Giant Steps Ch. 02

The sun was coming up as Sam's eyes started to flutter open. He felt good, relaxed. He looked over to his right and saw Jane deep in sleep sprawled out on the bed. They must have both tossed and turned throughout the night. He smiled as he looked at her, relishing all the connections they had made the night before.

Though he was used to waking up early most days, the haze of the morning was affecting him. He felt slow and soft like a cloud. He tried to muster up the willpower to get up but found his muscles refused to aid him. The best he could do was roll into Jane's outstretched arm and nestle onto her shoulder. To his surprise, her arms wrapped around him in an accepting embrace. Feeling comforted by the warmth of her body, Sam dozed off to sleep again, joining Jane in the land of dream.

An hour later Sam woke up, still in Jane's arms, but this time too conscious to fall back asleep. He slipped out of her arms and off the bed, eliciting some grumbles and her shifting to a more compact position. Sam decided he'd have some breakfast in the kitchen.

Before leaving though, he felt compelled to give Jane a small kiss on her forehead. To his surprise she rolled over and lazily brought her arm to where she thought his face was. Sam laughed.

"Are you awake?" Sam whispered to her.

"Awake. Naaahhh." She mumbled.

"When should I wake you up?"

"One hour." She mustered, raising up her index finger before letting her arm go limp.

As soon as her arm hit the bed she was fast asleep again.

Sam laughed and left the room, grabbing a pair of fresh underwear and softly closing the door behind him.

Shoot! Forgot to put Coltrane away. He thought. He walked over to the record player. He'd totally forgotten it was even there. He started the player spinning but left the needle up. He grabbed a microfiber cloth and pushed it to the vinyl to get the dust off. Carefully, he put it back in its paper slip, then into the sleeve, then into a layer of plastic. This is probably worth a lot of money, Sam thought.

He covered up the player before strolling two feet into the kitchen. He set his electric kettle to boil water and made himself some instant oatmeal to which he added some pre-cut apples and little bit of cinnamon sugar.

He opened the window to the kitchen and sat at the counter. He could feel the crisp fall air through the window. He felt warm and carefree. He took a deep breath in. This might just be a good year, he thought.

To his surprise, his door creaked open and Jane walked through groggy and rubbing her eyes, coming in wearing one of Sam's oversized shirts and the panties she'd borrowed from him the night before, her bulge peeking out and making Sam ever so slightly hard.

"Didn't expect to see you up so soon." Sam said brightly.

In response Jane mimed being dead and sauntered over to him like a zombie. Sam pretended to be scared and inched slightly away from her before she got hold of him and gave an unexpectedly gentle and sincere hug.

I'm really not into this puppy love shit, Jane thought, but damn if I don't feel comfy with him.

She separated from his body and looked at his bowl of almost-finished oatmeal. Without asking she took his spoon and tried some.

"That is fucking good." She said to him, as if the bite had woken her up a little more.

"Can I make you some?" Sam smiled.

Jane emphatically nodded her head.

Sam walked over to the kettle and refilled it. He switched it on and leaned against his refrigerator as Jane took his seat at the counter.

"I'll take some coffee too if that's an option." Jane said.

"Ooph, can't help you there. Sorry I don't drink coffee. There's no brewer in the house."

"Brewer?" Jane poked fun at him and leaned forward into her arms on the counter.

"Percolator? I don't know." Sam laughed. "Coffee machine?"

"Bingo." She raised her head slightly before bringing it back down with a cute grin. "It's fine. I think you put coke or something in this oatmeal anyway." She made wide eyes at him.

"I'd do no such thing." At that moment the water finished boiling and he made her oatmeal exactly as he'd made it for himself earlier. He passed her the bowl across the counter and walked around to sit next to her and finish his own bowl, enjoying the company.

Jane thoroughly enjoyed her oatmeal, surprised such a bland food could be made so well. She too appreciated the window and the fall air.

Sam finished his oatmeal and brought it around to the sink, giving it a quick rinse and dry.

Jane looked from the window so Sam.

"Here's the plan." She said.

Sam's ears perked up.

"I'm gonna finish this amazing oatmeal. Then I'm gonna get dressed and head out. I've got some things I have to do today."

"Sounds good by me." Sam said, not betraying that he was a little disappointed he wouldn't get to spend more time with her.

He shifted his focus to cleaning some extant dishes in his sink as Jane finished her oatmeal.

As Jane finished her breakfast, she looked at Sam in his underwear and admired his body. Slim, tight, trim. She remembered the sex they'd had the night before and felt a little spark in her penis.

How easy would it be to turn him on right now? Jane wondered.

As he got in the groove of dishwashing Jane crept up behind him and brought her body close to his. He could feel her cock creeping into the cleavage of his ass and he started getting a little aroused. Jane brought her hands to his hips, then felt around his abs. He took her left hand down to his left thigh and her right hand up to his right nipple, rubbing it gently between her fingers.

A wave of pleasure shot through Sam, who couldn't help but let out a soft moan as she teased his body.

Jane reached further with her left hand to feel his cock. Didn't take much, she laughed silently to herself, he is rock hard. Her own cock was getting harder. She consciously positioned it near his ass. She started rubbing it between his cheeks, gently teasing his ass through his boxers.

Sam wanted to turn around and kiss her, but his hands were soapy and went from the dishes, and she had him pinned down anyway.

She ran her hand over his cock, only separated by the thin fabric of his underwear.

Neither of them had started the morning particularly horny, but both were being swayed by the idea of sex.

Jane debated taking it further, but ultimately decided she'd rather tease him.

She withdrew from him, causing a deep sigh and a visible change in his body.

Jane went back to the counter.

"What was that for?" Sam asked coyly, trying not to sound too disappointed that she'd ended her teasing.

"You just looked so good, and...I don't know, I just felt like it." She paused. "Tell you what, I'll owe you at least one orgasm."

"I'll hold you to that." Sam said, his boner still tenting his loose boxers.

She laughed and handed off her bowl for Sam to clean. She went off to go to the bedroom but stopped at the door.

"Hey, I think I need to steal these panties for the day." She said.

"Don't worry about it." He said, feeling a little nervous. "You can keep 'em."

"I'll give them back next time we hang."

"Okay." Sam said flatly.

In a couple minutes Sam was done with all the dishes and Jane emerged from the room with her clothes from the day before and all her stuff.

Sam walked her to the front door.

"I'll see you later?" Sam asked.

"For sure." She assured him.

She turned around and opened the door but stopped for a moment. She looked at him and drew him near. She made him bow his head down a little and she gave him a forehead kiss like the one he'd given her. She then went out the door.

"Text me!" She said, and walked down the hall.

He closed the door and went back into his apartment. He slipped some jeans on and grabbed a shirt from the dresser. I'm gonna take it easy today, he thought. He grabbed a book from his shelf and decided he'd read at Riverside park.

Jane meanwhile headed home and decided she'd write another song. She was beginning to form ambitions of developing enough songs for a proper album.

When she got home, she found that Holly was home too.

"Someone had a late night." Holly teased.

"Maybe." Jane tried to maintain an air of mystery.

"You met someone didn't you?"

"Maybe..."

"Holy shit, you fucked someone."

"Holly! Chill."

"I'm chill, I'm chill." Holly suppressed her excitement for a moment before breaking it. "Who with?"

"A guy I met at work."

"Co-worker or customer?"

"Customer."

"Look at you, girl. Getting it." Holly pumped her arms.

"What his name?"

"If I tell you his name will you leave me alone?" Jane said sarcastically.

"Of course."

"Sam."

"Wow. Nice."

"I can't tell if you're being sarcastic right now..."

Holly did a comically oversized wink that just prompted a sigh from Jane. Holly came in close to hug her friend.

"Is he a keeper?" She asked sincerely.

"It's too early to say anything." She paused and bit her lip a little. "But it's off to a good start."

Holly separated from her friend and let out a mock-victory pose and a little yell. Jane couldn't help but feel Holly's excitement a little too.

Meanwhile Sam got a text from Carrie.

Carrie: HOW'D IT GO

Carrie: IS SHE STILL THERE?

Sam: She left in the morning.

Carrie: So, she stayed the night?

Sam: You know me, I don't kiss and tell.

Carrie: So, there was kissing involved! :P

Sam: Fuck

Carrie: Ha!

Carrie: Tell me all about it!

Sam: I will, but not over text. Come hang out. I'm at riverside.

Carrie: I'll drop by later!

Carrie hung out with Sam that day. Jane, meanwhile, looking for inspiration for her new song, listened to Deja Vu per Sam's recommendation.

-

"Fuck. I don't know what to text her." Sam said to Carrie.

"Well, what do you want?"

"To see her again."

"So, ask her to hang out. It's that easy."

"You know what? Fuck it. You're right." Sam said confidently.

"Look at you, being all confident." She gave him a soft punch on the arm.

"I guess you're right."

"I always am." She smiled to herself. They sat in silence and gazed into the Hudson.

"I really like her, Carrie."

"She sounds rad, Sam. I'm really rooting for you, and her. Hell, I want to be friends with her now." Carrie enthused.

"We'll see." Sam said. "Maybe y'all can meet soon. If things keep going well."

At that, Sam got out his phone and texted her.

Sam: Hey, Jane! Let's hang out tomorrow.

He quickly saw the "Read Receipt" and nervously waited for a response.

Jane put down her guitar to look at the text. She thought about it for a moment. Is this too much too soon? She wondered. I'm not doing anything better,and maybe he could even help me write a song, she thought.

Jane: Let's do it.

Jane: (:

Jane: Come over to my place tomorrow. Around noon?

Sam: Works for me!

Sam had given up trying not to sound overeager.

-

The next day Sam woke up earlier to get some work done. He didn't want to be worrying about it while he was out with Jane.

She'd sent him her address over the phone. She lived about twenty minutes away. Deciding he would be fashionably late, Sam left his apartment at noon on the dot. He decided to dress in some nicer clothes that showed off his physique better. A plaid button up and jeans was the best he could put together. Halfway through the walk, he was regretting not bringing a jacket, as it had turned rather chilly.

He came to the apartment on the address and walked the five flights of stairs up to her door. Standing at the door, feeling a little nervous, he knocked firmly. He waited for a minute but no one came.

Jane was sleeping comfortably in her bed, having gone to sleep late the night before. She started to hear loud knocks and instantly felt a spike of panic. Fuck! Did I do something? Are the neighbors mad? She thought. No, not that. She calmed down. Oh shit, Sam was gonna come by. She glanced at the clock and felt a spike of panic again. Fuck. She got up and ran to the door.

Sam was getting ready to knock one more time before Jane opened the door, leaving his hand in the air.

Jane stood in the doorway, naked, except for some skimpy red panties. Sam was taken off guard.

"Sam, come in. The door's wide open." She said as she pulled him into the room and slammed the door behind him.

"Nice to see you too." He said, not quite sure what was happening. "Is this like...did you...Oh shit! I just woke you up." He looked mortified.

"Don't worry about it." She said with a sort of solemn look on her face. "I'm gonna go get dressed, wait here."

He obliged her and waited in the common space for her to re-emerge. He looked around. Not too big, he thought, but there were bedrooms.

"You have a roommate?" He asked.

"Yeah, her name is Holly. Why?"

"Just curious. Saw you had another room."

He looked out the window at her surprisingly good view.

"Is it cold outside?" She asked from inside the room.

"Yeah, actually. I wish I'd brought a jacket."

She emerged from her room wearing a comfy thick-looking top and sweatpants. She didn't feel the need to impress Sam; she prioritized her own comfort.

She invited him into her room.

"It's not much, but it's mine." She said, sinking into the lawn chair she kept near her bed. Sam was surprised to find that there was no bed frame, just a mattress on the floor, but come to think of it, he didn't really see why she would need one.

He took off his shoes and threw them to the corner of the room awkwardly. He sat on her bed and looked up at her, sitting by the window, watching him all the while. The air was still.

"So, what's up?" Sam said.

"Not much. Oh, actually, listened to that album!"

"What'd you think?"

"Really fucking good. Those harmonies, mwah." She feigned kissing her hand like an Italian chef.

"Right?! I have no idea how they do that shit. What was your favorite song?"

"Almost Cut My Hair. Of course. It's so dramatic, and at first it feels silly, but then you're like, yeah, you let your freak flag fly, man!" She enthused.

"I thought you might like that one."

"You know I actually wrote a song after I listened to the whole thing. It put me in the zone."

"Can I hear it?" Sam asked earnestly.

Jane paused for a moment. She had figured that would be his next question. She didn't like performing for just one person; it was always awkward.

"Sure." She finally said.

She reached over and grabbed her acoustic guitar from the wall. She fiddled around with it for a bit then took a deep breath.

"Pass me that notebook." She said, gesturing for Sam to get it from the other side of the bed.

She handed her the notebook and she flipped to the page she'd left off at.

"The lyrics are just provisional." She tried to warn him.

Sam really had no idea was to expect.

She strummed a resounding chord and then strummed in a frantic rhythm.

"Today, I thought I felt the earth shake

Was nothing but a mistake

But I feel I'm falling down.

She sang in a soulful tenor that gave Sam chills.

Today, I learned what makes a heart break

I learned that it's a give and take

But taking's all you really want to do"

She kept strumming but stopped singing.

"That's all I've got so far." She said a little shyly.

"It's good. It's really fucking good."

"You're not just saying that? Because I actually want honest feedback."

"I'm serious, it's rad. What did you want to feedback on?"

"Well, I'm not sure exactly. I'm not sure where to take the song next. I want a chorus but I'm not sure where the progression wants to go."

"Hmm, I see. What were you playing Am to start?"

"Yeah, then G to D."

"Hmm, switch to E major then go for the same progression but switch D for F then to E."

"So basically not the same progression?" She laughed gently.

"I mean..." Sam tried to come up with something witty to say but couldn't.

Sam tried out the shift.

"Hmm, I like it, but the rhythm is off now."

"Try just downstrokes." Sam suggested. "It'll make it more intense anyway."

She tried out his suggestion and felt how it clicked into place.

"You're good at that. Now you'll have to stick around to help me make the rest of the album." She stuck her tongue out at him.

"There's gonna be an album?"

"That's the goal. I want to write a whole album, maybe get it recorded too. Don't know how feasible that is though."

"Holy shit, that's awesome."

She put her guitar back and threw the notebook on the floor. She crawled onto the bed and on top of Sam, pinning him down. She looked down at him, deep into his eyes. He couldn't help but get a little erect.

"So." She said. "You gonna help?"

"If you want me to." He said, excited but also nervous and utterly unable to read her mood at that moment.

Jane felt playful and liked having Sam pinned down. Looking in his eyes she felt more connected with him, and also a little horny. She brought her head to his gave him a deep kiss.

Sam was enjoying himself, and when he realized that they would be fully making out, tried to bring his hands up to touch her body, but when he went to move, Jane pinned him down even more, holding him down with all her weight. He let out an involuntary moan. Did he like being constrained.

Jane broke their kiss and smiled to his face. She liked his noises, and felt blood start pumping to her penis.

She went back in for a kiss, but this time didn't stop his arms. Free to explore, Sam's hands wandered up Jane's sides, holding her waist and then slipping past to try and get under her thick shirt.

He started reaching his hands onto her bare skin when she snapped him away and had his arms pinned again. She broke the kiss again.

"Someone's getting ambitious." She said

Sam said nothing, but bit his bottom lip with a slightly desperate look in his eyes.

She brought her head down again, but went past his lips to kiss his neck. She pulled his long hair out of the way with her hands and sucked on the skin of his neck. Wetting it with her tongue and introducing her teeth a little. She wasn't sure why, but she was determined to give him a hickey.

Sam was worried he would get a hickey, but it felt so good, and besides, he felt powerless against her. He was fully erect, and his cock hurt a little, being constrained by his jeans.

Jane began undoing the buttons of his shirt and moving lower down his body. Kissing the front of his neck, then the collar bone, then working her way to his nipples. She licked around the bud and then applied pressure with her tongue, sending a deep pleasure straight to his penis and causing him to moan. His penis was violently struggling against the cloth of his underwear and jeans. He thought he heard a noise like a door opening, but he was so focused on Jane that he couldn't muster the attention to think about anything but his own pleasure and Jane's sexy body.

Then, suddenly, Jane withdrew from his body. She brought her whole body back and positioned herself sitting near the foot of the bed. She reached over to his cock and felt its hardness through his pants. Her physical contact caused his penis to jolt a little and Sam suspect it had begun leaking a little precum.

Jane smiled a devious smile. Sam propped himself up on his arms to look at Jane. He was deeply aroused and confused.

"Get up." She said.

"What?"

"Come on, get up, stand at the foot of the bed."

Sam obliged, crawling past her and standing up in front of her. She crawled over to where he was sitting.

"Take off your pants and the rest of your shirt." She said.

Sam hesitated for a moment but followed her orders, casting his shirt off to the side and stepping out of his pants so he was standing only in his clearly tented underwear.