by S M Mala
‘Delores said yesterday Gina never got Philip Isaacs even after trying. Seems you won on that front.
‘Depends how you define ‘won’,’ she shrugged.
‘Will you stop saying that? It really bugs me.’
‘What?’
‘‘Depends on how you define’.’
‘Well it does.’ Hatty turned around and could tell he was spooling for a fight.
‘And ‘titties’! I hate that word as much as ‘panties’.’
‘Thanks for sharing that with me,’ she laughed, seeing he was in a very strange mood.
‘And another thing,’ he said, walking towards her.
‘Jesus,’ she grumbled, turning around and looking up at him, both their top halves exposed to the sun. ‘What is wrong with you?’
‘Why do you keep asking Philip to marry you when you know he won’t?’
‘Who said?’ she barked. ‘He might need to marry me one day. I’m just letting him know the offer’s there earlier if he wants.’
‘Hatty!’
‘Jacob!’ she shouted back before laughing. ‘You keep telling me I’m strange. You’re the one who’s gone a bit loopy. I told you hanging out with me there was a possibility it’d happen.’
Hatty smiled but could see something was bugging him.
‘One of the reasons Gina made a play for me is because she could tell you liked me, do you know that?’
‘I surmised,’ was her curt answer, trying to slap a fly passing in front of her. ‘But you wanted her more so there’s no problem.’
Hatty shrugged and turned around.
‘I think about you when I have sex with her.’
Hatty stopped in mid stride and repeated what he said to her in her head before she laughed so hard, she thought she was going to be sick.
‘You’re funny,’ she said, trying not to choke. ‘You still want to have sex with me as another souvenir from your holiday? That’s very funny.’
‘At least I’m being honest, which is more than you’ve been with me.’
‘I never said I couldn’t swim,’ she laughed, walking back on the grass and putting on her clothes.
‘Explain all your wood work in the house.’ Hatty stood still knowing she’d been rumbled. She then turned to look at him standing in the water waist down, smiling at her. ‘I followed you this morning and saw what you were doing, which explains the sawdust and wood chippings. Does Delores know?’
‘No but Murray does.’ She noticed Jake smile. ‘We can’t tell Delores as she’ll go mental. She’ll go mad even if she knows I’m here. Aunt hates this place.’
Her heart was beating faster at someone else discovering her secret.
‘And about Delores…’
‘What about her?’ she asked and noticed his face suddenly changed. ‘Jake, have you found out more things?’
‘No,’ was the quick answer as he dove into the water and she knew he was lying.
Hatty waited for him to surface but realised he was swimming under water. She saw his head bob up for air before going back under. She waited under the tree knowing he was stalling.
‘You can’t stay there all day avoiding me,’ she shouted as he remained under the surface. ‘I can’t stay here. I’ve got things to do.’
Hatty put on her rucksack, took her satchel and walked towards her bike, cycling all the way home.
Delores was standing in the middle of the grass, talking to Murray when she skidded towards them on the bike, stopping short of knocking the man over.
‘How many times have I told you not to do that!’ barked Delores as Murray smiled.
‘I loose count,’ she said and noticed from the corner of her eye, Jake was coming down the drive in the jeep.
‘He’s been out all day,’ his father grimaced. ‘Was he with you?’
‘No!’ snapped Hatty, getting off her cycle. ‘I saw him briefly but he’s acting a little strange. I think the sun’s gone to his head.’
‘All four of us are going out to dinner tonight to celebrate passing your teaching exams,’ said Delores, not looking as happy as she did the day before. ‘Murray thought it’d be nice if we celebrated together.’
‘Like a family?’ she said, seeing Jake get out of the jeep and look over at them. ‘Lover boy might have other plans.’
‘He won’t,’ said Murray, walking towards his son.
Hatty caught Delores staring at her.
‘What’s wrong?’ she asked, rubbing her face to see if she left saw dust on her skin.
‘Nothing,’ Delores replied and walked away.
Hatty knew something was up.
They sat on the terrace of the restaurant as Hatty looked over at the sea, which was very silent and still. She looked at the colours and it reminded her of the stones she’d picked up with Jake. Looking up, she saw him laughing with his father as Delores sat silently next to her.
Hatty examined his body, his hair and smile. The package was beautifully put together and it reminded her of one of her bowls, perfectly sculptured and elegant. Then she laughed thinking she was comparing Jake to a bowl. He smiled and lust shot through her loins, startling her.
‘He’s playing a game with you,’ said Delores quietly, sipping her wine. ‘Don’t be fooled by his good looks.’
‘I’m not fooled just in admiration,’ she honestly replied.
‘It would upset Murray if he thought you were throwing yourself at his son.’
‘I’m not throwing myself at any one,’ she mumbled going red. ‘And certainly not at him.’
‘Seems he likes to get your attention.’
Hatty noticed Delores’s pursed lips.
‘He has several women on the go and he certainly doesn’t want me.’
‘I really think you should consider getting work experience somewhere else, like London. It’s a great place to-.’
‘You really want me to go?’ Hatty said, upset at her aunt’s suggestion for the second day in a row.
‘You need to stand on your own two feet,’ said Delores sharply. ‘You can’t act like a little girl lost when you’re nearly twenty three ’
‘I don’t act like that,’ said Hatty quietly. ‘I’m not lost.’
‘And Murray, think of Murray. He’s always fussing over you and worried. He needs some space too.’
‘As well as you?’ She immediately gulped back her tears. ‘You don’t want me either?’
‘As well as who? Don’t twist things,’ she said and Hatty noticed Delores smiling as the two men approached the table as she swallowed hard.
She was being told to leave the island by the person who was supposed to love her the most but seemed to, currently, love her the least.
‘Who’s twisting what?’ laughed Murray. ‘This is supposed to be a celebration and Hatty looks a bit glum. I bet I know why.’
‘I don’t think you do,’ Hatty said, glancing at Delores before meeting Jake’s puzzled expression.
‘Can I sit next to Hatty?’ Jake asked as Delores frowned as he stood up waiting for her to get up.
‘You want me to move?’ said Delores bemused.
Jake smiled and Hatty noticed he pulled a face behind her aunt’s back as he sat closer.
‘This is better,’ he said, moving his chair away from Delores. ‘Now we can chat.’
‘About what?’
‘Why you look so unhappy when you were fine a minute ago,’ he whispered.
She noticed Delores talking animatedly to Murray.
‘Nothing,’ she said, blinking back her confusion.
‘After dinner can we go for a walk?’ he asked sweetly.
‘I’m not going to let you touch me up,’ she hissed as he laughed.
‘I do think about other things than sex, you know.’
‘I doubt it.’
‘Right now I’m thinking about you.’
They walked through the gardens on the way home, Delores and Murray taking a car back. Jake was quiet as she looked at him and wondered what he
was up to then thinking about Delores’s words.
‘What did you mean, ‘and about Delores’, this afternoon?’ she asked as he glanced at her from the corner of his eye. ‘And why did you decide to turn into a fish and not answer my questions?’
‘Is it my turn to be interrogated?’
‘And why do you talk nonsense?’
‘I didn’t drink that much. Should we drive to your secret hideaway? Have you ever been there in the night?’
‘What are you up to Jake?’
It was the first time she’d been to the old house in the night and was strangely excited about the prospect. She still sprayed her arms and legs with extra repellent, just in case. Jake took his torch and they headed down the path to her spot. Hatty stopped when she saw the reflection of the moon on the water.
‘That’s amazing,’ she said, as he sat by the tree and put the torch light on. ‘No, turn it off.’
Jake did as he was told as she looked at the light bouncing off the water.
‘This would be romantic if I wasn’t with you,’ he laughed making her smile. ‘Questions?’
‘What do you know about me you’re not saying? And I get the impression you don’t like Aunt Delores.’
‘I don’t,’ he replied, crossing his arms across his chest. ‘I think she has motives concerning you. And why were you upset before dinner?’
‘She doesn’t want me around and she said it’s what your dad wants.’ Hatty let out a little sigh. ‘They think I need to go away and stand on my own two feet.’
‘Hatty Ha Ha,’ he said gently, as she smiled. ‘I want to do some more digging around about you which means I have to ask you some more questions.’ Hatty heard something from the sea and suddenly turned away. An image came into her head, noises, shouting and she momentarily was lost in her thought. ‘Are you listening?’
‘I had this strange flashback of screaming,’ she said, rubbing her head. ‘I have been here before when it was dark or maybe further down towards the end.’
‘Maybe this wasn’t a good idea,’ he said, standing up quickly as he walked towards her. Hatty walked towards him and they stopped and looked at each other. ‘No hidden agenda no games, can I kiss you?’
‘I have conditions.’
‘God not this again,’ he groaned.
‘If you’re not willing to tell me things, then you have to write it down and hand it all over to me when you think you’ve found out enough. Agreed?’
‘Agreed.’
‘And if you really want to kiss me you know this isn’t leading up to sexual intercourse, don’t you?’
‘I accept that,’ he said, moving closer.
‘You’ve had too much of that already,’ she scowled.
‘Hatty, come here,’ Jake said, leaning down and nestling his nose in her ear.
‘And my last request,’ she said, closing her eyes and knowing Louisa wasn’t going to be impressed by her complete lack of self-restraint when it came to Jake. ‘Stop fucking Gina Glory Glory.’
‘As long as you give me a good reason not to,’ he said, grabbing her and she felt his mouth on hers and kissed him back as passionately as she could, pushing her hands underneath his shirt to feel his smooth skin as he held her very tightly.
They were tussling with each other until he pulled her back onto the grass, his hands moving up her dress and stroking her thighs. She kissed him harder beginning to feel hot. Jake rolled her over and pushed his groin into hers as he pulled down her straps of her dress and she started unbuttoning his shirt.
He was grinding his hips into hers and she felt his hands squeeze her breast before his head moved down and his mouth kissed, licked and caressed her. Hatty arched her back and groaned which seemed to excite him more as his mouth became more frantic. Their kissing was harder as their bodies intertwined. Hatty felt the familiar throb between her legs as every time he touched her, she wanted him more and more. His skin smelt sweet. She could feel his hands glide up her dress and stroke her bottom as he groaned into her mouth. Then she knew she had to do something.
‘Okay,’ she said, pushing him away for a moment as he looked ready to eat her, panting hard. ‘I think that’s enough.’
‘I hope you’re not playing with me,’ he whispered as she felt his hard on through his jeans. ‘I want you so much.’
‘Remember our deal?’
‘But I need an incentive. How do I know you’re not going to pull out?’
‘How do I know you’re not going to stick it in?’
Hatty stared at him for a moment and knew what she wanted, what she knew about, so kissed him softly and lay back down on the grass. His hand went up her dress once more and she felt him slowly creeping towards her inner thighs. She was in two minds to close her legs but instead she reached out and stroked his hard on through his trousers and noticed his eyes widened before shutting.
Then she went to his fly and unzipped it partially, gently stroking him through his boxer shorts, making sure his willy didn’t come out should it be uncontrollable to deal with. Just then, he pushed his palm between her crotch and she jolted from the surprise and pleasure, feeling his hand go down the front of her knickers.
Kissing him frantically back, she let him explore her wet lips and heard him groan excitedly as he started to rub her, but missing the spot, then he pulled down her knickers. She didn’t know if to guide him but then he inserted a finger and immediately she pushed his hand away as he looked at her.
‘That’s your incentive,’ she said, as he rolled back, his face full of frustration. ‘A taster shall we call it?’
‘I need a proper taste,’ he said. She realised her dress was half way up her waist, her knickers pulled down. ‘Let me kiss you all over.’
‘You have to have some control,’ she said.
He leaned over and sucked on her rock hard nipple.
‘So do you,’ he replied and pushed her back onto the grass as they started to kiss.
Jake grabbed her wrists gently as his lips travelled all the way down then she realised where he was going.
‘I think you better stop,’ she said, trying to move her arms as Jake held her wrists firmly. His mouth was on her pelvic bone. ‘This isn’t right. You shouldn’t go down there.’ His tongue flickered lightly between her legs and he spread her thighs by holding her wrists against them. She was immobile. ‘You can-.’
His lips were working fast as his tongue licked her nub and she felt the surge begin between her thighs. He nibbled and pulled on her as his lips moved from side to side, causing friction.
‘Oh god,’ she said, knowing what was going to happen next as his tongue twirled so fast, she couldn’t hold back, the slow build up starting from the stretch of her thighs and the tightening of her hole.
She tried to hold back, she tried to stop it happening.
She has an orgasm in his mouth, feeling his groaning into her swollen lips making her body reverberate again and again, though the rocketing made her shiver as his tongue gently went in and out before he pulled away.
‘That’s how you should be kissed,’ he said, blowing softly where she was wet making her skin tingle. ‘Again and again.’
‘You look miles away,’ said Murray.
He balanced on the back of a chair on the boat as the pair went fishing the following day.
Jake shook his head and smiled at his dad, seeing he was happy and relaxed. But all he couldn’t get out of his head what happened with Hatty the night before. He didn’t tell her but he’d come in his pants as she had an orgasm. The picture of her on the grass looking absolutely gorgeous was lodged in his brain. Jake’s only thought now was to fuck her senseless until he could no longer ever have sex again.
‘I really appreciate you letting me stay for so long,’ he said, kicking off his shoes and swigging on a bottle of beer, trying to focus on his father. ‘I’m stuffed!’
‘The beauty of doing this is you can stop off and have lunch anywhere and pretend you’re catching fish when a
ll you’re doing is relaxing and getting away from prying eyes.’ Murray grinned at his son. ‘Have you enjoyed your stay?’
‘It’s getting better,’ he said honestly, thinking about Hatty remembering her taste on his lips and tongue.
‘And looking forward to seeing Serena?’ Murray eyed him suspiciously. ‘You shouldn’t mess around with women’s hearts, I should know. They’re bound to break with nuclear devastation.’
‘I know you don’t want to talk about it,’ he tentatively said, seeing his father frown. ‘Tell me about Hatty.’
‘Why so interested?’
‘I really like her.’
‘Even after I told you to keep away?’
‘I tried, I really have but I find her whole situation so interesting.
‘Interesting?’
‘She’s interesting,’ Jake said, glancing away.
‘She’s wonderful, I’ll give her that much. And she’s also wilful and stubborn with the softest insides you can imagine.’ Jake immediately thought about another inside he’d felt the night before. ‘And she’s been hurt very badly throughout her life. I worry about her constantly.’
‘Do you want her to leave the island?’
‘No.’
‘Delores does.’
‘Ah,’ Murray said, letting out a nervous sigh and Jake noticed a flicker in his father’s eyes. ‘I’d prefer if Hatty stays here.’
‘Why does Delores want her to go?’ persisted Jake. ‘It’s obvious Hatty doesn’t want to teach and-.’
‘Are you investigating Hatty?’ Murray asked, leaning forward. ‘Did she ask you?’
‘She asked me to find out about her mother, to ask you or anyone as she’s interested. Hatty says no one tells her anything.’
‘Jacob, you should be very careful how far you dig around, there’s a great possibility it will affect you too,’ he said gravely.
‘Why don’t you sit Hatty down and tell her?’
‘She’s not as strong as you, she hasn’t got the-.’ Murray looked out onto the sea. ‘Strength.’
‘If I tell you what I know, will you just nod if it’s right or wrong,’ Jake said gently, moving closer. ‘I won’t tell her half the things but it’s interesting and pretty horrible at the same time.’ Murray stared hard at his son and Jake knew there was a certain amount of apprehension in his eyes. ‘Was Eloise’s mother raped and then got pregnant with Eloise?’