by Scott, Kylie
“There’s more than the jacked-up pictures, Dad. More you don’t know about.”
I glance at my father and note how his face changes from frustrated to concerned in a few beats. “Like what?”
“Coach had my locker searched after the party pics came out and found steroids.” I toss in the ingredients to my smoothie and hit blend.
While I’m blending, I watch his entire face turn beet red. I hit stop and pull the pitcher off and pour my drink, afraid for the first time at how my father is going to respond.
“’Roids!” His voice is filled to the brim with rage. “Blasphemy! Who’s got it out for you? No way in hell my boy would cheat the system and shoot poison up his veins to get a better record. That’s not the son your mamma and I raised. Nut uh. No way. No how. You’ve got a bad seed on that team, son.”
I close my eyes and set my arms against the countertop to hold myself up. The relief of hearing my dad refusing to even entertain the thought that I was juicing lifts a huge weight from my body and psyche. Tears hit the back of my eyes and a lump of emotion lodges in my throat.
“Thank you, Dad,” I mutter.
“For what? Knowing my son isn’t a cheater? Never would have crossed my mind. You’re all about the game. It’s the only woman you’ve ever claimed.”
I grin wide, the worry and fear of moments before dissipating with my father’s acceptance, belief, and mentioning a woman.
“Speaking of women, I’m actually seeing someone.” I smile and suck back a nice portion of my drink. Shit, even the strawberry flavor of the smoothie now reminds me of my girl.
The realization hits me flat in the solar plexus. This is the first time I’ve ever thought of a woman as being mine. And I like it. A lot.
“Really? That’s good news. Very good news. Means one day I might not die an old man with no grandbabies to call my own.”
“Dad, you’re fifty-two years old.”
“And? I want little mini-Sparks running around when I’m young enough to chase ’em!” He smiles and winks.
“Man, I miss you. How’s Curt?”
“Fine, fine. Tell me more about this woman you’re seeing. And better yet, how in the world are you seeing her right now with the state being on lockdown?”
“You’re never gonna believe this, but she lives in the apartment next door. We met on the balcony. Got to talking. Went to the grocery store together. Talk on the phone. Watch movies at the same time from our separate apartments. We even make one another meals and leave them by each other’s doors.”
“Shee-it. Sounds to me like you’re courting her, son. That has to be a first for you.”
I smile and rub at my chin. “You know what, you’re right. We haven’t so much as touched, but I swear I’m closer to her than any other woman in the whole world. It’s like she gets me on a different level. And when she talks, she’s so funny. The woman makes me laugh until my gut hurts. And Dad, she’s fuckin’ gorgeous.”
“Oh? Make an old man happy and give me the details. Need something to talk about to the guys in the breakroom.”
“Oh, man. Shoulder-length blonde hair. Looks thick and soft too. Big blue eyes I want to stare into for hours. A cupid’s bow-shaped mouth that I can’t wait to kiss.” I smile thinking about her features, having memorized them. “My Sadie has these high rounded cheek bones that always seem to be a little pink and two small dimples just along the side of her mouth.” I look off into the distance at the blank wall and let the vision of her fill my mind. “She’s something else, Dad. And her body…” I whistle and grin. “Out of this world. Curves for days.”
My dad smacks the desk in front of him. “Damn, son. The way you describe this girl, I feel like she might be Miss America.”
“Better, because she’s Sadie.”
“I heard you say she was your Sadie. The way you talk about her leads me to believe you’ve got feelings for this girl that match the obsession with her looks, yeah?”
“Definitely. I’m not sure what’s gonna happen or how long I can go before I lay my hands on her. It’s killing me. She’s content to wait for weeks. We’re already on Day 8 and I’m jonesing for her.”
My father nods and purses his lips. “Make a deal with her. Once you pass a certain timeframe, you come together.”
I bite into my bottom lip and think about his suggestion. “That’s a great idea. You’re a genius!”
My father laughs and it fills my heart with joy. I’ve been feeling so heavy lately between telling Sadie the truth and worrying about telling my Dad, I didn’t realize I’d been carrying so much emotional baggage. Now it’s as though I’m a hundred pounds lighter.
“Well, son, I didn’t win the prettiest girl in Indiana over being a dolt now, did I? And your Sadie sounds a little like your mama. Except the eyes. Your mamma’s were as green as the grass in the height of Spring.”
“I know. I remember. Thanks for the talk, Dad. With your suggestion, I’ve got a woman to call.”
“Don’t go right for it. Lead into it softly. No dropping any emotional bombs. Women get flustered when you do that. Take it easy, work it into the conversation. You’ll figure it out. My boy is smart and savvy when he wants to be.”
“Learned it from my dad.”
“That you did. Love you, boy.”
“Love you too, Dad. So much. Be safe and keep me posted. If I don’t hear from you in a couple days, I’ll be calling.”
“And I’ll look forward to that call. Bye now.”
“Bye.” I hit the button that shuts off Skype and think about all that Dad said.
If I want to get my girl to agree to let me into her world physically, I’m going to have to appeal to her logical side. She’s incredibly astute and combative by nature. She’ll put up a fight for sure. Though it’s the war I intend to win.
And Sadie, she’s the prize.
CHAPTER 9
QUARANTINE: DAY 9
EVAN
“GOOD MORNING, SUNSHINE.” I SMILE as I step out onto the balcony while holding my phone to my ear. The sun is shining, and the breeze isn’t too chilly. Perfect weather to be outside talking to my girl.
“It is a good morning. Spoke to Dad myself. He’s already turning the corner and feeling heaps better.”
“Baby, that’s great! Good to hear. I talked to my father too.”
“Really? How’d that go?”
“Come out onto the balcony wearing your yoga gear. Bring your mat and I’ll tell you.”
Sadie groans loud. “I’m already in yoga pants and a tank but I was planning on loafing today. The muse is being a pest and not playing well with others. Others meaning me. She’s avoiding me, the cranky wench.”
“Aw, sorry, babe. She’ll come back. Maybe you just need a little sunshine. It’s beautiful out. The sun is shining down on my face as we speak.”
“Hmm. Are you shirtless?”
I grin. My girl likes my body. Huge plus. “I could be.”
“If you are, I might be persuaded to come and get my eye candy fix for the day.”
After putting the phone on speaker, I set it down on the small table and rip my T-shirt over my head. “Shirt off. Come hang out with me. Teach me some yoga. My back’s a little tight from the lifts I did this morning.”
“Would much rather massage all those muscles and work out another way,” she grumbles, sounding very put out.
I chuckle. “Hey, anytime you’re ready to break your rules, I’m here.”
“They’re not my rules,” she snaps. “They come straight down from the highest level of government.”
“Just come outside. I found a thick towel I can use and am ready to be trained.”
She huffs. “Oh fine. Give me a few minutes. I need to brush my teeth.”
“To do yoga you need to brush your teeth?” I laugh out loud.
“Shut up! Good oral hygiene is important, and I just had my third cup of coffee. I can’t exercise with coffee breath.”
“Third? Sadie,” I s
tart to chastise her, but she thwarts my efforts when she hangs up on me.
Shaking my head, I set up my towel longways on the concrete space and go inside to get a bottle of water and my shades.
When I make it back out, bottle in hand, I’m greeted by the sight of Sadie’s rounded ass up in the air as she’s bent over flattening her mat just so.
“Nice view.” I bite into my bottom lip and tip my head wanting to imprint every curve into my brain.
Sadie pops up, spins around, and puts her hand to her hip. Her gaze is malicious, but her cheeks are already tinged pink and her mouth is twitching.
“Pervert!” She blasts and then smiles.
“Guilty. And I’m not even sorry.”
She harrumphs and carries on organizing her stuff. “Let’s start with some standing poses I learned recently. The teacher calls this one, Warrior One. Put your left leg out front and the right leg backwards in a scissor-like shape.”
“Oooh, scissoring. Kinky.” I follow along while facing her.
She grins and lifts her arms in the air. I watch fascinated as her full breasts rise up while she puts her hands over her head as if reaching for the sky.
I imagine putting my hands and mouth on those delectable-looking mounds. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.”
“Get your mind out of the gutter and focus on the position,” she reprimands. But the curtness in her tone and her sexy-as-fuck body have Mr. Happy paying far more attention than he should.
I adjust my cock to a more comfortable position and then raise my hands up but something else starts rising right along with them.
“Jesus, you’re obscene. And sexy as hell. Stop it!” she demands, but I can see the fire and heat in her eyes.
Needing to rile her up, I turn sideways and allow my cock to tent my gym shorts in a graphic display of my desperate need for her. “It’s your fault. Look at him. So ready and willing.”
She scowls. “You’re not playing fair.”
“Who the fuck said anything about being fair? I want to put my hands on the woman I’ve been obsessing over for the last nine days. More so, you want it too.”
“Evan,” she groans and crosses her arms over her chest protectively. Instantly I feel like a shit.
“I’m sorry. I can’t help wanting you. I think it might help if we had a timeframe or end date to this enforced celibacy neither of us want.”
She sighs and rubs at her bare biceps. “The virus is dangerous, and it takes up to fourteen days sometimes for symptoms to show. And I think…”
“We’ve already survived nine days with nothing. Isn’t that close enough to put us out of our misery?”
She frowns and shakes her head. “It wouldn’t feel right.”
“Then when would it?” I stretch my arms over my head and lace my fingers behind my neck, putting my entire body on display.
I watch while her gaze tracks all over my skin as if it were a physical touch. She puts her hands on her hips, and I can see her nipples bead up in tight little points against her tank. I’d give my left nut to put my mouth on those erect tips.
“Maybe another week? If we both don’t have any symptoms whatsoever, I think it would be safe for us to see only each other.”
My heart sinks as my mind starts counting back. “Baby, that’s seventeen days not fourteen. How about ten?”
She laughs. “Tomorrow?”
“Deal!” I chuckle.
“No deal! That’s only ten days. How about Day 15? Then we’ll know for sure.”
I shake my head and palm my hard cock. Her blue eyes sparkle and heat as I rub my dick through my shorts and groan. “Fourteen. Not a day more. I can’t take it. Waiting five more days to touch you… Fuck, Sadie. It’s gonna kill me.”
She licks her lips and frowns. “I know. For me too. But we can do this. For the safety of one another, we can manage. Now scissor your legs, ignore your hard-on, and raise those massive arms over your head.” Sadie does the same as she instructs. “Then lunge forward until you feel a nice stretch through your hips and back leg.”
I follow along and breathe deeply, trying to calm not only my rapidly beating heart, but to chill out my dick. Blue balls are the real deal and Mr. Happy is now Mr. Grumpy due to not getting any action. I’ll be taking care of that later tonight. Maybe I could talk Sadie into another phone sesh. Oooh better yet, a video sexcapade. Now that has some merit.
“Next you want to pinwheel one of your arms out into a T. Stretch the back leg out in a wide stance and focus intently forward.” She scrunches up her face with the effort. No half-assing it for my girl.
I do as she says and enjoy looking at her while getting a good stretch in. “So, tell me. What’s your favorite food.”
“Candy,” she says instantly, and then moves into another pose.
I follow her movements fluidly without being instructed. “Candy is not a food, babe.”
“It is to me. Let’s see, there’s Reese’s Peanut butter cups. Good for breakfast, kind of like peanut butter toast. Then there’s Snickers…all those nuts and nougat. So healthy.” She grins. “Even the commercials confirm that it’s designed as a meal replacement.” Without so much as a stumble she moves into the next pose. Something that has one of her arms pointed up toward the sky and half her body bent over to the side as she rests one elbow on her bent knee.
“Baby, no.” I lean over and do as she does. “This is so much worse than I thought.”
“And of course, one of my personal favorite staples—peanut M&M’s. All that good protein. And there’s dairy in the chocolate. So, you’ve got protein and dairy all in one. It’s a time saver, really.” She smiles wide and I can tell she loves getting my goat.
“Your level of nutrition horrifies me. After yoga, I’m making you lunch. And dinner!”
She pushes up to a stand, puts her hands above her head in a triangle with palms touching, and lifts up one leg and sets it on the inside of her thigh. It’s the same pose she was doing when I watched her the first time. Though this time she’s not wobbling all over the place.
“Awesome job! You’re not even moving. What’s this pose called?”
“Tree Pose, I think. Yeah, I’m pretty sure.”
I attempt to put my foot all the way up against the inside of my thigh, but it is not happening. She giggles as I keep trying and fail miserably.
“Start lower. Rest your bare foot against your inner leg or ankle. You’re still getting a stretch and working on your balance but it’s not as difficult. The more you do it, the more flexible you’ll become. Before, I wasn’t able to touch the ground when I bent over, now I can.”
“Show me.” I smirk.
She narrows her eyes. “Fat chance, buddy! You just want to see my ass or my cleavage.”
“Yep.”
“No lies, I like a man that’s truthful and you’ve been very forthcoming with me. So much so, I think you deserve a little eye candy.” And without further comment she rips her tank over her head and is left standing in a simple, almost sheer, workout bra. I can see the perfect quarter-sized shaped of her areolas and succulent tips.
“Jesus! You trying to kill me!” I groan but can’t take my eyes away from all that flesh goodness. “You’re fucking beautiful. Everywhere.”
“Back to it. Everything we did you need to do on the other side.”
I lick my lips. “As long as you face me the entire time, I’ll do whatever you want, princess.”
“You are such a boob man. I knew it! The way your eyes would slide down to them. I’m going to remember this boon.”
I shake my head. “Call it what you want, but my woman has the most magnificent rack I’ve ever seen.”
“Your woman, huh?”
“Yep. I decided that the day you made me come all over the apartment wall. If a woman can make me lose myself without ever having touched her, I know she is the one for me.”
The she in question hums. “We’ll see.”
“I could see better if y
ou remove the bra.”
“It’s practically sheer! Don’t be greedy. Plus, there are other neighbors I’m not on such intimate terms with.” She purses her lips and moves into another pose.
“Greedy? When it comes to you, Sadie, I’ll never get enough. But fair point. I don’t need the rest of the city seeing you.”
Her chest moves up and down and my cock throbs with every inhalation she takes.
“I think we should video chat tonight,” I say.
“Do you?”
“Absolutely.”
“And you just want to chat?” She raises a brow.
I nod. “Yeah, but I think we should do it naked. As you can see,” I gesture to my obvious desire. “I’m a man in need and you’re the woman I need.”
She presses her lips together and looks off toward the view. “I kind of like being the woman a big brawny man like you needs. Though I’ve never done anything like that before.”
“Me either. We’ll figure it out together. Make it a date.”
“A date for sex?” She tips her head as though truly considering the merits.
I grin. “A booty video call.” I laugh and her lips twitch. “Remember the phone sex was a first for us both, right?”
She nods. “And that was um…” A blush rises over her chest, neck and up through her cheeks. “Very hot. And fun.”
“I think a video chat would be insane. And educational. You know, for your story. Maybe the hero and heroine could have some Skype sex.”
Her eyes widen. “That’s an excellent idea. We should do it for research purposes.”
“Definitely. What time shall I call? Ten?”
“I don’t go to bed until late.”
“Baby, you’re not going to bed to sleep. You’re going to bed to fuck yourself on camera while I stroke myself and we both get off to the beauty that is building between us.”
“Beauty?” Her head jerks back as though she’s surprised.
“I believe all sex acts are beautiful in their own way. It’s all about trust and passion. Caring about one another in a way that makes you want to express it physically.”