Chapter 9

After seeing Boyd off, I stepped inside as Elaine flicked her ponytail behind her before sitting, removing the cover from her plate and lifting her fork. Once I got her a mug of coffee and refilled mine, I sat beside her. Her eyes snapped from the door to me before she flashed me a grin as she chewed.

“So, now what?” I released a long sigh.

“What do you mean?” she asked after tilting her head as her smile faded.

“I don’t know what we have, Elaine.”

After taking another bite, chewing and swallowing, she pointed her fork at me; the smile returned. “Well, you have a girlfriend for the next day or so.”

“You know what I mean.”

She nodded silently for a long time before taking a long sip of coffee and leaning back in her chair. My eyes flicked from her face to the two barely covered cones; their hard points lifting the taut, shiny black triangles. When she caught my glance, her smile broadened. Boyd would’ve chuckled.

As I clenched one fist, I took another swallow and placed my mug on the table. My chest tightened as I gazed at my trembling fingers. This wasn’t me. My life was simple. I fucked for money. This ... With a sigh, I lifted my head to look at Elaine.

“Nothing’s changed, Tommy.” Though her grin had weakened, Elaine slid her soft fingers over to clasp my fist. “Boyd and I talked. Out on the patio, last night. He’s not stupid, Tommy. He’d already suspected. And I’ll be honest, even after everything I said to you in the pool, I was hesitant. But Boyd said something only a man like him would have the courage to say.”

Her fingers squeezed me tight while she ran her tongue around her lips. As she gazed into my eyes, hers gleamed. “If you care for Tommy more than me, then go with him. Be happy, Elaine.”

My heart slammed to a halt. A yelp shot from me when I bit hard into my lower lip before releasing it to poke the wound with my tongue.

“But here’s the thing, Tommy.” Her hand slid up my wrist. “I love you. And I love Boyd. While I care for both of you, he is my husband. You understand—my husband.”

“Yes, I do.” As I nodded, I placed my fingers over her hand. A shiver ran through her as she swallowed. While Elaine’s head tilted and her eyebrow arched, I sighed and flashed a partial grin. “Before he left ... I told him that ... Well, no matter what happens or what I’d said last night, you’re his wife.”

At my words, her fingers, soft yet unyielding, clenched my wrist as she sucked her lips into her mouth. At that point, I simply couldn’t keep my eyes on her and gazed at the ocean beyond the glittering blue pool.

“While with you, Tommy, I’m your girlfriend.” Her voice was low and her fingers pressed into me. “Your lover. I do love you and—want whatever you want. Do not treat me like Boyd’s wife. Promise me. Please, Tommy.”

Before I could reply, she barreled onwards, crushing my wrist as she leaned closer. “I want this. And I want you. But I know I can’t keep you. Just like you can’t keep me from Boyd. But while we’re together, let’s make this special. Just the two of us. Something special. Please, Tommy.”

At the time, this all made perfect sense. In the cold hard analysis later, of course it shouldn’t have. It was double-speak. Smoke and mirrors. But right then, with her gripping my wrist and glossy eyes fear-filled; she knew I was close to a fight-or-flight decision. And fleeing was looking damned good. Or should have. Except...

It didn’t. Instead, everything she’d said sure sounded great. And I found myself nodding as she raised her hand to sweep her fingertips along my cheek. Client plus, if you will. And you know what? You shouldn’t “will.” Yeh, Tommy was an idiot, but ... Spoilers, it worked. Sorta.

“And this morning ... Boyd said one more thing to me.” As I waited, she rolled her lips; her hazel eyes twinkled as she traced my lips with a nail. “The love of my life told me to ‘Make sure Tommy fucks you so hard you can’t walk for a week.’”

At her snort, I burst out laughing, imagining her husband’s loud guffaws behind me. Except here’s the thing. The big lie. Even as she laughed, her eyes gleamed. There was something else he’d said. And something else she’d told her husband.

Whatever that conversation had been, I never discovered.

Oh, and as much as I laughed, Karen’s shining black pools would not leave me. Yeh, so there was that as well. Idiot.

Once she’d finished, I took her plate and mug to the kitchen.

“Pool or beach?” I asked as I leaned into the sink, washing the dishes.

Rather than reply, Elaine sashayed closer and pressed herself into my back. As she ground against me, the aromas of fruity shampoo and coconut suntan lotion slipped into my nose. A low growl of hunger left my lips when her open mouth dragged along the back of my neck before finding my ear.

“Wearing this?” As her hot breath sent shivers through my spine, her teeth nipped at my earlobe before she added. “Oh, Tommy. I so, so want to show off for my new boyfriend.” My chuckle became a groan when her fingers dove into my shorts and raced down my growing shaft. After a nibble on my earlobe, she added. “Mm, I see my boyfriend likes that idea, huh?”

“Yes,” hissed from my lips when she rolled her warm palm over my aching bulb.

With a laugh, she pulled away to gather towels and pack a carry bag. Without her husband, we’d no need for the umbrella or chair and also left the cooler. After changing into swim trunks, I stepped out to find Elaine framed in the sunlight of the front doorway. The room blurred around her and my heart dashed into high gear as she flashed a smile and swirled her ponytail along her back.

“Ready, dear,” she said before biting the corner of her lower lip.

Even as I nodded, my brain continued running through every plausible reason not to be ready to step through that portal with my new girlfriend. Yet, as soon as Elaine beamed me a playful grin, my yammering brain silenced, and I followed my client’s wife—my girlfriend—and, let’s face it, lover out into the warmth of the bright morning sun. As her sandals crunched on the gravel, I turned to lock the door. And hesitated, the key shaking in my hand. At Boyd’s soft laughter echoing behind me, I gave him a slow nod and slid the key in the lock before turning to face his wife.

When we stepped onto the asphalt ribbon heading downhill, Elaine pulled tight to me with a sigh. As I glided my arm around her shoulder, another slipped from her lips. Okay. Okay. All was right with the world. This is what we often did on our “husband-free days,” as Elaine called them. Except, of course, the world had changed.

Once we turned the little curve and the scenic overlook came into view, Elaine spun from my arm, eyes twinkling before spreading her arms out and twirling in her sandals. When she stopped, she bit down on her lower lip and stared at me. That gleam was back.

“Horny?” I asked, already knowing the answer, especially now that she was alone with me.

“Uh, huh.” In the mottled sunlight, her body vibrated as she skimmed her palms along her slick flanks and sucked on her glossy red lips.

“Show me.” I grinned as I shifted the bag on my shoulder.

Elaine’s wide eyes flashed before scanning the road even as her hands approached the miniscule black triangle taut over her mound. Eyes locked on mine, she spread her legs as I came to a halt on the sun-warmed, chalky dirt before her. With a shudder rippling through her, she bit her lower lip while pulling aside her bottoms with one hand. Her other hand’s shaking fingers spread apart her glistening petals.

After a nod, I placed the carry bag on the bench and gestured at the rock wall. With a smile and a playful yip, she dashed to the stacked coral boulders. Little puffs of dirt kicked up as her sandals slapped the ground. While I walked up behind her, her nails scratched along the chalky wall. A sudden gust of sultry, salt-laden air slipped around us, swirling her fine honey-blonde tresses across her toned back.

When I slid my hands onto the silky skin of her quivering hips, breath hissed from her pursed lips. After latching my fingers on their taut, black string, I tugged, peeling her bottoms away. After shoving my trunks aside, I held my shaft with one hand and clamped her hip with the other.

And stopped.

While she stared at the horizon, Elaine’s tense, sleek, little chassis swayed. Already her legs trembled, waiting for me to pierce her. But I didn’t.

Because Karen’s eyes had appeared. As I squinted and shook my head, trying to clear the image, they remained. She smiled and those bottomless, dark pools sparkled.

With a gulp, I sighed and stepped closer, pressing my bulb into Elaine’s sodden velvet folds. Though she rocked back, I held her in place. Her ponytail whipped around, feathering her gleaming hair in the sunlight, as she spun to gape at me.

When Karen’s dark pools glimmered and she nodded while sliding her tongue over her red lipstick, my heart hammered. Okay. Yeh.

While time slowed, I returned ghostly Karen’s nod and lifted my pole to run its head upwards between Elaine’s petals; her tight hole twitched as I slid past it before gliding myself downwards. As her fluids slithered down my shaft and over my fingers, Elaine’s eyes widened, then blazed.