But as my memory returned, I quickly became aware of the heat of another human body in the bed behind me. Turning carefully over, I saw Sophie lying next to me, her body mirroring my own like two spoons opposite each other in a drawer.
She was naked. Her eyes were open but her head was still on the pillow, her red hair fanning over the white linen and shining in the few rays of sun that spilled in through a gap in the curtains.
As my eyes focussed on her, she smiled.
“So it wasn’t a dream?” I whispered, taking care not to spoil the moment with morning breath.
Sophie smiled and shook her head then wriggled closer to me. My arms instinctively went around her again and pulled her to me. I hugged her tightly.
“Are you ok? Really ok?” I asked. “You don’t regret what happened?”
She cuddled closer. “No Dad.” She murmured. I felt better.
There was a sound from across the room. We both looked up as Susie quietly opened the door and entered. She wore her bathrobe and carried a tray on which sat three steaming mugs.
“Good morning you two!” She said smiling, sitting down on the edge of the mattress. “How do you feel now?” She asked, clearly addressing our daughter rather than me.
“Fine Mum.” Sophie whispered, her voice still unstable with sleep and disorientation. “A bit sore, to be honest.” Sophie added with a little embarrassment.
“That’s to be expected, love.” Susie comforted her. “It will soon pass. I’ll give you something to help later.”
She passed the tea round. Sophie and I sat up in bed to drink it, Sophie endearingly pulling the duvet up to cover her breasts.
“Losing your virginity is a big thing, darling.” My wife continued. “It IS painful at first. But just think how much worse it would have been if you had lost it in a crude fumble in the back of a car with some spotty boy who might hurt you, then leave you and tell all his friends that he’s popped your cherry. This way is much better, believe me.”
Sophie nodded, her eyes still a little drowsy.
“I understand Mum. I’m sure you’re right.”
“You’ve been lucky. You’ve been introduced to womanhood by someone who loves you, who is gentle and experienced and who knows how important it is to stay close to you afterwards. It’s how your Grandad helped me, and I’ve always been grateful for it. ”
I reached across and grasped my daughter’s hand. She squeezed my fingers.
“There’s just one problem.” Susie added.
Sophie and I raised our heads in question.
“Well, your Dad found the whole thing so arousing that he..he…. came inside you, didn’t he?”
The awful truth suddenly dawned on me.
“That means we have to get you the morning after pill to make sure you don’t get pregnant.”
I felt a cold chill pass through me.
“Don’t worry.” Susie continued, seeing her daughter’s consternation. “If you write me a prescription I’ll go and get them. I’ll pretend they’re for me.” She turned towards the door then turned back towards us. “And I suppose I’d better get some condoms too. I can’t imagine either of you will want last night to be the only time.”