Complications

by Mj Williamz

  *

  Susan fell into a sound sleep and awoke the next morning sleepy but satisfied. Mel had really done a number on her the night before. She had the whole day ahead of her and no plans. She was kind of bummed she wouldn’t see Mel later, but figured it would be good for both of them, even though Mel seemed to be content with the casual thing. Which Susan knew she would be. She just had to get past the trying to impress her. And the no strings attached thing was certainly working for Susan. She was getting a lot of great sex without any emotional ties.

  She got up and had her coffee, forced herself to do some chores, then sat on the back patio contemplating how best to spend the rest of her afternoon. It was one o’clock when she gave up the fight and put on her swimsuit and headed for the beach. She was addicted to it. She wouldn’t deny it.

  Susan found a parking spot by the play structure and crossed the sand to the water. She put her chair and feet in it and leaned her head back to soak up the rays. She set her phone alarm for an hour and a half so she wouldn’t get fried again. It went off and woke her from a light sleep. She sat up and looked out toward the horizon. She was hoping to see a couple silhouettes out there, but she saw no one. She tried to deny the disappointment in her gut, but couldn’t. She thought maybe it was too early for Mel and Joey, but that didn’t matter. She wasn’t going to stay any longer. She’d had enough sun for one day.

  She crossed the sand back toward her car. As she passed the play structure, she heard happy squeals.

  “Meow, push me again,” a young child cried out.

  “Okay, okay. Hold on tight.”

  Susan recognized the voice. It was Mel. She wondered if it was DJ she was playing with. She walked around the structure and saw her pushing a child in a swing. Thank God she’d had sense enough to put him in one of the little kid swings.

  She stood quietly just out of sight and watched the interaction. Mel seemed to be having as much fun as DJ.

  “Now the swide, Meow.”

  The little boy was adorable, as was Mel. She helped him climb the steps, then waited at the bottom for him to come down. By that point, Susan was in plain sight, but Mel was too absorbed in DJ.

  “Again,” DJ cried. Mel repeated the process. She was so cute. Susan felt a tug on her heartstrings. Maybe Mel wasn’t a horrible person just looking for a good time. Maybe she’d been serious about wanting to settle down. But was that what Susan wanted? Suddenly, she was unsure. If she got together with Mel, maybe someday they could have a kid. Whoa. She was getting way too ahead of herself. She still had a heart to protect. A very fragile heart.

  At that moment, Mel caught sight of her standing there.

  “Hey,” she called to Susan.

  “Hey,” Susan said. She walked over to Mel and DJ.

  “DJ, you remember my friend, Susan, right?” Mel said.

  “We’re pwaying,” DJ said.

  “I know. I was watching. Is Mel fun to play with?”

  DJ nodded emphatically. He took Mel’s hand.

  “Come on.”

  Mel looked apologetically at Susan.

  “Sorry. Duty calls.”

  “That’s okay. I don’t mind watching you two. I think you’re awfully cute.”

  “Aw. Thanks.”

  Susan wandered around to the other side of the structure where she found Joey sitting on a concrete wall, watching Mel and DJ. Susan unfolded her beach chair and sat next to her.

  “They seem to be having fun,” she said.

  “Yeah. That’s the downside of having Mel for a best friend. I have to wait my turn for time with my own kiddo.”

  “She really loves him, doesn’t she?”

  “She really does.”

  They sat in silence for a few moments.

  “She really likes you, too,” Joey said.

  Susan sighed. If only life was so simple. Two people like each other and live happily ever after. She knew better.

  “You know, I’m not a horrible person incapable of feelings,” she said.

  “I didn’t say anything about you being a horrible person.”

  “I just don’t want to get burned. You’ve got to admit, Mel’s a bit of a party boi.”

  “I admit Mel’s had a great run. But she’s ready to settle down,” Joey said.

  “But I’m not.”

  “That’s too bad. You’re blowing a great chance with a good woman.”

  “You don’t think I can see that?”

  “I don’t know,” Joey said. “Can you?”

  “Mel’s sweet and kind and funny and great in bed”

  “TMI.”

  “Sorry. But she’s a catch and now I see that. I just don’t know that I’m ready to open my heart and take a chance.”

  “Well, I’m here to tell you that while she’s crazy about you, I don’t know how much longer she’s going to wait around.”

  “Nobody’s telling her to wait around,” Susan said. “She’s free to do whatever she wants and still have sex with me. There’s no commitment between us. I’d think she’d like that.”

  “She’s tired of one-night stands. She wants more.”

  Susan watched Mel chase DJ around the structure. DJ was squealing in delight. Mel was laughing. Susan’s heart started to melt.

  “I see the way you look at her,” Joey said.

  “What? I find her attractive. I’ve never denied that.”

  “It’s more than that. Whether you know it or not. Your face tells a different story.”

  “I think it’s probably time for me to go.”

  “Aren’t you going to say good-bye to Mel?”

  “I probably should, huh?”

  “It would be nice,” Joey said.

  Susan couldn’t decide if she liked Joey or not. Sure, Mel was her priority over Susan, but did she have to be so snarky? Susan walked over to where Mel and DJ were digging in the sand box.

  “I’m going to head home now,” she said. “It was nice seeing you.”

  “You, too. Hey, can I come over a little later? I’ll bring a couple of steaks to grill.”

  “Yeah. That would be nice. See you around six?”

  “See you then.”

  Susan walked away smiling. Damn it! She could feel the wall slipping again. She needed to put it back in place. Firmly. So no one could get through it, least of all Mel. She reflected on her conversation with Joey. It felt good to know Mel really liked her. And if she was honest with herself, she really liked Mel. She just owed it to herself to keep her at arm’s length. But what if Joey was right and Mel quit coming around? How would she feel then?

  She got home and slipped into a tub filled with lavender and vanilla salts. The warm water and soothing scents had her fighting to keep her eyes open. She allowed her mind to drift back to Mel and DJ at the beach. They were so cute together. It was easy to see DJ worshiped her, and it sure appeared the feeling was mutual. She finished washing off, rinsed, and wrapped a thick towel around herself. She thought about greeting Mel wearing just the towel, but then decided against it. She dressed in a long blue denim skirt and a yellow peasant blouse.

  It was five thirty. She had a half hour left alone with her thoughts. Not ideal. It seemed all she did these days was argue with herself over Mel. What happened to the idyllic life in Maybon Tir she’d imagined? She’d been nothing but frustrated since she moved and it was all because of Mel. It wasn’t easy not to let her in. As a matter of fact, it was a constant battle.

  The doorbell rang and startled her out of her reverie. She checked her watch. Not quite six, but close enough. She opened the door to find Mel with her arms full.

  “Sorry if I’m too early,” she said. “The store didn’t take as long as I thought it would.”

  “No worries. Come on in. What the heck did you bring?”

  “Well, along with the steaks, I thought we’d have garlic bread and a salad, so I brought all the fixings.”

  “Sounds delicious.”

  “And the best part is, you do nothing
. I’ll take care of all of it.”

  “There’s nothing I can do?”

  “You can open the wine and a beer for me, if you don’t mind.”

  “I don’t mind at all.”

  She took a glass of wine and a beer out to the patio to join Mel, who was firing up the grill.

  “It’s a beautiful evening for a barbecue, don’t you think?” Mel said.

  “It is. Thank you for doing this.”

  “No problem. Let’s go inside and I’ll throw together a salad.”

  Susan stood and sipped her wine as she watched Mel chop lettuce, carrots, and tomatoes. She was a natural, and Susan couldn’t wait to taste the salad.

  “Oops. We almost forgot the garlic bread,” Mel said. “Do you mind if I leave you in charge of that while I throw the steaks on?”

  “No problem.” Susan was happy to help. She felt bad that Mel was doing all the work in her house.

  She took the garlic bread out just as Mel walked in with the steaks.

  “Medium rare, right?” Mel said.

  “Exactly.”

  They sat at the table and Mel raised her beer.

  “To beautiful nights.”

  Susan thought that seemed safe enough. She raised her glass and clinked it against Mel’s bottle.

  Dinner was delicious, and afterward, they took their drinks out to the patio to look at the stars.

  “It’s nice that the fog didn’t roll in,” Mel said.

  “It really is. I like it when it stays warm into the night.”

  They sat quietly sipping their beverages until a chill came into the air.

  “So much for a warm night,” Susan said. “Let’s go inside.”

  They went into the kitchen and Mel set her beer down. She took Susan’s wine and set it next to it. She moved close to Susan and stood inches away from her, looking into her eyes.

  Susan found it hard to breathe with Mel that close. She felt the electricity between them. It was undeniable. Mel lowered her mouth, and Susan closed her eyes and braced herself for the contact. Her knees were already weak and they hadn’t even kissed yet. When Mel’s lips brushed hers, Susan reached her arms around Mel’s neck and pulled her close, urging her to prolong the kiss.

  They kissed for what seemed an eternity, but was actually only a few minutes. It was a long, slow, easy kiss that had Susan craving more. She stepped back and took Mel’s hand. She led her down the hall to the bedroom.

  “I need you and I need you now,” she said.

  “I’m all yours,” Mel said.

  Susan balked briefly at the comment, then went back to peeling Mel’s clothes off her. Soon Mel stood nude in front of her.

  “My God, you’re gorgeous,” Susan said.

  “Your turn,” Mel said. She took Susan’s blouse over her head, then reached around and unsnapped her bra with one hand. She ran her hands over Susan’s breasts. “You’re so beautiful.”

  Susan stepped out of her skirt and underwear. She loved the feeling of being naked with Mel. She moved closer and pressed her body into Mel’s. She relished the feel of their skin together. She kissed Mel and Mel held her against her and ran her tongue over Susan’s lips until Susan opened her mouth and let her in.

  Mel fell back on the bed and pulled Susan on top of her. They continued kissing as Mel skimmed her hands all over Susan’s body.

  “I love the feel of your touch,” Susan said.

  “I love touching you.”

  “That works then.”

  “Yeah, it does.”

  Mel kissed down Susan’s neck and chest until she reached Susan’s breast. Susan shivered as she felt Mel’s warm breath on it. She took Mel’s head in her hands and lowered it to her nipple. Mel sucked hard on it and ran her tongue over it.

  Susan arched into her.

  “Yes. That’s it. Oh, yes.”

  Mel moved her hand down between Susan’s legs. Susan spread them wide to offer her easy access. Mel plunged her fingers inside Susan.

  “Yes. God, that feels good,” Susan said. She slid her own hand down there and rubbed her clit while Mel moved in and out of her. Together they took her to a screaming orgasm.

  “Thanks for the help,” Mel said.

  “Sorry. I couldn’t wait.”

  “It’s all good. I thought it was hot.”

  “Yeah? Good. Now you lean back and get comfy. I’m going to make you feel so good.”

  “My pleasure,” Mel said as she lay back and spread her legs.

  Susan climbed between them and licked every inch of her. She dipped her tongue inside, then dragged it to her clit. She sucked it into her mouth and flicked it with her tongue. Mel pressed Susan’s face into her, and Susan knew Mel was close. She licked harder and Mel cried out before relaxing back against the bed.

  They lay there in silence for a few minutes before Mel sat up.

  “I should get going.”

  Susan reached out a hand and rubbed Mel’s back.

  “Why don’t you stay?”

  CHAPTER TEN

  Mel was shocked. Her heart fluttered in her chest. Could it be possible? Was Susan admitting that she was ready to get serious?

  “Are you sure?” she said.

  “Sure,” Susan said. She propped herself up on an elbow. “Maybe I’ve been wrong about you.”

  “About me?”

  “Yeah. Maybe you aren’t just out looking for one thing.”

  “I told you I wasn’t,” Mel said.

  “I know. But I didn’t believe you.”

  “What about you? What about your need to keep your heart protected?”

  “Maybe if I keep it too protected I’ll miss a good chance for happiness.”

  “Maybe, huh?” Mel climbed back on the bed. She leaned over Susan and kissed her. She covered her with her body and brought her knee up between her legs. She pressed it in to her. Susan moved against it and Mel felt how wet she still was.

  “God, that feels good,” Susan said.

  “You’re so wet.”

  “It’s what you do to me.”

  “Good.” She kissed her again and wedged her hand between her knee and Susan. She guided her fingers inside her and spread them as wide as she could.

  “Oh, God,” Susan said. She dug her nails into Mel’s back and cried out as she came. “I didn’t know I had any left in me.”

  “I knew I could coax at least one more. Now let’s get some sleep.”

  Mel held Susan as they drifted off.

  Morning came, and Mel woke to find Susan still asleep in her arms. She hadn’t been dreaming. Susan had let her sleep over. She looked so peaceful there. Mel couldn’t decide whether or not to wake her up for playtime. Then she saw the clock.

  “Oh, shit,” she said. “I’m late.”

  Susan opened her eyes.

  “Huh?”

  “Sorry, babe. I just realized I’ve got to get going. I’ll stop by the bar tonight?”

  “Sounds great.”

  Mel kissed her good-bye and left. She pulled up on the jobsite to find Joey strapping on her tool belt.

  “I was just wondering if you were going to make it,” she said.

  “Yeah. I overslept.”

  “And you’re in the same clothes you wore yesterday.”

  Mel felt a slight blush creep over her face.

  “Did you have a sleepover?” Joey said.

  “I did.”

  “No shit? The ice princess melted?”

  “She’s starting to.”

  “That’s awesome,” Joey said. “Good for you.”

  “Yeah. I’m still not convinced, but letting me stay over was a huge start.”

  “Now that she’s letting you in, don’t you dare go backing off,” Joey said.

  “Oh, I’m not. Don’t worry. I just need a little more proof that she’s willing to be mine.”

  “Like what?”

  “I don’t know. But I’ll know when it happens.”

  “Man, I hope you don’t fuck this up.”


  “I won’t.”

  Work went well, but Mel was tired and excited for the day to come to an end. She couldn’t wait to see Susan. She and Joey sat on Joey’s tailgate at the end of the day.

  “So, I don’t suppose you want to come over for dinner tonight?” Joey said.

  “No, thanks. I’m gonna go home, shower, then hit the bar. You want to go with?”

  “No. I’m going to go home, shower, and get dinner prepped.” Joey laughed. “Times have changed, huh?”

  “Yeah. I just hope I’ve finally found what you and Samantha have.”

  “I hope so, too. You deserve it.”

  “Okay, I’m out of here.”

  “Hey. Before you go, you two want to come over for dinner this weekend?”

  “Sure. She doesn’t work Saturday. I mean, I’ll ask her, but I don’t see why not.”

  “Great. And yeah, I need to run it past Samantha, too.”

  “Sounds good. I’ll catch you tomorrow.” Mel said, then drove home for a nice, hot shower. Her mind never left Susan. Thoughts of her were welcome now and pleasantly occupied all her time. She was thrilled that Susan had opened herself up to her. She still urged herself to go slow, to not scare Susan off. But she didn’t want to seem so aloof as to appear disinterested.

  It was six o’clock when Mel walked into Kindred Spirits. The place was dead, and Susan was behind the bar with a book in her hand.

  “Whatcha reading?” Mel asked.

  Susan looked up and smiled at her. It was a bright, radiant smile unlike any she’d given Mel to date.

  “I’m reading a book that has recipes for cocktails in it. Thrilling stuff, huh?”

  “Well, if it’s teaching you, then it’s worth it.”

  “Can I get you a half pitcher?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Susan brought Mel’s beer to her. Mel gave her a twenty. When Susan brought the change back, Mel was unsure of what to do.

  “I feel like I should tip you, but I kind of feel weird about it.”

  “I agree. It would be odd. Don’t worry about it. Just take me to dinner tonight.”

  “You’ve got a deal.”

  “I’ve been jonesin’ for some crepes. And I love that restaurant. How does that sound to you?”