That Summer - Alice's Story

"Go ahead and help yourself, Erik," I said, gesturing at the dishes between us.

We fell mostly silent as we ate, Erik serving himself a second helping before I'd even realized he'd finished his first. It was satisfying in a way I hadn't expected to see him so obviously enjoying the meal. When at last it appeared he was slowing down, I rose from the table and began to clear the dishes, again apologizing for keeping him from the festivities in town that day.

"It's ok, Ms. Jenkins," he replied quickly and my heart skipped a beat at the sound of his voice sounding out my name.

In an effort to cover my reaction, I smiled at him and told him to stop calling me that. He countered by saying it again and adding that his mother always taught him to address a lady properly.

I grinned then, feeling the familiar ache settle low in my belly when he called me a lady.

"A lady?" I repeated incredulously, unsure suddenly if he'd actually said that.

Under my gaze, he flushed an alarming shade of red and looked away. I couldn't help but laugh. It was strangely comforting to know that he was as uncomfortable around me as I was around him. Only my age and experience seemed to give me the talent and strength to disguise it more effectively.

When he didn't say anything, I spoke again. "Your parents must be really nice people. They certainly raised you right."

His response was a genuine laugh and my knees actually trembled when the deep sound reached my ears. The chair scraped the floor as he stood up and I felt him approach the sink where I stood. I looked up with a smile and felt his warm eyes slide across my face before meeting my gaze. He was saying something about his parents not agreeing with him but to this day, I can't be sure of that. All I was aware of that moment was how close he stood to me and how he smelled of the outdoors and wild grass.

I swallowed and managed to sound coherent when I spoke again. "You don't have to stick around while I do the dishes, Erik," I told him and was rewarded with another blush and bashful lowering of his eyelashes.

"I don't mind helping out, Ms. Jenkins," he murmured in a low voice and moved away from me, towards the kitchen table.

My knees just about gave out then. My temperature must have spiked suddenly and I felt light-headed. Somehow I managed to speak again and I tried to keep my voice light as I did.

"Erik, I will fire you this minute if you call me Ms. Jenkins one more time," I said, squeezing the living daylights out of the washcloth in my hand. Slowly I turned to look at him and he was gazing back at me, a surprised expression on his young face, his mouth hanging slightly open. I knew then that my voice had betrayed me and he looked as nervous and shut off from me as he had that first day.

"All right," he finally muttered, not taking his eyes from my face.

I was the first to turn away, murmuring something in response and continued to wash the dishes in the sink. When I didn't stray from my task, I heard Erik move around the kitchen, muttering something about checking the windows and doors before the storm hit. At his words, I looked up and out the window over the sink, frowning once again at the storm clouds I saw now looming much closer than before.

I couldn't help but wonder if the old house and other buildings would be able to withstand another strong storm. Those clouds and that wind were shaping into a particularly wicked tempest and I was not looking forward to the wreckage in the morning. Then I saw Erik's tall, lean form stride with purpose across the yard before the window and my breath stopped short. Cursing at myself and my troublesome desires, I hurriedly finished the dishes and bolted from the kitchen before Erik came back inside.

Upstairs in my bedroom, I paced for what felt like hours. Sleep was the furthest thing from my mind and I knew that the moment I lay in bed I'd begin touching myself again. Something inside me told me that it just wouldn't be enough. Not anymore. Not tonight.

I heard the kitchen door open with a bang and then shut again a moment later. The sound halted my frantic pacing and I listened to the sound of Erik's steps on the back stairs. Another few seconds passed and I heard his bedroom door shut.

Heaving a heavy sigh, I collapsed onto the bench at the foot of my bed and covered my face with my hands.

I had no idea what I was going to do. The summer wasn't even half gone and I was more than half-crazed. Erik was a good boy, he deserved to earn his pay this summer and finish school and go on to become a doctor or lawyer or something equally grand. He didn't need some washed up widow pining for him and lusting after his youthful body. No matter what I told myself though, I couldn't stop my heart from pounding and keeping me up late that night.

Eventually I reached a strange state of being. My mind stilled as a moment of calm in the storm reached the farm. I glanced out the window and saw the tallest trees bending in the wind and saw the occasional splatter of rain against the glass. I stood up and walked across my room, into my closet where my fingers passed over the multitude of hanging clothes.

Of their own accord, my hands pulled out a soft blue dress that I hadn't worn in ages. It was nearly threadbare and for a moment I wasn't sure why I'd held on to such an overused dress. Then the memory washed over me and I allowed myself a moment to recall the night Todd had proposed to me. Minutes after slipping the ring on my hand, he'd slid his hands up my legs under this blue skirt and taken my virginity in the sweet spring night.

One moment and then I was undressing, shedding my work clothes, leaving the jeans and plaid shirt in a pile on the floor so I could bring the soft dress down over my head. It settled in a pleasing shape around my body and I smoothed a single hand down the front before turning from the closet.

I didn't head directly into his bedroom. Instead I went downstairs to the kitchen and made a small pot of coffee. The heady aroma filled my nostrils and I breathed deeply, the caffeine fumes enough to give me the last of the courage I was seeking.

The storm breathed new life against the house, rattling the window panes and sending a shiver down my spine as I filled two porcelain mugs with the steaming coffee. As I walked slowly up those back stairs, I heard with perfect clarity the wind howling against the outer walls of the house. My heart pounded in unison with the gusts as they swept dirt and leaves against the siding and my breathing caught in my throat yet again as a resounding boom of thunder split my ear drums.

So it was with a strange buzzing in my ears that I paused at the landing before Erik's door, two cups of coffee in my hands. Drawing in a deep breath, I stepped closer and tapped gently on the rough wooden door.

For a moment I thought he might be sleeping. Then I knocked again, determined to resolve this. After a third knock, I heard him stirring beyond the door and I held my breath in silence until he opened the door, standing shirtless before me.

Focus on his face, I told myself and allowed myself to smile anyway, my mind already turning over the possibilities his bare chest presented me with.

"Did I wake you?" I whispered, grateful that it didn't squeak with apprehension. Seeing the expression on his face made me pause, wondering if I was wrong about coming to his room.

Slowly he shook his head in response to my question and I breathed a sigh of relief, uncertain if I even spoke out loud. His eyes slipped from mine to rest on my hands and the two curls of steam rising over the mugs. He asked if one of those was for him, his voice deep and sure and I smiled, handing one over. Then I took the plunge.

"May I come in?" I asked and without waiting for him to reject me, I swept past him into the room. I felt a moment of awkwardness, standing in the middle of his space before I crossed to the lone rocking chair on one side and sitting down. I looked up at Erik, still standing near the doorway, the mug of coffee looking tiny in his large hands. I made up a reason for showing up at this ungodly hour outside his bedroom and I hoped as I spoke about what happened in the kitchen earlier that he couldn't tell I was lying.

But then a funny thing happened. I realized I meant what I was saying to him; about our dinners together and how much I wanted him to enjoy his time at Square One. After all, it was only the summer and he didn't have much more to endure. Then he spoke, more words than he had since I'd arrived at his bedroom door and the strength of his tone stopped me short.

"What?"

"It's not long at all," he said, flushing now and looking down at the coffee mug in his hand.

Something about his tone got to me and I studied his face carefully. Was I imagining things?

"Um, I mean, it doesn't seem like a long time. Like, I haven't been here a long time either," he was stammering and it was so endearing I almost laughed. I tried to actually listen to his words though, turning my focus from his delightful mouth to his eyes. Not that that helped much; his eyes were so dark in that dim bedroom with the single bedside lamp that it was suddenly difficult to breathe.

"No?" I managed to respond to his words, smiling as I did so.

"Well, no. No, it doesn't feel like it's been all that long," he continued. "And two months doesn't seem long enough-" Suddenly he stopped and this time before he dropped his eyes, I saw what I needed to see there.

My heart slowed almost to stopping and I dimly heard him apologize. But I was already moving.

"For what?" I asked, slipping from the creaking rocking chair, leaving my mug on the floor next to it.

"For..." he started but stopped shortly after, shaking his head and flushing an even deeper shade of red.

Then I was on the bed next to him and I could feel the heat rising from his broad shoulders in waves. I breathed it in, soaking up his masculine scent as I shifted closer.

"Don't be sorry, Erik." Please, please don't be sorry.

He looked at me and I looked at him. I felt him breathing and knew he was breathing me in as well. I heard a roaring in my ears as I reached for his hands, gently slipping the mug of coffee from his grasp. I was speaking, saying something about what he'd wanted to say before he'd cut himself off; something about not having enough time to really get to know each other. I wasn't entirely sure of my words, instead watching his face.

He didn't look frightened or disgusted and that was a very good start. It was all I'd needed really. Any resistance and I would have fled his room in an instant, knowing that I'd been wrong about all his looks and words before this moment.

"Well," I heard the words as if they were being spoken by someone outside this moment, someone detached and observant. "Let's not waste any more time." Somehow my hand had risen to his face and I gently stroked his cheek as a clap of thunder split the stillness.

Before my courage abandoned me, I leaned forward, my eyelids falling shut as I kissed him, just pressing my lips against his. I breathed his breath and tilted my head just slightly, my lips sliding gently over his.

A moment passed before I realized he wasn't touching me and wasn't kissing me back. I drew back with a small frown and looked up at him in concern. Had I been wrong?

"Erik?" I whispered, apprehension flooding me suddenly.

"Wh-what...what are you doing?" He asked, his face still flushed and his body tense.

But I heard it in his voice. He was just young and didn't know how to express himself well enough yet.

"Getting to know you better," I responded simply and leaned forward to capture his lips with my own again.

He breathed my name as our lips met and I felt all my desire speed through my body before exploding in heated wetness between my legs. I held on to him for dear life, clutching his shoulders, my fingers digging into his warm flesh. I pulled him closer, sliding against him as I did so. He broke the kiss suddenly, pulling back and looking deeply into my eyes.

Not speaking, he just stared at me, his eyes moving across my face and down to my open mouth. I realized then I was breathing hard, my chest rising and falling rapidly. For a split second I thought I'd frightened him but then his hand lifted from the bed to settle on my waist.

At his touch, my mouth fell open further and I leaned forward. Then his other hand rose to my neck and I sighed, shutting my eyes and tipping my head to feel the warmth of his hand against my cheek.

"Alice," he murmured and I barely heard him around the wailing storm outside and the roiling desire in my body.

"What?"

"I don't...I, uh, I mean, I'm not...I don't know..." he was stuttering again and his voice was trembling.

Reluctantly I opened my eyes and smiled, trying to find some way of soothing him, of assuring him that he was doing nothing wrong; that we were doing nothing wrong. My words came out simply enough, "Erik, its ok," but he shook his head, still uncertain.

"But I've never-" he began to protest again but I trapped any further words with my fingers, stopping him from speaking and talking us both out of this.

"That's all right," I whispered and kissed him again.

With this kiss, I felt him let go. He ceased to be nervous and grasped me tightly, his strong hands closing on my body and sending a thrill through me. I put my arms up around his shoulders and pulled him tightly against me. I pressed my tongue inside his mouth, knowing he wouldn't be the first one to do it and I was astounded when he engaged me, pressing back with his own tongue.

I began to feel light-headed, my chest constricting and I broke away, gasping for air. I smiled up at him and slowly moved my hands from his shoulders, over his chest and down to the waistband of his pants. I heard his sharp intake of breath and reveled in my power over him. Then I slowly slid my fingers beneath the elastic waist of his pants and searched for what he had to offer.

When I encountered his erection, I was pleasantly surprised yet again. I was not sure if I said anything out loud but from his responding grin, I must have done or said something right. Looking into his eyes, I grinned too and leaned away to turn off the bedside lamp. Turning back to him, I practically crawled into his lap and was relieved to feel his arms circle me, drawing me closer. I lifted my face for another kiss and moaned, softening against him, feeling the heat rushing just beneath my skin.

God, but I just wanted to get closer to him. His mouth devoured mine and his tongue glided ruthlessly in and out, back and forth, drawing another strangled sound from me. I groped his body, searching for his hands. I took hold of his left hand, bringing it immediately to my thigh. I wanted to feel his hands on me, moving on my skin and he obliged, squeezing my thigh as I planted kisses along his jaw and down to his neck.

He tasted so amazing, the sweat on his skin giving him such a tangy flavor, I felt I could drink nothing but him for days. The muscles and tendons in his neck and shoulders were tense and slid underneath his skin as his hand moved higher up my leg, moving the flimsy dress aside. I withdrew my hand, needing to hold myself up by grasping his shoulders. As I did that, I felt his hand touch my panties and I gasped, feeling fresh moisture settle between my legs.

"Alice," he murmured and I bit my lower lip at the deep sound of his voice saying my name. It was the most erotic thing I'd heard in years.

I turned my head to his, seeking his soft lips yet again. He kissed me back, his tongue delving into my mouth without any hesitation this time. His kisses were heady and I slid from his arms, lying back on the bed. I didn't want to stop kissing him but there were certainly many other things I wanted to do with him that night.

"Come here, Erik," I ordered softly, waggling a finger at him in what I hoped was a sexy gesture. It had been so long, I didn't know if I could still pull off sexy.

He leaned over me and I reached for him, putting my hands on his broad shoulders and caressing the strong muscles there. He had unquestionably developed some definition and I loved the feeling of his youth hovering above me. I met his eyes and blushed inexplicably. There was such an expression of intensity in his dark eyes that it made me shiver.

"Erik, are you just going to stare at me all night?" I asked, feeling my cheeks burning as another bolt of lightning split the night sky outside the window. As I spoke, I ran my hands from his shoulders and over his chest, grazing his nipples as I went, delighted when I felt them harden to my touch.

"I just don't want to rush anything," he replied softly. "I don't want to forget this moment."

I felt tears burn the backs of my eyelids at his words and understood at last that this was his first time. That he was willing to do this with me made me feel so...I didn't know. There were no words.

"Oh Erik," I whispered and pulled him down to me, kissing his lips hungrily. He pulled back though and I laughed. "It's ok, Erik. You're not too heavy. I want to feel you on top of me." I moved my hand down as I said this, grasping his heavy erection through the thin fabric of his pajama pants. I looked up at him through my eyelashes and grinned. "I want to feel every bit of you, Erik."

The tendons in his neck stood out in bold relief and I bit my lower lip, stroking him slowly. To know that in a few moments, this part of his anatomy would be just where I needed it, I felt my desire renew itself.

"Undress me," I ordered, not meaning to sound harsh but he didn't seem to mind.

Grasping the bottom of my dress, he pulled upwards, his breathing coming short and heavy as well. I moved for him, allowing the dress to slide all the way up and over my head. As he tossed it aside, I held my arms out for him and moaned happily when I felt his weight sink on to me. I lifted my hips as his lips descended on my mouth again. Through the cotton layer of my panties I could feel the massive heat of his cock and I shifted again, sliding against him.

He broke the kiss, gasping and I grinned, telling him that I wanted him. He repeated my words back to me and I moved my hands down, pushing at the waist of his pants. I ordered him to take them off and laughed out loud when he obeyed so swiftly, I wasn't entirely certain how he'd managed it without falling off the bed. Then I took in the uncensored sight of his straight, hard erection and felt my heart slow to a dangerous speed.

"No underwear," I whispered, reaching out and touching him.

I started at his chest before sliding to his waist, rubbing my thumbs through the coarse hair of his body before moving closer to the prize at the center of him. I encircled his flesh and sighed contentedly to feel the weight of a man in my hand once more. He spoke my name, the sound of his voice strained and I smiled as I stroked him, slowly from base to tip.

"What is it, Erik?" I managed to ask as I explored his impressive member, gently rubbing the head with my palm.

When he asked me what to do, I stopped with a light laugh. I guided his hand to my side again, teasingly explaining that I needed to remove my panties first. He obliged, sliding them slowly over my legs and tossing them down with our other discarded clothing. He lay back down next to me and stroked my hip and up to my breast, cupping it delicately.

"Yes, that feels wonderful," I whispered, my head falling back against the pillows. He continued to explore me as I had done to him and I let him, smiling and moaning when I felt my nipples harden almost painfully.

"Can I...?" His hesitant voice broke into my pleasing reverie and I drew my eyes back to his face. When he didn't continue, I thought something had suddenly changed his mind but then he leaned forward, his eyes never leaving my face. As he enclosed his lips on one nipple, I moaned and clutched his head to my chest.