Slow Burn Read Free

know.  I’m worried that it will suck, and Johnny will be disappointed.”
    Heather grins impishly as she turns out of my cul de sac.  “That’s why I only deal with my own kind.  I don’t have to worry about anything ‘throbbing’ at me.  Sounds kind of gross, or painful.  Like a toothache.”
    “Yuck.”  I m ake a face.  “You’re no help.  Maybe I should watch some porn?”
    She laughs.  “Yeah, ‘cause that’s like real life.  Don’t even worry, Jule! Johnny knows what to do.  You know he’s had lots of experience.  According to his reputation, that boy has had more—”
    “Don’t remind me,” I cut her off, my e xpression turning sour.  You don’t have to go to Leclare Academy to hear of Johnny Parker’s…aptitude for certain horizontal activities.
    Heather lets the smile fall from her face.  “Hey, don’t worry, baby doll.  You should be proud you held out against him this long!  You’re the longest relationship he’s ever had, right?  And I bet you’re the only straight girl around who hasn’t just dropped her pants at the sight of him.”
    Her expression goes a little dreamy, and I know she’ s probably thinking about girls dropping their pants right now.  She’s such a perv.  “You’re right,” I say after taking a deep breath.  “I’ll just concentrate on finding a hot outfit to wear tonight, and I’m sure Johnny will take care of the rest.”
    “Woo hoo!” she cheers, accelerating sharply.  “Let’s g o celebrate first.  I could go for some cherry pie!”
    I sink down in my seat.
     
    Shopping with Heather is never an easy experience.  Me, I come for something specific, I get it, and I don’t linger.  Heather has to go in every store and browse, looking at things she has no intention of buying.  Like a clock radio.  She would never use it, so why must she compare prices and specs? 
    Finally , I get her to Kiss n Tell.  She happily peruses the displays of bras and panties, looking for the perfect set for me.  Since I do most of my underwear shopping in the comfort-over-style section, I let her have free reign.  Johnny’s seen my plain underwear before, and though he’s never complained, I want to surprise him with something hot tonight.  I trust Heather to find something that will look good on me.
    I’m so nervous!  I’ve gone to pee three times since we got here, and my bladder still feels uncomfortably full.  Am I really going through with this? Look, I’m no innocent maiden, but technically, I am a virgin.  Johnny and I have done…stuff.  I mean he’s very good with his hands, but—
    “I’m thinking of getting my tongue pierced,” Heather says out of the blue, snapping me out of my dirty daydreams. 
    “Your parents would freak,” I reply immediatel y.  Mr. and Mrs. Jones are pretty conservative, and dote on their only daughter.  “Remember the time you put that purple streak in your hair?”
    She rolls her eyes.  “Yeah, you would think I murdered a puppy.  If I ever told them that I like girls, they’d probably have Father Dan perform an exorcism.  Oh, hey, this would look great on you—try it on.”
    She holds out a sparkly pink push-up bra em bellished with rhinestones, with matching garters, and a lacey thong. 
    I flinch away, like it’s g oing to bite me.  “Garters?” I hiss, looking around.  “Really?”
    “Hell, yes, garters.  They’re sexy! ”
    “I can’t wear this,” I say, shaking my head.
    “Just try it on.”  Heather pushes them at me.
    “Come with me, then ,” I beg.
    No, I’m not worried about getting naked in front of my lesbian friend.  We’ve kno wn each other since the eighth grade, and she’s like a sister to me.  Besides, I happen to know her type, and I’m not it.
    “How does it…?”  I gesture to the garters as I stare critically at my reflection in the changing room mirror.
    “They attach to thigh high stockings,” Heather says.  She takes a step back and looks