by Anna Heskin
The next moments of my life were the dream of most anyone with a pulse. One after another, sexy firefighters strutted around showing off their god- and goddess-like bodies. Herculean shoulders, chiseled abs, and bulging arms filled the screen on my camera. I didn’t know how my memory cards kept from melting.
Every time I felt myself getting turned on, I reminded myself that I was there to do a professional job. The pressure building in my erogenous zones would have to go ignored.
After the first eight firefighters finished, George and I took the party indoors. In the conference room, they set a green screen up and there were axes and picks of various sizes for the firefighters to hold.
“Hey, George,” I said. “Do they have a makeup artist in back? Their dirt and grime smeared on their bodies looks real.”
“Yes, I have two assistants in the changing rooms with costumes and makeup. People from all over the world buy this calendar every year so it has to look legit.”
A sense of pride washed over me as I realized my photo credit would be seen by so many people. I’d have to get Charlotte a gift or something to show my appreciation for landing the gig.
The next three subjects went quicker than the outdoor shots. There were only so many poses you could do holding an ax with no shirt on.
“Okay, we have our last firefighter walking in,” George said.
When the last subject walked into the room, my heart stopped. I stood stiff with my mouth open as I stared. He didn’t see me yet because he’d walked through the side door and headed toward the pile of fireman tools.
I pulled my scarf high off my neck, up to the level a bank robber would wear it, hoping he wouldn’t recognize me. I felt ridiculous.
Fuck me upside down. I’m pretty sure that’s Cody Kendrick.
He was wearing nothing but a pair of loose, dirty jeans that showed he removed the bush above his penis. The last I’d seen him, we were twelve years old. When my parents got divorced, I moved away from that school to live with my mother in Littleton.
From fifth grade through seventh, we were mortal enemies. Of course he would grow up to be a hunk and cross my path once again. His tattoos were hot and his muscles divine. The situation didn’t seem real.
“Where do you want me?” Cody asked, looking at George and myself.
George was preoccupied with a small crease in the green screen. I pointed to a spot for Cody.
“I can’t hear you,” Cody said.
“Over there,” I mumbled through the scarf, pointing again. He seemed to understand and went where I asked.
“Oh no, start by laying down on your side with your head propped on your elbow,” George directed.
As Cody got situated, I adjusted the focus and other settings on my camera. When I glanced at the viewfinder display, I let out a loud gasp.
“What is it?” George asked as he walked up to my tripod.
I glanced down at Cody. “I don’t know how to say this,” I whispered.
The head of Cody’s hard cock poked out from the top of his waistband. How he didn’t feel a cold breeze on his head was beyond me.
“I can’t hear you. Take this thing down,” George said as he unraveled my scarf.
Mortified, I glanced down at Cody’s face.
“Oh God, please sir, pull those jeans up a bit,” George yelled across the room.
Cody didn’t hear George. His stare brushed up and down my face. “Alyssa?” Cody asked.
I nodded. “Cody?”
“Yes,” Cody said.
“Cody,” George waved his hands at my former classmate. “Your d-i-c-k.” George pointed at his crotch.
George’s treatment of the word ‘dick’ took me back to the fifth grade spelling bee:
Cody and I were the only two contestants left. It was a miracle the imbecile got that far.
Cody misspelled ‘obstinate’. I got it right and was declared the champion.
When we returned from recess later that afternoon, I found someone had drawn cock and balls on my winners certificate. Cody never fessed up, but I knew it was his handiwork.
Cody cleared his throat and hiked his jeans up enough to cover his cock. Are all of those so long to stick out that far?
I started to get wet between my legs. It made me feel yucky, seeing he was my childhood mortal enemy. But he had grown out of the scrawny middle school body and became a tall behemoth of muscle. His dark brown eyes and hair hadn’t changed much, except for a surprising depth of maturity I saw when looking at his face.
I gave Cody a fake smile and proceeded to do my job, wondering how much he’d matured in the twelve years since I last saw him.
4
Cody
When I walked into the conference room to have my photos taken, I felt like a badass showing off my muscles. It helped the photographer was a woman. I enjoy turning women on, even if it wouldn’t develop into anything more.
Before I walked across the photographer’s field of vision, I ogled her up and down. I couldn’t see her face but her blond hair had a rich shine to it, with a couple purple streaks. Her black pants and jacket showed off her delicious curves. She had an ass I wouldn’t mind spanking.
The photographer had her scarf pulled way too high on her face. Her big blue eyes melted me and I wished I could see her lips.
Amid the muffled directions from the woman and the dismissive motions from the other guy, I didn’t realize I had a full-blown erection from staring at the mouth-watering photographer. I learned of it when they pointed out my head peering from above the waistband.
There was no time for embarrassment as I pulled my jeans up because when the full face of the photographer was revealed, it felt like a punch to the gut.
I turned my head to the side. “Alyssa?”
She nodded. “Cody?”
After hoping to get through the charitable project with nobody familiar to me knowing about it, a former classmate showed up to capture the photographs. We despised each other from the time I moved onto her street in fifth grade until she moved away a couple years later.
I was in my mean streak during those years. Even though I’d moved on and grown up, a twinge of guilt surged through me as I watched Alyssa work the camera. I was a lot meaner to her than she was to me.
In fifth grade, our home room teacher had treats brought in once a month for birthdays. Often, parents would volunteer to send dessert for their child to share with the class.
Alyssa brought two trays of my favorite—mint chocolate brownies. With a smile, she set a plate in front of me.
As the other kids scarfed down their sweet, delicious brownies, I took a bite and nearly barfed. In my batch, she had swapped the sugar for salt. It ruined my appetite the rest of the day.
Alyssa and I exchanged polite smiles as she did her work and I followed the pose suggestions yelled out by her assistant. I kept my cock under control, although it was always semi-erect, ready to pounce at any moment. She grew up to be quite the hot woman. After the way I treated her years earlier, I’d have to be on drugs to think I had a chance with her.
I posed with every piece of firefighting equipment in the room, flexing my muscles at every chance. After fifteen minutes, we finished the shoot.
I walked up to Alyssa and her assistant. “Hey,” I said to Alyssa.
Alyssa held up her index finger. “Hold on,” she said.
“Sir, the photographer and I need to wrap up a few things. If you wait in the lobby, perhaps you can catch her there.”
I couldn’t believe a short, puny man told me to get away. Resisting the urge to show him who was the bigger man, I went back to the dressing room and put my street clothes back on.
As part of the package, the charity booked each of the firefighters our own room for the night. Rather than go check out the room, I waited on the couch in the lobby, hoping to catch Alyssa. Her grown-up beauty intrigued me. I wanted to find out other things about her.
I caught some sports with some other firefighters
sitting in the lobby. The coverage of the hockey game on the television broke away to a weather alert. A storm sweeping through the area was leaving an unexpected amount of snow in a short amount of time. It was lucky I had a room because officials were shutting down I-70 near the Eisenhower Tunnel. Nobody would get from the resort back to Denver that evening.
My lucky day continued when I caught Alyssa passing back through with her equipment. I jumped off the couch and ran over to her. “Hey, can I help you with that?” She balanced several camera bags and a tripod in her arms.
Alyssa hesitated a moment. “Sure.”
The sky was getting dark as fat snowflakes fell around us. “You’re not planning on driving east tonight, are you?” I asked.
Alyssa situated the gear in her trunk. “Yep, headed home to Denver.”
“The interstate is closed. This storm is dumping more snow than they expected.”
“Shit,” Alyssa said. I smiled at hearing a swear word coming from such sweet lips. “I don’t know what to do now.”
“Let’s go inside,” I said. “You’ll figure out something.”
“I could use another coffee. Go to the cafe with me?”
“Of course,” I said. I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to have a drink with a hot woman but getting the updates on Alyssa’s life made it extra juicy.
We settled into a corner table with our steaming cups. “So, crazy running into you here, huh?” I asked.
Alyssa laughed. “It’s crazy that you helping take my gear to the car was the first nice thing you’ve ever done for me.”
As far as I could remember, she was right. My mind flashed back to P.E. class:
I lived for the weekly dodgeball games on Fridays. A legitimate reason to hurl balls at other kids was a welcome part of my life.
Alyssa hated dodgeball and all other sports in P.E. class. The rules said we couldn’t hit an opponent in the head with the ball. The punishment was running laps upstairs until the game ended.
Screw rules. I was on the seventh grade cross country team. I loved to run. So I drilled Alyssa in the face with my ball. My only punishment—running laps.
I sighed. “Don’t drudge up the past.”
“Okay. Let’s start over. How did you become a firefighter?” Alyssa asked.
“I’m starting training on Monday,” I said. “I wanted to use my physical skills to help society, and this was the most appealing way to do so.”
Alyssa’s blue eyes twinkled as she smiled. “That’s wonderful.”
“How did you get to be the photographer who shot a calendar full of hot firefighters?” I asked.
Alyssa held her hands out. “Hold that thought. I need to ask the front desk if there’s a room available tonight.” She jumped from the table and I followed, trying to stop my eyes from watching her round ass bounce to no avail.
“I heard they closed the highway this evening,” Alyssa said to the front desk clerk.
“Yes, they sure did.”
“Can I get a room?” Alyssa asked the young man.
“No, we’re booked solid. But you could try somewhere nearby if you have all-wheel drive.”
Alyssa slumped her shoulders. “My car can’t drive in this.” She walked with me to the couches. “It’s not crazy cold outside, maybe thirty degrees. I have extra layers in my trunk. I’ll sleep in my car.”
A protective vibe washed over me. “You’re not sleeping in your car,” I said.
Alyssa raised an eyebrow. “What else do you suggest?”
“I have a room,” I said. “It has a couch. You can sleep in there.”
Alyssa hesitated. “I don’t know. Let me think about it.”
I nodded. “Sure.” The last thing I wanted to do was pressure her but it would be my best day in a long time if she spent the night in my room.
Alyssa stood up and pulled out her phone. “I need to go make a call. Stay here?” she asked.
“I’ll be right here.”
Damn, I hope she stays with me tonight. She intrigues me. I want to learn more about her adult life. I think I can behave myself.
5
Alyssa
Can I trust Cody? Has he changed?
I still kept in touch with one friend from grade school. She would’ve gone through high school with Cody. I hoped to glean valuable information from her.
I didn’t violate my ‘text before calling’ rule by calling Valerie because it was an emergency. No way would I stay with Cody overnight if he was still a dickhead.
“Hello? Alyssa?” Valerie picked up on the first ring.
“Hey, Val.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah,” I said.
“We haven’t spoken in months and now you’re calling. What’s up?”
“This is out of the blue,” I said. “But do you remember Cody Kendrick?”
Valerie giggled. “Oh, yes. The football player.”
“So you two went through high school together after I moved away, right?”
“We did. Why do you ask?” Valerie asked.
“Well, a snowstorm has stranded me at a ski resort. The place is booked up, I can’t get a room, and I ran into Cody. He offered to let me stay in his room,” I said.
“Hot damn, girl. Is he still built like a raging bull with a heart of gold?”
“His muscles have muscles. But the thing about his heart—that’s why I’m calling,” I said.
“You want me to vouch for him?” Valerie asked.
“Yes. Do you remember in fifth through seventh grades, he was the biggest asshole to me and others?”
“Oh yeah, I remember,” Valerie said. “I wasn’t his target for whatever reason but he gave you hell.”
“It’s hard to keep that in the past,” I said.
“He did a complete 180 when we got to high school.”
“How, or why?” I asked.
“He got help. I don’t remember the details but I do recall his attitude changed. He became like a gentle giant. He stood up for people who needed it, like some kind of anti-bully.”
“Really?” It didn’t sound like the same Cody I remembered.
“He also spent his weekends doing charity work, mostly at the animal shelter.”
“Okay, Val, so you’re saying he turned out to be a good guy?”
“Yeah. I mean, I haven’t seen him since high school so I don’t know what happened after that.”
“He seems the way you describe him but it hasn’t been two hours yet,” I said.
“Give him a chance. I’d catch up if I were you.”
“Thanks, Val. We’ll have to get together with the other girls soon.”
“Sounds lovely, darling. Talk to you later.”
It would’ve been easier if Valerie had told me Cody was still an asshole because then I could go back to the coffee shop and tell him I’d rather sleep in my car. But the situation intrigued me. Maybe turned me on too, disturbing as it seemed.
Cody still sat at the corner table when I returned. “Did everything go okay with your call?” he asked.
“Yep, all good,” I said.
“Have you given more thought to where you’ll lay your head tonight?”
I looked into his deep brown eyes and saw nothing but sincerity. “Cody, I’ll trust you and stay in your room. Somehow you seem like a completely different person.”
Cody smiled, exposing me yet again to his cute dimples. “That’s great. Ever since I saw you earlier I’ve been wanting to get to know the adult Alyssa.”
“You realize this is the weirdest thing ever, right?” I asked.
“More bizarre than Area 51, hot dog eating contests, death cults, and that guy who sells his pillow on television?”
I giggled. “Definitely.”
Cody stood. “Let’s go check out the room. I need to get the key first.”
While Cody checked in at the front desk, I couldn’t help but inch closer to him to enjoy his scent. His cologne or deodorant had a faint hint of cedar
which made me weak in the knees.
Cody led me up the stairs to his room on the second level. The walls were the requisite dark wood. A king size bed sat against one wall, with a pullout couch in the opposite corner.
I set my backpack on the floor next to the mini fridge. It only had a few essentials, like my keys, makeup and such. I pointed at the bag and got Cody’s attention. “Don’t pee on that, okay?”
He squinted one eye and cocked his head in confusion. The incident that inspired the comment replayed in my mind:
My cousin was too old for her big plastic playhouse, so my uncle brought it over and set it up in the backyard. I came home from school to the surprise but my mother made me eat dinner before I could play outside.
When I rushed outside after eating, I noticed the walls were all dripping wet but not a single cloud in the sky. Upon closer inspection, it smelled like pee.
I heard giggling from the sidewalk. Cody was laughing so hard, his face was bright red. I hosed down the set but couldn’t bring myself to play in the ‘peehouse’.
“Nevermind,” I said.
“Alyssa, stop bringing up the things I did in the past. I’ve grown up. Spend time with me, and you’ll see.”
“I’m sorry, Cody,” I said.
“That’s okay,” Cody said. “I understand your reservations, but I’d rather spend time getting to know you than rehashing the distant past.”
I smiled. “That sounds good,” I said.
“Let’s get some dinner downstairs, my treat,” Cody said.
While I expected Cody would choose the casual diner, he took me to the fancier restaurant at the resort. I didn’t know whether he had expensive tastes or was only trying to impress me.
“So,” Cody said after we were seated. “Where did you disappear to after seventh grade?”
“My parents got divorced. I left to live with my mother in Littleton.”
“I’m sorry to hear about your parents,” Cody said.
“They’re both doing great now. Both are remarried. My dad found someone barely older than we are.”
Cody laughed. “Good for him.”