Summer Girl (7 page)

Brie dove in, surfacing behind Tamera. Brie's
strong swimmer's physique allowed her to lift Tamera's head above
the water. She noticed that Tamera's movements had ceased. Brie
swam the two hundred feet to shore, holding Tamera with one arm
while swimming with the other, “Tamera! Tamera! Come on—hold on!
Breathe!”

Brie got to shore in less than a minute. When
it was shallow enough to walk, she cradled Tamera in her arms and
ran up out of the water and onto the lawn, dropping Tamera onto the
grass and onto her back. Brie put her mouth to Tamera's, breathing
into her while pushing down on her stomach. Brie heard a gurgle as
Tamera spit up what seemed like a gallon of lake-water into the
grass. Tamera took a huge gulp of air as her chest heaved,
breathing hard. “Yes! Tamera! Keep breathing!” said Brie excitedly,
watching Tamera for a full minute as she caught her wind and her
breathing stabilized. Tamera opened her eyes, looking up at Brie,
smiling, grabbing Brie's hand. Brie's feeling of relief had
transitioned to thinking of things that Brie would never admit to
thinking. It was just curiosity, Brie told herself. Giving Tamara
mouth-to-mouth resuscitation had already given Brie a taste of her
soft lips but what did those breasts feel like? What would it feel
like to run her hands over that flawless skin, its olive color the
consistency of foam? “We're going to do one more round of first aid
here to make sure everything's okay,” Brie said, tilting Tamera's
head back gently and again placing her mouth over Tamera's. Brie
knew this was superfluous, that Tamera was in no need of additional
first aid. And if anyone trained in mouth-to-mouth resuscitation
had been watching, Brie wasn't pushing hard enough on Tamera's
stomach to do much of anything. Instead Brie was using the flat of
her palm to caress Tamera's concave tummy. Instead of forcing air
into Tamera's lungs, Brie brushed her lips against Tamera's lips,
and this time around—and not to Brie's displeasure— Tamera was
pushing her lips back against Brie's, their mouths turning slowly
against the other. Brie was growing feverish, her emotions running
amok. A new injection of adrenaline surged through her, causing
every second to expand to a minute, stirred by the reality of
saving Tamera.

Brie pulled Tamera upwards to a sitting
position, holding Tamera in her arms. Everyone on the lake knew
Brie, but Brie didn't care how many boaters saw her in this
embrace. Brie had saved Tamera's life, and the overwhelming emotion
coursing through Brie was gratitude and relief that Tamera had
survived. And if that also held elements of something else, so
what?

She picked Tamera up and carried her up the
hill. Tamera was shocked by this sudden levitation, expecting this
kind of strength from her husband, not from another woman.

When they reached the house, Brie lay Tamera
down on the sofa gently. “Let me check on Jackie,” Brie said,
running down the hall and into Jackie's room where the little girl
was in her crib playing. Brie lifted her out of the crib and
carried her back into the living room, plopping her on the floor
next to where Tamera was laying. There was a loud rapping on the
glass door followed by the sound of the door opening. “I saw what
happened!” said Mr. Fugleson barging in.

“Tamera's fine,” said Brie, irritated by the
intrusion.

“Yes, I'm fine, Tony,” said Tamera rising
from the couch, walking languidly towards Mr. Fugleson in her
bikini and stopping just inches from him, face to face. “I bumped
my head falling off the dock,” she said, sliding her hand through
her blond mane, exposing her scalp and showing him the bump.
“See?”

“Oh, yes, look at that,” Tony said,
stammering.

“Thank you for your concern, Tony,” said
Tamera.

“Sure,” he said, swallowing.

“Brie here saved my life. I owe her
everything.”

“That's great! That's just great!” said Mr.
Fugleson, a little too energetically. “Good job, Brie!”

“That was quite fortuitous that you were
looking into our yard just as I got knocked over by the
water-skier,” said Tamera.

“I just happened to be watering the
hydrangeas and looked up just as it happened. I would have come
over to help, but it was clear that Brie had everything under
control.”

“Yes, what did you think of Brie's life
saving technique?” said Tamera. “Did you take notes?”

“Uh, a little, yes... I was far away so I
couldn't see much.”

“I think you saw a lot—maybe from your
telescope—and that's why you're out of breath,” said Tamera
smiling. “Brie was very attentive and detailed.”

Though Brie thought Mr. Fugleson was out of
line by spying on her and Tamera, she thought Tamera was being
needlessly cruel. Brie understood men's needs and, though she
wasn't attracted to “creeper” types like Mr. Fugleson, she felt a
little sorry for them.

“I think I know who that water skier was,”
said Tony, trying to change the subject. “Ted Stanley. Maybe you
should sue him.”

“You could recognize him from that distance?”
said Tamera, dropping her hand, now drumming her fingers gently
against Tony's bulge in his pants. “He would have been even further
away than Brie and me. I think you're lying. If you could identify
a fast moving water skier I think you could see the two of us just
fine. You were using that telescope weren't you?” Tamera's said,
her fingers stiffening and pushing into his crotch. “I bet you were
watching me even before I fell in.”

“I, uh...”

“How many times a day do you watch me, Tony?”
said Tamera, “We keep the shades open so you probably get to see a
lot of me. I'm pretty comfortable in my house and I sometimes walk
around without much on. And now that Brie's living here, you must
be going bonkers.” Tamera abruptly pulled her hand from Tony's
crotch, her voice growing hard. “I will file both criminal and
civil complaints against you if I happen look over at your house
and see you staring back. Telescope or no telescope. My legal bills
will be minimal. Yours won't be.”

“Okay, okay,” said Tony, staggering backwards
from Tamera's onslaught, reaching for the door. Brie was stunned by
what had just transpired. She understood for the first time why
Tamera had made partner at such a young age. Hers was a steel trap
mind wrapped in a formidable body that would knock any male (and
many females) off balance long enough for her cold intellect to
stick the knife in. Brie could see Tamera one day running for
public office and winning every time, accumulating power that could
make a difference. The prospect was both exciting and frightening.
But today Tamera would have to be content in destroying just Mr.
Fugleson.

“I think that was kind of mean,” said Brie,
as Mr. Fugleson slid the glass door shut behind him, Brie deciding
right there that she did not want ever to be on the receiving end
of Tamera's wrath.

“Since when did you become so understanding?”
said Tamera. “You know damn well he's been using that telescope on
you during your mowing.”

“It's probably hard having someone like you
living next door,” said Brie. “I've seen his wife, so I guess I
felt sorry for him.”

“He's a creep.”

“But, Tamera—”

“Yes, sweetheart?” she said wrapping her
hands around Brie's waist.

“—but Tamera, you ARE a navigational
hazard.”

“I'm a what?” Tamera said laughing.

“You shouldn't be lying in the hammock in
your bikini. Not down by the lake.”

“Then maybe I should get some navigation
lights,” Tamera said, smirking, grabbing Brie's head and holding it
between two hands, “And if I did, where should I put them?”

“I don't really know...” said Brie.

“Maybe I can put some here...?” Tamera said,
grinning, running a finger down her cleavage, “Or maybe here?”
outlining her hips and waist. “Tell me Brie, you being a girl and
all, would you be distracted by me if you were driving your boat by
my dock?”

“Yes, I think I would,” Brie said, lightly
cupping Tamera's breast.

“Jesus Christ, did you almost drown?!” said
Brad, coming in from the garage with grocery bags, startling Brie
and Tamera.

“I got knocked off the dock and hit my head,”
said Tamera. “Brie saved my life.”

Brad looked at Brie. “That's what Tony said,
but he's such a bullshitter...”

“Its true,” said Tamera, hugging Brie. “She's
my hero.”

“Brie— thank you,” said Brad, embracing his
wife and pulling Brie into the hug. “I can't ever repay you.”

“All I did was react,” said Brie. “It was
just instinct. Anyone would have done the same thing.”

“You are so wrong,” said Tamera. “A lot of
people would have panicked. And how many people are strong enough
swimmers to get me to shore— and strong enough to carry me up a
hill? And, don't forget,” Tamera's voice lowering, “How many people
know mouth to mouth resuscitation? You gave it to me twice,”
kissing Brie on the cheek.

“Shit,” said Brad to Brie, his tone, one of
awe. “You did all THAT? And mouth-to-mouth twice. Imagine
that.”

“I want a hug too,” said Jackie still playing
on the floor

Despite the swollen lump on the side of her
head, Tamera seemed no worse for wear from her near-death
experience. For Brie it was a different story. The adrenalin that
had been surging through Brie, during and after the rescue, had now
worn off. In its place was exhaustion. Brie could barely get
through dinner. So at 8:00 Brie excused herself and went to bed
early, falling asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Brie awoke four hour later to the sounds of
moaning and thrashing coming from the living room. She walked out
the bedroom door in her nighty, the house dark except for the
half-moon shining through the massive windows facing the lake.
There, in silhouette, were Brad and Tamera, she bent over the sofa,
Brad driving into her sculpted buttocks with what looked like fury.
“...you can never leave me, Tamera... you can never leave me...
never...” From the side, both their frames were stretched and
arched, Tamera's arms rigid on the couch back while Brad's powerful
forearms gripped Tamera's waist. Whatever each of them were saying
to each other it was only a brief interruption of the more
prevalent moans, groans and gasps they were exchanging, “... I love
you Tammy…”

“I know,” said Tamera.”

“I'm not sharing you...”

“That's what you want.”

“I can't lose you...”

“I know...” said Tamera, her back arching in
the darkness, orgasms seizing her body just as Brad simultaneously
bucked hard with his pelvis, his head bending back letting out his
own loud groan. Brie always felt welcome to participate in any
intimate act that Tamera and Brad were engaging in, but not this
time. This looked like serious stuff. This was
“things-that-needed-to-be-worked-out-sex”. Brie felt like she was
eavesdropping.

Brie walked out of the room quietly, Brad and
Tamera fading into exhaustion.

The first thing Brie noticed when she woke up
in the morning was the smell of flowers. She opened her eyes and
saw large bouquets on either side of her. At the side of the bed
was a breakfast tray. Pancakes, sausage and hash-browns. Over to
the side of the room Tamera was checking herself out in a mirror,
wearing a tight-fitting pinstripe business suit. “She awakes!” said
Tamera looking over at Brie. “Rise and shine, sleepyhead.”

“What is all this?” said Brie.

“Just more 'thank you’s' that can never be
enough,” said Tamera.

“I'm the one who is supposed to make you
breakfast,” said Brie.

“Maybe another day.”

“Are you going to work?”

“I have a staff meeting in Overton tomorrow.
I'll be back on Saturday. I had an old business suit hanging in
here. I wanted to try it on to see if still fits.”

“It does,” said Brie, shaking her head.
“Like, what could you have been worried about?”

“After a baby, things can shift around,” said
Tamera. “I didn't know if I needed to have some of this taken in or
let out...”

“Oh come on,” laughed Brie, reaching around
and gliding her fingers along Tamera's skirted backside. “There's
not a thing wrong with you.”

“Best to find out now and not the day you're
going to wear it.”

“So,” Brie blushed, “Are you wearing all that
hot stuff underneath as well?” said Brie.

“Of course,” Tamera said, sitting down on the
edge of the bed. “Same as what you had on the other night. Do you
want to see?”

Brie swallowed and ignored the come-on. “I
don't know why you bother with all that if no one ever sees
it.”

“Well, I'll know its there,” Tamera smiled,
“And Brad too. He gets to see me get dressed in the mornings, and
undressed in the evenings.”

“But Brad's not into that stuff.”

“Ah. Yes, well... you got me there,” said
Tamera, picking up a sausage link and sliding it into Brie's mouth.
“But you can see it if you want. Unzip me now and I'll show you,”
said Tamera turning her backside to Brie. Tamera's bottom hovered
above her, a beautiful round ledge wrapped in its skirt. Brie
tentatively reached up and brushed her fingers against the skirt,
letting them drift upwards to the top of the zipper just under the
short-waisted jacket. She slid her fingers into the cowling
covering the zipper and pinched the top with her thumb and
forefinger, the suit jacket lightly brushing against her knuckles.
Brie pulled downwards. The skirt split open along the center of
Tamera’s ass in a V. It grew larger as the zipper parted, at first
revealing her garter belt framing the small of her back, then the
thin strip of the thong panties disappearing into her crack, and
finally the tight garter straps curving around each side of two
perfectly formed buttocks. Brie grabbed the hem, tugging the skirt
down Tamera’s silky legs until it fell to the floor at Tamera’s
feet.