Fire In The Water

by Janice Ross

  My elbows were bent and forearms tucked behind my neck. The minute my hands came down, this damn cat and mouse game would come to an end. From the minute I’d opened up my house for renting, the sexual tension exerting from this one had been almost unbearable at times. I enjoyed the opposite sex like the next straight guy, but this one was all about getting it on. She boldly approached what she wanted, being tactful all ends.

  I took a step back and drop my hands to her waist right before lowering them to extend across her ample ass. Shit, she wasn’t asking for anything. Prissy was begging for me. I lifted her from the polished hardwood floor, bringing her to my groin.

  "You’re throwing off my morning," I grunted, no more than a finger width in depth between us.

  Prissy giggled. She licked her lips, only to extend her tongue further out and pass it across mine. Air rushed from her nostrils as I sensed her weakening. Most men knew that moment when a female was ripe, even when he hadn’t yet reached a full erection. But she was capable of setting off a type of vibe that rushed you. Call it a desire, or whatever. I knew right then that my roommate was beyond ready to offer up herself.

  "You better make it worth my while, since I don’t miss a workout for anyone or anything." I shifted down for about a second, contemplating tossing her down on top of my bed. Shit, I wasn’t really feeling the whole stranger in my bed this morning, so I shifted and took the three-footstep walk to my dresser. With all of her ass packed behind, she barely fit, but since I was clever, I made it work.

  Prissy moaned, slid her tongue across her lips, and stretched her arms behind my neck as I bent just enough for our foreheads to touch.

  "I wanted you from day one," she said in a deep, throaty tone.

  Prissy’s legs inched up along my sides. Being a man, a straight man with needs, I could’ve given it to her right there, right then. My eyelids dropped just enough for me to see the desperate expression on her face. Her lips puckered up only to form a weak, outlined O. Prissy was in line with quite a few women I’d, let’s just say, dealt with in the past few years. They were fun, fabulous, and fast. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t mind. Not if that’s what you’re looking for. An issue I was wrestling with just then happened to be this whole roommate thing. Slamming the chick I shared a house with along with two other guys wasn't the ideal situation. Moreover, when this was all said and done, there would never be more than this.

  Beyond the living arrangement, this episode reminded me of the night of the accident with Jen. I'd been so pissed over Chanel pushing me away, I hadn’t been able to think straight. I became reckless. Shit, I hadn’t wanted Jen then, like I didn't want Prissy now.

  "Say something, Rhys," she begged, leaning her head back to expose her neck. I pressed my forehead to the base of her neck. My fingers and palms groped her sides, then massaged large chunks of her firm ass.

  I rotated between the need to strip her down, and the warning shouting to step away. I didn't get to make the choice. The phone buzzed on top of the end table clear on the opposite side of the room. The noise triggered something–let’s just call it common sense. I could've damn well said to hell with whoever was calling me. It wasn't Rupert as this wasn't his routine. Yet, I took this chance as urgent.

  "I need to check that." I leaned away from her face.

  "What about this?" Prissy asked. Her fingers tightened on my muscles. She even tried to secure her legs that were already thrown around my sides.

  That type of move did nothing more than turn me off.

  "Not into whiny or difficult chicks," I warned, first loosening her grip from my neck and then her legs from my waist. I held onto her fool hearted gaze, an attempt to keep me near. I stepped away without even looking back. By the time I picked up my cell, the call had ended.

  "Lisle" flashed across the screen, then a message that read: "Please call ASAP."

  "Prissy, I'll catch up with you later." I still hadn't shifted back around. That was the furthest thing from my mind. There was something eerie about my mother's early call and text. Granted, we didn't have a specific time or anything, but since she’d tried to take her life, the odd messages and calls made me nervous. My shoulders grew heavy, my neck tightened, and my stomach churned. The room became darker, warmer even.

  I made a quick movement to dial her back but stopped before it could connect. I hadn't gotten my run in and couldn't imagine taking that call, whatever it involved, before I got my senses in order.

  This time I got dressed, tightened my laces more than usual, and even pulled on a cap for the run. My pace was somewhat sporadic, so I started pacing the flow through my nostrils. After stepping out of my room and shutting the door, I bounced up against Prissy in the hallway.

  She just stood there, lurking as if we'd had plans outside of the impromptu moment from earlier. She could’ve continued to wait. Though the light was off, as I moved towards the stairs, I reached over to turn on the light. Frankly speaking, I wanted to give her a clue.

  I trotted off to the bass of Coldplay. Thirty-seven minutes later, I returned to the same spot with my playlist blasting away. Between my inside heat and the outside chill, I was even more conflicted. I'd done what I'd set out to. Now, I needed to handle family affairs.

  "Mom?" I didn't even wait for her to reply. "Are you okay? What's going on?"

  I could hear her breathing into the line. The sounds muffled; she was fighting to hold onto pain.

  "Mom..."

  "Rhys, I know you have a life outside of mine. Would you please forgive me for calling you so early?"

  "There's nothing to forgive. Is Rupert there?" Just saying my father's name aggravated me. My jaws flexed, even my fingers gripped on the cell. I was still standing outside. Something told me Prissy was still waiting around. I didn't want to have to insult her again.

  "Is Rupert here? Is he ever?" She took the time to enunciate each syllable. Her voice, however, was a bit hoarse. After the Sarah debacle with kids, they claimed to have worked through the issues. Rupert took time away for what I believed to be counseling and Lisle had worked on her mental health. If she was happy, I had no right to intrude.

  Lisle had started out as a soft-spoken girl and eventually grew into the sharp, witty woman I adored. That was the type of influence her husband had on everyone. He made you believe you were strong, strong enough for his world, yet weak enough to ever have his kind of power. She wanted to stay. I had no right to attempt to convince her otherwise though her call made me the slightest bit worried.

  "Mom, what are you waiting around for? You go out of your way to convince yourself to stay."

  "You were born into money–"

  "I'm indifferent," I reminded her, just like I'd done dozens of times in the past.

  "I'm not you."

  "So, what's the issue today, huh?"

  "Excuse me? I won't allow you to disrespect me, Rhys."

  "I'm not, Lisle." She was often Mom, but rarely a woman to be scolded like a child. "I love you. I would give my life for you, but I can't appease you with this foolishness."

  "But–"

  "No buts. He provides you with everything you've ever wanted. Everything material. The only but I see has to do with the fact that your husband is never around. You keep beating up yourself over being alone and unhappy, so change your situation. Don't tell me about having been born with or without money." My entire speech made me winded like I'd just completed another run.

  "It's not that," she replied in a lighter, almost timid voice.

  "So, what's going on?" I finally spun around to head up the walkway. This whole conversation had taken away the energy and drive I always got as a part of my workouts.

  "I cheated," she blurted into the line. Then followed up with, "I got involved with someone else." She stopped abruptly.

  I paused right outside of the entrance with my arm extended for the knob. I couldn't come up with a reply. Instead, I exhaled.

  "Was I supposed to just be unhappy?" She needed validation for
her deeds, but her words were stronger. The weakness fled. "He's within his rights to end our marriage. Dammit, Rhys! I didn't set out to–"

  "Mom, enough! I can't do this now." I started up the staircase inside of the house. I could hear the guys stirring and was certain Prissy was near. Moreover, this stress could've been avoided if Lisle had taken charge sooner. "Mom, I'm assuming he knows, that's why you're telling me. I don't know what you expect me to say. You're both taking advantage of each other. Honestly, why the hell did you two get married?" My parents had endured through a quarter of a decade of being a power couple, Dad in business and Mom with charitable organizations.

  "Show some compassion!" Honestly, she wanted me to cosign her bull. When I didn't she threw out, "I guess you don't know any better. You're truly Rupert Colburn's son."

  "Maybe." I didn't fill in the blank or feed into her tantrum any further. This was only the beginning of their mutual exposé. My parents were unique characters that might possibly end up doing each other in. I could only imagine how brutal things would get. But it was their drama to manage, not mine. "Lisle, I'm so screwed up, you wouldn't understand. I wish there was some level of understanding the whole marriage thing between the two of you. He's never home. You're always unhappy."

  "He started a new family with a little gold digger."

  "What? You knew?"

  "Rhys, you didn't think I knew? If you hadn't come on the trip with me several years ago, I would've never come back to this God-awful life."

  "Mom, I'm sorry–"

  "No, don't apologize. He told me when you found out. I expected you to come to me, but you didn't."

  "You’d tried to kill yourself, Lisle."

  "I don't give a damn about what anyone else does or doesn't do. Our bond supersedes it all."

  "Then why didn't you let me know when you'd found out?"

  "My son, I don't think I was capable of uttering the words. The little wench actually called me. She threatened to sue for child support." Her tone offered light jabs to my gut. Here I was, trying to protect her from the shame of my father's misdeeds when she had been dealing with it on a greater level.

  Lisle's reflections forced me back to the day I’d confronted Sarah. I'd never seen Sarah again, and her number never worked again. It was like she ceased to exist.

  "What happened to her and the kids?"

  "Rupert took care of it."

  "How, Mom?" I felt an unease to her words, to this whole conversation and situation. Leave it up to him to wipe up his mess and go about life like it didn't matter.

  Lisle cried out. I chose not to press, not yet. My feelings were conflicted. The hair on the back of my arms swayed out.

  "He said she left, just like that. Vanished into thin air. Remember the time he'd gone out of town for a week? He said he couldn't find any trace of them." The words were hollowed out. They lacked any real depth and emotion.

  "And you guys just moved on like nothing ever happened?"

  "What did you expect me to do, search her out and drag them back into my life? The way I saw it, good riddance to bad trash." She went from an extreme low to an unsupported high.

  "What about the kids, Mom? Let's be real, they deserve to know their–"

  "Enough Rhys!" Her pitch slashed at my eardrums.

  "Mom, I love you, but I'm sorry. You're sounding more like him. Since when have you become so insensitive?"

  "My son, I'm anything but insensitive. You told me to find a way to cope. I did by choosing me."

  "You chose you by cheating on Rupert too?"

  Lisle responded with silence.

  XXVII.

  Chanel

  ~

  "I can't believe you ditched me last night, Chanel."

  Mal had thrown open my door and was standing in the doorway. Brutus burst through as quickly as his stubby feet could carry him.

  "I texted you as soon as I got home." I hadn't even fully roused, having to wipe at my eyes and stretch a bit to get things stirred for the scolding.

  "I saw it."

  "You didn't answer."

  "I know. You owe me for that shady move, chick."

  How could I tell her about what happened with Rhys? She'd gather the search party and run with it. So, I just shrugged it off.

  "No words?" Mal did drama so well, even ended up plopping down on the edge of my bed. She leaned forward, put her hands to her forehead, and shook that wild mass of hair. "Nothing, Chanel? No words, no explanations besides your lame text of I'm sorry, I'm home?"

  "I just wanted to come home." I sat up, resting my back against the headboard. I let out a weighted sigh and pouted, mimicking Mal's award winning performance.

  "So, we're really gonna do this, huh? Chanel Bissett, you met a guy last night, left that pub, went and did God knows what, somehow ended up home and now you're feeding me some bull about just wanting to come home!" Mal's cheeks burned red like the darn curtains she kept putting up the minute the weather got cool. Her eyes shifted into slits as she side-eyed me, daring a response to the contrary.

  "Since you know everything, Yoda, tell me more..." I threw off the sheet in time for Brutus to burrow down under and all the way to the middle of my bed.

  "I'm just saying, is all. We'll discuss further when I get home from these interviews in roughly four hours and twenty minutes. That'll give you enough time to come up with something to appease me with. I'd prefer juicy, but I'll settle for cute." With that, she raced out.

  Standing at the side of my bed, I stretched and glanced around the rather large room. I had a full-sized bed placed diagonally next to a wide corner. The window was off to the left of the bed, along with a chaise with oversized cushions and a bunch of bedroom necessities. Other than reading and doing laundry, my day was bound to be the usual boring weekend type.

  "C'mon, Brutus." I knelt to dip my head beneath the sheets. He'd found a secure spot and wasn't willing to cooperate. "No outdoors for you," I promised, letting down the sheet and turning away from the bed. I headed out to the hallway where Mallory had put up a hook for his leash. Once the chains started knocking up against each other, I knew Brutus would reappear.

  I stripped my bed of everything, hung the blanket over a door, and started a load of clothes. All that was accomplished with the high-spirited Pug in tow. Once I pulled on a pair of gray Pink sweat bottoms and matching cotton tee with a thin hoodie and slipped on my sneaks, Brutus led me out the back door. Much like Mallory, he was a bully, so I allowed his mini paws to set the pace. He rolled around in a bundle of leaves, nudging at my leg, encouraging me to join in. Instead, I unhooked the leash. He went ballistic. I couldn't help but laugh.

  After he cleared the backyard and ended up in the front, I reclaimed control. I walked in line with him taking the lead. With the exception of cars breezing by and the locals on the sidewalk, I felt fine. While we stood at the intersection, I inhaled while my head hung low and then exhaled into the sky. For a brief second, I was reminded of my heated moment with Rhys. My insides warmed. I couldn't help but cozy up to the idea of feeling the hunger of his mouth against mine. I'd almost forgotten what kisses were capable of igniting, real kisses that didn't manifest in my dreams. As the excitement revealed itself, I became reminded of my nightmares and the fact that I had woken up this morning without a single thought of Zach.

  "Chanel?" We'd just crossed over the main about five minutes back and were drifting without any real purpose. I didn't initially register that someone outside of my thoughts had spoken my name until I heard it again. "Chanel..."

  I moved around, concentrating on a handful of faces until I felt a hand rest on my right shoulder. About a millisecond later, as I flopped around, I got tapped by a gentle breeze. Rhys' fragrance serenaded me, much like he'd done the previous night.

  "I thought I was losing my mind," I confessed when I confronted his white teeth, just a slither poking out from between magical pink lips.

  "Didn't expect to see you out here. Three years of nothing, now I'm
suddenly running into you every time I step out."

  "I know, right?" I kept shifting in place, balancing Brutus as he spun around me. Next thing I knew, the darn dog began sniffing Rhys' sneakers. "I'm sorry."

  "At least we know your dog likes me," he wryly blurted out. His head dipped while he took a step closer.

  "He's not mine. He belongs to my best friend, my roommate."

  "Figures..."

  "Hey, what does that mean?" I could only imagine how foolish I must've looked to him, standing there, trying desperately to fight the fact that my insides were steaming. I kept blinking, glancing into his face, turning away when I realized that he was fixed on my every movement. Sheesh!

  We stood there making empty conversation. We even laughed for no reason.

  Twenty minutes later, I was welcoming Rhys into the front door.

  "How many bedrooms?" he asked. From the outside, you would think that the place was fairly big, but the owners had actually done a lot of work and made it into a simple two-bedroom. The only thing was that the bedrooms were fairly large.

  "Just two oversized ones. It kind of has a feel of being a starter home."

  "Is it yours?"

  "No, one of the locals moved away for work and has been renting it out since we were students."

  "You lucked out."

  "I guess." I motioned for him to take a seat in the living room. As with most men, he claimed the biggest chair in the room, a wide leather recliner. I'd seen Mallory's male visitors do the same thing every time. I snickered to think that Rhys was the first guy I’d brought home to this particular place. "Can I get you something to drink?"

  "Water is good."

  When I returned with his water, Brutus was standing right in front of him and Rhys was bent over massaging the back of the dog's neck.

  "Boyfriend issues still?"

  "You?"

  His eyebrows curved up as I burst out laughing, realizing my mistake. "Forgive me, I meant do you have girlfriend issues?"

  "Nope."

  "No more." I answered with Mal in mind, and my mother's warnings as my guide.

  "Huh..."