[ Lauralae's patience and good cheer mean more to Matt than she knows, and possibly more than he does. Even with the magic users here that he likes, that he works with regularly, Matt finds himself spending a lot of mental energy trying to prove himself. Worrying what they'll think of him if he messes up, even if he doesn't actually believe in failure where spellcasting is concerned. You try things and learn from the results.

He's a little embarrassed to fumble in front of her, for sure. And there's an added layer of "nerd guy is bad at sex in front of pretty girl" that makes the sting a bit sharper than it might otherwise be. But Lauralae is understanding. She gets it. And it doesn't hurt that she responds so sweetly to his touches. It reminds him of what the goal here really is: to have fun. Gradually, Matt relaxes, focusing on Lauralae as much as the spell itself--more, even. (Later, he'll recall this as a crucial aspect of getting the spell to work.)

And now here they are. There's the prospect of a pleasant afternoon ahead of them, but Lauralae's kiss, her praise--they feel like victory to Matt. He sighs into her mouth, in relief as much as pleasure. And at prepare you, he grins. ]

You got it. [ Without pulling away, Matt reaches into his trouser pocket for the small bottle of lube he carries with him, knocking loose a few specks of dried lavender and mint while he's at it. He presents the bottle to Lauraelae with a flourish. ] We have a saying where I come from: "Too much lube is almost enough." [ Matt quirks a smile at her as he sits back, idly undoing his top button. ] Not that you have any trouble getting wet, but the rest of us need the help sometimes. So go ahead and get that all over your fingers. It's okay if you spill.