Chapter 6
Reluctantly, we disentangled ourselves and I shuffled back to my own seat, tugging my dress down to cover what wasn’t left of my modesty.
Sebastian pulled on his jeans and reached onto the back seat for his t-shirt.
“Leave it off,” I said. “I like to look at you.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he grinned back at me.
The windows were steamed up and the car smelled of sex. The moon cast a bluish light across the dunes and the ocean was an icy gray. I shivered.
“Are you cold?”
“No, not really. Are you?”
He shook his head, a wide grin threatening to break out again.
“Are you going to stop smiling at any point?” I asked, amused.
“Nope. Shouldn’t think so.”
“Do you want to go for a walk?”
“A walk?” He looked longingly at the back seat and I knew what he was thinking because I was thinking it, too. But there was something else I wanted to do first.
“Yes, a walk: perambulation, a stroll, an amble, a short journey made on foot.”
“Oh. That sort of walk. Okay, I guess.”
He half-fell out of the car and scooted around to open my door.
“My gallant knight.”
“Your anything,” he said seriously. “But I want to be your everything.”
Oh, Sebastian. You already are.
“I want to make love to you again,” he said softly.
“So do I.” It was important to reassure him. “But I want to walk on the beach with you. I want to walk on the beach with you and hold your hand and to not be afraid that someone will see us.”
My smile was sad and he leaned down to kiss me softly. He wasn’t the only one who needed reassurance.
The breeze was cool in the night air so I insisted that Sebastian wear his sweatshirt, in spite of my selfish desire to watch the ripple and play of his muscles as he moved.
I’d left the house in just my summer cocktail dress but luckily the car had a picnic blanket in the trunk. Sebastian draped it carefully around my shoulders.
The tide was a long way out, the shoreline stretching almost to the horizon; we wandered along the cold, flat sand, under the moonlight, leaving the footprints of lovers. I couldn’t help staring up at him as we walked hand-in-hand. His strong, clear profile, and soft, sensuous lips were thrown into relief by the moon’s light; he was beautiful. And for now, he was mine.
“What?” he said, looking down at me, amused.
“You’re so beautiful, Sebastian. And when I look at you I feel…happy.”
He swallowed and turned to face me.
“I want to make you happy, Caro. You look so sad most of the time.”
“Do I?”
He nodded and ran his thumbs across my cheeks before leaning down to kiss me.
His lips were so gentle, his kisses so sweet. I pulled him closer, wrapping the blanket around both of us so were shrouded under the moon.
Desire blazed through me again. I hadn’t known it could be so consuming, so devastating, so utterly impossible to think of anything but consummation. And seeing Sebastian so desperate for me, I was aroused beyond belief.
“Let’s find our dune,” I said.
He grabbed my hand and started dragging me up the beach.
“I can’t keep up!” I shouted at him, half-laughing, unable to match his long strides.
But he didn’t slow down; instead he swept me into his arms and staggered toward the nearest dune where he carefully stood me on my feet.
“Here,” he said, his voice commanding.
“Yes, sir!” I threw him a quick salute and a reluctant smile spread across his face.
“Sorry,” he said. “I just really want you.”
I threw the blanket at him and he caught it one-handed.
“Don’t be sorry,” I said. “Let’s have a picnic.”
“We haven’t got any food.” He looked puzzled.
“I was planning on eating you.”
His eyes widened with shock then a dazzling smile lit up his lovely face.
“Okay,” he said shyly.
For a moment the blanket floated above the sand as he spread it out, a matador with his cape.
I sat down rather inelegantly and watched him sink down beside me. I lay back and held up my arms to him in invitation. Accepting, his heat and weight pressed me into the blanket, his hands greedy on my body.
His touch was becoming braver and more confident and I celebrated in that; because I’d been the one to teach him. And there was no doubt that I was learning from him, too. I was beginning to understand what it meant to be loved. It was terrifying.
He rolled onto his back and pulled me on top so he could unzip my dress. His fingers were hasty, fumbling deliciously. He pulled the dress open at the back and ran the palms of his hands across my bare skin. I groaned into his throat and slid my teeth to his neck, biting more sharply than I’d meant.
Suddenly the dress seemed constricting. I pushed away from him, knelt up and pulled it off. For the second time in a few hours it was thrown to the ground; this time I didn’t care.
I unhooked my bra and dropped it to the sand, my nipples hardening in the cool air. He sat up, his eyes wide and needy, then tugged his sweatshirt over his head.
“You’re still wearing too many clothes,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “I think I should undress you. Lie down.”
He obeyed immediately and I knelt across him feeling wanton with need. His hands skimmed up my thighs, over my hips, crossing my stomach until they rested on my breasts, stroking them, caressing them. A sound like purring came from deep within his throat and he sat up, the hard muscles of his stomach contracting, and he nuzzled his face between my breasts. Then, angling his head to one side, he sucked my left nipple, hard. I gasped and his eyes flickered up but his mouth didn’t move away, his tongue teasing me, flicking from side to side. I arched my spine, throwing my head back. He ran his nails lightly across my skin then cupped my buttocks and squeezed them. His erection was hard, trapped by his jeans, pushing against the material as if it was trying to climb through the denim to reach me.
I pulled my breast out of his mouth and winced as I felt the sharp raking of his teeth.
I sat further back on his thighs and undid the single button of his jeans. I fixed my eyes on his, wanting to savor his expression as I unzipped his pants.
He leaned up on his elbows, his mouth slightly open, his breathing unsteady.
Almost more slowly than either of us could bear, I pulled the zipper down. Then, running my fingers over his sweet skin, I bent down to kiss him below his waistband.
He tasted different, not so good as before and I realized the odd, rubbery taste was from the condom we’d used earlier. Oh well, live and learn. Now time for the next lesson.
“Take off your pants and pass me a condom,” I ordered, my voice low and brittle.
He reached into his jeans pocket and passed me a foil packet. I rolled to one side and examined the little packet curiously while he kicked off his pants.
“Weird things, aren’t they?” I said.
“I guess,” he replied, his mind obviously elsewhere, as he reached over to run his hand up between my thighs and pushing his thumb against my clitoris the way I’d shown him. I convulsed so hard I nearly levitated off the blanket.
“Oh, God!”
“You okay?” he said, his voice concerned as he looked up.
“Aah!” I gasped, utterly incoherent.
I saw his expression change from concern to lust. He sank two fingers inside me, pushing slowly in and out, and continued circling my clitoris. Definitely a fast learner. My hands clawed the blanket as his other hand pulled roughly on my nipple.
“Can I kiss you, down there?” he asked, hesitantly.
I didn’t really want that. David had never showed any interest in performing oral sex on me—he’d made it sound dirty, sordid—unless, of course, he was the one receiving the pleasure. I wasn’t sure I wanted to start now, but I couldn’t say no to Sebastian either. If he’d asked me to fly to the moon naked on the back of a broomstick it wouldn’t have seemed an unreasonable request.
“Okay, I guess,” I said quietly.
He kissed my stomach, running his tongue down to my navel and biting my hip bone. Then he sat up, trailing one hand down my body and crawled between my legs. He pushed my knees up and curled his hands around them before his head disappeared between my thighs.
Dear God! The feeling of his hot mouth down there, kissing me, nuzzling my pubic hair. It was a strange, alien feeling, disconcerting almost. But then he slid his tongue inside me and my hips bucked involuntarily. His hands glided up to my thighs and pushed my legs more widely open. I ran my fingers over his hair as he kneaded my thighs, unsure if I wanted to pull his head away or push him more deeply inside me.
Then his tongue flicked against my sweet spot unexpectedly, and I exploded around him, calling out, sounds without words.
I had no idea. I had no idea!
My body continued to send a tsunami of tremors through me, the most powerful and unexpected orgasm I’d ever had.
“I want to be inside you, Caro,” he said, his voice tight with urgency.
I couldn’t speak; I think I nodded.
He leaned over me and picked up the condom packet from where I’d dropped it, my fingers nerveless. I watched mesmerized as he rolled the thin latex down his powerful erection, his own breathing equally rapid.
He grasped himself in one hand then positioned the tip.
“Please!” I gasped.
He thrust deeply into me and groaned, my name, I think.
I lifted my hips and wrapped my legs around his waist, crossing my ankles over his fine ass, and gripped him tightly.
Each powerful thrust pushed me further and further up the blanket, and further and further into another dimension. My nails raked his back, his shoulders and biceps. I forced my eyes to open and gazed into his face, contorted, stripped bare—there was just me, just him and the endless ocean.
I screamed his name as loudly as I could, needing to voice my love for him just once.
Too quickly, his body shuddered deeply inside me, his muscles contracting, sending waves of pleasure rippling through me.
He collapsed and I pulled him tighter inside, milking every last inch of him. He moaned and lay with his head nestled into my neck, breathing hard.
After several minutes locked together without moving, he reluctantly pulled out of me, making me gasp.
I was cold without the heat of his body and I shivered slightly.
He pulled the edges of the blanket around us and we curled up together, sated briefly. I half expected him to fall asleep; it was what David always did, but I was learning that they were different in so many ways.
Sebastian continued to run his fingers up and down my arm, gently stroking my skin. It was comforting.
“Sebastian, can I ask you something?”
“Of course—anything.”
I was glad it was dark because just thinking the question, let alone asking it, was making me blush.
“What is it, Caro?”
“Well, I was just wondering…that was really…nice…when you…you know…kissed me…down there.”
He nuzzled my shoulder.
“Good.”
“How…how did you know what to do?”
His body was suddenly still, and his hand froze on my arm. I regretted my impulsive question immediately.
“It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me. I was just wondering…”
“It’s not what you think, Caro,” he said, quietly. “I’ve never…you know I’ve never been with anyone else. I’ve never…done that before.”
“So, how did you know? Because it was amazing.”
“Amazing? Really?”
He sounded pleased.
“Oh, believe me: I know what ‘amazing’ means, and that definitely qualifies.”
He chuckled quietly.
“Cool!”
“So…come on…how did you know what to do? Or maybe you’re just a natural.”
I sensed there was something he wasn’t telling me.
“Come on, Hunter. Fess up. Other than being God’s gift to women…”
“Okay, but promise not to laugh.”
“Cross my heart.”
He sighed heavily.
“I looked it up.”
“Excuse me?”
“Online. I looked it up. There are websites where you can…find out stuff.”
I was astonished. It would never have occurred to me in a million years.
“So … did you just do an internet search on ‘oral sex’?”
I heard his quiet laugh again.
“Kinda, yeah. A couple of years ago me and Ches were on my dad’s computer when he was out; he’d only turned off the screen so when we turned it on again it was on some porno site. Someone had posted a question about…that. I think it freaked us out at the time but I was thinking about it the other day after we…and I just thought…I just wanted…if we did it again…I just wanted to please you. I know I’m not very good at this and…well…after what happened that first time, I thought it might be good to…you know…pick up some tips.”
I was so overwhelmed—not only had he done this for me, to please me, but that he was so open and honest.
“Sebastian…I think you’re a wonderful lover. The things I feel when I’m with you…the things you make me feel…I’ve never, never felt like that.”
I pulled his mouth to mine, trying to show through my kiss that I meant every word.
“You’re very special, Sebastian,” I murmured onto his lips.
“I love you so much, Caro,” he said huskily.
We lay quietly for some minutes and I began to drift off to sleep. But then, in a hesitant voice, he spoke again.
“Caro, can I ask you something?”
“Of course. What is it?”
My brain was happily disconnected from my body, and my voice sounded dream-laden.
He hesitated and I stroked his chest to reassure him.
“Why did you change your mind?”
“About what?”
“About us.”
“I haven’t. Oh, you mean…this.”
“Yes. I mean, I’m glad you did—I was just wondering why.”
I wasn’t sure I knew how to answer that. In fact I didn’t want to be reminded that this was…wrong.
“I didn’t really change my mind: it’s still…dangerous for us, for me.”
He wrapped the blanket more tightly around us as if that could protect me from the disapproval of the world.
“I was too weak to stay away from you,” I whispered. “And today was so…I’ve never felt like this before. You make me feel alive. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t wrong and…”
“How can you say that?” he said angrily, his body suddenly too still. “How can you say it’s wrong? How…”
He stumbled, trying to find the words, and I gasped with pain.
“Don’t be angry with me, Sebastian.”
I couldn’t bear it if you left me now.
“Just…just please don’t say it’s wrong. I can’t hear you say that.”
His hands were bunched into fists against the rough blanket.
I sat up alarmed.
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean it like that but nothing has changed. You’re still only 17 and I’m…still breaking the law. In the eyes of the world, I’m some disgusting, depraved sexual predator…a vile, awful…”
“Don’t!” He shouted, his eyes furious.
Abruptly, he pulled away from me, his fists pressed against his forehead.
His sudden anger scared me. I was used to anger from David and it rarely touched me—but this…I felt torn in half.
“Sebastian!”
I tried to pull his hands away from his face, but he was too strong and refused to look at me.
“Sebastian,” I spoke more gently. “You asked me why: and I’ve tried to explain. This isn’t going to be easy. You know this.”
I stroked his shoulder.
“Please?”
Eventually he turned toward me, although he still couldn’t meet my eyes. He let me take one of his hands in mine.
“Sorry,” he muttered softly.
“Me, too.”
He moved gently, wrapped me in his arms again and pulled me down so we were lying, a tangle of arms and legs and coarse wool.
He kissed me with sudden ferocity, covering my face and throat with hard, burning kisses. His weight pinned me down as I ran my hands across the taut muscles of his back and shoulders.
“I love you,” he growled. “That’s all that matters.”
I badly wanted to believe he was right; I knew he was wrong.
But I let his words, his hands and his body sweep me away. I realized with dim surprise that he’d grown hard again and his erection was probing between my legs. I wished I could just allow him to slide inside me without fear or consequence but the small, unquiet voice of reason was just about audible.
I felt his wet tip push again against my thighs. I laid my hand firmly against his chest.
“Sebastian,” I said, a warning in my voice.
He groaned and rolled onto his back, then fumbled around while I waited, growing impatient.
“I can’t find the fucking condoms!”
“What?”
“They were in my jeans’ pocket, but I can’t find them now.”
What?
We scrambled around in the dark, frustration mounting. I grabbed handfuls of sand, sieving it through my fingers, trying to find the small packet.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake!” he yelled suddenly and threw himself back down on the blanket.
He looked so wretched and, well, kind of uncomfortable, that I couldn’t help smiling. I was really trying hard not to laugh but the situation was so ridiculous.
“Oh dear,” I said, the humor obvious in my voice. “What are we going to do now?”
He ignored my tone. I really hoped he wasn’t going to sulk. But I had a solution in mind.
I stroked his satiny skin, still stretched tight over his erection. He groaned and turned his eyes toward me.
I held him firmly, sliding my hand up and down him several times. His hips arched underneath me while his hands lay limply at his sides.
Slowly, my intent now obvious, I knelt at his side and stared down at him.
“Oh, fuck!” he breathed.
Well, not quite, but this will have to do for now.
Gently, I pulled his erection back toward my mouth and ran my tongue around the skin. I tried to ignore the rubbery flavor and hoped it would wear off soon. I decided to do some more wearing off using my tongue and teeth and, with great satisfaction, I watched him writhe and pant under my touch. I massaged his balls with one hand and spread my other hand out on his stomach, pressing him down into the blanket.
“Caro!” he moaned.
Hearing my name on his lips was extraordinarily arousing. For the first time ever, I really wanted to do this, to take him all the way.
I moved my mouth faster and sucked harder. I could feel him all the way to the back of my throat so I made sure I relaxed, then stroked my mouth up and down him rapidly. I felt Sebastian’s hands weave themselves through my hair and with a sound that was more animal than human, he shuddered and stilled.
I swallowed quickly, trying not to think about the salty taste too much, then crawled over to curl up next to him. I was cold and the heat of his body was welcoming. I pulled the blanket around us and felt his arms sweep down my back.
As I snuggled up to him, I felt something dig into my hip.
I pulled out the packet of condoms that had gone AWOL, and held it up.
“Look what I found.”
Sebastian’s eyes opened sleepily. “What? Are you kidding? Oh well, that was pretty fucking amazing anyway.” He laughed in astonishment. “I mean, just fucking sensational!” Then he paused, “But keep that packet where we can find it.”
Now it was my turn to be amazed. “You want more?!”
His voice was suddenly serious, all humor gone.
“It could be weeks, months even before I get to spend the whole night with you again, Caro. Whereas that fucking asshole…”
I held my finger over his mouth then kissed him. “But tonight is still ours.”
And I didn’t want to waste the hours by uttering David’s name.
As dawn began to leak through the darkness, Sebastian slept. His head rested on my chest and his arms and legs were wrapped around me. I could feel his warm breath on my skin as my fingers rhythmically stroked his back.
It was a peaceful moment tinged with sadness for me. I didn’t want it to be over, but with each minute the dark faded, and I knew it was time to go.
I’d never known a night like it; I’d never known it could be that way. I finally understood what my dear Papa had tried to tell me when I’d announced that I was marrying David.
“You’re so young, mia cara. You have so much life ahead of you. You don’t have to decide now. See a little of the world first.”
Of course I hadn’t listened. Children never listen to their parents, do they? Not about life; not about love…or what I’d thought was love.
“Sebastian,” I whispered, rubbing his arm. “We have to go.”
He mumbled something and tightened his grip. His reaction made me smile.
“Come on. Wake up.”
“I am awake,” he said, and to make his point he took my nipple in his mouth and tugged gently.
I swatted his shoulder even as my body shuddered with desire.
“Stop it! We have to go.”
“Yep, I’m ready,” he said, pushing his growing erection into my hip.
Good God! He really was insatiable; I’d always thought that must be a myth. I was very grateful that David had always been easily appeased. The thought spoiled my good mood.
“No, it’s time to go,” I said, feeling grumpy and turned on at the same time.
Sebastian sighed. “We’re out of condoms anyway,” he said sadly.
We got through a whole box of condoms? No wonder my legs felt like I’d never be able to cross them again. Yes, well used—that was the sensation. I wondered idly if Sebastian felt the same. I didn’t know though; could men be sore from, um, extended usage?
I was about to ask him when I realized the sky was lighter with pink streaks glowing in the east. I sat up in a panic, looking around for my clothes; I had to get back before David woke up.
“What’s the matter?” said Sebastian, sitting up, frowning.
“I really have to go!” I hissed, feeling angry and tearful at the same time.
“Caro!” Sebastian tried to capture my hand.
“No! What part of that don’t you understand?” I snapped.
He didn’t reply but his hurt expression said it all. He stood up and pulled on his jeans and sweatshirt in silence, then shook the sand off the blanket and folded it under his arm.
I’d found my dress, which looked more like a rag than anything else, but my bra was missing in action. The panties, well, I assumed they were still somewhere on the floor of the Hunters’ car.
I stepped into the dress and almost jumped when I felt Sebastian’s hands on my spine, pulling up the zipper. He kissed my neck quickly and held out his hand.
I took it, feeling rather ashamed of my outburst, but too anxious to apologize.
When we reached the car, I fished out my panties from under the driver’s seat, shyly stepped into them and wriggled them up my hips. Sebastian was gentleman enough to turn his back during this awkward procedure. How ridiculous of me, after everything we’d done several times last night and twice this morning.
Sebastian drove barefoot, but I tried to brush sand off my feet and push them into my pumps. The sky grew lighter each minute and I was terrified that someone would see me get out of the Hunters’ car or, worse still, that David would be awake and waiting for me.
Sebastian pulled up outside the house and gave my hand a quick squeeze. “Text me later? Let me know you’re all right?”
I nodded and pulled my hand away.
I stumbled up the driveway and crept around to the back of the house, peeking in through the window. I breathed a sigh of relief: David was still asleep on the couch and snoring loudly.
I took off my pumps and tiptoed through backdoor, feeling all colors of guilty, but oddly exultant at the same time.
In the bedroom, everything was as I’d left it; a lipstick on the dressing table and a comb abandoned by David’s side of the bed, which hadn’t been slept in.
It was nearly 7 AM and although my body ached for sleep, and really just ached from using muscles that had never before seen the light of day, I ignored the bed and headed for the bathroom. I badly needed to pee. Sebastian had had no qualms about wandering off into the dunes during the night to relieve himself, but I hadn’t quite been able to be that free with him. Luckily I hadn’t drunk much during the evening, so I’d been able to hold on.
I showered quickly, enjoying the hot water on my skin, and washed off the last of the sand that had managed to work itself into a number of interesting crevices.
I wondered if Sebastian’s parents would comment on his absence—or the fact that the car had been missing all night. But then again, the state they’d been in when he’d taken them home, I doubted they would have noticed much at all. I hoped that was the case.
As I dressed, pulling on a pair of jeans and old shirt, I heard David stirring next door. I didn’t know how I was going to do this—to go on deceiving him, to carry on living the lie. I wondered again if I could contemplate the alternative, or could I weather the next four months.
I took a deep breath and walked into the living room. David peered at me through bleary eyes, grunted and rolled into a sitting position.
“Coffee?” I said, a little too brightly.
He eyed me suspiciously. “Where have you been?”
“Showering,” I said, breezily.
My hands shook slightly as I put the water on to boil.
“Bacon? Pancakes?”
From the corner of my eye I saw David pull a face and he didn’t reply. I couldn’t help feeling a sharp sense of satisfaction that he was suffering with a hangover. If things ran true to form, he’d spend the rest of the day in his study.
I hoped Sebastian would be able to get a couple of hours sleep—he started his new job today. It was only bussing tables at a country club outside of La Jolla, but it would keep him out of his parents’ way and meant he’d eventually have enough money to buy a car—especially if tips kept up, as Ches had promised.
I had the interesting task of cleaning the house and erasing the evidence of occupation so it would pass David’s undoubtedly close inspection later on.
The day dragged almost unbearably. The only bright side was that David stayed out of my way. I managed to send Sebastian a quick text halfway through the morning. David was in the shower and I was vacuuming his study. I had just a few minutes.
* I’m ok. Hope all good with you? *
I waited anxiously for his reply but my cell stayed ominously silent. When I heard David dressing in the bedroom, I turned it off.
Throughout the day, I checked it intermittently, my anxiety increasing with every hour that passed. I finally got a reply late in the evening.
* Sorry, baby. Got called in to start work early. Weird place! Tomorrow? Please say yes. *
He called me ‘baby’!
I wondered why the place was weird. Yes, tomorrow. God, that seemed a long time from now.
I felt better after reading his message, but was sad that I had to delete it immediately. But my sense of well-being evaporated when it was time to go to bed. With my husband.
I was reading a book: well, I was trying to concentrate but the words swam in front of my eyes. I switched off the light and turned on my side, hoping this would protect me. My breathing was shallow and I tried to slow it down to appear as if I were really resting. I felt the bed shift and couldn’t help holding my breath. David leaned over and ran his hand over my hip.
“Not tonight, David,” I said, trying to speak naturally. “I’m tired. Last night was very late.”
Especially for me.
“You’re not menstruating—what’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing. I’m just tired.”
“Hmm.”
He didn’t say anything else but rolled to his side of the bed. I breathed slowly. Soon he was snoring, but it was much later that I was able to relax enough to sleep.
I was awake before the alarm—occasionally David liked to be jerked off before breakfast and I wanted to avoid that particular scenario.
I made sure his uniform was laid out, coffee was waiting; bacon and pancakes delivered with military precision on a hot, fucking plate.
But it wasn’t enough to earn as much as a ‘good morning’; he was making it very easy for me to leave him.
As soon as he was out of the house, I texted Sebastian.
* Meet you at the park—30 minutes? *
He texted back seconds later.
* Not soon enough but I’ll be there *
My heart lightened immediately.
I ran into the bedroom and dug out the knee-length floaty skirt and strappy top that I’d planned to wear. I’d shoved my hair into a ponytail before breakfast, but now I shook it out and brushed it vigorously. I’d noticed that Sebastian liked to run his hands through it when we made love.
I didn’t bother with colored lipstick, just a little gloss, as I wasn’t planning on wearing it for long. Just thinking about kissing Sebastian made my heart race…and other things. Yes, I definitely felt a little moist—best to concentrate on finding sandals that matched.
He was waiting for me. I’d barely stopped the car before he was opening the door and climbing in, a huge smile on his face.
“Hi!”
His eyes glowed with love and something darker. He took my breath away.
“Hi!” I grinned back at him. “So, where do you want to go?”
I pulled out into the road, happiness flooding through me.
“I don’t care. Anywhere, as long as it’s with you.”
“Shall we go to our coffee shop in Little Italy?”
He raised his eyebrows. “That’s a bit public for what I had in mind.”
“Which is?” I said, innocently.
He smiled wickedly and without speaking leaned across to bury his head in my lap, biting me softly through the thin material of my skirt and running his hands along my bare legs and up to my panties.
“Sebastian! I’ll crash!” I whimpered.
He let his fingers stray a little further and I gasped. Then he sat up slowly, leaving my skirt bunched up around the tops of my thighs.
My breathing had accelerated and my hands were clenched into fists on the steering wheel.
“That was really stupid and reckless!” I said, my voice shaking. “I could have had an accident.”
“You were fine,” he said, arrogantly.
I shook my head, really rather angry with him.
He just grinned.
Two could play at that game.
I stopped the car, letting it rest at a crazy angle, half-on and half-off the curb. I got out, standing with my hands on my hips.
“Caro?”
He looked at me anxiously then came and stood next to me, worried that he’d really upset me.
I passed him the keys.
“You drive.”
“Okay,” he said softly, still concerned.
Without speaking, we got back into the car and he pulled away from the curb. I let him drive a short distance before I reached over and squeezed his balls, hard.
The car swerved across the lane and the truck behind honked loudly.
“Fuck!”
“Not so easy to concentrate, is it?” I said.
I’d just contributed an important lesson to his portfolio of life skills, and safety while driving. They should cover it in Drivers’ Ed.
Sebastian glanced at me then, as we passed a weed-covered, overgrown and empty lot, he pulled over suddenly.
He cut the engine and the sudden silence whispered out between us.
I felt a tremor of apprehension—I had no idea what he was going to do.
“I have a whole box of condoms.”
His voice was quiet but his eyes were blazing. I think my mouth dropped open. Another whole box? Wow!
Two long seconds ticked by as we stared at each other. I don’t know who moved first, but suddenly we were tearing at each other’s clothes.
“Back seat!” I gasped.
I clambered over the seats and felt him bite my ass. Then he forced me down onto the seat, tugging his t-shirt over his head. I ran my hands greedily over his chest and stomach, then pushed my right hand into his jeans pocket and pulled out the condom packet. It was still wrapped in cellophane so I used my teeth to rip it open. It exploded apart and condoms showered down around us.
Sebastian caught one and kneeled up, tearing the foil. I yanked down his zipper.
“Ow! Careful, Caro!”
“Sorry,” I breathed. “Let me kiss it better.”
There wasn’t much room to maneuver in the backseat but I managed to take him briefly in my mouth before he pulled back and shook his head.
“Caro, I’ll come in about three seconds if you do that—and I want to be inside you.”
“Okay, but let me do the condom; you have all the fun.”
He stared at me as if he couldn’t believe what I’d said, but passed me the little piece of latex. I pinched the nipple like I’d seen him do and then carefully rolled it all the way down to the hilt. It didn’t seem to want to stay in place so I tried tugging it.
Sebastian pushed my hands away, groaning loudly.
“Fuck, Caro!”
The slippery little sucker wouldn’t stay put but Sebastian eventually wrestled it into submission, pulling it down. Seeing him touch himself like that drove me crazy.
His eyes were wild as I grabbed his jeans and dragged them down, running my hands over his firm ass-cheeks.
He groaned louder then clawed at my panties, tugging them roughly down my trembling legs. They were still hooked over one sandal, waving like the flag of a defeated army when he plunged into me.
He buried his head in my neck and I clutched him inside and out.
“Ssh, Sebastian. Let me feel all of you.”
He drew back slowly and I clenched tightly, making him moan again.
“Yes, like that,” I breathed, running my nails over his back.
Twice more he moved inside me slowly, luxuriously, letting me enjoy the delicious sensation, watching my face as I gazed at his. Then he squeezed his eyes shut.
“I can’t! I can’t!” he moaned. “Please, Caro!”
Without waiting for my reply he started pounding into me. I felt his whole body stiffen suddenly and he cried out softly.
For a second I felt his full, crushing weight, then he propped himself up on his elbows and kissed me deeply, lovingly.
I stroked the short, soft bristles at the back of his head then ran my hands down the length of his spine.
“Sorry,” he said, at last, looking shamefaced.
“What for?” I was genuinely confused.
“Well, mostly because I wanted that to last longer for you…but for nearly making you crash, too. Although you got me back.”
I smiled up at him. “Consider it a life lesson, Sebastian.”
He kissed me again. “I like your lessons, ma’am.”
“Don’t call me ‘ma’am’,” I grumbled at him. “That makes me feel even older.”
He silenced me with another kiss then pulled out carefully.
His face was suddenly chalky under his tan.
“What?” I said, struggling to sit up.
“I can’t find the condom!” he said, gazing at me in panic.
“What do you mean you can’t find it?”
“I mean…it’s not here!”
He pointed to his erection which was still very worth looking at. But he was right: no condom.
“It must have come off when you pulled out,” I said, not feeling too worried yet.
“I think…I think it must be still inside you!” he said, shock and horror mingling on his face.
Oh, for fuck’s sake, what?
“Just…just close your eyes, Sebastian,” I ordered.
“What? Why?”
“Just do it!”
I wasn’t going to go ferreting around up there with him watching. But search as I might, I couldn’t find anything that felt rubbery.
My cheeks must have been a brilliant, flaming red.
“I think I’m going to need the ladies room,” I muttered quietly.
“Do you want me to…?” he offered.
“No!” I said quickly.
But I couldn’t help a small laugh escaping.
“What?” he said, half-relieved, half-puzzled.
“We never seem to get a break, do we?” I sighed.
He pulled a face, twisting his mouth into the semblance of a smile. “Other than meeting you in the first place: not really, no.”
He finished buttoning up his jeans and gallantly passed me my panties.
“Thanks,” I said, a wry expression on my face.
“At your service,” he said, trying to stifle a smile.
At this point I decided I was going to have to start taking the contraceptive pill—I couldn’t afford anymore fuck-ups, so to speak.
Sebastian drove a couple of miles down the road and we found a mall that had a restroom.
“Are you sure you don’t want any help with the…um…situation?” he said, a salacious gleam in his eye.
“No, thank you,” I said primly.
He laughed and I stalked off to the restrooms.
It was some minutes before I was able to locate the missing condom. Who would have thought it could disappear so far…um…up. At this rate I was going to have dreams about my ovaries being tied in knots by miscreant latex.
When I finally emerged, Sebastian was wearing an expression of dismay. His face cleared instantly when he saw me.
“Everything okay?”
“It’s all in hand,” I smirked at him.
He squeezed my fingers and whispered, “Next time, I want to play hunt the rubber.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “Can we please go and get that coffee now?”
He draped his arm around my shoulders, possessively. “Sure, baby.”
God, he made me feel like a teenager. Except that I wasn’t. I banished the thought and we headed off to Little Italy.
Papa Benzino kissed me warmly on both cheeks and swept Sebastian into a huge bear-hug, which he returned a little shyly. Mama B came running from behind the counter, dabbing at her eyes with an apron as if we were her long, lost family. They chattered away in Italian and I could tell that Sebastian was picking up more of the conversation than before. Perhaps I was doing him some good after all.
The nonna issued forth from her room over the shop and held my cheeks while she kissed me and told me I was glowing with love. Then she slapped Sebastian on the chest, felt his biceps and winked at me, repeating something that translated as, ‘a fine lover is like a good salami’ and threw me a knowing look.
Sebastian blushed, whether from her words or her touching, I couldn’t say, but it made me laugh out loud and he gave a grin that was embarrassed and amused at the same time.
A crowd of people on their lunch break came in to order food, sending the family scampering back to work, so we sat outside under a sun umbrella and sipped our coffees: espresso for me, regular for Sebastian.
“You didn’t tell me how your first day at work went?”
“Oh, that,” he said frowning.
“Was it bad?” I said, surprised.
“It…well, it wasn’t really what I was expecting,” he muttered, and for some reason he looked embarrassed again.
I rubbed the tip of my finger over his hand. “Tell me.”
“No, it’s just dumb.”
“Sebastian, you just watched me go fishing for a stray condom; it can’t be any dumber than that!”
He smiled wryly. “Yeah, that was pretty funny!”
“It won’t be funny if I get pregnant.” I reminded him.
He gaped. “Could you?”
“Well, of course I could; but don’t worry, I’m going to take care of it. I’ve decided it’s going to be safer to start taking the Pill. I can’t afford any more…accidents.”
Sebastian looked totally out of his depth at this sudden conversational segue. I steered us back to less controversial topics.
“You were saying about your first day at the country club?”
He frowned again, and I could tell he was wondering whether or not he should pursue the more serious subject. He shook his head and chose to follow my lead.
“Well, I thought I’d just be bussing tables but…they wanted me to do other stuff, too.”
“Like what?”
He hesitated, drawing patterns on the palm of my hand with his index finger.
“Sebastian?”
“It’s just kinda lame.”
“Tell me anyway; I won’t tell anyone,” I said, raising an eyebrow.
“They had me waiting tables,” he said finally. “Carrying food and drinks.”
“Okay. That doesn’t sound so bad. And…?”
“I had to wear a uniform.”
“That wasn’t a surprise, was it?”
Surely he didn’t have a problem with uniforms; he was the son of a Navy officer.
“Shorts and a polo t-shirt; they were a bit…tight.”
I was beginning to get the picture.
“Okay: shorts and a tight t-shirt. And…?”
He closed his eyes, a pained expression on his face.
“The women there…they…they grabbed me…a lot!”
And I laughed out loud; I couldn’t help it.
“So, basically, you’re telling me you’re a cabana boy—and that all the women were feeling you up.”
“I was supposed to be bussing tables!”
He sounded so indignant; it just made me laugh harder.
“I can’t blame them.” I teased. “Did you get any offers? Any phone numbers dangled in front of you?”
His cheeks reddened, and he stared at the table.
“You did! Sebastian!”
“I said no!”
He grimaced at me and I took pity on him.
“Tesoro, I’m not the least bit surprised—those places are notorious for hiring good-looking young men as a bit of eye-candy for the diamond-wife brigade. I bet your boss is a woman, right?”
He nodded unhappily.
“And she took one look at you and saw dollar signs. That’s all. You’ll just have to put up with a bunch of horny, older women shoving dollar bills in your back pocket for the summer. You think you can do that?”
“I guess. It’s not as much fun as I thought it would be.”
I fell a little bit more in love with him.
I stroked his cheek and rested my free hand on his knee.
“You can always get another job, Sebastian. Besides, they shouldn’t really have you serving drinks at your age. Do they know how young…how old you are?”
He raised his eyebrows. “They do, but I guess I look older than my age.”
It was my turn to blush, especially when I remembered my comment about ‘horny older women’. On the other hand…
“I think I’ll join.”
“What?”
“The country club.”
“Why?”
“I heard there are a lot of horny, older women there—I thought you might need some protection. Besides, it could be fun.”
A slow smile spread across his face.
“Yeah! That would be fun.”
“I’d tip well.”
“Would you throw me your phone number?”
“I think that could be arranged.”
My cell phone rang, interrupting us. It was a number I didn’t recognize, which made me nervous.
“Hello?”
“Caroline Wilson?”
“Yes, speaking.”
“This is Carl Winters, the editor at City Beat. I was just calling to say that I loved your ‘Base Line Up’ article. I’d like to run it in Thursday’s issue. You got some great photos there, too. The fee would be $325. And I’d love any other articles you’ve got on life out at the Base. Folk around here are real interested in stories on life from a military point of view. Between 1,500 and 2,000 words.”
“Wow! That’s great! Thank you! Yes, I’m sure I could write any number of articles on military life.”
“You’ve got a very nice writing style, Mrs. Wilson—really draws the reader in. I’m surprised I haven’t run across you before.”
“Oh!” That was a surprise—a good one. “We just moved here from the east coast.”
“I guess that explains it. Well, drop by the news desk sometime and we’ll sign you up to one of our standard freelance contracts.”
“I’ll do that. Thank you, Mr. Winters.”
“Call me Carl. It’ll be great to meet you, Caroline. And maybe next time we could send out one of our photographers with you.”
We hung up and I threw my arms around Sebastian’s neck. “City Beat is going to print the surfing article.” I said into his chest.
To the surprise of both of us, I started to cry.
“Hey! What’s the matter? This is good, isn’t it?”
“Yes, yes, of course. I’m just being stupid.”
He hugged me tightly. “I don’t understand.”
How could I explain? I wasn’t even sure I understood myself.
He stroked my back and kissed my hair, his touch soothing me. When my sobs finally ebbed, he leaned back and brushed the salty tears away with his thumbs, his face lined with concern.
“Caro? Why were you crying?”
I took a deep breath and tried to order my thoughts.
“It’s just…getting one of my stories printed. You know, someone saying that I’m actually good at something. I’m…not used to it. David never…”
I stopped mid-sentence as his face hardened.
“It was just a nice surprise,” I finished lamely.
He picked up my hand from the table and kissed it softly. “Yeah, I get that.”
We sat in silence for some moments.
“Come on,” he said at last. He stood up, still holding my hand.
“Where are we going?”
His expression softened. “To our place.”
“Our place?”
“The ocean.”
I smiled up at him. “Okay.”