Double Grades

by Kristine Robinson

  Around midnight, Emily raised her arms into the air and yawned. She was having trouble keeping her eyes open. Her back, fingers, and neck ached. Her entire body called out for sleep. The last hour or so, the numbers and letters that she had been staring at for hours, seemed to lift from the page, float in the air, spin around her head. She desperately wanted to stop working, hop in a cab, and snatch a few hours of sleep.

  “I’m really impressed with how well you guys have done the last few years,” Claire said. “Not many people would have been able to pull this off.”

  Emily stared at Claire, not sure whether or not she was hallucinating.

  Did Claire really just compliment me? She asked herself, confused.

  “What? You really think so? I mean…”

  Claire smiled and brushed a tangle of dark brown hair from her face. Emily was struck by just how beautiful, how finely sculpted her face was. And on top of that, there was something so damn sexy about her grit, determination, and intelligence, and something even sexier about the sexual beast that she would turn into during moments of private intimacy.

  “Yes, of course, I mean it. This is really, really impressive. I work with a ton of companies and right at the moment when so many people are on the brink of failure, it's like your company is completely taking off.”

  Emily lowered her head, swallowing hard, trying to craft an adequate response. It was so nice to hear those words from Claire, someone who would never waste time with false compliments. If she said something positive about you or something important to you, then there was no question that she believed it.

  “Thank you for saying that,” Emily finally replied. “Sometimes it feels like no matter how hard we work, no matter how many deals we close… It just feels like we’re competing against so many other big companies and…”

  Claire rolled her eyes, then stared up at the ceiling. “There you go with that.”

  “With what?”

  “Not giving yourself enough credit, that's what. You’re beating out companies with ten times as many resources as you and probably fifty times as many employees. Stop. You're really good.”

  For several moments, they stared at each other, eyes locked.

  “Anyway,” Claire said shaking her head. “We should probably get out of here. I'm about to pass out. And you don't look like you've got much energy left either.”

  After a brief silence, they both broke out laughing.

  They packed up, left the conference room, and headed down the hallway to the elevator. Once inside a tense silence slipped between them. Out of the corner of her eye, Emily could see a slight smile playing on Claire's lips. What did it mean? What did that last bit of conversation mean? Throughout the day they had hardly said a word to each other and then suddenly they had burst into a friendly, even flirty back-and-forth.

  When they got down to the ground level, a wave of sadness passed over Emily. The day was done. But within six hours, she would be rolling out of bed, making her morning coffee, listening to the news, reading the Wall Street Journal and preparing to come back to the office for another long, arduous day. But something was missing.

  They stepped outside into the midnight air, stood under a streetlight, only inches apart, staring at each other. A mysterious smile slithered its way across Claire's lips. There were so many things that Emily wanted to say, so many words felt like they were stuck in her throat.

  Claire took a step closer. “I’m really glad you hired me. I don't know why you did. But I'm really glad that you did.” Claire took another step closer, then softly pressed her full, pulpy lips against Emily’s.

  Emily closed her eyes and sighed. She wrapped her arms around Claire and tightly embraced her. Their bodies exchanged energies—warm, ecstatic, intoxicating as they kissed, tongues twisting and twirling and darting in and out of each other’s hungry mouths. Emily’s entire body tingled with pleasure. Her panties dampened, nipples hardened. She had waited for this moment for so long, so damn long!

  As they rode the elevator up to Emily's apartment, they kissed, necked, tongued and fondled. Emily threw her head back and offered up her pale neck for Claire to cover with kisses and nibbles. They panted and moaned, hands groping wildly, bodies twisting and contorting as unbridled passion seeped from their pores.

  “I’ve never stopped thinking about you,” Claire said, breathlessly, continuing to lick and nibble and suck. “I knew that I would have you again. I knew that you would be mine again.”

  Excited and surprised by Claire's sudden declaration, Emily was unable to respond. Her mouth gaped open. Her eyes opened wide. So many questions rattled inside her brain.

  Were they getting back together? Or was this moment just a burst of lust that would be meaningless to them when the sun rose in a few hours?

  The elevator stopped and the doors opened. They straightened out their clothing, stared at each other giggling, then looked left, then right before walking down the hallway hand-in-hand to Emily's door.

  As Emily pushed the key into the lock, Claire stood behind her, thrusting her hips back and forth.

  “I’m going to fuck you really hard,” Claire said.

  Emily's face lit up with lust. Her panties dripped. She couldn't wait to feel Claire on top of her. It had been so long. Far too long!

  I Choose Her

  ~ Bonus Story ~

  A First Time Straight To Gay Lesbian Romance

  I used to think being in a relationship meant you were happy. I thought it meant that everything in life was perfect and that you could do everything with your partner. Well, I was wrong. Being in a relationship with Kirk Wagner was a nightmare. He would pick on me constantly. Honestly, I was quite scared of him. I probably should have broken up with him a long time ago… but I was frightened. If we broke up, who would want to be with someone like me?

  The answer I found wasn’t the one I was expecting. Then again, I didn’t expect to drown in the ocean. Or that a hot lifeguard would save me and completely change my life… Madison was different from anyone else I’ve ever met before. She was curvy, fun, and confident. She was everything I ever wanted to be in life. But, will I ever be able to face the truth of my emotions and tell how I really felt or would I let her slip through my fingers as I fell back into old habits?

  Chapter 1

  I was never a fan of the beach. Maybe it was because I didn’t know how to swim properly, but there was just something about it that put me off… All the screaming children, the shrill squawks of the seagulls, the crash of waves against the shore. All of it set my nerves on end.

  But, my boyfriend loved the beach, so here I was, trying to soak up the sun without turning into a lobster. I felt like I was putting on sunscreen every fifteen minutes, just to make sure I wouldn’t burn. The struggles of having fair skin.

  “You’re reapplying sunscreen already?” My boyfriend called out, lifting the sunglasses off his face. “You just did that. If you get any whiter, you’re going to turn into a ghost.”

  I blushed and looked away. He was probably right. It was the middle of the summer and I was still as pale as I was during the winter time. Still, I scooched further into the shade, hiding under the large umbrella we had brought with us.

  “Why can’t you be like all the other girls here?” Kirk sat up, waving his arm in their direction. “Thin, tan, and beautiful.”

  I wanted to respond, but it felt like my vocal cords had been ripped from my throat.

  “Hmm, nothing to say? That’s because you know it’s true. I mean, who comes to the beach without a bathing suit?”

  “This is a bathing suit… it’s just a one-piece instead of a bikini.”

  “Whatever. Only old people wear one-piece bathing suits anyway. Most girls would wear a bikini, but then again most girls don’t have love handles like yours.” Kirk shook his head. I watched him follow a hot blonde with his gaze. Her bikini was rather lewd. I didn’t think it was appropriate, especially with children around, but she didn’t seem to m
ind. She walked the shore as if she owned the entire world. I wish I had her confidence …

  “Do we have any water left in the cooler?” I asked timidly, trying to change the subject.

  “Do you see that? That’s what you call a real woman.” He pointed to a redhead emerging from the water.

  “But, some of her ribs are showing.” I pointed out, frowning. I wanted to walk up to her and give her something to eat.

  “What are you talking about? She’s just fit. I bet she exercises. Something you apparently haven’t heard of.”

  “I’ve been going to the gym…” I mumbled. I got up and grabbed the cooler, but it was empty. “I think I’m going to go to the snack bar and grab a bottle of water.”

  “Oh, no you don’t. I’m not letting you go anywhere near that snack bar.”

  “Why not?” I was standing there, the cooler in my hand. Under my feet, I felt the irritating sand slip between my toes. Just another reason to dislike the beach. Sand had a habit of getting everywhere.

  “You know that if I let you get water, then you’ll come back with much more than that and you’re already heavy enough as it is. Then again, if you keep eating like that, you might turn into a whale and disappear into the ocean.” He spat. He got up, towering above me. His dark eyes were burning with malice. His lips twitched like he was about to growl.

  “T-that’s really mean…” I wanted to speak up and defend myself, but my remark came out as nothing more than a pathetic whisper. How was I supposed to stand up for myself when I was always acting like a coward? My fingers shook and tightened into a fist by my side. “I’m a person… just like you… you can’t keep talking to me like this…”

  Kirk just laughed. “Aww, it’s cute when you try to stand up for yourself.” He pushed me aside, forcing me to lose my balance. I landed on my ass in the sand, causing Kirk to laugh even more. “I’ll be at the food court.” Without another word, he left. I watched him jog up to the redhead he was ogling moments earlier.

  He said something to her and I could hear her giggles traveling with the wind. My whole body started to shake. Why did I even date that jerk? All he ever did was pick on me. I hugged my knees to my chest, feeling insignificant. Was it because I was afraid that if I broke up with him, no one else would want a girl like me?

  I sighed, trying to hold back my emotions, but I could already feel them choking me. The corners of my eyes started to burn and I knew I was on the verge of tears. I knew I should break up with him, but I just didn’t have the courage to do so. To be honest, Kirk scared me, and I didn’t know what to do about it.

  The sound of laughter echoed all around me. One look around the beach and all I saw were happy families enjoying the sunny Sunday afternoon. I hugged my knees even tighter. It wasn’t fair. Why was I miserable while everyone else was happy?

  I couldn’t take it anymore. I got up and started walking toward the water. I wasn’t going to let anyone have the satisfaction of seeing me cry. The sand was hot against my feet and I tried hurrying along, but my large chest started to bounce, making me feel self-conscious. I suffered through the pain and finally reached the water.

  I wadded in until I was about waist-deep. The water was a little cold. There were already goosebumps forming on my skin. Looking at the shore, I saw Kirk. He was standing very close to the redhead, leaning in. I closed my eyes and dipped myself in the water. I reopened them, feeling the sting of the salt water. Little pieces of seaweed flew across my vision. I admired them before resurfacing, my whole body wet. Now, if I cried, no one would know.

  Chapter 2

  The water was calm and rather enjoyable. I was actually surprised with myself. I ran my fingertips across the surface and smiled. Maybe I would enjoy the beach if I didn’t have to come with my boyfriend. I sighed, thinking about how I could break up with him, but none of the scenarios my mind conjured seemed plausible. I knew I would back away from each one.

  Wanting to immerse myself even further, I started to walk deeper into the ocean. I didn’t know how to swim, but as long as I kept my feet on the ground, I’d be okay, right? The water reached my breasts and they started to float, making me blush. I ventured a little further, going neck-deep.

  In the distance, I could hear the faint sound of a whistle blowing, but I ignored it, my eyes closing. It felt like my body was completely weightless and I loved it. I relaxed my arms, letting the water’s buoyancy pull them upwards, but as I did, my whole body went along with it. Suddenly, my feet weren’t touching the ground anymore.

  Instantly, I started to panic, flailing my arms around, but that just made matters worse. Trying to scream for help only made me gulp a mouthful of saltwater. The shore was getting further and further away. A wave crashed over my head, pulling me under. My body spun like someone had thrown me into a washing machine and left it on the spin cycle. I felt dizzy and lightheaded, all at the same time. My lungs burned.

  I struggled for air, my head bobbing out of the water for just a moment before the current pulled me under yet again. Was this how I was going to die? I feared the threat of drowning, doubling my efforts to swim, but my body just seemed to want to sink like a log.

  I was sinking deeper and deeper, my feet nearly touching the ground. I moved my arms, trying to get back to the top, but nothing I did seemed to work. I opened my mouth by impulse, sucking in even more saltwater. I wanted to cough, but my body was no longer capable of such things. My eyes closed as darkness wrapped all around me.

  ***

  I was certain I had died. The darkness I experienced was so penetrating, it couldn’t mean anything else. Still, I could feel something happening to my body. Someone was grabbing me – hard – so hard that it felt like they would dislocate my shoulder. I wanted to tell them to stop, but while I could feel my body, I could no longer control it.

  “You’re going to be okay…” A soft female voice broke through the darkness. “You’re going to be okay.” She repeated. For some reason, I trusted her. Maybe she was an angel, about to take me up to heaven.

  I felt the hot sand on my back as someone laid me down. “Get the defibrillator!” The same voice from before snapped as her palms pressed against my chest, trying to give me compressions. It wasn’t very pleasant. It felt like she would snap my breastbone at any moment. Again, I wanted to tell her to stop, but I couldn’t utter a word. The darkness was still surrounding me.

  The compressions continued and I could almost hear the labored breaths she kept taking. I wanted to tell her it was hopeless – that I was already gone, but she was persistent.

  Then suddenly, she stopped. The world also seemed to come to a standstill in those few seconds of inaction. I waited. Suddenly, she grabbed my chin, pried my lips apart and started to breathe air into my lungs. Her soft lips took me by surprise. Somehow, even covered in saltwater, they tasted so sweet. I felt my heart beat just a little bit faster as she continued to give me mouth-to-mouth.

  My lungs expanded with air and I felt the need to retch. She pulled away just before I started coughing. It was like I was spitting out the ocean. She sat me up, rubbing my back, making it easier for me to expel the water from my lungs. Finally, I emerged from the darkness and opened my eyes.

  I blinked, the sun shining straight in my eyes. “W-What –”

  “Shh, don’t talk. Don’t strain yourself.” Her voice was so close to my ear that her hot breath caressed against the side of my neck.

  I turned my head to look at her and our lips nearly grazed, but neither of us pulled away. My heart skipped a beat. I was looking into the eyes of the most beautiful woman I had ever seen before. Her hazel eyes looked like they had seen the entire world. Her blonde hair framed her face, making her look like an angel. Maybe I really was in heaven.

  “Are you okay?” She asked, her voice like honey.

  I nodded and leaned forward, my forehead touching hers. I felt safe in her arms. Even though I could feel the weight of everyone looking at me, I didn’t care.

  “
What’s going on here?” Kirk’s voice shattered my moment of peace. He yanked me away from the beautiful woman and snarled.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” The woman snapped, grabbing his wrist and flinging it away. “This woman nearly drowned, you can’t handle her like that.”

  “She’s my girlfriend. I’ll handle her any way I want to.” He yanked me up. “C’mon Chloe, let’s go.”

  “I’m sorry…” I mouthed to the lifeguard. She looked concerned as she watched me stumble after him.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” I didn’t answer him. All I could think about was the woman with the caramel-colored eyes. “You know damn well that you can’t swim! Why the hell did you go in the water? Looking for attention?” He shook his head and started to angrily pack up our things. “Let’s go home.” For once in my life, however, I didn’t want to leave the beach, especially if it meant leaving my savior.