Idle Bloom

by Jewel E. Ann

  My dad turns, giving me a wide-eyed look. I shrug.

  “Well, thanks for taking care of him. Make sure he treats you right.”

  It’s my turn to roll my eyes. If he only knew what this woman has put me through today.

  Vivian smiles. “Oh, I will.”

  Dad pats me on the shoulder. “Looks like you’re in good hands.”

  He wouldn’t say that if she drove him home.

  “Mmm, yes. See ya, Dad.”

  Vivian dangles my key again. “Shall we?”

  *

  We make it back in record time, the screech of the tires and the whispering of my desperate prayers the only sounds breaking the silence.

  She tosses my keys on the counter. “Um … so, is there anything else you need before I go home?”

  I chuckle and stare at her, loving the way she squirms when I look at her. She’s fidgety, unsure of where to look and what to do with her hands.

  “As a matter of fact, there is one more thing I need.” I move closer, backing her up against the wall.

  She risks a quick glance up and swallows. “What’s that?” she squeaks.

  I peel her damp top off and my dick goes from hard to concrete when I see her firm nipples pressed into red lace. Her shorts go next. I love seeing her chest rise and fall like a strong tide as full red lips part and soft eyes gaze at me on my knees. Pressing my nose to her matching lace panties, I inhale her scent and smile when I hear her breath catch.

  I don’t recognize myself with her. Thoughts and desires that I used to suppress have been unleashed and can no longer be ignored. Gripping her thighs, I clench the waist of her panties with my teeth and drag them down her legs.

  Her hands fist my hair. “Oli … your head—”

  “Is fine.”

  I devour her. She is the antidote for the poison that is my past. Spreading her open, I take everything until all that’s holding her up is the wall and my hands on her legs. She yells my name over and over, desperate words fade to soft whimpers in my ears as her sweet taste infiltrates my mouth.

  Then I remove my clothes, turn her around, hands pressed to the wall … and I take more.

  *

  Here I am, once again. The sun peeks over the horizon and despite the humiliation, the hot coffee that threatened to singe my nuts, my excessive intoxication, a gouge to my head, and a near-death ride to the hospital … I’m alive. My head, however, wishes that weren’t the case. There’s nothing quite like blunt trauma to the head to make a hangover feel like a jackhammer on my brain.

  “Hey,” a sleepy whisper sounds behind me. Vivian squints her eyes behind her matted hair that seems to be at war with itself.

  Wearing only my T-shirt, she lifts her slender leg and straddles mine stretched out on the lounge chair. Her lips brush against the colorful border of my eye and stitched skin. “I’m sorry.”

  “You have a tattoo, and I’m Scarface. We’re a real badass couple.”

  She smiles so bright, it feels like she’s saying, “Take that, sun.”

  “You’re up early.” I rub my nose against hers.

  “I was lonely in bed.”

  I chuckle then grimace as it intensifies the throb in my brain. “I doubt that. You have a habit of stealing the covers and crowding me out of my own bed.”

  She kisses my forehead and rubs gentle circles along my temples. “I think you’re exaggerating.”

  I slide my hands up her thighs. “I’m really not, but it’s okay. I like seeing your naked body sprawled out on my bed, even if my view is from the floor.”

  She shakes her head. “I’m going home. I need a shower and dry clothes.”

  Another grimace as I attempt to smile.

  “Have you taken something for the pain?”

  “I took you against the wall last night and then two more times in bed.”

  “Sex? Really? That’s your analgesic?”

  I skim my hands over her stomach to her bare breasts. “Yes, and my last dose is wearing off.”

  “I have to get ready for work.” She grinds against me, proving her body doesn’t agree with her words.

  “I’ll be quick.” I slide my thumb down between her legs and circle over her sensitive, wet skin.

  “But people can see us.” She closes her eyes and I know she’s throwing out random excuses that won’t change what’s happening.

  “Didn’t stop you yesterday.”

  She’s gone. Her lips collide with mine as she rocks her hips into me. “Mm-my phone.” She pulls away and climbs off me.

  I reach for her, but she’s too fast.

  I sigh. “Have you heard of voice mail? What are you, on call or something?”

  “Nobody calls me this early in the morning unless it’s an emergency.”

  Apparently a swollen penis doesn’t qualify as an emergency in her category.

  “I have to go.” She gives me a quick kiss on the cheek.

  “Whoa, wait! Where are you going?”

  “Kai needs me.”

  I fight through the beating drum in my head to stand up and follow her. “Kai, as in your ex-boyfriend?”

  “As in my best friend.” She grabs her wadded up damp clothes off the floor next to the wall.

  “Is he hurt or in trouble?”

  “Sort of hurt.”

  “I don’t follow.”

  She opens the front door. “Kate, his girlfriend, left him.”

  I laugh. “You can’t be serious. That’s the emergency?”

  “Don’t be so insensitive. I’ll see you after work.”

  “Wait! You’re not walking across the street wearing only my shirt.”

  “Chill, Oli. I have dresses that show more leg than I’m showing right now.” She blows me a kiss and shuts the door.

  I didn’t need to know that.

  Chapter Twelve

  Three’s Company

  Vivian

  I hate leaving Oli, especially when we were getting ready to have sex again. I love sex with Oli. If I had a car I’d get a bumper sticker that said so. Maybe I should get a tattoo that says it. Maybe not. Then again, what if it’s not Oli? What if I just love sex? I mean, sex addiction is real. Could I have it? How would I know?

  I tiptoe down his front steps in my bare feet and halt when I look up. Across the street Kai sits on my steps.

  “I said I’d come to your place.” I stop at the bottom of the steps in front of him.

  His eyes search the length of my body. “You also said you were at home.”

  “No, I said I was getting ready to take a shower.”

  Kai clenches his jaw, dark eyes glaring at me. “Please tell me you didn’t give him your …”

  “My what? Virginity?”

  Kai doesn’t respond.

  “It’s none of your business.” I march up the stairs, past him, to the door. “Did Kate kick you out of your own place? Is that why you’re here instead of waiting for me to come to you?”

  He follows me inside and shuts the door. “No, she moved out two days ago.”

  I turn. “What the hell? Then why did you call me at five-thirty in the morning acting all pissed off and distraught like she literally just walked out on you?”

  “Were you at his house all night? Is that his shirt?”

  I shake my head. “Wh-what are you talking about? Why are you asking me this? I thought you needed to see me right away.”

  “Just answer the question!”

  “What question?” I’m so confused. We’re supposed to be talking about Kate but he’s not said her name even once.

  “Did you sleep with him?”

  “Yes! Jeez, why do you care?”

  He paces the length of the room. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  Crossing my arms over my chest, I laugh. “You do see the irony in you saying that to me, right?

  He sighs. “God! I’m sorry, I messed up. I’ve said it a million times. What more can I say? What more can I do?”

  “Nothing! That’
s just it. I don’t expect you to do anything. I’m not asking for you to apologize anymore. But don’t ask me to spend the rest of my life reassuring you that it’s okay. I’m fine. I’m moving on and so should you.”

  “Viv—”

  “Don’t Viv me. Now, do you want to talk about Kate?”

  He shakes his head.

  “Go home, Kai. I have to get to work.”

  *

  When my dad was too busy working, Kai taught me how to ride my bike without training wheels. He lived four houses down from us, and I’m pretty sure I loved him from the moment he split his grape twin Popsicle with me after I took my first two-wheeled spill. We were inseparable. I played ninjas with him and he played house with me. He was my first kiss and I was his. We were seven and our moms had us kiss for a photo on Valentine’s Day, but it still counted. I wanted to be Kai’s first everything and him to be mine.

  Me: Sorry I skipped out so early. I REALLY wanted to stay :)

  Oli: Lunch?

  Me: Can’t, Maggie is gone today.

  Oli: You’re alone?

  Me: Just me and the Cannabis.

  Oli: What?

  Me: For medicinal purposes of course.

  Oli: Funny

  Me: It is?

  Oli: I’ll see you in an hour.

  Me: :)!!!!!!

  “I had to bring my sidekick. We’ll have to reschedule our nooner. Sorry, Viv.” Chance comes through the door first, carrying a pizza box.

  I untie my green apron and wink walking past him and straight into Oliver’s arms. He hugs me and lifts me off the ground laying a long, sound kiss on my lips. “Hi.”

  “Hi.” He grins.

  I kiss one dimple and then the other.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Kissing your adorable dimples.”

  He shakes his head and releases me to the ground. “Not the dimples.”

  I slip my hands into his back pockets. “Oli, you count my freckles for heaven’s sake. I think that entitles me to kiss and swoon over your dimples.”

  “Oli?” Chance turns around with a huge grin. “You let her call you Oli?”

  “Zip it!”

  I look back and forth between them. Oliver frowns with a scowl of warning while Chance feigns innocence with his single-dimpled grin.

  “Would someone please explain what the big deal is? Oli is the common nickname for Oliver.”

  Chance moves his gaze to me. “Oliver’s first girlfriend when he was … What were you? Nine? Ten?”

  Oliver continues to glare.

  “Anyway, her name was Molly. Oli and Molly sitting in a tree—”

  Oliver begins to close the distance with his fists clenched at his sides.

  Chance holds up his hands. “Okay, okay … I digress, said tree is still in our parents’ backyard with O plus M equals heart carved into it. Molly broke his heart a week later when she left him for Tommy who was a year older and, in her words, ‘had grown out of his boyhood name and was now going by Thomas.’ That’s the day Oli became Oliver and he threatened to beat up anyone who ever tried to call him Oli again.”

  I laugh. “Is this true?”

  Oliver looks down at me and nods just once.

  “My point …” Chance speaks up, “… is that you must have some serious pussy power over him if he’s letting you call him Oli.”

  “Shut up. You’re so crude.”

  Inside I’m rolling around, holding my belly. After last night, I know that both the Konrad boys have the same dirty thoughts going through their mind. The only difference being Oliver is more refined, showing restraint and using a filter for his thoughts before they reach his mouth—except when he’s drunk.

  Chance folds his slice of pizza toward the middle and shoves half of it in his mouth.

  “So did you get this weekend off?” I pick the black olives off my slice of pizza.

  They both look at me in confusion.

  “Cape Cod? This weekend? Alex and Sean invited us to go with them?”

  Oliver chews in slow motion, squinting his eyes.

  “I asked you yesterday at Dunks.”

  Chance chokes on his pizza. Oliver shakes his head and rolls his eyes. I see what I’m not supposed to hear.

  “You told him?”

  Oliver shakes his head while swallowing what’s in his mouth. Chance snickers, refusing to make eye contact with me.

  “You told him!”

  “No, I didn’t. I only told him I knocked over my coffee, that’s all. I swear. I don’t know why he’s acting like a dumb-ass who knows something he really doesn’t.”

  I glare at Chance. He holds up one finger as he swallows. “True. When he showed up for work he told me he spilled his coffee.”

  Oliver lifts his shoulders with a wide-eyed I-told-you-so look.

  “But … he shared a different much more interesting story after his fourth beer last night.” Chance wiggles his eyebrows and I want to die.

  Now Oliver chokes. “I did … not!”

  “Yeah, ya did, Bro. And I suspect there’s more to the cut on your head story, but we’ll save that for the next round of beers. By the way, Viv, you can take me out to breakfast anytime you want.” He winks.

  I don’t question Chance because I too got quite the earful of Oliver’s uncensored beer lips last night.

  Oliver shakes his head and chuckles. “How is it that I’m getting so much grief about this, like I did something wrong? Was public humiliation, hot coffee in my lap, and a trip to the emergency room not enough to warrant a pardon for the few indiscretions I may have had?”

  Grabbing the neck of his T-shirt, I pull him closer and kiss his cut. “I forgive you, Oli.”

  “Gee, thanks.”

  “So, what I was trying to tell you yesterday is that Sean’s family has a place in Cape Cod and we’ve been invited to go with him and Alex to stay there for the weekend.” I look at Chance. “That is, if your boss will give you the weekend off.”

  “Oliver doesn’t ask me for anything. It’s not up to me if he goes.” Chance tosses the pizza box in the trash. “Wrap it up, I’ll meet you in the truck. Thanks for the nooner, Viv.”

  “Bye, Chance.” I look at Oliver, trying to decipher what his expressionless face means. “So you’ll go this weekend?”

  “I don’t know. A weekend away with your friends, that’s …”

  “What? Fun? Relaxing?”

  “Serious.”

  “Serious?” I twist my lips to the side and take a step back, leaning against the checkout counter. “Okay, well I’m still going.”

  He nods. “You should. They’re your friends and you’ll probably have a lot of fun.”

  “I’d have more fun if you were going.” I’m disappointed and hurt, but I’m only letting him see the disappointment. Somewhere over the past few weeks I thought we’d established an unspoken understanding that our relationship was serious—evidently not.

  He holds out his hand, I take it, and allow him to pull me into his arms. “I have to go, but I’ll see you later.”

  With a kiss and a smile, he’s out the door. I berate myself for feeling so let down. Oliver is everything I never expected. Asking for more is slapping mercy in the face. I’ll take every look, every touch, and every whisper he’s willing to give me. The problem is the only place I have to keep them is my heart.

  *

  Oliver

  The morning sun has become the opening act for the real star of my days—Vivian. She’s this blinding light that makes me forget where I’ve been and not care where I’m going. I don’t know what we are, we just are.

  “You’re going to miss me.” She slips on her sundress, without underwear. I prop my head up with my hands laced behind my head, enjoying the view from my bed.

  “I am, so you should stay tonight so I can get my fill before you leave.”

  She slingshots her lace panties at me. “Keep those as a souvenir. I can’t stay, I have to pack tonight. Kai is picking me up at six in th
e morning.”

  “Kai?” I prop up on my elbows and can’t help but grin as she wets her lips with her gaze on my flexed abs.

  “Uh … yes, I’m riding with him because Alex and Sean left yesterday.”

  “So just you and Kai?”

  “Yes. Kate was supposed to go too, but since the breakup she’s obviously not going and you’re not going, so it will be the four of us.” She kisses me and I harden again with the simple slip of her tongue. “Bye, Oli,” she whispers.

  She’s on her back and I’m hovering over her in a breath of time that doesn’t exist between us.

  “Oli!”

  “I changed my mind.” My hands slide up her silky legs, taking her dress with them. “You don’t need to spend time with your friends.” The moment my lips find hers, she relaxes her legs and I sink into her. A soft moan escapes as she wraps her long legs around my waist. It feels like her body is telling mine to lead the way, that she’ll go anywhere I go.

  After I take her with the same depraved greed with which I stole her innocence, I watch her walk out my door. She looks back just once and I see stars in her emerald eyes. They’re filled with dreamy illusions, like she knows me, but … she doesn’t. I wish to God she did.

  *

  I never know what the sunrise will reveal. Sometimes the bright blue sky brings a sense of clarity. Sometimes I see hidden messages in the dull reddish-orange horizon. Other days the clouds morph into a question mark, no doubt symbolic of my recent state of being. Today, however, the message is clear. The woman who has infiltrated my life in every way possible is not going to Cape Cod with Kai and not me.

  My bag is packed and loaded into my trunk. I lean against the driver’s door as Kai pulls up in his gray Honda.

  “Kai, is it?” I offer my hand as he gets out. “I’m Oliver Konrad. We met at The Green Pot.”

  He stares at my hand a moment before shaking it. “You up early just to tell Viv goodbye?”

  “Actually, my schedule has changed and I’ll be going with you.” If it makes me a dick that I enjoy wiping Kai’s smug expression off his pretty boy face, then so be it. After treating me like a complete nobody when we first met and taking Vivian away from me with his needy, emotional, my-girlfriend-dumped-me saga, I think I’ve earned the right to dish out a little payback.