Drowning In Love

by Beth Rinyu

  “Hey, Mia, do you want to come to Vermont with me next weekend?” I knew that really meant, Do you want to come to Vermont, so we can sleep together next weekend?

  I took a deep breath before answering, “Sure, that would be great.”

  Chapter 18

  Mia…

  I begged Juan not to schedule any more appointments after my 1 p.m. on Saturday so that we could leave for Vermont at a reasonable time. He abided by my wishes since I think he was more excited about the possibility of me having sex than I was. I brought my bag with me to work. Travis was picking me up from the salon at two and we were leaving right from there. I felt a little guilty about not telling my mom that I was going, but I made sure that I told my sister, just in case there was an emergency. She, of course, was elated. I was thankful that Mrs. Montgomery was now recovered and had just been in the salon on Thursday to get her hair done. I wouldn’t want to have to explain to her why I would have been missing our Sunday appointment. My stomach was churning, the closer that it got to two o’clock. I had actually missed not seeing Travis for a week and I was totally surprised that he actually called me twice while he was away.

  My last client was gone for the day and I sat around, waiting anxiously. “Mia, are you waxed down there?” Juan asked.

  “What!” I smacked him on the arm.

  “Well, if I can’t ask you, then who can? I’m sorry. I just want you to be prepared. I know it’s been a while and you may be out of practice.”

  I put my hand over my ears. “Oh my God, I’m not having this conversation with you!”

  I looked up at Travis as he walked through the door and a smile stretched across my face. “Hey,” I greeted him.

  “Hello,” he responded as he took off his sunglasses and smiled. He was dressed in tan shorts and a black polo shirt, and to say that he looked absolutely beautiful was an understatement. He grabbed my bag for me as we headed out the door.

  Juan grabbed my arm, pulled me back, and whispered in my ear, “If you do not take advantage of that hot body in every single way imaginable, I will kill you - lucky bitch!” I smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “I will live vicariously through you,” he shouted. Thankfully, Travis was already out on the busy street and couldn’t hear him.

  The drive to Vermont was long, but very entertaining. Travis and I talked and laughed nonstop the whole time. Four hours later, we were pulling into the driveway of an elaborate log cabin-style home surrounded by mountains. I got out of the car and looked around at the beauty surrounding me. Travis grabbed the bags from the trunk and we headed inside. My jaw dropped when I walked inside. It was open and airy with a cathedral ceiling and skylights throughout. The upstairs looked over the enormous great room, which had a huge fireplace. “Oh my God, Travis, this is beautiful.” He smiled at my enthusiasm.

  “Are you hungry?” he asked.

  “Starving!”

  He opened up the fridge, which was stocked with food. “How did all the food get in there?” I asked.

  “The food store delivers. I arranged for the cleaning lady to let them in today.”

  “Oh.” I smiled at his ability to plan things out.

  “I’m guessing since you’ve eaten a burger before that you’re not a vegetarian?”

  “Never!” I laughed.

  “Okay, good.” He pulled out two filet mignons from the fridge.

  “You can cook?”

  “Yes, I can cook.” He chuckled.

  He threw the filet mignons on the grill while I helped prepare the salad. We sat down to dinner just as the sun was beginning to set over the mountain range. I stopped eating for a second to look out the window and take in the beauty right in front of my eyes.

  “Did you bring your bathing suit?” he asked as we finished eating.

  “Yes, but I don’t know why you insisted. I told you I’m not swimming, especially not in a dirty old lake.”

  He shook his head and laughed at me. “Just got get it on.”

  “What, are you crazy? If you think I’m going swimming in a lake in total darkness, you are completely insane! Don’t you ever watch horror movies?”

  “Mia, you are too funny.” He laughed. “Trust me; I’m not going to put your life in danger with a crazed madman lurking in the woods.”

  I rolled my eyes at him. “Fine.” He grabbed my bag and led me up the stairs to a huge bedroom lined along the walls with windows. “You want me to get changed in here? There aren’t any curtains up, anyone could see me.”

  He began to laugh hysterically. “Mia, you’re not in the city anymore; the nearest neighbor is two miles up the road. So, the only eyes that may get a peek of you are the wolves and bears. Oh, and I forgot there’s been rumors that there’s some lions running around too.”

  “Ha, ha, make fun of me.” I smirked at him.

  “The bathroom is right in there, if it makes you feel better.” He stood staring at me for a brief second.

  “Okay, be gone with you,” I said as I pushed him out the door and closed it behind him. I pulled my bathing suit from the bag along with my toothbrush and toothpaste. I changed into my navy blue two-piece, feeling a little inadequate as I looked at myself in the full-length mirror. I was thankful for the extra padding in the top. I clearly was not blessed in that area and from the women on the internet that I had seen Travis with, he was used to women who were. I brushed my teeth, pulled my hair in a ponytail, and took a deep breath. I threw my tank top on over my bathing suit, so I didn’t feel like I was walking around half-naked.

  I walked down the steps and stopped dead in my tracks at the sight of Travis standing in the kitchen, shirtless in just his swim trunks. He had his back turned toward me as he was texting, allowing me to stare comfortably at the perfection standing before me. He placed his phone down on the counter when he turned around and saw me. He handed me a towel and led me through the house into the garage and through another door. “Where the heck are you taking me?”

  We walked into a dark room. The strong smell of chlorine immediately hit me in the face. He flicked on the lights and my jaw dropped when I saw the huge swimming pool. “Wow!”

  He laughed at my reaction. “Now you don’t have to worry about any killers lurking in the woods.” He took my towel from my hand and placed it on the table. I sat down at the ledge of the pool and stuck my feet in the water while he immediately dove in.

  “Come on, Mia, come in.”

  I shook my head. “No thanks. I’ll just watch you.”

  “Ah, come on, don’t be chicken.” He pulled himself out of the pool and sat down beside me. “There’s nothing to be afraid of; I’m not going to let anything happen to you. Trust me.” He slid back down into the pool and wrapped his arms around my waist to try and pull me in. “Fine!” I lifted my tank top over my head, threw it off to the side, and slid down into the water.

  I was comfortable as long as I was in the low end where I could touch the bottom. I felt my nerves getting the best of me once he began to pull me into the deeper end.

  “It’s okay,” he said, seemingly sensing my nervousness. He made sure that he held on tightly to me, taking me even deeper. I wrapped my arms around his neck.

  “Travis, that’s far enough.”

  “Mia, there’s nothing to be afraid of. I’m not going to let you drown, I promise.” I pulled myself closer to him as we floated around. I was beginning to relax a little. “See, I told you, there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

  “Yeah, this isn’t really that bad. Just don’t let go of me!”

  We floated around the perimeter of the pool, ending back in the low end. I was just about to release my arms from around his neck when he looked deeply into my eyes as the water cascaded over our shoulders. He leaned in and kissed me. I closed my eyes and savored the touch of his lips on mine as our tongues began to explore each other’s mouths. His hands emerged from underneath the water. He began to move them up and down my body and removed my bathing suit top. My insides were aching
for him.

  His tongue cascaded down my neck, finding its way to my breasts. He removed my bathing suit bottoms and placed them on the ledge of the pool. His hand trailed back under the water, stopping between my legs, beginning a delightful assault on my body. I closed my eyes and leaned my head back. It had been so long since I felt so alive as his fingers moved around inside of me. I pulled him closer to me, yearning to feel his body against mine. I grazed my lips along his chest. He tilted my head to him, leaned down again, and kissed me with a sense of urgency. He wrapped his arms around me tightly as his lips remained locked on mine and his tongue continued to explore my mouth.

  “Mia, you have no clue what you are doing to me right now,” he whispered in my ear. “I want you so fuckin’ bad. Please tell me it’s what you want too.”

  It was what I wanted, more than anything. But I was a little apprehensive. I was sure I wasn’t as experienced at this whole sex thing like the women he was usually with.

  I nodded.

  “Say it, Mia, tell me that you want me inside of you.” His voice sounded so sexy and demanding.

  “I want you, Travis. I want to feel you inside of me.”

  With just those words, he was set over the edge. He quickly removed his bathing suit. Even though I was nervous, my insides were longing for him. “Are you on birth control?” I nodded. I didn’t know why I was; I hadn’t had sex in over a year. But I had just never stopped taking it.

  “Travis, I’ve never been with anyone else but Eric. I’m scared that I’m not going to be any good at this.”

  He looked at me and smiled as if he was surprised. “It will be fine, I promise.”

  He lifted me up and pulled me toward him, leaning me against the wall of the pool as he entered me. I bit my lip as my body adjusted to him. He looked down at me as the water beads dripped from his hair. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” I pulled him closer and kissed him as he began to move about inside of me.

  “Oh my God, Mia, you feel so good.” The water lapped over our shoulders. “I want to make you feel good, Mia, just relax.” I couldn’t believe how my body was reacting to him. I had never felt so at ease and I had never wanted anything more. My insides became more awakened with each move that he made. After a few minutes, I was able to relax completely as I met him with each movement that he made. He lifted me up and wrapped my legs around him, taking himself deeper inside of me. I closed my eyes and enjoyed every single second.

  My arms were wrapped around him as I rested my head on his shoulder. “Look at me,” he whispered in my ear. I lifted my head to meet his gaze. “Does this feel good for you?” I nodded, not wanting to be broken from my state of ecstasy. “I want you to look at me. I want to see how good this feels for you,” he demanded. My eyes remained locked on his as I took in every pleasurable second of him. I couldn’t contain it anymore. I let out a light cry as I felt my body begin to awaken from its long slumber and totally melt around him. He moved in and out of me, which only intensified the feeling.

  “Oh, Travis.” I ran my hand through his wet hair and rested my head on his shoulder as he continued to take me with each move.

  His breathing became more intense. He buried his head into my neck as he let out a light groan, finding his own release. My trembling legs were still wrapped around him as he pulled me toward him and kissed me. Travis and I had crossed that line. We were no longer just friends. Everything was blurred. I only hoped that I wasn’t now just one of his latest conquests.

  Chapter 19

  Travis…

  I held Mia tightly in my arms and kissed her on the head as she slept. I had never felt the way that I was feeling right now with any woman after sex. Maybe that’s because that’s all I viewed it as with every other woman. Mia was so different. The look in her eyes when she told me that she had never been with another guy but her fiancé just made me want her more. This was not part of my plan; I wasn't supposed to be having feelings for her, but I did and they were so strong that I couldn't fight them even if I had tried.

  She opened her eyes and smiled. "Hey," she whispered in a very sleepy voice as she looked up at me and squeezed me tightly.

  I couldn't resist kissing her soft lips. I couldn't resist making love to her once again.

  Chapter 20

  Mia….

  I awoke the next morning with Travis’ arms wrapped tightly around me. We were up half the night with another round of intense lovemaking. My body was in a complete state of euphoria. I had worried about having sex with someone again after Eric. Eric and I were each other’s one and only and I didn’t know what it would be like with someone else. But Travis put me at such ease. He was so gentle and caring and at the same time intense and demanding, but in a very good way.

  He kissed me softly on the head. “Good morning.”

  I rested my head on his chest and traced my finger up and down his stomach. “Good morning.” He must have sensed the apprehension in my voice.

  “Hey, what’s wrong?” He pulled me toward him. I shook my head. “Mia, I can tell that something is bothering you.”

  “I just don’t want to ruin our friendship, Travis.”

  “Oh, baby, we didn’t ruin anything. If anything, we just made it stronger.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Mia, I told you before, I love being around you and I meant it. I have never met anyone like you before in my life. So if you think that my feelings are going to change just because we finally slept together, you’re wrong.”

  “I’m sorry, Travis, I just –”

  “You are so different, Mia; you make me feel things that I’ve never felt before with anyone.”

  I closed my eyes and hugged him tightly. I was still feeling a little apprehensive, but I also knew that there was nowhere else in the world that I wanted to be more than in his arms at that particular moment.

  Travis cooked a delicious breakfast before we headed out for the day. I had never been fishing and was actually excited to try it. We walked a little bit to a beautiful lake that was surrounded by trees that provided shade from the warm summer day.

  We sat down on a log as Travis showed me how to bait the hook. “Um, I’ll let you do that.” I laughed. I placed my pole into the water and waited. “How long before we catch something?”

  “Mia, you have to have patience when you’re fishing.” He chuckled.

  “Oh, that stinks!”

  He laughed even harder. “You are too much.”

  I wasn’t the outdoorsy type, but I was having a great time being here with him.

  “You never went fishing as a kid?” he asked.

  “No, my mom is a lot like me. We’re not ‘country’ girls.” I laughed. “I guess that’s what happens when you don’t have a dad in your life; you don’t get to experience these manly things.”

  “Does it bother you? Not seeing your dad?”

  I bit my lip and looked away. “It did for a while, but not anymore. I consider my stepdad as my father now. I am so thankful to have him. He’s my own Mike Brady.”

  His grin was a mile wide. “Wow, are you a Brady Bunch fan?”

  “I am!” I smiled back. “I can name the episode within a matter of minutes of it coming on.”

  “Oh, Mia, you will never know more about the Brady Bunch than I do.”

  “Oh yeah, try me!”

  We spent the rest of the afternoon quizzing each other on Brady Bunch trivia. My stomach flipped when he placed his hand in mine.

  “You know part of the reason that we haven’t caught anything is probably because we haven’t stopped talking. I forgot to mention, you’re supposed to be quiet when you fish.”

  “Well, then, maybe we should stop talking.”

  “Yeah, maybe,” he said as he moved closer to me. I placed the pole down when his lips touched mine. I was unable to control myself as I began to kiss him harder. I couldn’t believe how much I wanted him again. I was beginning to feel like I couldn’t get enough of him.
>
  He released his lips from mine. “Mia, I think we better get going before this goes any further. Remember, in those horror movies the couple always gets murdered when they’re having sex in the woods.”

  I giggled and brushed my thumb along his cheek. “Okay, but only if you promise that we can pick up right where we left off once we’re safely inside.”

  I had never seen his dimples looking deeper. “Absolutely.”

  ***

  I was feeling totally bummed on Monday night when Travis dropped me off. It had been one of the best weekends of my life. I had never imagined that I could be this happy again. He walked me up the stairs to my apartment. I opened the door and we stepped inside.

  I dropped my bag on the floor and wrapped my arms around him. “I really had a great time. Thank you so much for inviting me.”

  He kissed me on the lips and hugged me tightly. “Thank you for coming.” I was so happy, I wanted to cry. He pressed his forehead against mine. “I’ll see you this week, Mia.”

  “Okay,” I whispered. He rubbed his hand gently over my cheek and kissed me softly on the lips before exiting. I closed the door and locked it. I slid down to the ground with my back up against the door. I couldn’t stop smiling. It didn’t even matter anymore about not knowing what I was headed for. My feelings for him were strong, I couldn’t deny that and even if I tried to fight it, I knew I wouldn’t be able to.

  I sighed, thinking about coming back to reality. I walked into my bedroom to prepare my clothes for the workday tomorrow. I felt heaviness in my chest when I looked at the picture of Eric on my dresser. I picked it up and kissed it.

  I sat down on my bed and held it close to my heart. “I don’t know if I should be talking to you about this or not. But I felt like you should be the first to know. I’m starting to feel again. I’m happy, Eric, but I feel guilty about being happy. I don’t want you to think that this means I don’t love you or that I will ever forget about you because you will always live on in my heart, just not in my life.” The tears rolled down my face. “I will always love you – forever.” I placed the picture on my nightstand and just stared at it for a few more minutes. My ringing cell phone broke me from my trance.