Blossoms of Love (11 page)

There were a lot of people at the beach in rented cabins. Mr. Agar’s cabin was off to itself. His part of the beach was private. Natalie went around the back of the cabin. She took her nail file, stuck it in the door, and in seconds she had the door unlocked. Lamont laughed, “Damn I’m going to marry a thief.” Natalie said, “Oh my dear man, you’ll never have a dull moment with me.”

They were inside Lamont said, “Hey, this is not a cabin, it’s a house. Look how large it is.” She said, “Dad’s had this cabin ever since I was a child. Dad had this nice furniture put in and built a swimming pool for Mother. She’s been out here twice. She hates it here. She said it was too lonely and she hates the sand. Della, Porter, Dave, and me used to come out here a lot. Ralph and Dora come here, but not with us.” Lamont said, “I could live out here the year round.” Natalie replied, “You wouldn’t want to. In the winter the ocean gets awful rough. Sometimes the waves touch the porch.” She gave him a quick kiss, “Want to go on a moonlight swim?” He winked at her, “Let’s go.”

The water was cold so they didn’t stay in long. She got out of the water first yelling, “Last one to the cabin has to build us a fire.” She began running. He ran after her but didn’t catch her until they got to the door. She giggled, “You have to build the fire.” He playfully smacked her on the butt, “You don’t play fair.”

He built a fire in the big fireplace. They got wieners out of the freezer and marshmallows out of the cabinet. They roasted them over the fire. Afterwards, they talked about uninteresting things. Natalie talked about the times she had spent here. Suddenly she stopped talking when she saw Lamont looking at her with such an amused expression on his face. She asked, “What are you looking so smug about?” He answered, “Not a thing.” She smiled, “Well you sure look amused.” He said, “I am amused.” She asked, “Why?” He said, “I know why you are talking so much.” She asked, “You do?” She went over and sat down on the floor by him, “Monty, I wish I wouldn’t feel so nervous. It’s not because I don’t want you. I do. I’m not really scared. We’ve loved before, I shouldn’t be nervous. I want so much to please you. I want to give you what you deserve. I’m not experienced enough though. Right now I wish I were.” She looked over at him, still looking amused and very handsome. She said, “Monty Ellman. If you don’t say something I think I’ll scream. Sometimes I wish you’d talk more instead of looking so damn smug.” He began to laugh aloud. He asked, “Are you through talking?” She answered, “Yes darling.” He held out his arms to her, “Come here baby.” He gathered her into his arms, “I don’t want you to be nervous. I want you to be relaxed and hot.” She kissed his ear, “I want to be.” He breathed on her neck, “You will be.” They kissed several times and each kiss became more passionate. He unbuttoned her blouse, then her bra. His mouth kissed her so tenderly, so lovingly. She breathed, “Oh Monty, you make me feel so wonderful.” He kissed her neck trailing down to her breasts. She began to feel flushed with passion.

Lamont lead her into the huge bedroom to a king size bed. He began undressing her. He ran his hands along her body, “Damn you’ve got a lovely body.” She said, “I’m glad you like me.” He said in a soft voice, “Like you?” He pushed her naked body against him, “I love you. God how I love you.”

It had been such a long time since he’d made love to her but she hadn’t forgotten. He quickly undressed. She could see he was close to a climax. On the bed, his kisses and touches made her beg for him. Their lovemaking was so beautiful—so sweet—so fulfilling that they forgot anyone else existed. Their climax was a sweet ecstasy, a rapturous delight. Lamont held her in his arms, “Baby I’ve never been loved so completely.” He rose up on one elbow, “If you get much better, I’ll never be able to stand it.” She asked, “When can we get married?” He answered, “Just as soon as you get back from Europe, that is if I can do without you that long.” She said, “Six or seven months is a long time.” He brushed her hair from her face, “We’ll both be busy, maybe it will pass off quickly. I hope Dave has himself together.” She rose up on one elbow letting her breast touch his chest, “I still can’t believe you love me.” He said in his quiet, romantic voice, “It’s true kitten. I thought when a guy fell in love it hit him like a ton of bricks. That’s not true. I guess I’ve loved you for a long time. You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved, except for my Mother.” He hugged her to him, “I know we can make a marriage work. We’ve got to because after loving you tonight, no other woman could ever satisfy me.” She kissed him on the cheek, “Sure we’ll make it. How can we go wrong? We love each other.” Lamont sighed, “What do we do now? Do we go home or stay here the rest of the night?” She snuggled closer to his nude body, “Let’s stay here.”

They were silent for a few minutes. Natalie tried to go to sleep but couldn’t. She broke the silence, “Darling.” He sleepily answered, “Hmm?” She giggled, “I’ve never slept nude before.” He yawned, “You’d better get used to it.” She asked, “Have you always slept naked?” He said, “Since I was a young boy.” He grinned, “One summer night I woke up, it was so hot we were all wet with sweat. We didn’t have an air conditioner. There wasn’t a breeze anywhere and all of us boys slept upstairs. I decided to take off my underwear and I did. The next morning Leon, who was ten years old, told Dad about me sleeping naked. Dad gave me a hard whipping for that.” Natalie asked, “Why did he do that? All of you were boys.” Lamont explained, “Well, Dad is a very religious man. I was fourteen and developing fast into manhood. Dad didn’t think it was right for the younger ones to see the change in me. That day Mom assigned us into rooms and we couldn’t sleep anywhere else. Since Johnny was the oldest, he and I had the same bedroom. That’s when I started sleeping nude all of the time. I even got Johnny sleeping the same way.” He kissed her on the cheek, “I see no reason putting clothes on to go to bed.” She giggled, “Come to think of it, it is silly isn’t it?” They were silent for a few minutes then Natalie said, “Monty I’m looking forward to our future. Do you want any children?” Lamont didn’t answer. She looked at him and he was sound asleep. The moonlight beaming through the window shined on his face. She whispered, “Oh Monty you’re so beautiful, so wonderful, and I love you so much. Maybe it’s wrong to love you so much but I just can’t help it.” She snuggled closer to him and finally went to sleep.

Lamont woke early. He looked over at Natalie. The outline of her nude body under the sheet made him purr with delight knowing he was the only man who’d ever had her. It was five thirty. The wind seemed to be blowing hard. He heard a clap of thunder. He sat up on the side of the bed, lit a cigarette, thinking of his and Natalie’s future. There was another clap of thunder. This time it was louder. Natalie opened her eyes. She looked over at Lamont who was still nude. She yawned, “Why are you awake so early?” He answered, “I always wake early. I got used to that in the Navy.” She sat up, slipped her arms around his waist, and kissed him on the back. She whispered, “Come back to bed.” He put his cigarette out and turned around facing her, “What’s wrong baby? Are you hot again?” He began laughing, “You’re blushing.” She pulled the sheet up to her neck, “Monty you shock me sometimes.” He reached over and pulled the sheet off her body, “You need loving, right?” She nodded. He kissed her, “Okay. I’m the guy with the tools to help you.” She looked at him, “Oh Monty, don’t make a joke of our love.” He gathered her to him, “I’m not joking about our love. It’s no joke. It’s real. I just wanted to tease you a little. You’re too serious honey.” She said, “I don’t mean to be.” He traced a finger around the nipple of her breast and said, “I’ll teach you how to live my sweet.” She pulled his face down to hers and said, “You do that darling.”

It was storming outside but Natalie and Lamont couldn’t care less. They didn’t hear a key unlock the door. They didn’t know anyone was around until the bedroom door opened. Lamont jumped off Natalie. Natalie looked face to face with Dora standing in the door shocked with her mouth wide open. Natalie grabbed the sheet and jerked it over her body and Lamont’s. Dora was so surprised, she just stood in the door staring at them. Natalie yelled, “Get out of here Dora.” Without a word, Dora slammed the door behind her. Lamont immediately got up and started putting on his clothes. Natalie began to cry, “Oh god.” Lamont was angry, he hadn’t reached a climax and was having a hard time. He growled, “What the hell’s she doing here?” Natalie cried, “I don’t know.”

Lamont disappeared into the bathroom. Natalie, still in bed, noticed how hard it was raining outside. She felt so ashamed. Her sister of all people. She got out of bed and began dressing. She felt so dirty. She was dressed when Lamont came out of the bathroom. He was still angry. He finished dressing by putting his shirt on. She looked at him, “Monty I feel so dirty, so ugly.” He looked at her and asked, “Why?” She was so surprised he had ask why. He said, “Look Natalie, what we have isn’t dirty or ugly.” She cried, “It wasn’t until now.” He went over to her, grabbed her by the shoulders and said, “It isn’t now either.” She said, “Oh Monty, if we’d been married I would still feel like I do.” He said frankly, “Then you don’t love me.” He let her go and began putting on his socks. She explained, “I do love you. I just feel ashamed.” He looked up at her, “Ashamed of what?” She answered, “You know. The way she saw us. We were making love.” Lamont said, “No, I don’t know Natalie. I’m not ashamed of a damn thing.” She said, “But it’s different with a woman” He tied his shoes, “I don’t buy that.” She asked, “Don’t you hate to even look at Dora now?” He grumbled, “No, the only thing I hate—I had to finish the job off in the bathroom.” She said, “Maybe I don’t really know you.” He sighed, “I guess you don’t.” He rose up from tying his shoes, “Forget it Natalie.” She said, “I can’t.” He looked at her, “I feel sorry for you. It’s been nice baby. We had paradise together.” He started toward the door. She ran after him, “Where are you going?” He answered, “To Montana.” She clung to him, “Are you saying we’re through?” He answered, “That’s right.” She replied, “No Monty. I love you. You love me. You can’t just turn off love like some kind of switch.” Her eyes met his and he didn’t look as angry, “I can. I am. Maybe it’s a good thing this happened. It showed our true colors. I could never feel ashamed or dirty when it’s you I made love to. I wish Dora hadn’t walked in on us but nevertheless, she did. Like I said, I don’t feel ashamed because it was you I was making love to, a love I deeply cherish. Nat I can’t make love to you again. I can’t ever. Not when you feel this ugliness and being so ashamed.” She said, “But Monty I’m not ashamed of you.” He replied, “You have to be, I’m part of it.” She begged, “Monty please don’t do this to me. I can’t take it. You’re my life, my world.” He said softly, “You’re too serious. I’m not saying you’re wrong and I’m right. I’m just saying it won’t work for us. A few hours ago I was sure it would. Not now.” With tears in her eyes she said, “This is the story of our lives isn’t it? Ever since we met it’s been this way. The only difference, you were very convincing this time. You’d never said you loved me before.” This time he was very serious when he said, “I do love you Natalie. I’ll always love you, but there’s more to marriage than making love. We just don’t have it.” With tears streaming down her cheeks she cried, “Monty, oh Monty, I don’t want to live without you.” Lamont asked, “Are you ready to go?” She didn’t bother to make the bed. It had stopped storming but was still raining.

When they got to the Agar house, Natalie didn’t want to go in but she knew she had to. Dora’s car wasn’t there, she was glad of that. Everything seemed normal. Della and Porter were in the kitchen. Mr. and Mrs. Agar were out on the patio at the swimming pool. No one seemed to be alarmed that Natalie and Lamont were out all night. Upstairs they met David coming out of his room. David asked, “Where in the hell have you two been?” Natalie said, “Out at Dad’s cabin on the beach.” Then she went into her room. Lamont got David’s arm “Come in my room for a minute. I want to talk to you.” David followed him into the room. Lamont got a small bag out of the closet. Lamont asked, “How long will it be until you get that cast off?” David answered, “In about two weeks.” Lamont began packing his clothes. He said, “I’m going back tonight. You can fly out later and I’ll meet you.” David was puzzled, “Hey buddy, we were going to Montana together, when I get this cast off remember?” Lamont kept packing, “Well something’s come up. I’ve got to leave tonight.” David could see that Lamont was upset and a little angry. David asked, “You and Natalie had a fuss.” Lamont answered, “No, just a disagreement.” David said, “Look Monty things will patch up for you and Nat. They always do.” Lamont started to shave. David said, “You’ve helped me plenty of times, maybe I can help you if you’ll tell me what it’s all about.” Lamont said, “Maybe you can help Natalie. I think you know we’ve been to bed together.” David said, “Yes, I was almost sure. Knowing you and knowing how much she loves you I figured you had. It’s none of my business. Nat’s a grown woman. She’s twenty-four.” Lamont said, “We were in bed going strong when Dora walked in.” David asked, “What in the hell was she doing there?” Lamont replied, “Hell I don’t know.” Lamont picked up his razor, “Natalie is ashamed, disgraced, and sex is nothing but ugly. I think it’s time for me to get out. It can never work for us now.” David said, “Sure it will. Nat will get over this.” Lamont said, “Not completely she won't. I just can’t live with her knowing she feels sex is dirty. Hell Dave, sex is half my life.” David gave a long sigh, “I think you’re wrong about Nat. Maybe it’s best for you two to be separated for a while. You know the old saying, absence makes the heart grow fonder.” David looked down at the floor, “That’s why I don’t know how I’m gonna make it without Sharon. I can’t go get her and bring her back.” David waited until Lamont got out of the shower then asked, “Monty do you really love Nat?” Lamont stopped dressing, “Yes Dave, she’s the only woman I’ve ever wanted to live with and be the mother of my children.” David begged, “Then don’t let this thing come between you. Life is too short Monty. I know. It breaks my heart when I think I could have had two more years with Sharon if I’d given in and married her. You think about that. Now I’ve got to see Dora before her big mouth starts talking.” David got to the door, looked back, and asked, “What time are you leaving?” Lamont answered, “I don’t know. I haven’t called the airport yet.” David said, “You think about what I said.”