She would have to leave it if that happened, because of course, there would be no way Ben would be able to live in such a backward rural hick town after all the travelling he’d done and all the places he’d seen. And she was supposed to be married now. Was this just hoping to fill a gap? Hoping for some revenge relationship to prove she really was good enough for someone, anyone?
No, she couldn’t stay here. No, she couldn’t move out here. It was totally out of the question. Wasn’t it? She stroked a fingernail on each hand as she considered, the movement unconscious and a habit.
Surely people did that sort of thing all the time? Totally bucking the trend. Starting a fresh life in a new place with new people? Sure folk could do it, if they were strong-willed enough. Mary thought she was strong-willed. Everyone said that about her at home. But was she really?
She listened to her mother gently snoring in the room next door. That kiss. That one kiss may have made all these decisions for her if only her mother hadn’t screamed and broken the moment.
She remembered feeling his breath on her quivering lip. So close. If he hadn’t moved forward and kissed her, she would have made the move for him. Yes, she would have initiated it, but surely it was what he wanted? He wouldn’t have got them in that position if he hadn’t intended to follow through.
Mary smiled to herself. Not a cunning smile of conquest, but one of what may be love. Love at first sight? Does that really happen outside silly romance novels?
God no, she finally admitted. She’d barely known the man for 24 hours and she was already planning out their future. How fucking sad was she? Running her fingers through her hair with a frustrated sigh, Mary turned over in her bed, alone. A fling, that’s what was on the plate. A man like Ben, alone, with no ties—he wasn’t looking for a relationship, he was looking for sex, even if he was nice.
That wasn’t such a bad idea either, though. Hmm, sex with a man as fine as Ben? A throbbing started between her thighs as she thought about it, as dirty thoughts filled her mind with images. Hot, sweaty, purely tawdry images. Could she?
Fuck yes!
Mary squirmed, her thighs rubbing together and making the throbbing worse. Tomorrow she would think about it more. Tomorrow she would perhaps be a little braver and a little more forward. Unless of course her mother ruined the mood again. Life—hers anyway—generally worked that way rather than mirroring soppy romance novels. But she would try. Ben was worth trying for, she knew.
Lillian had fallen asleep exhausted and tired from a long day and perhaps too much wine. But she was happy. She’d seen the exchanges between Mary and Ben, could have caused an explosion if she’d lit a match between them the chemistry was so loaded. This would be a wedding the folk back home would talk about for generations. Her daughter would be marrying a handsome Englishman and not even Connie Baker down the street would be able to talk over that one without turning green with envy. She might be jumping the gun a whole hell of a lot but Lillian knew a thing or two about life, and what she saw blossoming between her daughter and Ben was pretty obvious.
Tomorrow, she would do her best to let love take its course and help it along where she could.
Chapter Eighteen
Ben was up and around bright and early the next morning. He was happy as he strolled around the courtyard in his cargo shorts and sandals, inspecting his plants. Breakfast had been two rounds of toast with a cup of tea. He had his second cup in his hand as he walked around the courtyard dead-heading and talking to his plants. This morning’s conversation with the runner beans was more about last night and Ben’s strange dilemma than how much effort the beans had been putting in since their last chat. Ben realised he was rambling and returned to the task at hand. Last night was last night and may have been a complete and total misunderstanding by all concerned. Today he would focus on taking them to the beach and ensuring a good time for all. Hopefully.
Ben heard the rattling and clanking of the girls hauling their bikes down to the front gate across the car park and went out to meet them. Both were dressed in light cotton tops and wrap-around skirts and looked almost like twins apart from the large floppy straw hat Lillian was sporting.
“Good morning, ladies. All ready for our trip out I see,” Ben said cheerily.
“We certainly are,” Mary replied, smiling. “We guessed there are no changing rooms on the beach so we dressed prepared!”
“Good, sounds like a plan. Great hat, Lillian. Just the job for here,” Ben replied. “Give me a minute to haul the bike out and we’ll get going. It’s not far but we’ll take our time.”
Ben hauled his bicycle out of the courtyard and came alongside them. He wondered if he should have masturbated again this morning as he looked at Mary’s beautiful face, her eyes going over him hungrily. Taking a deep breath he got on his bike, hoping some exercise would do him some good.
Soon they were heading along the lane beside the house and heading for town and the beach. The narrow lane was silent except for the sound of their tyres on the tarmac and a constant twittering of birds. Both Mary and Lillian were more confident in their cycling now and were enjoying the journey. It wasn’t long before they arrived at a junction with the busy main road that runs almost the length of the Algarve from east to west.
“Turn left for Spain or right for the Atlantic and eventually the USA,” Ben remarked. “Be a bit of a pedal across the Atlantic though.”
“You want us to cross over this?” Mary asked as cars roared past them at high speeds. “It’s suicide.”
“Don’t panic, we just sit and wait for a gap and go. Straight across and we’ll be fine,” Ben replied, pointing to the quiet lane on the other side.
“Good grief, these people drive as crazy as people do in North Carolina,” Lillian added. “Not sure I want to take my chances.”
“Okay we’ve a gap coming up. When I say go, we go. Straight across. Get ready! GO!” Ben yelled, pedalling madly as he crossed over the road.
The three of them pedalled straight across the busy road and onto the quiet lane, the ladies faces twin looks of terror. As soon as they got to the other side, Lillian pulled over to the edge of the lane, breathing heavily.
“You okay, Momma?” Mary asked, pulling alongside her mother.
“I don’t think I could do that twice, Mary,” Lillian gasped.
“Oh sure you can, Lillian. It’ll be a lot quieter coming back. Just a bit of work traffic was all. You did fantastic. Nice and easy, let’s get to town and have a drink. You’ll be ready for one I’m sure.” Ben gave her an understanding smile before pushing off once more.
They cycled on into the little fishing town and as promised, Ben pulled them up at a little café in the central plaza. There they sat and drank coffee and nibbled on the local pastries.
“Apart from crossing Hell’s highway, this really is paradise! I can see why you want to live here,” Mary said as she looked around the little square surrounded by bars, cafes and curiosity shops.
“It takes a bit of getting used to. The slowing down and not expecting anything in a rush. But I guess it’s pretty peaceful up in those mountains, right?” Ben replied, trying not to stare down the top of Mary’s blouse that had drooped open as she read something on her phone, the top curve of a rather generous breast on display. He wanted to run a finger over the smooth flesh. He distracted himself by switching his gaze to her mother.
This didn’t really help as it was like looking at perfect copy of Mary, just a few years older. He wouldn’t consider sex with Lillian, but she was a fine looking woman too.
“There are lots of poor folk back home, Ben. No work, no money and no hope for most of them. But it has its moments. Nothing quite like this though,” Lillian said as she reached for another pastry.
“I’m guessing it’s warm enough for the beach. I hope you can both swim,” Ben said, rising from the table, hoping to change the subject.
He paid the bill and they made their way down to the beach. Ben wandered over to the
lifeguard station and rented them all a lounger under one of the large thatched umbrellas.
“If you’re going to do nothing all day, do it in style,” he said as he guided them to a set of empty sun loungers.
“Now this. This is the life, Mary. We sure don’t get to do this back home,” Lillian announced as she stretched herself out on one of the loungers, her arm going over her head as she relaxed, her coverings gone.
“No and we don’t get to see sights like that either, Mom!” Mary nodded towards a well-tanned man of about 70 in speedo trunks massaging sun oil onto a topless girl easily half his age.
“Good grief. I don’t know where to put my eyes. If his trunks were any smaller he might as well not bother wearing them. And it looks like his lady friend made hers out of dental floss!”
Mary snickered, glancing at Ben. He only had eyes for her, she noticed as she took in her outfit. Her bikini was acceptable, she guessed, as she saw his eyes drift slowly down her body.
The older looking gentleman they were discussing looked up at them, smiling.
Lillian and Mary both looked at each other and back at the man turning a deep colour of beetroot.
“Oh heavens, I think he understood us, Mary!” Lillian hissed under her breath as she pulled her hat brim over her face.
“It takes a while for it to sink in that people come from all over the world to be here, doesn’t it?” Ben said sitting on one of the loungers. “Most of them also speak English. You’ll need to learn to leave your inhibitions at the door a bit here and just relax and go with the flow.”
“Well. Going with the flow might take me a bit of getting used to,” Lillian remarked as she gave another sidelong glance at the couple in front of them again. The man rubbing more oil onto the woman’s breasts as she rolled over didn’t help Lillian settle, Ben noted.
Ben laughed as he stood up and strolled off. Looking back over his shoulder he called back. “Don’t go offending the locals while I’m gone, I won’t be a minute.”
He returned five minutes later carrying three glasses and a bottle of wine.
“Here you go. This should help calm your nerves, girls,” He said as he sat down and poured them all a glass of wine.
“Oh, I’m sure it will,” Lillian giggled as she gladly accepted the glass.
Lillian and Mary were slowly beginning to attune themselves to the relaxed and liberal lifestyle down on the beach. Both passed comment on surrounding beachgoers: some wearing far too much for the weather and some needing to cover more, according to the ladies. Ben took it all in his stride and quietly listened in amused silence as a fat German businessman was mocked for his posing pouch, while admiring comments were passed at some of the tanned and well-developed locals.
“So, how about we test out the water? It should be pretty warm in there today,” Ben asked as he stripped down to a pair of colourful Bermuda shorts.
“We won’t have any trouble finding you in a crowd wearing those, will we? I’m so glad you weren’t going to try and get away with a thong. I would have died,” Mary mocked, but he saw her gaze follow the muscles of his stomach down to the top of his shorts. He felt a rush of pride as she inspected him, and another rush of desire for the beautiful woman in her bathing suit. He needed to get in the water so he could hide what she was doing to him by merely existing.
“Too young for a thong, apparently. And I’m too old to try and compete with the guys you’ve both been ogling all morning,” Ben replied with a teasing grin that they soon returned. “So? Anyone for a paddle and a swim?”
Mary and Lillian soon stood and stretched for a moment before walking down to the water’s edge, following Ben down to the shore. Ben was in awe of Mary’s firm, toned body. She was beautiful of course, but in her black bikini, he was taken away by her stunning looks. Lillian too, though some twenty or so years older than Mary, had kept her figure well and certainly didn’t look out of place in her dazzling red two-piece. Ben felt quite flattered to be escorting two glamourous women. He’d noted more than one admiring glance from the men around the beach.
Ben waded into the lagoon and turned to beckon them in. Lillian and Mary cautiously toed the water to test it.
“Wow! This sure isn’t the swimming hole at the creek, Mary,” Lillian announced as she moved deeper into the water. “I’ve had baths colder than this,” she laughed.
Mary went straight for the plunge, diving headfirst into the refreshing water. Her head soon bobbed above the surface some distance ahead of Ben. She was looking at him nervously.
“You okay, Mary?” Ben asked.
“Fish. There are fish in here. Thousands of them. Fish,” she said, flustered.
“They won’t bite you. Just keep an eye out for those jelly fish.” Ben replied, swimming over.
“And no sharks then I hope?” Lillian said as she swam over to join them.
“No, no sharks in here, Lillian. They’re all on the beach trying to sell you stuff,” Ben replied, laughing.
“Apart from a few turtles and the odd snake, we hardly ever saw a fish in the creek at home.” Lillian laughed. “This is fantastic!”
They laughed and splashed and swam for a good while in the warm water, diving through the waves made by the passing water taxis. Exhausted, they made their way back to the sun loungers and the cool of the thatched sun shades.
They’d got themselves resettled and Ben stood up and put on his shirt.
“Are we going? Not just yet, surely?” Mary asked.
“Oh no, not at all. I’m off to get us an ice cream. Portuguese ice cream is delicious. I won’t be long,” Ben replied, turning to head up to the beach bar.
“I think he’s taken a shine to you, young lady. I hope you’ve thought this through,” Lillian said to Mary. “Anyway, when in Rome. I reckon I’ll try a bit of that topless stuff. I’ve got nothing to be ashamed of. Don’t tell your father, though.”
Mary was looking to where Ben was heading, struggling to keep her eyes off him. She hadn’t really heard what her mother said as she watched the man with the roundest, most perfect ass she’d ever seen walk away.
“I think he’s just adorable, Mom. Wait, what did you say? Mom? Are you sure? What if Dad finds out?” Mary sputtered as she turned back to see her mother laid beside her with her bare breasts glowing white in the sunshine. “Make sure you put some oil on them or something or they’ll explode in this heat. I can’t believe you’re doing this. Really, Mom!”
Mary watched with indignation for a moment before she spotted Ben walking away amongst a sea of uncovered breasts. Maybe her mom was right.
“Well then, if you can’t beat them join them, right?” Mary concluded as she removed her own top and laid face down on the lounger alongside her mother.
Drying quickly from the midday sun, the pair lay drowsily under heavy sunglasses. Mary hadn’t been brave enough to turn over yet, but her mother was proudly resting on her lounger, her own generous breasts on display for anybody to see. Her Dad would soon figure out her mother had sunbathed without a top if she didn’t have any tan lines, Mary thought. But that was her mom’s business.
Ben was strolling back with three large ice creams in his hands, enjoying the view of the two women as he approached. It had taken him by surprise when he’d first saw them, Lillian face up, Mary face down. He wasn’t going to pretend he didn’t notice just how lovely Mary’s breasts were if she ever turned over, but felt he should look away from Lillian. With a shrug he walked up to the lounging women and cleared his throat.
“Here we go, ladies. Glad you decided to join in the party,” he said, laughing.
“Oh my god! You’re back!” Mary yelped as she tried frantically to scoop her ample breasts into the top of her bikini, jolting Ben’s arm.
In almost slow motion, one of the ice cream cones fell straight onto Lillian’s well exposed breasts. It sat for a moment, melting before it slid between her fiery cleavage and made its way downward.
Lillian jumped in shock as the
rapidly melting ice cream seeped down her large bosom. Ben moved towards her with a large beach towel.
She glared up at him, stopping him, and looking down at the melting ice cream. A thick white line of had melted between her cleavage and somehow over one nipple.
“Ben. As delightful as you are, if you come near these tits with that towel, my husband will be over that ocean and pounding on your head before you’ve dried a single nipple. Now be so kind as to pass me the cone and the towel please,” Lillian said with embarrassed laughter.
Ben passed the two good cones to Mary. Still gazing at the spectacle in front of him, cautiously passed a cone and towel to Lillian.
Lillian took the cone and scooped what was left of the ice cream back onto it. She then wiped down the remains with the towel and passed it back to Ben.
“My god, Lillian, I am so sorry. It was a terrible accident,” Ben stammered as he lowered himself onto the lounger, unable to look at her for a moment.
He looked at Mary, now with her top on and back at Lillian. Lillian looked back at him and then at Mary. Then the three of them erupted into howls of laughter that had the rest of the beach staring over at them.
“I am so sorry, Ben. That was all my fault,” Mary said. “Sorry Mom. I bumped his arm when he got back and caused the ice cream to fall.”
“It’s okay, honey, it was darn cold ice cream that’s for sure. I don’t know who got the biggest shock there. Me or Ben.” Lillian laughed and cradled her breasts as if the ice cream had plopped onto her once more, chilling her.
“Weird, though. I was okay until Ben turned up. Maybe naked on a beach is just okay with strangers?” Mary said.
“Well I can go for a walk around town if you’d like. I certainly don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable,” Ben replied as he stared off over the sea, the memory of how glorious her breasts was making the need for a walk almost a requirement. He’d caught a memorable glimpse when she’d sat up to cover herself and it was a sight he wouldn’t soon forget.
Housekeeping Page 71