James began to pump away, his glutes contracting as his pelvis worked against Rachel’s full, round ass. Rachel had arched her back again as she lost her ability to continue her oral obligations, her hips rocking back to meet James’ pelvis. She slid two fingers into Sarah’s wanton sex and began to fuck her hard, matching James’ rhythm. When he saw that Rachel’s mouth was neglecting his lover’s clit, he pushed her head down between Sarah’s legs and held it there as he began to pound her mercilessly, her screams muffled against Sarah’s slippery wet mound.
The sound and vibrations of her friend’s moans against her pussy combined with the look of pure concentration of James’ face as he held himself back from his second climax was enough to send Sarah’s body over the edge into orgasmic convulsions. James slowed down so that Rachel wouldn’t drown in Sarah’s juices, holding her head back by her hair.
James withdrew and flipped Rachel onto her back where he entered her again, pulling her legs up onto his chest. Sarah, having recovered from her orgasm, knelt by Rachel, bending down to take each of her tender nipples, one at a time, into her mouth to suckle. Rachel came again while Sarah caressed her breasts and James once again slowed to feel her pussy contract around his cock. Sarah slid down the bed and began to kiss James, her mouth still tasting of Rachel, both of them on their knees, her body pressed against his side as he continued to bury his cock again and again in Rachel’s wet, receptive slit.
Finally, James slowed down and commanded the girls to get ready. “I’m going to feed you my cum,” he commanded. They complied, Sarah lying down and leaving room so that James could position himself between them. He pulled the condom off and began to stroke his cock. The girls turned toward him with their mouths open, eagerly awaiting his pearlescent nectar. His fingers began to slow and squeeze, his balls tightening under his throbbing shaft. Without any more than a slight moan, his semen shot out into the space between them, each spurt hitting different facial features: cheeks, tongues, lips, and chins. When both women were virtually coated in his fluids, he backed away and they began to kiss, cleaning each other’s faces and carefully insuring that not a drop was wasted.
James sunk down onto the bed again, his legs quivering as if made of jelly. “And that,” he said at last, pulling both women back into his strong arms, “was the singular most wonderful night I’ve ever had in my entire twenty-nine years.” The three curled together savoring the delicious afterglow.
“Merry Christmas, darling,” Sarah whispered and sealed it with a kiss.
***
Chapter Eleven
Small Packages
There was lots of breathing. Deep, relieved breathing. Lungs full of chilled December air, exhaled into puffs of white, quickly absorbed into the atmosphere.
Sarah could not have imagined a crazier or more demanding semester, and it was finally over. She submitted the last of her grades to the registrar and headed home, her car loaded down with a stack of articles and books she needed to read over winter break, plus a couple of plants that wouldn’t get watered during her three week hiatus.
Her kids had already started their break and were no doubt lounging around the house in their pajamas, if they’d even managed to get out of bed. Sarah declared this first day of the holidays to be a Day of Vegetation. No real clothes. No chores. No obligations. Just eating, sleeping, and entertaining oneself, whether the latter was achieved through a book, a movie, a video game, or whatever means necessary.
Sarah arrived home to find Owen making himself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the kitchen, leaving bread crumbs all over the counter. Guess it’s not a day of no chores for me, she sighed, brushing them off onto her hand and then dumping them in the trash can. She tousled Owen’s dark hair as he carried his sandwich and milk into the dining room and then went to see what Abby was up to.
Sarah found her pajama-clad daughter sprawled out on her bed, her laptop in front of her, completely absorbed in an instant messaging conversation with Tyler. Her grounding sentence was finally over, and so was his. She’d been in an uncharacteristically cheerful mood ever since her punishment had been lifted, even though they hadn’t seen each other outside of school yet. Sarah assumed she’d be asking permission to see him soon.
Sarah grabbed the novel she’d picked up at the library out of her bag and snuggled into her armchair. Out the French doors past the deck, the wind was picking up some stray leaves on the ground and swirling them around. The sun was high in the sky and gave the illusion that it was warmer outside than it really was. Sarah suddenly had a wistful longing for summer. She had a little flashback to that night in early September, when it was still warm and muggy, climbing the stairs to the auditorium in her pink flip flops, having no clue that her life would change later that night when she met James McAllister.
And it has changed, right? she thought. Her heart felt full of thoughts for him. Some were warm, some were confusing, and some were downright troublesome to her. He had left for his homeland in Ohio just a few days before and had only texted her once to let her know he made it safely.
Since then she’d had little visions of him at his parents’ house. Playing with his nieces and nephews, maybe holding his newborn niece for the first time. Watching football with his dad and brothers-in-law. Eating his mother’s home cooked meals. She felt a warm, content vibe radiating eastward from him which helped ease her disappointment at the lack of communication.
She picked up her phone and sent him a little token: Thinking about you xo. She considered how very little he would have to give to make her feel like she was integrated into his life. Just the tiniest of gifts. A few words. She didn’t need much.
She reviewed a conversation they had before he left about how she wanted a holistic relationship with him. His lack of communication made her feel like she wasn’t important to him. She admitted that she hated feeling like she only existed to him when they were together and she made it clear she wasn’t asking or a commitment or any promises, just to be a whole person to him.
He sort of laughed when she said those exact words to him. “Of course I think of you as a whole person!” he defended himself. “How else would I think of you?”
“Then act like it,” Sarah instructed. “Don’t send me one word texts. Ask me how I am. Act like you care what is going on with my life.” She was starting to wonder if this was a result of his age - 29 year old men were not usually known for their advanced maturity and social skills - or if it was a result of his job. She had a feeling that military men specialized in compartmentalizing all the different aspects of their life. How else could they survive deployment? She remembered something her mother told her a long time ago: “We teach others how to treat us.” I’m a teacher, Sarah reasoned, I got this.
He nodded his head as if he understood. Then he questioned her about her relationship with Pawel. It came out something like this: “So, what about that other guy?”
Sarah stared at him blankly.
“You know the one: ‘I intend to sleep with him eventually,’” he did a little impersonation of her. Sarah had to laugh at the way he over-enunciated his words and raised his pitch in an effort to sound like her.
“Ah yes,” she’d replied, after she got past the giggle at his impression, “Pawel.” James nodded. “We are still friends, and yes, seeing each other on occasion. He is from Poland and he’ll be there over the holidays with his wife and family.”
James’ eyes widened. “Poland? He’s married?”
Sarah sometimes had to remind herself that James was...how do I put this without sounding elitist? she questioned. Unenlightened? Unexposed? Hmm…how about just…new at this? “He and his wife have a special arrangement when he’s traveling,” Sarah explained.
James rolled his eyes. “Oh, sure they do. Come on, don’t tell me you really buy that kind of bullshit!” He laughed at her.
Sarah did not appreciate his tone. “Well, you know what? Pawel is an adult, he’s almost 50 years old, and I really don’t
think he has any reason to lie to me, whether his MO is to get in my pants or not.”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night,” James replied coolly, still unconvinced. Sarah noted that he didn’t ask if they’d consummated their relationship. She wondered how he would feel about it, if envisioning her with another man would bother him, especially considering their threesome with Rachel. After all, what’s good for the goose...
Sarah had changed the subject by running her fingers through his hair and pulling him close to her for a kiss. Overall, he did seem a little annoyed by her seeing Pawel. I shared my best friend with him, she could have argued. But I’m a lover, not a fighter! That little thought made her puckered lips spread into a smile against his open mouth. He opened his eyes and asked what was wrong, but she quickly distracted him with kisses down his neck.
Pawel had also wanted to dissect their relationship and clarify their boundaries before leaving for Poland. Oh, men, Sarah thought as soon as he began his speech, they are so damn territorial. He professed that he had special feelings for Sarah, which she was not surprised to hear. He didn’t use the L word, but “special feelings” seemed to be code for it. He danced around asking her outright, but he wanted to know what her intentions were with James. She admitted they were still seeing each other, but not exclusively. Obviously.
As was his custom, Pawel seemed to be looking for a sign, some encouragement to put himself out there, like when he’d tried to kiss her for the first time. His initial attempts were always weak until she gave him positive feedback. Then he would be emboldened. She didn’t grant him any signs this time.
She very much enjoyed Pawel’s company: he was brilliant and refined and was absolutely gifted at courting her. She always had an amazing time no matter what they did together, but that intensity, that passion she felt for James was absent. What she felt with Pawel was a very mild chemical reaction, not the fireworks she felt when she was with James.
But that’s okay, she told herself. Pawel was the type of man she usually dated and found that they made good boyfriends, but not always the best lovers. While she loved the attention and doting she received from men like Pawel, the fiery intensity that came from more confident, secure, and yes, perhaps even aloof men, such as James was so much more sexually appealing to her. She theorized why she found that so appealing. Do I want a challenge? Do I want someone I can’t really have?
Ultimately, that revelation didn’t deter her. This is the brilliance of being a free agent, Sarah thought, cleverly employing a rare sports analogy. I don’t have to choose. I can have my cake and eat it too. Sports analogies, historical references. I’m all over it today, she amused herself. She would continue to be open and honest with both Pawel and James. That’s the only promise she was making.
And with that final thought, she decided to clear her mind of all these thoughts and crack open her book. An unabashed bibliophile, Sarah absolutely adored the sound a new book made when the cover was first opened. Judging from the singular due date stamp in the back, she was the inaugural reader of this particular title. That adds a certain element of honor to it, she thought. She skimmed the acknowledgments and settled into the first chapter, which was full of colorful, juicy description that read like a seven course meal. Sarah was tantalizingly absorbed in the narrative...until the doorbell rang.
Owen’s excitement radar had apparently been set off and he appeared from nowhere, running for the door and turning the handle before Sarah could get up from her chair. It was the UPS delivery driver with a small brown package. Beaming, Owen brought it to his mother, excitedly yelling, “What is it? What is it?”
Sarah laughed, “You’d think it was Christmas around here or something!” She turned the package over in her hands and saw that it was addressed to her, Dr. Sarah Lynde. She shook it a bit but there was no sound. She couldn’t remember ordering anything and she didn’t see a return address.
She walked into the kitchen to cut the seal with a knife. She pried the tape away from the edge of the box and opened it up to find a bunch of burgundy and gold tissue paper wedged inside. She carefully unfolded the many layers and inside was a thin silver strand with a sparkly diamond pendant in the shape of a teardrop surrounded by smaller stones.
Sarah audibly gasped. She didn’t even notice that Owen had followed her into the kitchen and was standing with his mouth open, his eyes fixated on the glittering gems. “Who’s it from, Mom?” he questioned.
There was no accompanying note and no return address anywhere on the package. Sarah didn’t know whether to be ecstatic or disturbed. Who sends a gift with no note? she wondered. She decided she couldn’t wear it until she knew who the giver was, so she carefully folded the necklace back into the tissue paper and set it on top of her chest with her other jewelry.
She hated that the first thought that came to her mind was James. But she was certain he could not have been the one who sent it. They had agreed not to exchange presents and, furthermore, a surprise of that caliber just wasn’t in his character. It had to be Pawel, of course, who was en route to Poland that very moment. She sent him a text right away that said: OMG it’s beautiful! Thank you so much darling! Have a safe trip xoxo
Later that night, she received an email:
Dearest Sarah,
I have arrived safely in the Motherland. All seems well here. My wife has asked a lot of questions about you. She said you are beautiful (I showed her your picture.) So happy that you received the necklace and like it. I can’t wait to see it gracing your lovely neck.
Yours,
Pawel
Sarah was truly at a loss for words. She would have to think of something special to do to thank him when he returned to the states. Pawel was such a beautiful soul. She felt a bit of relief that he had told his wife about her. She assumed he had or he would, but the conversation she had with James about it still echoed in her mind. She went to bed that night with the pendant fastened around her neck thinking how cherished she felt. Her heart felt full of happy feelings and she was more content than she had been in some time.
***
The next day, Sarah and Rachel took the kids into DC to visit the Smithsonian museums. There was a new exhibit in the natural history museum that Sarah wanted to see, and Rachel had volunteered to take the two boys over to the air and space building so Abby and Sarah would have time to linger over the new exhibit without two antsy ten-year-old boys asking when they would get to see the airplanes and rockets four million times.
It was a chilly morning in the nation’s capital and quite the contrast to the stuffiness in the metro. They got off at the Smithsonian stop and rode the long, steep escalator out onto the National Mall. Sarah hadn’t been down to the Mall since cherry blossom time the spring before. She observed how gray and stark the monuments and Capitol looked against the cold December sky. It was a bleak, austere scene, especially in contrast to the softness of her last visit, with the frilly white and pink blossoms framed by wispy clouds under a cerulean blue sky.
Sarah and Abby crossed the Mall to the Natural History Museum and Rachel, Thomas and Owen headed toward the Capitol to the Air and Space Museum. They walked up the steps, through the security check and into the marble rotunda, encircled by large columns and reigned over by a large African elephant. The museum was celebrating its 100 year anniversary and had a special exhibit to commemorate the event. Sarah was also anxious to see the exhibit on evolution.
She and Abby lingered over those two exhibits and then made their way upstairs to the gems and minerals which were Abby’s favorite collection. She ooohed and ahhhed over the Hope Diamond and some of the other jewels, which reminded Sarah that she was wearing her pendant from Pawel and had completely forgotten to tell Rachel about it. She wasn’t sure about showing it to Rachel and confessing that Pawel had sent it their mixed company, so she thought it might be better to wait until they were alone.
Sarah and Rachel texted to determine a place to meet for lunch and they settled on a restau
rant a few blocks away on Pennsylvania Avenue. Once everyone was seated, Owen announced in a bubbly voice, “Hey, Rachel, did you see the necklace my mom got in the mail yesterday?”
Sarah’s cheeks erupted with a light pink flush. Leave it to Owen to spill the beans, she thought. The pendant was tucked under her sweater, but in a microsecond, Rachel had reached across the table and lifted it out to put it on display. “Oh my god, Sarah, that’s absolutely gorgeous! Who gave it to you?!”
“Pawel sent it to me before he left for Poland,” Sarah said calmly, nonchalantly, as if she received precious gems from men every day.
Rachel’s eyes widened, but she seemed to get the hint that further conversation on this topic needed to be out of earshot of the kids. After lunch, she grabbed Sarah’s arm and almost dragged her to the ladies room while Abby begrudgingly watched the boys and listened to one too many jokes about flatulence.
“What does this mean?” Rachel demanded as soon as they were in private...or as private as a public restroom can be.
Sarah shook her head, “It means nothing. He’s just being generous. It’s the way he is. He’s married, you know.”
“Do you wish it was from James?” Rachel always knew right where to slice.
“James will never buy me a necklace,” Sarah replied, refusing to answer the question. On the grounds that it is so ridiculous, she told herself.
Rachel smirked, “You are so fucking lucky. Men never buy me jewelry,” she complained with an exasperated sigh. And with that, they went to rescue Abby from the pre-pubescent male humor she’d been subjected to for the preceding five minutes.
I am lucky, Sarah thought as she collected her things. I hope I never forget how lucky I am.
The Mountains Trilogy (Boxed Set) Page 16