EXcapades (3 page)

My greenish gaze looked down into his twinkling golden eyes. “I love you . . . always,” I said.

Now it was time to make him have a multiple orgasm of his own. After he came, I didn’t let him go. I held him inside me. I squeezed and pumped his penis for round two. A scream ripped out of him. And another scream. He continued to yell as his body tightened.

Finally coming to my senses, I pushed my forearm into his mouth to restrain and silence him. Blake clamped hard, tearing into my soft skin. I looked down and saw a couple of students pointing up at us. Frantically, I tried to hop off of Blake and scurry back to the window.

But in my haste, I slipped. I lost my footing and began to slide down the roof. I shrieked. I clawed at the roof. My fingertips tore. I slid. And slid. I couldn’t get traction.

Blake grabbed for my hands, trying to stop my fall. His fingertips touched mine; however, his attempt failed. I skidded out of control, bouncing off of the roof line and tumbling into the tree below. Acting instinctively, I managed to grab a limb to slow my fall, but my swinging body was more weight than the branch could hold.

A moment later, the limb tore away. I fell the remaining ten feet to the ground. The foot that first made contact took the greatest impact from the fall. My bone snapped. I lay on the ground, naked except for torn panties, writhing in pain. I tried not to look at the bone protruding from the top of my foot. What happened next was a blur in my memory.

Ultimately, there was disciplinary action. And with a shattered foot, I lost my gymnastic scholarship. Not to mention the whispers that followed, as the word of my naked disaster spread across campus. Of course, Blake slipped his clothes on before he raced outside. His reputation remained unscathed because no one knew for sure that he was involved. I kept our secret. Unlike me, he retained his scholarship.

As a result of losing my scholarship, I could no longer afford to stay at the expensive private school and transferred to the state school close to my home. Blake felt horrible that I had to suffer and that he walked away without tarnish to his reputation. But his sorrow did not change our fate. And our relationship unraveled after that day.

So many years ago, so many things left unsaid.

Chapter 2

Just looking at the scar made me tremble, remembering the most intense day of ecstasy I had ever experienced. And
pain. . . . I needed to push those memories back, deep within the recesses of my mind. But now, I just couldn’t. My mental time travels were interrupted by the distant sound of my barking dog. The noise swiftly shook me back to the present.

That’s right, my neighbor and best buddy Jane said she was going to stop by with a celebration gift. What in the world do you give as a divorce celebration gift? Leave it to Jane to find just the right thing.

I should wear this tiny bikini to greet her when she gets here, and make her laugh. She would fall over at the sight of me spilling out of it. But should I really put on Peter’s torture device? Oh, why not! I slid off my loose-fitting sundress. I yanked the bikini bottoms up and over my padded hips.

As I struggled to fasten the top, I had to blow the air out of my lungs. Finally, the clasp hooked.
I don’t remember this bikini fitting so tightly.
Almost breathless with laughter, I slid on my stilettos and sashayed into the bathroom in search of the full-length mirror
.

But what I saw in the mirror surprised me. The face staring back at me had to be my mother, right? Not me.
Is this actually me?
When did my face start to look so much like hers?

I almost could hear my mother’s trilling voice: “Dixie Elizabeth Baxter, is that any way for a proper lady to conduct herself, wearing that tiny bikini?” Even though she was chastising me, it rolled off her tongue like she was singing in church. Although I preferred to be called Lila, she would never call me that.

And somehow, she always knew when I misbehaved. To this day, she was the only person to call me Dixie—Dixie Elizabeth to be exact—unless she was really upset and then I got all three, the full arsenal of names blasted at me.

About two years ago she and my father moved to Florida, to judge my sister on a regular basis instead of me. I had lived my entire life in Raleigh, North Carolina, and don’t have any plans to move. Thanks to the telephone, I don’t feel her absence. Although occasionally, I wished I didn’t have any method of communication.

I loved my mother dearly, but sometimes her voice resonated in my head. She was one of those people who kept telling me it was better to have “loved and lost” than to have never loved at all. I knew she meant well, but her opinion of love felt like total nonsense after what I had been through this past year.

Further study in the mirror made me inhale sharply and gasp. Were those muffin tops hanging over my bikini bottom? Reluctantly, I turned to get a better view, and what I saw startled me. I let out a moan of anguish. Was that back fat rolling across my rib cage? When did that appear? I glanced at my reflection in disbelief.
What were you thinking, putting on this old bikini? It didn’t work to keep your husband; it is not going to entice a man now.
Anyway, what man?
Go change.

I tried to contain my laughter but couldn’t. When the sound wheezed out of me, my tummy roll released and fell over my bikini bottom. I gave up trying to pull my stomach in and simply looked down in disgust at the pudgy roll hanging over the fabric.

Quickly, I brushed my wavy hair that hung in strands down my back. Although a natural brunette, I enjoyed having a few highlights, blond or red, depending on my mood. This year, I wanted that summer blond look that reminded me of my towheaded youth.

I flipped my chemically-enhanced hair away from my face, rotated from side to side, and stared one more time in the mirror.
Maybe I can learn to color my own hair.
As I leaned in closer to inspect myself, I feared that the glow of my youth was beginning to fade. New lines by my eyes? Good grief, maybe I could Botox my entire face like a statue.

I was only forty-one years old, but today I felt creaky and ancient.
Enough . . . Step away from the mirror
.

As I left the bathroom, my stained glass caught my eye. A bright burst of sunlight lit the colors of the glass, fully illuminating the bathroom. I tried to figure out how many hours I worked to create this masterpiece. I painstakingly merged broken bits of glass, piece after piece, with lead, slowly transforming them into spectacular art. And now, sadly, it was time to leave it behind. All of it. The legal documents were signed; it was official, and today I was divorced. I couldn’t afford this house and didn’t need the space anymore.

Some might argue that I was now free, but I had not yet come to terms with this newfound freedom. Although, reality was slowly sinking in, and I was not completely sure how I felt about it yet. My feelings were a weave of fear, sorrow, exhilaration, and uncertainty. What I did know, for sure, was as a newly single woman, I needed to downsize. I didn’t expect to feel this jolt of sadness about selling this house. But the tears welling in my eyes had made the decision for me, and when they spilled over my eyelids, they revealed my sorrow.

At that exact moment, my perky golden retriever, Elky, danced in excitement at the front door, from the mere sound of a truck pulling into the driveway. Her barks echoed across the marble floor, and the commotion brought me out of my trance-like state. Was the handyman here to finish his work? In the distance, I could hear someone slam the backyard gate. In addition to the interior work, I hired a handyman to repair the broken tiles and restore the pool. There was no way I could handle all of this work alone.

A few minutes later, my thoughts were interrupted again, this time by the sound of the doorbell.
Jane.
The bell echoed while I raced across the house in my tiny bikini and stilettos. My outfit was going to make her laugh so hard she might have to cross her legs or pee on herself. I giggled at the thought. An instant later, I opened the front door and shouted, “Janeeeeeee,” but to my surprise it was a fresh-faced handsome stranger.

I gasped and stepped backward, stumbling to find my balance. My face froze in a surprised expression, with my eyes round and wide like a startled owl. I laughed as I realized I stood nearly naked in front of him.

“Do I look like a Jane?” asked the male version of perfection staring at me. A wide smile flexed across his flawless face, and he chuckled as he stepped forward and introduced himself. “My name is Chase,” he said in a deep, husky voice while I assessed the brawny body that filled my entire doorframe. Instantly, I perked up from my dour reflections.

I would guess he was about twenty-one years old.
Don’t look at him that way
. He sure was gorgeous, but he was much too young for me. I wished some of his youthful shine could rub off on me. He stepped toward me, narrowing the distance between us until I could feel his breath. His gaze traveled down my body, and to my surprise, slowed at my breasts. Another smile lit his face, and then he continued scanning my body.

So here I stood, in front of a beautiful man, wearing nothing but a scant piece of fabric that barely contained my soft, marshmallowy flesh. Finally, Chase’s ogling ended and his glance returned to my eyes. I had wishful thinking, at least, that his look was in appreciation of my female form and not in disgust. He was smiling, after all. And not once did I see him fall down laughing.

“Hello, I’m Lila.”

He extended his hand toward me. His brawny hand encompassed mine, and rather than shaking it, he stroked it softly. “It’s my pleasure, my great pleasure, to meet you.” The trail he touched along my flesh prickled from his heat.

I started beaming and then, once again, remembered my outfit. I had to look down to avoid his eyes. “Oh, the pool boy,” I found myself whispering softly as my head dipped down toward my chest.
Oops. Did I say that out loud?
I felt the blood rush to my cheeks.

Acting as if he didn’t hear me, Chase continued. “My father was here earlier repairing your bathroom and pool. He finished the tile work and now I’m here to clean the pool.” As he spoke, the muscles across his chest tightened. “Will you show me where the equipment is stored?”

The young man had the same friendly smile as his father. They were both attractive. “Sure, come on in.” I smiled widely, proudly revealing my perfectly whitened teeth. I think my teeth might be blinding.
Did he just cover his eyes with his hand? Too white, too artificial
.
Okay, glow stick, close your mouth.

As Chase stepped into my house, I studied him. He had bronzed dark skin, soulful brown eyes, and rippling muscles. His tight tank top with the “Pool Professionals” logo barely covered his muscular chest.

“How are you doing today, ma’am?” he asked, bursting my bubble.
Go ahead, burst my bubble.

My expression hardened slightly, and
I was not sure how to respond. He addressed me like his mother. Actually, I was probably older than his mother.

“I’ve been busy working on this house. In fact, I’ll be listing it for sale this week. Chase, you came at the perfect time,” I said in a soft drawl. But the moment the remark slipped out of my mouth, I regretted it.

Chase met my gaze and did not hesitate. “Yes, ma’am,” he said with his charming smile. “I always do know when to come. I think it’s a skill I’ve perfected.” He winked. “Would you like me to show you some of my . . . tricks?”

My lower jaw dropped. Good thing it was attached or it might have hit the floor. I stood there, with my mouth still ajar, making some kind of mumbling sound. I finally regained my composure. “Oh my, let me show you the pool.”

While he walked across the house, I thought even his wink was sexy. I couldn’t help notice that he had the swagger of a man who knows how to satisfy a woman. He peered into the dining room and stared at the low-hanging crystal chandelier that twinkled in the sunlight. “Wow, this house is even more beautiful on the inside than the outside. Ev-er-y-thing is beautiful here,” he emphasized as he looked around admiringly.         

In order to prepare the property to sell, I spent the past year painting, landscaping, cleaning, and organizing every inch. I was proud of the fact that I did most of the work myself, except for the large projects. But Chase was here to help put some of the finishing touches on my efforts.

He glanced down at my dog. She was wagging her tail excitedly and running in circles. “And, of course, hello to you, too, pretty puppy.” He knelt down and offered his face for her licks. Elky kissed him from cheek to cheek and wiggled in delight. He stood and brushed the dog kisses off his cheeks. “Both of you ladies look stunning.”

“Her name is Elky.” I tried to hide my exhilaration, but I was certain my eyes betrayed my delight.
I want to do a happy dance, too.
I looked away to hide my face, which had become ablaze with excitement.

Chase leaned close. “For the record, I’m a pool professional.” Chase pointed to the logo on his shirt. “It says it right here on my shirt, ‘Pool Professionals.’” He let out a delicious laugh and, at that point, I was close enough to smell his manly essence.

I stood dumbfounded in horror
. Did he hear me say pool boy?
It had been too long since a man had stood this close to me. Wow, I lost my composure entirely. I just opened my mouth, and the words tumbled out.

I really wanted to look down to hide my embarrassment, but I struggled to take my eyes off of his broad shoulders and strong arms.

Oh yes, I regretted calling him a pool boy, which sounded so demeaning. I tried to hide my humiliation by smiling demurely. And whether the pool boy comment was a cliché or not, there was a woman’s secret fantasy, standing intimately close to me.

He was tall, dark, and oh, so handsome, in nothing but a tank top and tight shorts, staring at me intently. But I barely noticed because I was fixated on his skin; I was thinking his skin looked like creamy caramel.
Yummy enough to lick.
I’d had this daydream before. This entire scenario was almost too good to be true.

Chase’s lips parted in a seductive smile while he brushed his shaggy, unkempt hair from his eyes and looked intently at me. He stood close. Feeling his warm breath on me left me struggling to find my next words, and to my surprise, I realized I wanted him even closer. With my brain reeling from this newfound excitement, I felt conflicted.

A part of me wanted Chase to touch me, to push me up against the wall and devour me with kisses. But the other part of me wondered what I was thinking. I had not been touched by a man, other than my husband, in twenty years. And I had not been touched
at all
in over a year. What were these feelings stirring inside me? My body’s eagerness took control of my mind. A strange sensation of warm tingles traveled to my loins.

This excitement was foreign to me, but I could learn to like it. Finally, I regained my composure and shook myself back to my senses.

I jumped away from Chase and cleared my throat. “The storage shed has the equipment you probably need.” Actually, I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had cleaned the pool. For that matter, I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had used the pool. What a waste.

And today was the perfect cloudless day for his arrival. It was a sweltering September day, even by North Carolina standards, with the sun shining bright and the air thick with steamy humidity. A dip in the pool, for the first time in a very long time, seemed refreshing.