by S. M. Shade
“No bars and no people.” My attention lands on my telescope case in the corner. “I’ll even take you to do something educational.”
Her arms fold across her chest. “Educational? Like what?”
Chapter Five
Remee
“Ice cream is educational?”
Owen grins over his chocolate sundae at me. “Absolutely. Look how a solid turns into a liquid. It’s science.” He dips his plastic spoon into the edge of his sundae and lets a few drips fall back into it.
“Uh-huh, and do you want to explain to me what’s happening during that process?” I pop the lid off of my banana shake and stir it around. The ice cream shop we visited on the way here was great, but man they make their shakes thick. It was crowded so we decided to take them to go.
“Sure, it’s all about the structure of the molecules and…atoms, and the viscosity of the matter from which we can extrapolate results.”
“You said absolutely nothing in that sentence.”
He points his spoon at me. “Hey, it’s not my fault if you can’t keep up. It’s understandable with my top notch braining abilities.”
Considering Owen majors in physics and space sciences, he actually does know what he’s talking about. His goofiness often overshadows how intelligent he is. For some reason, he likes to play it off.
The night air is cool and fragrant with the sea. The sand beneath us is warm on top but cool when I dig my toes in. The spot he’s found on the beach isn’t completely deserted—an occasional couple walks by—but it’s not full of partiers. We mostly have it to ourselves. At night, I suppose most are at the bonfire parties or the bars.
“This is nice.” With the sound of the ocean surrounding us, and a million stars growing brighter above our heads, I take a deep breath, feeling my difficult day fade away. Owen finishes his ice cream and spends a few minutes setting up his telescope while I watch.
“That looks complicated.”
“I could do this blindfolded.” His hands move quickly, adjusting and arranging. “It took me two years to save up enough for this, and the first summer I had it, I spent almost every night outside.”
There’s no doubt it’s an expensive instrument. “Do you plan to teach astronomy?”
His shoulders rise and fall as he gestures for me to join him. “I don’t know.”
It baffles me how others can go through life without a plan. How do they sleep at night without knowing what to do next? He steps back a little, giving me room to look through the telescope. Wow. I’ve never been too interested in space or planets, but I’ve also never seen one through a telescope this powerful.
“What do you see?”
“It’s Jupiter!” Owen beams at me when I glance at him before putting my eye to the lens again. “It’s beautiful.” It really is. Bands of brown and red alternate with white, turning to a yellowish orange in some spots.
“Can you see the Great Red Spot?”
It’s clear as day, and I think back to my high school science class. “Yeah, it’s a storm, isn’t it?”
“The biggest in the solar system. It’s been documented since the year 1665 so it’s existed for over three hundred and fifty years.”
It’s fascinating, and I can’t seem to tear myself away from it. “Amazing. What causes the color difference? Different gases?”
“It’s a combination of the chemical composition and the temperature of the gases. The light colored bands are called zones. Those are areas where the gas is rising. The darker colored bands are known as belts, and those are the regions where the gas is sinking. Plus, don’t forget, they’re raging around at hundreds of miles per hour.” Excitement shines in his voice as he asks, “Do you want to see Saturn?”
“Can the rings be seen with this?”
“Of course.” He regales me with facts and information about Saturn while he adjusts it, and we spend the next couple of hours admiring the night sky. He shows me star clusters and an asteroid. The craters of the full moon burst with detail I’ve never witnessed before. I’m amazed to see what appears to be one bright star when viewed by the naked eye separate into two—a set of double stars—when I look through the telescope.
His passion for outer space is adorable and contagious. It makes me want to learn more about it. After he puts the telescope away, we lie on the sand, in no hurry to move on. “You’d make a good teacher,” I tell him, tucking my hands behind my head.
With a smirk, he rolls on his side, his head propped on his hand. “Remee? Was that a compliment?”
“Don’t get used to it.”
“I don’t know if I want to teach. It’s what most people do with a degree in astronomy, but I want…something different.”
“Something that makes more money?”
“No, it’s not about the money. I want to do something I love. I don’t need stuff. I could live in a studio apartment my whole life and that’d be fine with me. It’s better than the alternative.”
He can’t mean what I think. Owen isn’t lazy. I’ve always seen him work hard at school, and he’s never without a job. “Working hard?”
“That’s the number one thing to you, isn’t it?” His tone isn’t accusatory, only curious.
“Of course. It’s important.”
With a sigh, he lies on his back, his gaze on the sky. “We sell half the waking hours of our lives to survive. I don’t want to live like that. I want to be free. As free as it’s possible to be, anyway. I work hard for things I care about, but I won’t spend the majority of my life in a job I don’t enjoy just to chase money.”
His outlook is commendable, but not exactly ambitious. Short of being independently wealthy, that kind of life isn’t waiting for most of us. “You could just marry a rich woman,” I tease.
“A sugar mama, that’s what I need, absolutely. What about you, why do you want to be a psychologist?”
That’s a question I ask myself more often now. “It’s a respected, well paid career that never goes out of demand.”
“That’s the most boring answer I’ve ever heard.”
His reply makes me laugh. Sitting up, I stare down at him. “It’s why I originally chose it, but since I’ve been studying, I’ve found it’s fascinating to get inside people’s heads. To understand why we do things, why we make the decisions and mistakes we do. We all feel so individual, like we’re the only ones with the thoughts we have, yet so many general rules apply, and we can be counted on to react in similar ways.”
“And you want to help people?” he suggests.
“That’s the answer I’m supposed to give, isn’t it? But if I’m being honest, it’s more about having a secure future.”
“Without marrying a rich old man?” He grins, tossing my words back at me.
“Ew, gross, no.”
“Remee,” he trills in an old man voice. “Come in here and wash m’balls. I can’t reach.”
“Shut up!” Our laughter echoes up the beach and he stands up, offering his hand to pull me to my feet.
“Tonight was fun,” I tell him a few minutes later, as we’re climbing into his truck. “Thanks.”
“I just want you to know how difficult it was for me not to tell one Uranus joke.”
“I appreciate the effort.”
Once we’re back at the motel, I change back into pajama bottoms and curl up in bed while Owen stretches out on his bed to play on his phone. The long day catches up to me, and I’m asleep before we even turn the lights out.
Something is off, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. I’m back on Violent Circle, in my apartment. This isn’t where I’m supposed to be, is it? I was…somewhere else. School? Am I late for school? No, that isn’t it. My bedroom door squeaks open, and I look up to see Owen standing at the end of my bed.
Naked.
“Rem, we’re late for work, we have to go,” he says and leaps onto the bed. Lying on his back, he pulls me over to straddle his thighs. His hands rest on my bare hips, and I realize I’m nak
ed too. “Come on, we can’t be late or you’ll lose your job, and everything will fall apart.”
His body starts to hover just above the bed, and he moves my hand onto his very erect cock. “You have to steer.”
Right, of course I do.
My fingers wrap around him, and he smiles up at me as his body floats out through my bedroom window—when did my window get so big?—and into the night sky. With my legs wrapped around him, I ride him like a naked flying carpet, steering us under the stars, using his dick like an old video game joystick.
His body is warm under me, and I run my free hand over his chest. An ache swells between my legs, and I want his cock inside of me instead of in my hand. He looks up at me, reading my thoughts. “Wait until we get there. Then you can fuck me.” Seems like a reasonable request. His head turns to the side, and he points to the right. “We’re flying under Jupiter.”
Sure enough, we pass by the banded planet, and he lays his hand on mine that’s still wrapped around his cock. He pulls it back toward his stomach, and we start to descend. “Time to land.”
We fly down until the streets and houses come into sight, then glide through the open window of our motel room. As soon as his back hits the bed, he grabs my hips, pulling me forward. A violent orgasm strikes me the second I feel him inside me, and I groan out his name.
My eyes pop open while the waves of a real life orgasm still pulse through me. Morning sunlight pours through the crack in the curtains, lighting the restrained grin on Owen’s face as he stares at me. Oh god. This is horrifying.
I’ve never came in my sleep before. The look I’m getting from Owen makes it clear he knows exactly what just happened. Well, the orgasm part, not the flying him like a plane by his dick. What kind of dream was that?
The kind that doesn’t fade when you wake, apparently, because looking at Owen just makes me think of his naked body. Of what we were doing after the weird little trip through the night. I remember every second, and my face heats as he asks, “Good dream?”
“Weird one,” I mumble, and turn to face away from him, praying for a nice asteroid to smash through the room.
“Was I in it?”
Oh no. Why is he asking that? “No!” I snap. Smooth. Totally natural response. A-plus.
“Oh-kay,” he replies, stretching out the first half of the word. “What was it about?”
A snort of laughter leaps from me at the thought of telling him the truth. Oh, I was just piloting you through the sky via your cock, you know, as you do. I’d never live it down if he knew I dreamed about him, much less a naked him who made me come.
“I don’t know. I was flying. I can’t remember much.” Before he can respond, I scoot out of bed and escape to the bathroom. The sound of his chuckle seeps under the door.
Ugh. I know one thing. That dream was my brain’s way of telling me it’s time to get laid.
Chapter Six
Remee
My thought that maybe I’d get better at this whole home construction thing with practice has been proven wrong. A slow, tortuous week has passed, and I’ve been relegated to being the gopher for the most part. Go bring me some nails, hand me that drill, run and pick up the sandwiches. I’m not going to complain because I can’t blame them for not wanting to do everything I work on again, but it’s so frustrating. I’m not accustomed to struggling to learn things. Granted, I’m more of a book learner, but still, I’m annoyed at myself.
Owen has been sweet, spending most of his time with me, and at least the evenings have been fun. True, I’ve had to deal with him teasing me about the dream, but I didn’t expect anything different. He hasn’t said anything about a damn orgasm waking me up, but I know he knows. Instead, he likes to taunt me about what I said in my sleep, without actually telling me what it was. I’m sure he’ll forget it and move on soon.
“Remee!” Evan calls, flashing a smile at me. “Come and keep me company.”
We only have a few minutes until quitting time, and I’m happy to spend it talking to him. Evan’s one of the only reasons I don’t completely dread the work days. He’s been nice despite my nonexistent skills, and lately he’s been flirting with me. He has a rough look that’s sexy. Tall and leanly muscled with tanned skin.
“Here, hold this, will you?” he says, stepping up onto a ladder to install a recessed light.
His ass is just too right there for me not to admire. It’s nice, especially for a thinner guy. Round and grabbable. I haven’t been too interested in sex the last year or so, but something has gotten into me this summer. Maybe it’s Serena and her advice that’s reawakened the urge. A rough clearing of a throat brings me back to a reality I’d rather not be in right now. Considering I was just standing here ogling the guy’s ass.
“Sorry, what did you say?” I mumble, my face flaming up.
His knowing smile just makes things worse. “The screws?” he repeats, and I hand them to him. “Are you going to The Sand Spot tonight?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I’ve never heard of it.”
“It’s a beachside bar. The whole crew is getting together there tonight for some drinks.” He grins down at me. “You should come.”
Yeah, I should definitely come, and I’ll bet he could get me there. He isn’t exactly asking me out, just informing me of a group gathering where everyone’s invited, but I know I’m not misinterpreting those looks.
Be cool and casual, Remee. “Sounds good.”
“Great.”
“Remee! Come on! It’s quitting time!” Owen bounds in like a hyper puppy.
Evan holds his hand out for the last screw, and I hand it over. “See you tonight,” he says, his gaze on Owen instead of me. As we walk away, he lets us get to the door before calling out to Owen.
Owen hands me his truck keys. “I’ll catch up with you.”
By the time Owen joins me in the truck, I have the engine running, and the air feels amazing. “What did he want? Did you screw something up?” I tease.
“Nah, he just asked if I was coming to the bar tonight. You know we’re going, right?”
“We are, huh? Thanks for letting me know.”
He pulls out into the flow of traffic. “I know you don’t like bars and crowds but—”
“Save your speech. I’m just screwing with you. I’ll go.”
We grab some dinner from a fast food drive-thru on the way back, then take turns showering and getting ready for a night out. While I’m waiting, I text Serena a picture I took of Evan earlier when he wasn’t paying attention.
Me: What do you think?
Serena: JUMP ON HIM.
I’d talked to her about Evan yesterday, and she insisted I sneak a picture to send her.
Me: I’ll see him at the bar tonight so maybe. How’s everyone there?
Serena: Same as usual. Boring. I’m trying to get them to drive down to visit you.
Me: Really!?
Serena: Yes! I’ll let you know. Zara’s trying to get time off work.
I’d love to have them here. Everything would be a lot more fun.
“Are you ready?” Owen asks, pulling my attention away from my phone. His hair is only half dry and flops over his forehead. New muscles seem to pop up every day from the work he’s doing, and the white shirt he’s wearing makes his bronzed skin stand out.
There’s another reason I need to hook up with someone. Ever since that dream, my gaze lands on him way too often, and I can’t seem to look at him the same. You’d think it would’ve had the opposite effect considering how strange it was, but what stuck with me was his naked body under mine, his hands on me.
Good thing I hide it well.
I’m glad I decided to come tonight. Bars aren’t really my scene, but I’m having a great time. I’m not a huge drinker, though tonight I’ve made an exception. Serena’s advice to lighten up and have some fun while I’m here may have had something to do with it, plus I’d like some liquid courage to deal with the way Evan has been looking at me all night.
He’s not my boss, just a guy who works for the construction company. It’s not like there’s any reason I can’t go to bed with him. Every time he points that sexy smile in my direction, my resistance fades a little more. He’s older than me, but if Kelly can date her former professor that has nearly ten years on her, then this isn’t exactly taboo.
My attention is drawn away from him when Owen plunks down at the table across from me. His buzz shines bright in his eyes, and his wide smile is contagious. “Having fun?”
“I am.” Swirling my drink around, I hold it up. “I can’t even taste the alcohol in these. Just tastes like strawberry.” My next words have to be nearly shouted since the band has resumed after a break. “Are you having fun?”
“Hell yeah. I beat Weston and Colin at pool. Won forty bucks. Lost ten back to Colin at darts, but in my defense, they plied me with shots beforehand.”
The drums overwhelm us with a quick beat. Owen stands up and grabs my hand. Leaning over, he talks into my ear. “Come and dance with me. And don’t say you can’t dance. I saw you.”
Even the girls can’t get me to dance very often. It isn’t that I’m a terrible dancer, I just feel so self-conscious. For some reason, I haven’t felt that way tonight. Maybe because no one here—outside of Owen, the least judgmental person in the world—really knows me.
After swallowing the last of my drink, I let him pull me onto the dance floor where I end up spending the next hour. Owen and I dance for a couple of songs, but as the dance floor fills up, we switch partners. Shoulder to shoulder with a loud, drunk crowd of mostly college kids like us, I soak in the excitement and let it carry me away. Sometimes, I’m dancing alone or with another girl. Sweat dampens my skin and is instantly dried from the wind that sweeps through from the beach.