Ron’s hands slowed slightly, as if her last words had shifted something in the air.
"So… you’ve never been with anyone," he said quietly.
Lisa shook her head, barely moving.
"No."
A brief pause.
Then, more softly, more deliberately:
"But you’ve thought about it."
Lisa’s breath caught.
Her fingers tightened together in her lap again.
"I…" she hesitated, a faint nervous smile appearing for a second, even though he couldn’t see it. "I mean… I guess everyone does."
Ron didn’t answer right away.
His thumbs pressed gently at the base of her neck again, steady, patient.
"Not everyone thinks about it the same way," he said. "So… did you?"
Lisa swallowed.
The question felt more personal than the others. Closer.
"Sometimes," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
His hands didn’t stop, but there was a subtle change—slower, more focused.
"What did you imagine?" he asked.
Lisa’s eyes closed for a moment.
Her first instinct was to avoid the question.
But something about the quiet, the warmth of his hands, the way he spoke… made it harder to hide.
"It’s… nothing special," she said quickly.
"That’s not what I asked."
His tone wasn’t harsh. Just calm. Certain.
Lisa exhaled slowly.
"I just…" she hesitated again, cheeks warming. "I thought about… how it would be. The first time."
Ron leaned just a fraction closer. Not touching her any differently—but she felt it.
"And?"
She shook her head lightly, almost embarrassed.
"It’s stupid."
"Say it anyway."
Another pause.
Lisa took a small breath.
"At home," she said quietly. "In my bedroom."
Ron didn’t interrupt.
"It’s dark," she continued, her voice soft, a little unsteady now. "Not completely… just a little light. And it’s… calm."
Her shoulders relaxed slightly under his hands as she spoke.
"I don’t really see the person clearly," she added. "Just… someone there. Close."
Ron’s fingers traced a slow line along her neck again.
"And how do you feel?" he asked.
Lisa’s lips parted slightly.
"Safe," she said after a moment. "Not rushed. Not… pressured."
A small silence settled between them.
"And curious," she added, even quieter.
Ron let out a slow breath.
"Curious how?"
Lisa hesitated again—but less this time.
"About everything," she admitted. "What it feels like. If it’s… like people say."
His hands paused for just a second… then resumed.
"And is it?" he asked softly.
Lisa let out a faint, nervous breath.
"I don’t know."
Another pause.
Then, almost unconsciously:
"I guess I wanted it to feel… real. Not awkward. Not scary."
Ron’s voice lowered slightly.
"And now?"
Lisa’s heart beat faster again.
She didn’t open her eyes.
"I don’t know," she repeated, softer this time.
But she didn’t move away.