well, that had gone sour. It was easy to pinpoint what had changed her mood, at least in hindsight. Honestly he hadn't considered it at the time; it seemed transparent to him that the vow of love exchanged in the immediate aftermath of an orgasm meant nothing. But he had experience with such things and she didn't — to her, this was important.

He could play along, he decided. Nothing about tonight would matter tomorrow morning. "Hey," he said, lifting her chin so that she would have to meet his eye, then offering her a boyish smile. "I joke. I love you."

He kissed her — lightly, only a brush of the lips — then leaned back and gave her a beseeching look. "Touch me?"

---