Salt

by David Chambers

  ‘My pleasure babe. Aren’t you cold though?’ Dan asked.

  ‘It is a bit cold but it’s too nice sitting here to go in yet. Maybe after we finish this.’ Emma was wearing one of the dressing gowns provided with the room, it was white and fluffy but naked underneath it Emma was starting to feel the chill of the evening.

  ‘Ok good, I got a king size bed for a reason you know.’ Dan said smiling. When Emma walked out of the bathroom wearing only a robe, the room service bottle of Prosecco had felt like a needless delay on them getting into bed.

  ‘You’re filthy, you’ve got to let a girl finish her wine you know.’ Emma said taking a sip from her glass.

  ‘I’m in no rush.’ Dan lied. ‘I just thought you might want to save some for later.’

  ‘That’s a good idea. Wont it go warm though?’

  ‘No. We can just leave it out here, it’ll stay cool enough. If not, I’ll just send for some more, the room service is twenty-four hours.’

  ‘Sound’s good.’ Emma said smiling.

  Dan stood and walked to Emma, she turned and looked at him standing beside her. He bent down to her and kissed her mouth, he could taste the wine on her lips. She closed her eyes as she felt his hands in her hair pulling her head back. His mouth moved to her now exposed throat and she groaned as his hand slipped inside her gown to find her stiffened nipple.

  ‘How’s about we leave that wine for a bit?’ Dan said quietly into her ear.

  ‘Mmm hmm.’ Was all she could manage in reply as stood and let Dan lead her into the room.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Dan eased off on the accelerator as he drove past the fifty-speed limit sign, the big Audi began to slow and he pointed it toward the ‘Cards Only’ lane. The road was almost empty, his lights alone, cutting through the darkness.

  ‘So, how come you never settled down?’ Emma asked watching Dan from the passenger seat.

  ‘Huh, what?’ Dan asked, gently pressing the brake pedal.

  ‘How come you never settled down.’ She paused. ‘With anyone.’

  ‘Ahh right ok, hold on.’ Dan pulled to a stop at the barrier. He opened the window and pushed his American Express into the machine.

  ‘Ok. Is it complicated?’ Emma asked.

  ‘No. Just wait, I like this bit. Wait.’ Dan said slipping his card back into his wallet.

  The barrier raised and Dan crept forward past the barrier, then he glanced left and right and buried his foot into the thick carpet. The Audi surged forward, accelerating like a jet on take-off complete with the accompanying roar. Dan grinned as he watched the speedometer sweep like the second hand on his Rolex.

  ‘Jesus Dan, what’re you doing?’ Emma said with her head pressed back into the seat.

  Dan laughed and then let the car slow when he saw the speedo creeping too high. ’I love this bit, I can’t help it.’ He reached across and squeezed her knee. ‘You ok babe?’

  ‘Yeah, I’m fine, was just a surprise. What were you doing?’

  ‘I just love that bit, it’s like the Cannonball Run.’ Dan said.

  ‘The what?’

  ‘The Cannonball Run, it’s an old car film. It’s a race.’

  ‘Right and you like the film?’ Emma asked.

  ‘I loved it when I was a kid. Now I just love using the toll road. It’s like a race with everyone trying to get into lane from a standstill and there’s never any police. It’s great.’

  ‘So, they don’t have any Police on it?’ Emma asked.

  ‘I’ve never seen any but I guess you have them, I don’t care. It’s just fun. Anyway, what were you asking before?’

  ‘How come you’ve never settled down with anyone?’ Emma asked again.

  ‘Ahh yes. I don’t know really.’ Dan said.

  They drove in silence for a moment.

  Dan looked ahead as he spoke. ‘I think I always thought that settling down felt like settling for someone. Like accepting things couldn’t get any better. Nobody made me want them enough to not want anyone else and I couldn’t just settle with them. If that makes sense.’

  ‘It does I think. What about me and you though?’ Emma asked, her eyes looking ahead.

  ‘Things are different with you. I don’t feel like I’m settling for anything with you, you’re everything I’ve ever wanted.’ Dan said.

  ‘Aww you’re so sweet you are.’ Emma said blushing.

  ‘I mean it though. I knew as soon as I saw you that you were different. You were gorgeous and then you were dead easy to talk to and I don’t feel like there’s an age gap.’

  ‘Aww stop it, please.’ Emma touched her face feeling the heat spreading. ‘I know what you mean about the age though, it’s not that big anyway, just a few years.’

  ‘I know, just feels good and honestly, you’ve no idea who you’re going to end up with on a plane. I was surrounded by a bunch of car nerds once all going to visit the Porsche museum in Stuttgart.’

  ‘I thought you liked cars though?’ Emma asked.

  ‘I do but they were all in Porsche clothes with matching luggage. For the whole flight, they were talking about car shit and Id packed my headphones. It was awful. They were just reading bits from the Top Gear magazine and Evo and trying to outdo each other with facts. It was horrible.’ Dan said shaking his head. ‘It was like Top Trumps for knobheads.’

  Emma laughed. ‘Well you got little old me instead.’

  ‘I know.’ Dan looked at her and smiled. ‘It’s like it was meant to be and now I’m happy.’

  ‘You really are lovely you know?’ Emma said, the warmth having moved from her cheeks to her tummy.

  ‘If you say so. I just like you a lot is all.’ Dan said. ‘I really like you.’

  ‘Are there any lay-bys on here?’

  ‘I don’t think so, why? Are you ok?’ Dan said turning to look at Emma.

  ‘Yeah, I’m fine. You just seem stressed about car nerds and I thought I might be able to relax you a little.’ She said smiling.

  ‘Really?’ Dan’s eyes flicked between the road and her face. ‘In the car?’

  ‘Yeah, why not?’

  ‘I’ll find somewhere.’ Dan turned back to the road ahead and pressed the accelerator.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Her apartment was clean and furnished mostly from the Ikea catalogue. The walls were painted the same blend of beige and white most rented properties used but the colourful Swedish furniture stopped it being bland. The fireplace had long since lost its ability to hold a fire and now held three old wine bottles full of LED Christmas lights.

  Dan felt at home wherever Emma was but he had to admit to himself that she had done a good job of decorating her place. He sat on a rug that looked like a Jackson Pollock piece with his back leaning against the sofa, his legs were spread so Emma could sit between them. She leaned forward with her hair swept over one shoulder as he massaged her shoulders. His thumbs worked circles into the back of her neck, slowly working from her back to her skull.

  Ten minutes had passed since she’d made a sound beyond a contented groan. She had originally been wearing his shirt when she sat down but Dan had found the fabric was stopping him giving her a really good massage so he helpfully suggested she slip it off.

  Emma had played along with his plot and was currently offering no resistance as his fingers slipped her bra straps from her shoulders. She knew once they had fallen loose he would work his fingers down her spine until the clasp of her bra was the main barrier to her relaxation. It would be unclipped and soon after his stroking digits would move further forward and her neck would be kissed rather than just massaged.

  She knew what would happen because it was his thing. She knew she wasn’t the first to be treated to his massages, she suspected she wasn’t the first to recognise his pattern and she was confident she wasn’t the first to play along innocently because who doesn’t like a back rub before sex? She loved that he made an effort to have sex with her. He was the first man who didn’t assume sex would happen au
tomatically and he never got angry if it didn’t. Just knowing that he appreciated her enough to make the effort and never tried to guilt her into it was a turn on in itself. The fact he knew what he was doing certainly helped but his attitude turned her on more than anyone else ever had.

  ‘Dan?’

  ‘Yes?’ He stopped massaging.

  ‘Well don’t stop.’ Emma said.

  ‘Ok. Well what’s up?’ He said as his thumbs inched down her spine edging closer to her bra strap.

  ‘I know it’s none of my business but I can’t help wondering.’

  ‘What can’t you help wondering babe?’ Dan said focusing on the clasp of her bra.

  ‘You don’t have to answer me if you don’t want to but how come you have a boat? Aren’t they mega expensive?’

  Dan stopped stroking her back for a split second before continuing. ‘It was my dad’s.’

  ‘Oh right, was he into boats or something then?’ Emma asked.

  ‘Yes. Well no not always. He always wanted one, like a dream and he planned on one for his retirement. Then he got cancer and then when he was ill he used to talk to me about the boat. When he got better he kind of changed. He’d always been someone who planned for the future and never spoiled himself. Then I guess he saw life differently and knew retirement wasn’t guaranteed so when he got out of the hospital and was better he bought the boat and started learning about it.’

  ‘Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry and upset you.’ Emma said rubbing Dan’s thighs with her hands.

  ‘You aren’t upsetting me, it’s odd to live on a boat and to be honest they’re good memories so I’m not sad.’ Dan said staring at the small mole between Emma’s shoulder blades.

  ‘Oh ok, good. You don’t have to go on if you don’t want to.’

  ‘No, it’s ok honestly. I don’t mind and it’s good to talk.’

  ‘Ok then well tell me as much as you want to tell me.’ Emma said.

  ‘Ok. Well he got the boat and I was still young really, but he’d already retired and I saw a lot more of him. We started doing things together, he came to my boxing and we started to go fishing and stuff. It was like our thing we did together. Just the men of the family kind of thing. We used to just sit in the harbour sometimes, talking and stuff. I had my first beer there with him, it was horrible but at the time I thought it was great. He went to the pub nearby, they knew him there and I think they knew he didn’t need two pints but nobody minded. I remember sitting in the cabin all excited and nervous and not wanting to be drunk. Silly really.’

  ‘Nah I remember thinking one drink made you drunk too. I think everyone does.’ Emma said.

  ‘Maybe, I don’t know but I do know it didn’t taste great and he smiled when I must have pulled a face.’ Dan laughed to himself, his thumbs had stopped moving a little while ago but Emma hadn’t prompted him.

  ‘Alcohol doesn’t taste good for a while and then you swear you’ll never drink again every week.’ Emma said laughing.

  ‘I know, every Saturday morning I’d be swearing off it and then Saturday night I’d try again. Silly really. Anyway, so he bought the boat and then we spent a lot of time together on it. Sometimes just us and sometimes with mum as well. It was like a caravan or a holiday cottage, just floating instead. Then when he passed he left it to me and I didn’t want to get rid of it. So, I kept it.’

  ‘Oh, babe I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was something like that.’ Emma said gripping his thighs.

  ‘No really its ok. Like I said its more good memories than bad. I was still at uni when he left it to me so when I finished I didn’t have a house or anything and basically lived out of a rucksack so I just moved onto the boat and stayed there. Mum used to do my laundry and I’d go there for food a lot anyway so living there wasn’t an issue. Then I started work and I was hardly at home anyway so it suited me having the boat. I could use it as an excuse to keep things simple and not buy loads of stuff or get too settled.’

  ‘Do you like not being settled?’ Emma asked.

  ‘Yes. Well I did, but now I’m not so sure. I’m getting older and sometimes I think about getting a house so I can have kids and stuff.’

  ‘Do you want kids then?’ Emma asked hoping he did.

  ‘Yeah. Eventually I do. I didn’t used to but now I think about it more and I like the idea. I’d keep the boat though I think, I can’t see me getting rid of it and I’ve updated it a fair amount so it’s still a good boat.’

  ‘Yeah, it would be good to keep as a holiday thing anyway, it’s nice having something like that I think.’ Emma said.

  ‘I know, I hope so anyway. I just wouldn’t want to sell it and I wouldn’t want to let it get ruined and I, well I know it sounds daft but I like the idea of taking my kids there. Maybe my son or a daughter but kind of taking them out the way my dad did with me.’ Dan said.

  ‘Aww that’s dead cute.’ Emma said feeling warm. ‘Really cute that. Kids would love a boat, playing pirates and stuff with their dad.’

  ‘I hope so. I enjoyed it but I often think that if he hadn’t got cancer then we’d never have had those experiences. I’d have maybe had my dad longer but he’d have been away working and I’d not have had so much of my dad if that makes sense?’

  ‘Yeah it does. It really does and it’s sad but kind of happy at the same time. I think I might start crying in a minute so we should probably change the subject.’

  ‘Ok well there’s no need to cry but we can change the subject if you like. What do you fancy talking about?’ Dan asked.

  ‘I don’t know really.’ Emma said. ‘My bra’s digging into me a lot and its stopping me from being comfortable.’

  ‘Oh ok, do you want me to unclip it for you? So you can get comfy?’ Dan asked trying to sound concerned.

  ‘Yeah, I think so, it’s torture.’ Emma said smiling.

  ‘Ok princess. Can’t have you uncomfortable, can we?’ Dan said unclipping her bra and helping the straps slide down her arms.

  Emma moaned as she felt the release of the bones under her breasts. She leaned back against him and lay her head onto her shoulder anticipating his next move in the game. His timing was perfect and she closed her eyes as she felt his warm breath on her ear and then his soft lips brush her ear lobe before feeling the sharp nip of his teeth.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  ‘So, what’s your number?’ Dan asked. They were both naked and Dan lay on his back with Emma’s head on his chest. She was tucked under his arm using him like a pillow with a pulse.

  ‘What do you mean? You’ve got my number. You text me all day.’ She said.

  ‘Not that number silly. Your number. How many guys you’ve been with.’ Dan paused. ‘Or girls.’ He added hopefully.

  ‘Oh, that, well it’s zero on the girls. I know that one for sure. The other I don’t know.’

  ‘What do you mean you don’t know?’ Dan asked, worried how high it must be to forget.

  ‘I don’t know. Not for sure anyway. It’s not important anyway.’

  ‘It’s not but you said you hadn’t been with many.’ Dan said feeling confused.

  ‘I haven’t.’ Emma said.

  ‘Well it must be a few if you’ve lost count. Jesus, I thought I was going to have the awkward answer but I’ve never forgotten anyone.’

  ‘It doesn’t matter. It’s some but not many. What’s your number then?’

  ‘Twenty-eight.’ Dan said.

  ‘Twenty-eight? That’s crazy. How can it be so many?’

  ‘It’s not that many if you divide it over the years. Anyway, how can I remember twenty-eight and you can’t remember? Is it more?’ Dan asked.

  ‘No, it’s not more. Just let’s change the subject please.’

  ‘Ok then, we’ll change the subject.’ He paused again, his mind struggling to guess how many was too many to remember. ‘Should I be worried?’

  ‘Worried about what?’ Emma asked.

  ‘No, it’s ok. Let’s talk about something else like you
said.’ Dan said.

  ‘No tell me. What has you worried? My number as you put it?’

  ‘Yes.’ Dan said.

  ‘Well what worries you?’ Emma asked.

  ‘It’s just that usually I’ve been with more and I can consider myself experienced but now I’m just concerned how many guys I’m competing against for the Lifetime Fuckchievement Award.’

  ‘The what?’ Emma asked.

  ‘The Lifetime Fuckchievement Award. I like to be a girl’s best sex. Its insecure I know but consider it the downside of being competitive. Or the upside maybe, I don’t know.’

  ‘Well then don’t worry. You won that. Easily.’ Emma said stroking the hairs on his chest.

  ‘Really? Well. Good. But I can’t be sure if I’m competing against like fifty or something.’

  ‘It’s not fifty something. What do you think I am? It’s not even twenty something. It’s less than ten’

  ‘Well how come you can’t remember if you know it’s less than ten? Anyone can remember up to ten.’ Dan said.

  ‘It’s just complicated ok, can we leave it please? Emma asked.

  ‘Ok yes, I’m sorry. I don’t get it but I’ll leave it.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Emma said.

  She snuggled into him and Dan breathed in the smell of her hair. They lay there together, completely still. They both knew they were awake but they both pretended to be asleep.

  ‘It’s because of him.’ Emma said after having enough of the silence game.

  ‘What is?’ Dan asked.

  ‘My number.’ Emma said.

  ‘Oh ok.’ Dan hesitated, thinking. ‘Who?’

  ‘Him. The guy.’

  ‘That Jaz guy?’ Dan asked.

  ‘Yes.’ Emma said.

  ‘Ok.’ Dan said. ‘How?’

  ‘Well I don’t know if I include him or not.’

  ‘Oh, shit sorry. I should have thought that through.’ Dan said squeezing her closer so he could kiss the top of her head.

  ‘It’s ok, it’s no issue. I just never knew if you included it or not and nobody really explains the rules.’