by S. L. Scott
“I don’t know,” she replies with relaxed shoulders and a frown on her face. “I just know I don’t want to be called those.”
“No worries there.”
“You’re the expert. What do you suggest?”
“I don’t know about expert.” I eye her, testing the waters. “How do you feel about pretty?”
“Pretty is great, but it’s not enough.”
“Whore?”
“Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Slow up. How’d we jump from pretty to whore in one name?”
This time I shrug. “I don’t know. Just figured I’d throw it out there.”
She elbows me and nods her head toward the sidewalk to follow her. “We should head back.”
“Okay,” I reply, the disappointment too hard to hide. I’ll still try to appreciate these last few minutes we have alone while we walk back to the hotel.
Right before we enter the courtyard, she bumps me. “Would you like to call me a whore?”
Our coffees remain an endless source of distraction during this fascinating and equally awkward conversation. “I don’t want to call you a whore unless you want me to call you a whore.” She remains quiet in thought as I take a long drink of the soothing liquid, so I’m more direct. “Do you want me to?”
After a thoughtful pause, she says, “Whore might be okay.”
I smile, but I don’t laugh, not wanting her to feel self-conscious. I like that she wants to experiment too much to tease her.
Ian is knocking on her door when we return. When he spots us, his eyes dart between us, but land on her. “I was just coming to get you.”
Holding her coffee up, Jane says, “We went for an energy boost.”
“That’s a good idea. I wish I would have known. I could have gone with you and kept you company.”
Because I’m chopped liver…
“Luke kept me company.”
He eyes me. “Yes, of course, I meant extra company. Are we ready to go?”
She asks, “Do I have time to change clothes?”
“Yes, if you’re quick,” he replies. “The cabs have already been called.”
“I’ll be quick.”
As she unlocks her door, Ian says, “You might want to wear something a little cooler. You look a little heated. Your cheeks are flushed.”
She turns back, her gaze hitting me, then eyes him. “I think you’re right. It’s been a hot afternoon.”
I add to the inside joke, “A scorcher.”
Ian cuts in, “Meet us out front, Jane,” ignoring me.
Not even fifteen minutes later, he fucks me on the cab situation. Ian is so quick with the placements of who rides in which cab that I’m still standing on the sidewalk when the first cab drives away carrying Jane. The assistant director is nice enough, but I’d rather be with the woman I just made love to.
By the time our cab arrives at the drop off point, Jane, Ian, Jessica, and Ryan are already on the boat with a cocktail in hand.
Other crew members are talking, their backs to us as they point at the Austin skyline. Not Jane. She steps away from them, smiling right at me. The skirt of her white sundress is blowing in the wind along with her hair.
She’s just so damn beautiful that my heart momentarily stops as I take her in, reminding me so much of the first time I ever saw her…
“Who’s that?”
When Ricky doesn’t answer, I turn and see him gawking at the same girl I just asked about. “Shut your trap. You’re embarrassing yourself, Rick.”
“Dude, who is that?”
Rolling my eyes, I say, “I just asked that.”
He’s on the move, but there’s no way I’m giving him a shot before I get mine. As junior varsity football captain, fucker gets enough girls. Now that I have my license, I need to put it to use. This hottie might just be the first girl to get a ride—pun intended.
Like in every cheesy high school movie and some porns, the beauty takes her hair from this knot on top of her head. Ricky and I stop at the same time, gobsmacked, as her hair comes tumbling down past her shoulders. She slips her Raybans to the top of her head and I whack Ricky in the chest with the back of my hand, stopping him. “Holy shit!”
“What?” he asks, his eyes still glued to her like every other guy in the vicinity.
I know her—blond hair, even lighter from the summer, long tan legs that must have grown since I saw her last. “That’s Jane Lewis.”
“What?” His face crumples. When he looks back at her, his eyes go wide. “No way!”
“Way.”
“How the fuck did that happen in three months?”
Shaking my head, I correct him, “She was always cute.”
Now he’s shaking his head. “Yes, cute. Now she’s fucking hot.” With a devious grin growing, he says, “I think I need to reintroduce myself.”
“You’ve known her since sixth grade.”
“No, I knew cute Jane Lewis. I want to get to know spank-bank material Jane Lewis.”
“Dude, do not put your dirty details in my head.”
“Like you’re not going to be jacking off to her later, Anders.”
“I’m not.” He looks at me in disbelief, and I smirk. “While you’re jacking to the memory of her, I’m going to be with her.”
When he bursts out laughing, like gut-chuckling until tears-start-forming laughter, he steps back and waves forward, rolling out the imaginary red carpet that leads right to her. “You know you have no chance once I start talking to her, so how about I be kind and give you a head start. Once she rejects you, she’ll be primed for me.”
“Fuck you. I can get a girl.”
“You’re sixteen and still a virgin, man. We’re buddies, but let’s not kid ourselves here. You have no chance in hell against me.”
“You’re such an asshole.”
“Still your friend.”
I have shitty taste in friends. One day I’m gonna find friends who have my back instead of ones who stab me in the front over a girl. I walk away from him and it’s starting to feel like I’m walking away from a friendship.
I should.
According to him, I’m a total geek. Trying to shrug off his insults, I remind myself I’ve chosen not to get laid. Marie Luppino begged me to pop her cherry last year. With her brother at the bonfire twenty feet away, it was hard to get hard behind a tree, even with her groping me. She had no skills in that area either so that didn’t help. I never told Ricky that story because he would have made fun of me. He has no shame in his game. He would have fucked her in front of her parents so her brother would have only been seen as a speed bump.
His true colors are showing. He likes me driving him around and using me for burgers and fries then sticking me with the bill. Fuck him.
Forgetting about him, I look ahead. Jane Lewis sits on top of a picnic table laughing with her friends, two girls I know from classes over the years. We’ve always hung out in different groups, but we still go to the same school and know about each other.
Twenty feet until contact…
My steps slow, nerves starting to creep in as I get closer. Her smile is beautiful. Her lips are a shiny deep shade of pink. She’s always had the prettiest green eyes. I told her that once when we were in sixth grade English class, just after the bell rang for dismissal. But her friend, Caroline Stacie, dragged her away before she could reply. I always wondered what she was going to say. I remember her mouthing sorry before she caved to her friend’s peer pressure and left the classroom.
Fifteen feet until contact…
I get it. I’ve been a wingman to Ricky for years, caved to him staking claims from girls to video games. His arrogant attitude is annoying on many levels. I think it’s time for me to step up and go after what I want for once. A wingman no more.
Ten feet until contact…
She sees me. So do her friends. Like gatekeepers to a great treasure, they sit up straighter and angle protectively in front of Jane. Caroline Stacie smiles as if she can’t wait for me to
be shot down.
That doesn’t help my nerves. I think she’s just bitter I shot her down in the fifth grade when I told her I’d rather surf than ride bikes with her after school. We’ve never spoken again and I’ve been on the receiving end of many dirty looks since.
The one I’m getting now might top them all. Caroline leans over and whispers to Jane. Jane’s eyes go from her back to me, but her expression remains neutral.
Shit. Like Ricky said, I have no chance in hell.
Five feet…
Shoving my hands into my front pockets, it’s not too late to turn around and serve her up on a silver platter for Ricky to come in and hook up with her. It’s not too late to make up some excuse like I’m selling chocolate bars for the football team to help them get to the State championship even though I don’t play football. I can come up with a million excuses.
But I don’t.
Contact.
“Hi.” My hand comes out and I do this stupid little wave thing with the other. Fuck. I shove it back into my front pocket, trying to hide my nerves. I hear Ricky laughing in the distance behind me.
Her smile is shy, but it’s there, just for me. “Hi,” she replies, her eyes looking up into mine.
“Do you have plans this Friday?”
“I’m free.”
Caroline interrupts, “Heard you got a car, Luke.”
“I did,” I reply, fully focused on the beautiful girl who seems fully focused on me. “Maybe I can drive you home sometime, Jane?”
“Maybe today,” she replies.
“Today’s good.”
She nods, and then says, “You look like you’ve been working out.”
I shrug. “Yeah, I started lifting over the summer.”
“Oh yeah? I can tell.”
“Thanks. You look—”
An arm drapes around my shoulders. Ricky is leaning against me and pats my chest. “Thanks, Anders, I’ll take it from here.” Walking around me, he sticks his hand out to shake Jane’s. When she accepts it, he turns it over and kisses the top. Smooth. “You look hot in that skirt, Jane. You coming to watch me play this Friday? I’m starting quarterback.”
Standing up on the bench, her smile is gone. Her friends stand up in unison. Jane steps down, and says, “I’m not that into football, so I think I’ll pa—”
“Maybe we can hook up afterwards and go to Eli’s party? His parents will be out of town. We can celebrate my victory on the field and I can show you my moves off the field.” Ricky waggles his eyebrows as if the come-on wasn’t straightforward enough.
She looks to me anxiously, her eyes sending a silent plea. I move closer and help her out, which means helping me out too. “We already made plans for Friday night.”
“Really?” he asks shocked, and then appears confused.
“Yes.” I nod confidently, though I’m sweating inside. “I’m taking Jane to, ummm—”
“The new Ridley Scott movie. It starts on Friday.”
My heart might have just skipped a beat listening to a girl, who visually could give a Sports Illustrated model a run for the swimsuit cover, mentioning Ridley Scott like that’s normal. That she even knows who he is blows my mind. Jane was hot before. Now she’s downright dream-girl material. And yes, definitely spank-bank material.
“Yes,” I say, adding to her answer, “I’ll pick you up at seven.”
Jane touches the short sleeve of my shirt. “You’re still taking me for a ride in your car after school, right?”
Caroline gets impatient, rolling her eyes. “We’re going to be late, Jane.”
Jane continues to look at me, ignoring her friend.
I respond with a smile, “Yes, I’ll see you after school.”
When Caroline tugs her by the elbow, I have flashbacks of sixth grade. Jane frees herself from the confines of her friend’s grip, and steps closer to me, the gap almost closed. “What were you going to say, Luke? Earlier. I look what?”
Pretty eyes. Great smile. The world shifts beneath my feet, my heart growing for this wide-eyed beauty. “Lovely. You look lovely today.”
Her smile spreads, then she lifts up on her toes and kisses my cheek. “Thank you. I’ll see you later, okay?”
“Okay.”
…I’m walking the plank, falling into the deep end of the feelings I’ve always had for this woman.
Ian comes up to her and takes her by the elbow. I’m really starting to dislike that fucker. Jane makes a wonky face he doesn’t see. Then she rolls her eyes, which makes me laugh and reassures me at the same time.
As soon as I board the boat, I don’t hover around them. I don’t need to stake a claim or anything else Ian is so blatantly attempting to do. I know whom she chose more than a decade ago. It’s the same guy she chose this afternoon. And, if I have my way, she’ll choose to be with again tonight.
CHAPTER 15
~Luke~
LEANING AGAINST THE railing of the boat, I look up at the sky while millions of Mexican free-tailed bats swarm above. A dark mass stream, floating with the winds keeps all eyes on the boat facing up. “Amazing, right?”
I’d know that voice anywhere. Her arm presses to mine. The boat is crowded along the railing, the act not so obvious, except to us. I steal a glance down at her. “Amazing is right.” The sun is setting, but the blush that colors her cheeks from the compliment is prettier. She looks down and then peeks up at me, pretending to be looking at the bats. But I see those bewitching eyes and ask, “What are you doing later?”
Turning around and leaning her elbows on the wood, she arches her back and it reminds me of earlier. My attention turns to the bats so I don’t get an erection… or should I say become harder than I already am. Images of her naked body beneath mine floating through my head don’t help the situation. She’s got great tits and that dress is highlighting them perfectly—low-cut, thin material showing off her nipples. When the wind blows just right, I see the top of her breasts and I want to cover them with my mouth again.
She replies, “Hopefully you.”
“You’re tempting, Ms. Lewis. Very fucking tempting.”
“I’m hoping to pick up where we left off.”
“Today or years ago?”
Bumping my hip with hers, she says, “That’s for you to find out. See you later.” She smiles as she shakes her ass for me.
“I’ll hold you to that.”
“I hope you hold me to many things, like beds and windows, maybe even bathroom counters.”
“I’m liking this pervy side of you.”
“I hope you like all my sides. Start with my backside.” She taps my nose.
“It’s not about the start, but the finish, baby.”
Her smile falls and I see her swallow. “That right there. Talk to me like that, Luke.”
I laugh. “I can’t turn it on and off. It comes with the situation, and territory. But if you want, we can flirt and tease, make love and fuck because if it turns you on, it gets me off.” Looking around to make sure no one is watching, I lick my lips and run my hand down her hip giving it a squeeze. “I’m going to make you come harder than you’ve ever come before.”
“I’ve never done anything on a boat before.” Her right eyebrow rises in challenge as she stares up at me.
“That can be arranged.”
“Arrange it then,” she replies as if I won’t.
“Meet me downstairs in the bathroom in ten minutes.”
“What if—”
“No, Jane. No what ifs. Only yes will do. Yes, sir is even better.” She glances around nervously, so I offer her an out, just in case, “We don’t have to do anything. I thought you wanted—”
“I do.”
“Then what do you say?”
Her fiery eyes meet mine, and she whispers, “Yes.”
“You don’t sound sure.”
After clearing her throat, more confidently she says, “Yes, sir.”
“Ten minutes. Don’t keep me waiting.”
She walks
away without saying another word. Her shoulders are tense, her eyes searching the boat as if everyone is aware of our planned rendezvous. No one cares. No one is even paying attention to us. But I like her tense. I like her nervous and excited. I’ll make her come and forget her worries and everything that lies on the other side of that bathroom door. I’ll be the only thing she feels, touches, thinks of while I take her against the wall, making her mine all over again.
Watching her over my shoulder, she’s chatting with Ryan and they go to the bar together. I could let my jealousy get the best of me like earlier, but I know where she’ll be in a few minutes. Catching her eye, I look down at my wrist to check the time, tapping it. When I look up, Jessica is standing before me. The sun blocked by her presence. She sits on the bench next to me and acts like we’re old friends. “Hi.”
I’m in no mood for her. She was a huge, drunken mistake, but I’ll be cordial in public until all patience is lost. “Hi,” I say, and sigh. I’m not a great actor though.
“I agreed to do your little movie. You can give me the courtesy of being civil.”
A pain in my right temple flares so I rub it. She’s right, but I need to remind her of our agreement. “You needed this ‘little movie’ as well, so let’s recognize that it’s to our mutual benefit to work together.” I glance at her. “And be civil.”
The last part makes her smile. She clears her throat and perks up. “A few of us are going out after we dock. Do you want to join us?”
My eyes find Jane across the crowded boat. Almost every man on it is aware of her presence and has gravitated closer, warming in her sunshine. Fuckers. She was always the center of attention and never realized it. Still doesn’t. “Who’s going?”
Jessica follows my gaze so I turn my attention on her so she doesn’t find my weakness. She looks at me, and smiles. “Me.”
“Your boyfriend might not appreciate you asking me to join you.”
“Things with Ryan are,” she starts, but pauses, searching for the right words as if they’re written in the sky, “open.”