Hot Summer

by Judy Powell

  “Sounds good.”

  She inserted the CD into the machine and as the soulful voice filled the room Lance gently pulled her into his arms.

  “Dance with me?” he whispered, and began to rock his hips to the music as he pulled her into him.

  Without her shoes she was just tall enough to rest her head where the hair of his chest peeped out from the V of his shirt. She relaxed against him and followed his lead, losing herself in the feel of his body against hers. She could hear the slow, steady beat of his heart and wondered if he could feel her own. It was pounding so hard in her chest. She closed her eyes and let the strains of ‘She Gives Me Crazy Love’ fill her being.

  She kept her eyes closed even when Lance put a strong finger under her chin and tipped her head up so that he could brush his lips against hers. He teased them, nibbling on them then sucking gently, until she began to respond to his expert mouth. He kept on moving while his kiss got more insistent, more urgent until she could think no longer, but only feel – the luxurious warmth of his sinewy body, the firmness of his muscles beneath her fingers, the hard length of him against her body.

  She didn’t resist when he guided her gently over to the couch where he lay down and pulled her on top of him. They didn’t break the kiss. She pressed her body against his and stroked his arms as they embraced.

  Then she pulled away from the kiss, but only to move her lips across his cheek to nibble on his right ear lobe, then down his neck to his chest. She slid her body down his so that she could have access to him and brushed her lips in the springy hair at the opening of his shirt.

  With trembling fingers she opened the top button, then the next, until she could slide her hands in and caress the broad expanse of his chest. She lowered her lips and gently licked one nipple, then the other, until his breath came fast and a moan escaped his lips.

  He gripped her under the arms and pulled her back up to his hungry mouth. He held her head in a large hand and ravished her mouth so sweetly that she shivered with desire.

  Suddenly he stopped. He pulled back from the kiss.

  “Summer, wait,” he whispered hoarsely. “I don’t want to rush you into this thing.”

  She glared at him, “Don’t you dare stop this time.”

  “Are you sure you want…”

  “More than anything,” she whispered.

  He pulled her back into his arms and kissed her again, this time more gently than before, then slid his legs to the ground and rose with her in his arms. She put her arms around his neck and rested her head on his chest as he strode purposefully towards the bedroom.

  As Lance laid Summer on the soft quilt of her four poster bed he lowered his head to kiss her deeply, and as he kissed her his warm fingers slid slowly and seductively down her leg where they caught the hem of her silk dress. Just as slowly, the fingers slid back up her thighs bringing the hem of her dress with them.

  It was only when the garment was gathered around her waist, fully exposing her slender legs and sheer black thong that Lance pulled away to stare admiringly at her almost naked body.

  “You’re beautiful,” he whispered, and bent his head to plant a kiss right where the undergarment disappeared between her trembling legs.

  She sucked in her breath at the shock of the intimate contact and her eyes widened as she felt pleasure flow through her body like molten lava. She had never before experienced anything so sensual, so sweet as this, and she gave herself up to the pleasure of it.

  His hand moved to the space his mouth had vacated and it stroked and caressed her until she felt she would scream with pleasure. Her breath came fast, and she panted, “Oh, Lance. Now, please…” but he just kept stroking till she felt like she was on fire. He was kissing her eyes, her neck, her lips, driving her insane with the pleasure of it all.

  “You’re sure?” he growled softly into her ear.

  “Yes, oh yes,” she sighed and she slid her hands up his neck and pulled his head down to capture his lips with hers.

  He raised her up gently and pulled the dress over her head and sighed at the sight of her uncovered breasts.

  She tugged at his shirt and he accommodated her by pulling it free of his pants and shedding it right where he stood. The muscles of his torso glowed in the light cast through the half-open door and they rippled with each move he made. He slid out of his pants and lay on the bed beside her then gathered her again into his arms and kissed her passionately.

  While he kissed he slid a thumb under the string of her bikini then released her mouth to slip it down her legs, leaving her bare to his gaze. She felt so ready for him. She was dying with the wait. She dug her fingers into his sides then slipped them down to his boxer shorts, trying to push them over his firm buttocks and down his legs.

  “Hold on, honey, no need to rush,” he whispered and pressed her back into the pillows while he pulled the offending garment down his legs. Then he turned back to her and she felt the rock-hard length of him against her leg and for a moment her heart froze in sudden fear. But then he claimed her mouth again and she lost all thought except for the feel, the taste of him.

  He stroked her down there again, driving her wild with wanting, making her writhe with desire. Just when she thought she could take it no longer he slid a firm leg between her thighs and opened her to him. He positioned himself over her and, with a groan, he entered the deepest part of her being.

  She stiffened and clung to him, digging her nails into his back. Then, at his soft whisper, “It’s okay, honey, just move with me,” she relaxed and received him with all the longing that she’d had and with all of her pent-up passion.

  When it was over she lay in his arms, enjoying his large hand caressing her hip and her waist, feeling her heart brim with love for this man who had taken her to such heights.

  Now she knew. She loved him. There was no longer any doubt in her mind. As his caresses slowed then stilled, and as his body relaxed against her in slumber, she stroked the arm with which he still hugged her to him, glad that he’d fallen asleep before he could hear her whispered, “I love you.”

  18

  It was a perfect September afternoon. The sun was bright but there were just enough clouds to reduce the heat and make the temperature comfortable. The students were already three weeks into the new semester at Chicago University but this Saturday they would get a treat, compliments of Summer Jones. This was the first stop in the College Campus Tour she had designed as part of her public relations strategy.

  The party was set up on the south lawn of the campus and, although it was still two hours before the show, several groups of students had already camped out in front of the huge stage in an effort to secure the best spot. Others were milling around the booths, checking out books on music, signing up for free voice coaching, and dropping off applications for the Munroe Scholarship Program that Summer had launched. Music boomed from speakers and the DJ from WCUW, the campus radio station, was hamming it up and getting everyone into a fun, party mood.

  Summer had strategically positioned the campus parties as a great way to raise money to fund scholarships for students, as well as an excellent publicity opportunity for the institutions themselves. Because of this she received so many requests that she had to promise several of them that they would be included the following year.

  This time around she could only execute seven such events. However, she had arranged for the first show to be broadcast to all sixteen of the schools that had lost out this year. For two solid hours the campus party would blast the airwaves of these college radio stations as well as five community radio stations across the country.

  Summer felt a surge of pride as she stood in the shade of the staff trailer and watched as more and more students gathered on the lawn and collected the free education materials being distributed at the booths. This was her project, her baby, and it had come to life. She was particularly pleased with the way she’d done it – rather than just using the campus parties as a tool to promote the mus
ic she had also tried to find a way to make the tour benefit the students in a tangible way.

  She came up with the idea of forming associations with institutions and businesses that had goods and services that students would need. First Colonial Bank had offered to provide free financial counseling to seniors who would soon be leaving for the world of work, Safari Bookstores agreed to donate books to the libraries of each of the participating schools and Salome Beauty Corporation was providing free consultations for make-up and grooming, particularly for students preparing for job interviews.

  Munroe Productions was sponsoring voice lessons for aspiring singers as well as offering two five thousand dollar scholarships. Each of the companies had a booth at which students could sign up for the free services. Summer even got a sponsor to provide free soda pop for the afternoon.

  Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard a wolf whistle. She turned to see Lance heading her way, his arms full of heavy duty extensions cords. When he got close enough to be heard only by her he said, “Good job, honey. It’s going great.”

  She smiled her thanks and watched as he hurried off in the direction of the stage.

  By the time the first singer hit the stage at five o’clock the south lawn was full of people. Crystal, a petite and vivacious teenager ran onto the platform, five dancers close behind her. She belted out the first couple of lines of her song a capella then the music started and her dancers fell into step with her. An appreciative roar went up from the crowd as the performers executed intricate dance moves. Then Crystal launched into her first song and they went wild. She had an R & B groove that appealed to the audience and she soon had them rocking to her music.

  Super Cool entered twenty minutes later and proceeded to wow the crowd with a performance which was a combination of Rock and Roll and Reggae. He pranced from one end of the stage to the other, first rapping in Jamaican dialect then switching smoothly into American slang. He rapped about the girls and their ‘bumpers’ then he did a remix of Bob Marley’s ‘Lion, Zion’. He had the crowd with their hands in the air, singing and chanting the words of the song as he performed.

  His twenty minutes on stage were filled with dance moves, antics and a capella rhymes that kept the crowd chanting and laughing the whole time. When he finally ran off the stage they screamed for more. He came back and did a three minute encore then left amid shouts and applause.

  The crowd was still screaming when the MC, Master Mike, came on stage. “Hold up, hold up, y’all,” he shouted and put his hand out to calm the crowd. “That was a great performance by Super Cool.” The crowd roared in agreement. “And now we’re gonna make it even better for y’all. We have a special performer who’s gonna hit the stage and drive you crazy. Are you ready?” he yelled.

  “Yes!” the crowd screamed.

  “Are you ready?” he shouted again.

  “Yes!” was the response, louder this time.

  “Well, if you’re ready, if you’re really, really ready,” the MC shouted while striding up and down the stage, “put your hands together…for…the man of the moment, the lover man, the girls’ treasure,” he waved at the crowd, “put your hands together for Chicago’s very own,” the crowd screamed as he built up the excitement, “Mr….Top… Cat!”

  Summer clapped her hands over her ears as the crowd erupted in a loud roar in greeting for Top Cat. The band struck a chord and started playing and within a minute of the background music going, a tall, slim young man wearing a leather jacket, jeans and his cap turned backwards sauntered onto the stage. Summer didn’t think it was possible but the crowd got even louder as he strolled to the front, tilted back his shoulders and shouted, “Whaddup, Chicago?”

  They went crazy. The girls at the front screamed and one of them flung a scarf onto the stage. Another one threw a rose.

  Summer, who all this time was backstage watching everything that was going on, could not hold back a smile. She had one hand covering her ear and the other, her mouth. She was amused as she watched the girls on top of their boyfriends’ shoulders screaming at another man, albeit a performer on stage.

  Top Cat launched into a rap about girls who should ‘back that thang up’ and the crowd went wild. As if that weren’t enough his dancers ran onto stage and started to shake their behinds. Then they started some choreographed dance moves that Top Cat matched, step for step; some of them he did even better than his professional dancers.

  Then he launched into a second rap piece about ‘tough guys’ and the men roared in response. His third piece was a rap of love to women and, in the middle of it, he started gyrating his hips making very sensual moves. At one point during the song he turned his back to the crowd and when he turned back around he ripped his shirt off and flung it into the crowd.

  There were screams and people reached to grab it. Then the band launched into his fourth piece. The performance lasted twenty ear-splitting minutes but Top Cat left the stage with the crowd begging for more.

  When the lights were shut down at nine o’clock that night Summer breathed a satisfied sigh of relief – one down, six more to go.

  Summer got her reward next day when Lance picked her up at the apartment and drove along Lake Shore Drive to the most scenic part of Lake Michigan, not far from where she used to live. They got out of the car and held hands while walking along the shore line.

  “I’m proud of you, Summer,” he said. “Your idea paid off. I couldn’t have asked for a better launch strategy.”

  “Thanks, Lance.” She beamed. “I’m glad you’re satisfied.”

  As they walked along they watched couples jogging, roller-blading and holding hands as they strolled along the pavement. It made Summer remember the day she had said this was not for her. Now she felt lucky that she had found love.

  “Want to have some fun?” Lance broke into her thoughts.

  “Sure.” She brought her attention back to him. “What did you have in mind?”

  “Come on,” he said, with a roguish smile. “I’ll show you.”

  They ran back to his car and he drove to Navy Pier where he convinced her to get onto the Ferris wheel with him. She screamed as the wheel went high into the air and screamed again as it went down.

  He had mercy on her for the next ride; for this one he chose the merry-go-round. That, she could manage. When they got off the ride he teased her for being a baby and she ran after him, trying to pelt him with some of her popcorn.

  “Hey, Lance. Summer. What’s up?”

  They pulled up short and turned to see Derrick waving at them. He had a blonde woman on his arm. “Looks like you guys are having lots of fun.”

  “As a matter of fact, we are.” There was an air of caution in Lance’s voice.

  “This is Shari.” Derrick pushed his companion forward gently. “Shari, this is my cousin, Lance, and …a mutual friend, Summer.”

  They greeted the woman and chatted with Derrick for a few minutes, then he took her arm and they strolled away. Lance and Summer looked at each other quizzically, then Lance spoke. “Well, he seems happy enough. A pleasant change from all the sulking he’s been doing around the office lately.”

  “I’m glad for him.” Summer said, and she meant it. She’d hated to see how depressed he had been, especially because she knew it was because of her. Although he had his faults she thought Derrick was a really nice guy and she hated that he was hurting. She felt relief to see that he’d finally gotten over her.

  Then another thought came to her and she blurted out, “Lance, do you think Derrick will tell the others about us?”

  “I don’t think so. He may be a talker but he’s not one to discuss my personal business in the office. I don’t see why he should start now.” Lance sounded confident.

  “Oh, good,” she sighed.

  “And anyway, what if he did?” He shrugged.

  “Then they’d all hate me.”

  Lance laughed at her. “I doubt it.”

  She remained silent. She knew at least one pers
on who would.

  They got more popcorn and strolled down to look at the boats. Suddenly, a fat drop of water splashed on Summer’s cheek. Then another.

  “Rain’s coming. Run,” Lance yelled and grabbed her hand. They ran all the way back to the entrance and were lucky to get onto the second tram heading back to the distant parking lot.

  By the time they arrived at the car the rain was pouring. Both of them were dripping wet and Summer gave a little shiver.

  “You look like a very wet rat,” Lance said as he dabbed her face with a handkerchief. When she made a face he added, “A very cute one, though.”

  He put away the handkerchief and started the car. “Let’s get you out of here. I can’t afford for you to catch a cold now. Things are on a roll and I need you back in the office tomorrow.”

  “Slave driver,” she growled and pinched him on the arm.

  “Ow! I’m going to get you for that.”

  She laughed at him, knowing fully well that he could do nothing as long as he had his hands busy steering the car through the Lake Shore Drive traffic.

  But later he had the last laugh. As soon as they got back to his apartment he grabbed a towel and began to rub her hair vigorously. She had to yell at him to stop. By the time he was done her hair was dry but it had turned into a huge afro that made her look like one of the Soul Train dancers from the seventies.

  Lance laughed at her and she ran after him with the towel, trying catch up to him so that she could whip it at him and give him a stinging slap. He turned on her and wrestled the towel from her fingers then hoisted her onto his shoulder and carried her, kicking and yelling, into the bedroom.

  He threw her on top of the bed and, before she could make a move, he pinned her down with one hand and began to unbutton her wet shirt with the other. She squirmed and wriggled but he kept going until he had her shirt wide open to reveal her heaving bosom and bare stomach.

  “We don’t want to die of a cold, now do we?” he whispered, as he raised her up to pull the shirt from under her. He undid his own buttons deftly and threw his shirt on the ground beside hers. He turned back to where she still lay and leaned over her, his mouth mere inches from hers. She opened her lips to speak but all she could do was moan as he captured her mouth in a bruising kiss that sent tremors down her spine.