Two Can Play

by K. M. Liss

  I'm guessing this could be hard work. Keeping him at arm’s length, or even wanting to. But he's so much fun and I really do need this distraction. He's gonna lift my mood and get me over the hard part.

  I rummage around in my suitcase. I do have one black bikini. And it's pretty tiny. I undress and slip it on. After clipping my hair up, I add sunglasses and a slick of pink lipstick. I put my black flip-flops on and head off with a big white towel tucked under my arm.

  I arrive at the poolside as he's finishing putting the cushions on the double lounger.

  “Wow, that's...err...a very nice look, Kate,” he says, his eyes fastened on my boobs.

  “Oh, thank you,” I reply, with mock innocence.

  He really is a dirty bastard. Or is he just a normal man? I've no idea? I can't help but smile at him as his eyes finally drag themselves away from my chest reluctantly.

  He strips off his tank and I have a good ogle at his stunning back tattoos.

  “God help me, let me get a close look at those hot things,” I say, grabbing his lean muscled waist and pulling him toward me for some much closer inspection. “Oh, I do love the angels and chains, they're so gorgeous, Bren.” I trace my finger over the black designs.

  Suddenly I'm a dirty bitch as well. Or maybe just a normal woman? My mouth is almost watering over him.

  Yummy, lick-able. Seriously sexy.

  I try to keep my tongue inside my mouth, but it's hard.

  I tell myself it's the tattoos sending me into a wild state of lust, not him. But I don't think I'm listening to myself anymore. Not at the moment anyway. I think severe overtiredness and delirium have taken control of my mind.

  But Bren's assets are certainly distracting me very well. Amazingly, for a brief moment, I can't even remember what Aaron's tattoos look like.

  “I'm having another one done tomorrow afternoon if you wanna tag along and watch me suffer.”

  “I wish I had the guts to get one myself. I'd love a rose design on my forearm.”

  “Jacie's a real expert, she's done a few of mine now, the one on my arm here and that one there.” He points as some exceptional small designs. “She's at Hart & Huntingdon, and it's a pretty cool place. Want me to get you in there straight after me if she's got a free slot?”

  “Well if you're gonna be there to hold my hand, yeah...maybe that's a good idea. You can help me choose. You've got such good artistic taste.”

  “Sure thing, honey. You're on. Now in you go.”

  He gives me a shove and I topple backward into the water with a shriek. I'm still wearing my sunglasses and flip-flops as I hit the cool of the pool surface.

  I come up with a cough and a splutter as he bombs in hard next to me.

  I laugh out loud. I can tell I'm gonna have one helluva vacation here.

  We're lying in the sun laughing and chatting. He's such easy company to keep. So damn naughty, though. Every other sentence is an innuendo.

  We've slipped into an easy friendly state. I discover that although Harry looks much younger than his years, he's actually fifty in one month's time. The same age as Mom. He's been divorced for fifteen years.

  My lack of sleep finally catches up on me.

  I yawn. “Must close my eyes now, no proper sleep for thirty-six hours.”

  “Poor tired baby. Come here and cuddle up. Let's sleep together, just this once.”

  “Don't start getting any ideas.” I laugh.

  “I got ideas comin' hard and fast, but don't worry, I'm a true gentleman.”

  I laugh as I snuggle up close and he wraps his arm around my waist. I relax in the heat and start to doze. As I drift off I'm aware of him kissing my head and pulling me closer, hard against him.

  It's blissful. But I need to be so careful here. My overwrought and overtired brain finally shuts down and I fall asleep.

  ~ * ~

  I wake in the dark, in bed. I'm not sure where I am for a minute.

  Then I remember, Las Vegas, new home, new room.

  I turn the light on above my head.

  The digital clock at the bedside says 5:30 a.m.

  That was one long doze. Ten hours at least. Christ!

  I'm wearing my bikini. I guess Bren carried me in here when it got dark, but I can't remember anything about that. I must have been dead to the world.

  I lay there, staring at the ceiling thinking about Aaron. The things we did. How wonderful it was, he was. All of it was just perfect. My heart stabs with pain yet again. I want him so much. I can almost feel him inside me, and his fingers winding in my hair. The smell of him, the taste.

  After a while I stop myself indulging in my misery. I put on a T-shirt and shorts and grab my laptop, heading off for the living room. I move around quietly trying to find the modem and Wi-Fi password. I finally discover it in the study, on the bookshelf. I turn the light on and type the password into my computer and then slip back to my room into my cozy white king.

  I look up Shannon Moore on YouTube. Nothing showing on her new song. But I don't suppose it would yet. I look at his Facebook profile and my stomach flips and tightens painfully at the sight of him.

  Shouldn't be looking...

  I read the CNN World News page to calm down.

  I Google a few queries—why the hell I'm Googling Aaron, I just don't know. Other than Facebook there's nothing anyway. Not that I expect there would be, or that I even know what I'm looking for or why I'm torturing myself really.

  I go to my Facebook page and add a status update.

  “Having awesome time in Vegas. Jesus, it's hotter than ever! Chilling at Harry's cool new house.”

  I add a couple of pictures I've taken via my cell phone. The pool, a selfie of me lying on my white silky king surrounded by white cushions in my gorgeous room, and another of the amazing view from the pool deck. I'm hoping Aaron sees this, and thinks of me. But what he'll think, I just don't know.

  I deal with my emails, send a few texts to my friends, and let Sienna know that I can't come to her party, but I'll take her out to dinner wherever she likes when I get back.

  All caught up with personal things, I grab my towel and set off for an early morning swim.

  It's so warm outside, just beautiful. I strip off my T-shirt and shorts and dive in and swim around for a while. Then, feeling a little tired, I lay my head back on the infinity edge and float, my mind starting to doze. I don't know what the time is or where I am in terms of time zones. Jet lag pisses me off, and it goes on for days.

  “Hey, you're up early?” Bren's deep voice startles me out of my dozing and I turn, smiling.

  “Hey, so are you,” I point out.

  “I'm always up and at 'em in the mornings,” he says and smiles a wicked little smile and I smile back, “and I like a swim. It gets me pumping and sets me up for the day.” He jumps in beside me. “I might be pumping a bit more than usual today.”

  Jeez, has he started on me already?

  “God, are you really hitting on me this early? I'm not listening, my head's still asleep, on the pillow, or more like on the poolside at the moment.”

  “Maybe mine can join yours on the pillow later?”

  “You've got your own pillow, mister, stick yours on that.” I smirk. He laughs at me.

  “Sleep well, did you?”

  “Like a log.”

  “You were a real-life Sleeping Beauty last night.” His warm brown eyes scan my face and my breath catches in my throat.

  “Oh, really? You didn't steal a kiss, did you?” I joke.

  “More than one.”

  “Please tell me you didn't,” I protest.

  “You're way too irresistible not to.” He laughs.

  I smack his arm.

  “Don't kiss me when I'm sleeping, right?” I try to sound annoyed but he has such a bad expression on his face I can't stop myself smiling.

  “Kate, I didn't touch you. I'm just fooling around,” he lies blatantly.

  “Sure.” I smile to myself. I know he did. The one by th
e pool wasn't the only one.

  “I got you booked in with Jacie D. At five this evening.”

  “Really? My stomach's churning all ready.”

  “There's nothing to get nervous about. It's uncomfortable, that's all.”

  “I'm terrified about needles and things. That's why I've never had one done before. I nearly passed out when I had my tongue pierced when I was at college. I think that might have been what put me off actually.”

  “You're crazy cute, Kate. Don't you worry. I'll take care of you. Definitely wanna do that.”

  He sweeps over me and before I know what's happening his mouth covers mine in a soft and highly arousing kiss. His hand slides beneath my bikini bottoms, grabbing a handful of my ass, the other under the strap of my top. After a shock registering delay, I push him away, my heart pounding fast. I can't deny I really enjoyed all that.

  “Stop it,” I murmur half-heartedly.

  “It was just a kiss, that's all.”

  “It was a bit more hands on than a kiss. Please don't, Bren.”

  “Oh come on, we can have some fun, can't we? Nothing heavy.”

  I relent a little. “Let's see how it goes for a few days. We hardly know each other.” As I say the words, I feel as though I am being unfaithful to Aaron. But, he left me. And, I need to recover from that. Fun with Bren? I don't know? Possibly. We’ll see. It’s just not me to move from one guy to another. But, perhaps I need fun for now.

  A broad smile lights up his face. “Sure, I'm cool with that. Getting to know you better for a few days has a lot of appeal.” His eyes probe mine, little pools of warm chocolate that melt my insides as they ooze their way into my brain. Then he pushes away from me, swimming off, up and down the pool, getting his morning fix. I watch for a while, enjoying the scene as he streaks fast through the water.

  He swims back to me as I laze there, ready to doze off again in the early morning sun. “I'm going out for some food. D'you wanna come?”

  “No thanks, not hungry.” I am a little hungry in truth, but I need to put some distance between us.

  “See ya a little later then.” And he gets out of the pool, wipes himself down, strides off, slinging his towel over his broad shoulder.

  Although there's undeniably a strong physical attraction, I cannot possibly go the whole way with another guy so soon after Aaron.

  It's indecent, and not right. I've got to get over him first. On my own. Just a little bit of time is all I need.

  But then again, I know Bren's not offering anything serious. It's a casual hook up. A quick fling. A fun-filled vacation with some hot bedroom benefits. I've never had a deliberate fling before. Not even a one-night stand. Maybe it's time I did. Maybe it's time to stop investing myself so heavily and just take what's offered, when I want it. It could be great fun and really hot. But how will I feel afterward? What'll happen when we see each other again? Will it be more of the same? Supposing I get really into him? I stop arguing with myself and thinking myself in circles.

  Jesus, my head's in a tailspin.

  I push off with my feet against the side and swim up the pool to the shallow end steps.

  I smile to myself as an amusing thought crosses my mind. At least I know one thing for sure, Bren's not after my money or my heart; it's only my body he wants.

  And I do want his. But not the possible complications. He's almost family.

  Oh fuck, here I go again.

  Sometimes I wish I had an off switch for my thoughts.

  HIM

  I sit in my office staring at her Facebook photos, and my gut’s churning in reaction to seeing the picture of her.

  I run my hands through my hair in frustration. It's only been a couple of days, but it feels like forever. I promised myself a week, and to see how I felt after that.

  But she's way too adorable. I want her back, right now, somehow. And I'm not too good at apologies.

  Jack walks in my office, interrupting my daydreaming.

  “Doing anything later?” I ask. I think a night out with the guys will push her to the back of my mind for a while, because at the moment she's all I think about. I'm snappy and irritable. I even criticized Karen over nothing much at all. I've never done that before. She's a godsend. I need to put that right straight away.

  “Nothing special planned. Why, want a night out?”

  “Yeah, maybe a club night, the Marquee perhaps?”

  “Bar, club, whatever you like. I'll see if the others wanna come, shall I?”

  “Sure, that'll be good. I need some uncomplicated male company, a lot of drink, crowds, and loud music to drown in.”

  “Oh yeah? Messy trip, was it?” He laughs. Jack knows me only too well.

  “Hmm, a shitload of messy.”

  “Karen mentioned you had a lot of trouble with your mom.”

  “Mother-wise, we've made up, sort of.”

  “You have? I thought she was taking you to court?”

  “We came to an arrangement. And we're friendly now. It's in the early stages, but I'm hopeful.”

  “So what's messy then? Don't tell me some chick's actually got her claws in you?”

  “Kate does not have claws,” I say, defensively.

  He raises his eyebrows. “Oh, it's Kate, is it? And who is Kate exactly?”

  “She's the one who wrote Shannon's song.”

  “Right, and you have more than an interest in her songs, do you?”

  “Maybe.” I'm trying to stop myself scowling at him.

  “I'm gonna get you blasted and drag it all out of you later.”

  “I'll make sure I stay sober then.”

  “How many times did you do her? What was she like, any good?” He smirks at me, deliberately winding me up. This is the standard of normal conversation between Jack and me. He may be my employee but he's also a really good friend of mine. The things we've got up to together, with girls and other things...kinda bad things actually.

  “Shut the fuck up,” I snap. I can't help it. I'm getting annoyed with his crass and thoughtless probing. It seems I'm rather protective about Kate.

  “Well, well, it sounds like she's got a real hold of you, pal. I'm shocked.”

  “So what if she has?”

  He puts his hands on the desk and looks at me closely.

  “About fucking time, bud. You need a real girlfriend, Aaron. It's cool, don't fight it.”

  “You'd know all about what I need, wouldn't you?”

  “Look, I've been with Lolo for months. I admit I completely love the woman. She actually makes me feel good about myself. And you know what I used to be like. How many girls did I get through, hmm? Way more than you. You're a saint compared with me. Well I can tell you this, having a regular girlfriend is so much better than screwing everything in sight. I was sick to death of doing it. It didn't thrill me much in the end.”

  “Yeah, well you did overdo it, didn't you? And I know what you're saying is true...but it might not work out anyway. I don't know. We didn't part too well.”

  “Hey, pull out all the stops and go for it if you want her. None of us know whether it'll work, longer term, do we?” he points out realistically.

  “I guess not.” I give him a dark look. A real “shut up please I don't want to talk about it” look.

  “Oh, lighten up for fuck's sake, will ya?”

  I try to smile at him. I know he means well. He's a great friend of mine really.

  “I'm having a hard time adjusting to things at the moment,” I admit.

  “Where is she anyway? Venice?”

  “No she's in Vegas now, but she lives in L.A.”

  “Is that worse or better than Venice...? How the hell's that gonna work?”

  “Really not sure yet. Not sure of a lot of things. But yeah, distance is definitely a big issue.”

  HER

  I'm sitting in the kitchen having a cup of coffee and a ham sub when I finally get to meet Kelsey.

  I look up and say “hi” with a smile as she swans in through th
e front door, loaded down with designer shopping bags and staring at her cell intently. Too blonde and over endowed with female attributes. None of her seems to be natural, I think unkindly. False tits, bleached hair, false nails, false eyelashes, tons of makeup, tattoos and piercings everywhere, and very scantily dressed.

  “Hey, hon,” she says, passing me by. “Wait up, be back in a mo.’”

  I sit and wait for at least twenty minutes before she deigns to reappear. I'm feeling diva vibes coming off her in waves.

  “I'm Kate,” I introduce myself.

  “Yeah, I guessed. I'm Kels.” She eyes me up with a touch of hostility, giving me the once over, dismissing me as no competition, I guess. I curb the desire to laugh out loud. Apart from my blonde highlights, I'm all natural. We're about as polar opposite as we could get. I couldn't and don't want to compete with her.

  “How was your night out downtown?” I ask her, trying to be friendly.

  “Good. I've got some old school friends here. They work at the strip together in a restaurant, so we went to a bar,” she pauses and her eyes stare into mine, unblinking, I feel awkward. “So how's everything? Where are Dad and Bren?” I notice she doesn't ask about Mom.

  “Everyone's out. Bren went out for food ages ago and hasn't come back yet, and my mom and your dad are doing something downtown. We're meeting them for dinner tonight, at eight.”

  “Cool....” She looks at her iPhone again and texts someone.

  “Want a cup of coffee?” I offer.

  “Nah, gotta crash, been up all night, then I hit the stores, sooo...need serious shut eye. Catch ya tonight....” She wanders off, texting.

  “Sure, nice to meet you, too. See you later, Kels,” I reply a touch sarcastically to her retreating back.

  I was hoping she'd be friendlier than that, but it's early days and she's tired. Maybe she'll warm up later.

  I wash up my mug and still hungry, make myself another sub with cheese and pour a glass of juice. I wander around, grabbing my iPod and ear buds and end up by the pool again. I sit in the sun, stretching out my bare legs on the pool lounger. I eat and drink and then doze under the shade of the huge parasol. It's really feeling like a vacation now. It's hot and a light breeze is blowing lulling me off to sleep.