by S. L. Adams
“Are you still fussing over your outfit?” Gretchen asks, coming out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her head. At six feet tall, with long blonde hair, flawless skin and an hourglass figure, she could wear a paper bag and still look good. Not me. I need the right outfit.
“Do you think my shorts are too short?”
“No! They aren’t short enough, Shelby.” She studies my attire. “A hoodie? Really?”
“It might be chilly in the woods.”
“Let me see what you’ve got underneath.” She unzips the hoodie and nods. “Good. Lots of cleavage showing. If you’ve got it, flaunt it. Do you have a nice bra and panties on?”
“What does that matter? I’m not having sex with him. I’m going for a hike.”
“Oh, Shelby. You’re so naive. He’s taking you hiking for the sole purpose of making out with you.”
“You think so?”
She narrows her eyes, tilting her head. “Yes.”
“Well, maybe I should cancel,” I say, chewing on my lower lip.
“Come here,” Gretchen wiggles her finger at me and grabs a bottle of perfume from her dresser. She pulls the collar of my shirt away from my chest, spraying a generous application of perfume down onto my breasts. “Unzip your shorts.”
“No! He’s not getting in my pants. Jeez, Gretchen.”
She shrugs. A knock at the door sends her scurrying to open it. “Good morning, Alex,” she says in a sing-song voice.
“Hi, Gretchen. Is Shelby ready?”
“Hi,” I say, smiling nervously.
“Hey,” he says in a husky voice as his eyes travel down to my shorty shorts and bare thighs. “Ready to go?”
“Yep.” I grab my backpack with my water and snacks.
“Bye, you two. Have fun.” Gretchen chuckles as she closes the door behind us.
Chapter 5
Alex
“It’s a gorgeous morning.” I smile down at Shelby before taking her hand in mine, interlocking my thick fingers with her tiny, delicate digits as we follow the well-worn path through the towering pines. We walk in silence for a while, the only sound our feet crunching along the sticks and leaves strewn across the path with the occasional caw of a crow overhead.
“Do you hike a lot?” she asks, glancing up at me.
“Yes. I love the outdoors. There’s a lot of great hiking trails around Ann Arbor. That’s where I grew up.”
“Oh. I didn’t realize you were actually from Michigan. What are you studying at school?”
“Finance.”
She lets out girly giggle.
“What’s so funny?” I ask, cocking an eyebrow.
“Nothing. I just can’t picture you sitting at a desk in a suit, crunching numbers. You seem like a manly man.”
A chuckle erupts from deep in my chest. “I can’t picture me doing that either. It’s my major, but I’m hoping to go pro.”
“You play football?”
“Yes. I’m at Michigan on a football scholarship.”
“Wow. I didn’t know that.”
The burble of the stream merges with the quiet of the woods as we approach the clearing. The trees open up, bathing the grass in sunlight. Larkspurs sprout up along the water’s edge.
“This is a beautiful little spot I found one day while I was out for a walk.” I take in a deep breath of fresh mountain air and pine before pulling a blanket from my backpack and spreading it out on the grass. Flopping down, I pat the empty spot next to me.
Shelby smiles shyly and sits, crossing her long tanned legs in front of her.
“So, you really want to be an orthodontist?”
“Yep. Did Blake tell you that?”
“Yeah. What made you decide to do that?”
“Well, when I was a kid, I had a really severe overbite.”
“Really?” I can’t picture her face being anything but beautiful.
“Oh yeah. All the kids teased me and called me Chippy Chipmunk. My parents couldn't afford to send me to an orthodontist. The only dental care I had, was through social services.” She glances at me with a nervous frown.
I roll on my side, propping my head on one elbow as I study her. She’s gorgeous. And smart. I never tire of hearing her honeyed voice, so soft and sweet with an alluring undertone of smooth sexiness.
“How did you get your teeth fixed?”
“Penny’s dad is an orthodontist. He took pity on me and offered to fix my teeth free of charge. The day I got my braces off, I was floored. The transformation was incredible. It was the best day of my life. I decided right then and there, that I wanted to do that. To be able to give kids beautiful smiles. Whether they were rich or poor.”
“Wow. That was pretty nice of her father to do that for you.” That explains her hesitation to betray her friend.
“Yep. Penny’s family was always there for me. I had a rough childhood, and I’m not sure I would have made it without them.” She stares down at her hands, lost in her own thoughts.
I’d like to ask her more about her life in Missoula, but I don’t want to upset her. “You really wanna go to school for ten years? How are you going to pay for that?”
“I’m doing my undergrad on a full swim scholarship. I’ll work and get student loans to pay for the other six years.”
“A swim scholarship? That’s impressive.”
“I’ve been on the Missoula swim team since I was ten. Penny’s family funded that too.” She smiles sadly, staring off into the distance.
Tugging gently on her arm, I coax her down beside me so we’re lying face to face. I suck in a deep gulp of air, hoping to steady the galloping rhythm of my pounding heart. Tracing my finger along her jaw, my eyes zero in on her mouth. Her lower lip trembles as her breathing quickens. I close my eyes and lean in, pressing my lips against her soft mouth.
Sliding my hands around her waist, I pull her in closer, capturing her lips again as she melts into me, draping her arms around my neck and running her fingers through my hair. I suck on her lower lip, nipping it gently. When she moans softly, I increase the intensity of the kiss and push my tongue against her lips, seeking entry into her mouth. Her lips part to allow me access. I sweep the inside of her mouth with my tongue and slide my hands under her shirt, kneading the delicate flesh of her lower back.
“Alex, stop,” she says, pulling away when I go for the clasp on the back of her bra.
“Sorry.” I bring my hands back to her hips. “I’m a guy. I can’t help it. You’re hot, Shelby.”
“I’m not easy, if that’s what you were hoping for.”
She looks so serious and stern. It just makes me want her more. “You’re cute,” I say softly as I run my finger across her delicious lips. I can still taste her strawberry lip balm on my tongue.
“I’m a virgin, Alex,” she says quietly, studying my reaction. “I guess Gretchen didn’t tell you everything about me.”
Whoa. I did not see that coming. It shouldn’t surprise me. Shelby isn’t like most girls her age. “Blake said you had a boyfriend, but you broke it off with him just before you came up here. I guess I kind of assumed you had probably had sex. Most eighteen year girls have. The hot ones anyway.”
“I’m not like other girls.”
“I’m slowly discovering that,” I say, twirling a piece of her hair between my fingers. “You should really rectify that situation before you get to university.”
“You sound like Gretchen.”
“Gretchen is a smart girl.” I toss her a devious grin. “You know, I could help you out with that.”
“I’m sure you could,” she laughs.
“Why didn’t you do it with your high school boyfriend? He was probably not too happy.”
She shrugs. “I didn’t want my first time to be with some teenage boy who didn’t know what he was doing.”
I lean in, closing the gap between us, and devour her mouth with my hungry lips. “I can assure you, sweetheart, I know what I’m doing,” I whisper as I pull away from
her mouth and suck lightly on her neck.
“I’m sure you do.”
I roll on my back, pulling her close as she rests her head on my chest. “You said you had a rough childhood. Your parents were poor?”
“Yep. But they kept having kids anyway. I’m the oldest of eight.”
“Jesus. That must have sucked.”
“It wasn’t great. And it got a lot worse after my dad left when I was thirteen.”
“Well, you should be very proud of yourself. You’re going to Columbia University. Obviously, you must be very smart.”
“I owe it all to Penny’s family.”
“While I admire your loyalty to your friend, I don’t think she has the right to stop you from seeing me.”
“No, I guess not. I just don’t want to upset her. She has some issues with anxiety and depression. It’s all related to her weight. And she eats to make herself feel better.”
“We’ll keep it a secret for now,” I say, kissing her forehead. I want this girl so badly. But apparently, I’m going to have to take it slow and be patient. That’s okay. I can do it. I’ve got all summer. Shelby is totally worth it. I have no doubt.
Chapter 6
Alex
From my position on the ledge next to the wave pool, my eyes continually scan the throngs of people riding the artificial swells. Glancing at my watch, I bemoan the fact that I’ve still got six hours of this mind-numbing boredom to go.
Fuck. I hate the wave pool. The only bright light in my dark abyss of monotony is standing on the concrete shoreline. Shelby Richardson is so hot. And she has no idea. Which makes her that much more attractive. There’s nothing sexier than a chick that doesn’t flaunt her body and use it to try and manipulate men. Her innocent, doe like smile makes me hard every time I see it.
Fuck. I can’t think about anything else but taking her to bed. I’ve never been so gone for a girl before in my life. And in two months, she’ll be six hundred miles away from me. A smart man would back off right now before things get too serious. Shelby isn’t the type of girl to have a casual fling with. But that’s all I can offer her. And I’d rather have her for a little while than not at all. Yep. I’m selfish. A typical guy only thinking with his cock.
I glance at the old dude on the pink raft that I’ve had one eye on since he entered the pool. He flipped a couple times during the latest round of waves. The pool is calm now as everyone waits for the wave machine to crank out the next batch. I raise my binoculars to take a closer look. He’s lying on his back on the raft, but he’s not moving.
“Hey, Shelby,” I say into my radio. “Check out the old guy with the beer belly, red shorts, pink raft, far corner near the other ledge.”
She scans the pool, zeroing in on the guest I’m referring to. “Bald guy next to the raft with the two blondes in matching green bikinis?”
“Yep. Does he look okay to you?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll go check on him.” She wades into the pool, weaving her way through the traffic jam of rafts.
I radio to the guy operating the waves to hold off for a minute. When Shelby blows three sharp blasts, I jump down and immediately start directing people out of the pool, calling for backup on my radio. Two other guards come and take over the evacuation of the pool while I run over to help Shelby.
“No vital signs,” she says, grunting as she attempts to pull the raft toward shore. I grab the other handle and together we bring him in. It’s no easy task with a man that must weigh close to three hundred pounds.
By the time we bring him on shore and drag him a safe distance from the water, someone has arrived with the defibrillator. Shelby dries his chest while I prepare the pads.
“Holy, thick hair,” she mutters as she attempts to shave his chest in the areas where we need to place the pads. The cheap razor from the defibrillator kit is clogged with hair.
“That’s good enough, Shelby. We’ve gotta get the pads on.”
“Okay.” She dries the half shaved patches of skin and I stick the pads down.
“Stand clear,” I shout as I prepare to shock the guy. My heart is pounding against my chest wall like an angry fist trying to escape my rib cage. I glance at Shelby before pressing the shock button. She’s staring at the man’s chest, her eyes wide as she holds her breath. When the machine instructs us to begin chest compressions, she jumps into action.
“Stand clear,” I shout for the second time as I prepare to deliver another shock. When the machine detects a heartbeat, I sink back onto the floor, placing my head between my knees as I gulp in deep breaths of air.
“Oh my God,” Shelby gasps, sinking down next to me on the concrete.
“Over here,” someone shouts. I look up and see the paramedics making their way through the water park.
Grabbing Shelby’s hand, I pull us to our feet. We stand back and let the ambulance guys take over. She’s shivering something fierce.
“Come here, baby doll,” I say, wrapping my arms around her and rubbing her back as she trembles in my arms.
“What happened?” Blake asks as he walks toward us.
Keeping my arm around Shelby, I give Blake a rundown of the rescue.
“Holy,” he says shaking his head. “That’s the first time we’ve ever had to use the defibrillator.”
We watch silently as the paramedics load the man onto a stretcher and take him away. A heavy set woman approaches us. “Thank you,” she says tearfully. “If it wasn’t for you, I would have lost my husband.”
“No problem,” I say. “Just doing our job.”
“You did it well.” She smiles gratefully before following her husband’s stretcher out of the park.
“Are you ok to finish your shift, Shelby?” Blake asks, a frown touching his lips as he casts a worried glance her way.
“I’m fine,” she replies with a weak smile. “Just in shock.”
“How about you guys take a breather?” Blake suggests. “The wave pool can stay closed for an hour. Go. Get something to eat. Or take a walk. Whatever you need to do.”
“Thanks, man.” I take Shelby’s hand and lead her away from the crowd of onlookers toward the lifeguard lunchroom. She sinks onto a couch, wrapping her arms tightly around herself.
“Are you hungry, sweetheart?” I ask as I wrap a blanket around her shoulders.
“Not really. I think I’m still in shock. I’ve never had to do anything like that before.”
“Me either.” I sit down next to her, close enough that our bare thighs are touching. “Hopefully that guy will be ok.”
“You’re awesome, Alex.”
“It’s part of the job,” I say with a shrug.
“But you were so calm under pressure. I was very impressed.” She looks up at me with a shy smile as she takes my hand in hers, caressing my thumb. Her skin feels so soft against my rough, callused hand.
I’m a nice person, but let’s face it. At the end of the day, I’m still a guy. And I’m not going to pass when a hot girl is giving me that look. The one that says she’s open to some loving.
I lean in and press my lips against hers in a gentle kiss. She moans and parts her lips, allowing me access to her warm, delicious cavern. Fuck. She tastes like heaven. I angle my head and deepen the kiss as my hands find her tiny waist. The risk of getting shut down again doesn’t stop me from sliding my hands under her tank top. As I run my fingers up her ribs, she stiffens. I pull away from her mouth and deliver some open mouth kisses to her neck. She lets out a tiny whimper and melts into my arms. I run my thumbs along the undersides of her breasts as I trace the outline of her collarbone with my tongue.
She shivers when I cup her breasts, grazing my thumbs across her nipples. But she doesn’t stop me. She throws her head back, moaning softly as I push her shirt up and bring my mouth down to the pebbled peaks poking through the thin material of her bathing suit.
“Well, I guess you guys are okay.”
I jump at the sound of Gretchen’s voice. I didn’t hear the door open
. Shelby quickly pulls her shirt down, her cheeks a deep shade of crimson as I try to hide the obvious bulge in my shorts.
Gretchen studies us, her arms crossed, a knowing smirk on her face.
The door opens again and Blake walks through. “Are you guys okay? I thought you were going to take a walk or grab a bite to eat?”
“They’re just fine,” Gretchen says as a tight laugh escapes through her pursed lips.
Shelby glares at her friend. “We were just about to head to the cafeteria and have supper.”
I rise from the sofa, my hard on gone. “C’mon, Shelby.” I grab her hand and lead her past Gretchen and Blake, throwing them a frustrated, thanks a lot glare as we head out the door.
Chapter 7
Shelby
The air is still quite balmy despite the late hour. With nary a breeze in sight tonight, the lingering heat from a scorching summer day hangs over the mountain.
Alex grips my hand in a protective hold as we walk along the path in silence, our long stressful shift at the wave pool finally over. I can’t believe we had to use the defibrillator on a guest. And an hour later, we resumed our post and continued on, business as usual. Like it was just another day at the office. I wonder what it’s like to be an EMS person. Dealing with those situations everyday. Do they become so desensitized that it no longer bothers them?
“What’s going on in that beautiful head?” Alex turns to face me as we reach my cabin, tucking my hair behind my ear as his thumb grazes my cheek.