Blue Ribbon Summer

by Kelly Collins

  “We’re just kissing, Alex. I’ll be kissing all sorts of strangers on Saturday. I’d rather be kissing you now.” I knew—and he knew—that tonight was not going to end with just kisses.

  He began to tickle me and laid me back on his couch. “Do not tease me about the people you are going to kiss on Saturday. I’m not happy about that.” His lips crushed down on mine in a punishing kiss. I could feel the flesh of my lips swell at both ends.

  It didn’t take long for him to strip me of my sundress and bra. I also took his shirt off. He had an amazing body. His firmness must have come from years of martial arts classes. During one long kiss, I found my hand running down his stomach and into the loose band of his pants. He held his breath as my hand skirted over the soft velvety cap of his penis.

  “Can I touch you?” I asked. His was the first one I had touched, and I wanted to explore him further. I held my hand still, waiting for an answer.

  “Damn it, Tills, this isn’t where I was planning on going tonight, but I want you so bad.” He exhaled and groaned.

  I looked around the room and realized that we were fully exposed to the bay window.

  “Anyone can see us from the lake. I never realized.” I grabbed my shirt to cover my bare chest.

  “No, it’s mirrored glass. We can see out, but no one can see in. However, let’s go to the bedroom. That way, you won’t worry.” He led me to the room where we’d spent the night together. He took my shoulders in his hands and pushed me to the bed. My heart was beating like a scared rabbit. Wearing only my sandals and underwear, I scooted back on the bed, put my head on the pillow, and watched as Alex stripped himself bare. His olive skin shimmered in the moonlight that peeked through the window. My eyes slowly took him in. I started at his head and slowly made my way down to his manly parts. I never made it farther than that. His beauty mesmerized me.

  “You are amazing, Alex.” He growled from deep in his chest and leaned over me to remove my sandals and my panties. We were both completely nude. He slid his body up mine and came to rest next to me.

  “We don’t have to do anything, we can just lie together. It’s enough for me to be here with you in my arms.” His hands glided over my body, the pads of his fingers hovering over my most sensitive parts. Once again I was squirming in his arms.

  “I want to please you, Alex. Show me what to do.” I wasn’t leaving tonight until he felt as good as I did. I ran my hand down his stomach and came into contact with his length. It jumped at my touch. I gripped him in my palm. My fingers barely closed around his girth. His body jerked at my touch. I ran my grip down his length. Now I knew what Rachel meant by a two-fister.

  “I can’t tell you what to do, Tills. Do what you want to do. What do you want to do?” His breath was labored and raspy.

  “I want to put my mouth on you. Is that okay?” Another growl escaped his lips. I took that as a yes and lowered my body so that I was at eye level with his male parts. I watched it bob under my gaze. I’d read enough about this to know what I was doing. I opened my mouth and slid it over his length. I couldn’t take him in all the way, but I could get almost three-quarters of his length in before I gagged. The moans that left his lips were all the motivation I needed. I picked up the pace and increased the suction.

  “Shit, stop, I’m going to come, and I don’t want to come in your mouth. Most girls don’t like that much.” He tried to pull away from me.

  I lifted my head and said, “Let me decide if I like it or not. Don’t predetermine my experience.” I pushed my mouth down as far as I could and heard him moan. His hips rose, forcing him deeper into my mouth. His fingers threaded through my hair. I slowed the pace again, wanting to feel every nuance of him––every vein––every crevice. I slid my tongue up the slit and heard his breath hitch. I sucked him to the back of my mouth and felt him tense as he spurted warm saltiness down my throat. He moaned my name, and it was the sweetest sound ever. I slowly crawled up his body and lay on top of his chest.

  “God, Tills, that was amazing.” He wrapped his arms around me and slowly caressed my back. My skin turned to gooseflesh. “Just give me a minute to regroup and I’ll reciprocate.”

  I had a goofy grin on my face just knowing that I was able to make him feel like I’d felt last night.

  “I’m good, let’s just lie here.” My body was thrumming with pent-up energy. I’d never lain naked with a man before. His chest hair felt prickly against my breasts. His semi-erection lay in the space between my legs. Between the two, I don’t know what was more exciting. His hands reached down and cupped my butt. I loved him touching me.

  He rolled us over so that he was hovering on top of me. Everything felt just right until he lowered his head to the space between my legs. Then I totally freaked out: What if I’m not fresh, what if I’m too wet? What if he doesn’t like me?

  I flailed and pushed him away. “I can’t. It just seems too intimate, too personal.”

  “You were that intimate with me a few minutes ago.” He rose to a sitting position beside me with his hand rubbing my thigh. I couldn’t think when he was touching me.

  “I know, but what if you don’t like it when you get down there?” That sounded weird coming out of my mouth.

  “I was down there, and I do like it. I want to taste you, Tilly, just like you tasted me. I want to show you the pleasure you showed me.” His hand continued to travel up my leg. His palm gently cupped my mound. I inhaled quickly. My legs opened on their own volition. His fingers dropped in between my thighs. “You’re so wet.”

  “Gross.” I tried to close my legs, but he pushed slightly against them, making me give him access.

  “Tills, that’s a total turn-on for a guy. Knowing that you are excited to be around us gets us hard. Never be ashamed of what your body is telling you. It’s telling you that you like this.” He slipped a finger between my heated flesh. He drew the finger out and moved it to his mouth where he sucked my moisture off his skin.

  My mouth dropped open in shock. I’d read about guys doing that, and it was totally hot to read, but to have it done in person was unbelievable. I felt my insides pulse.

  “You taste sweet. Please let me taste you. I’m like a starving man here, and the only thing that will satisfy my hunger sits between your legs. Are you going to let me starve?” While he was talking, he slid his finger inside of me. My hips lifted to deepen his touch.

  I rolled my head to the side and gave in to the pleasure. I felt a shift in the mattress and lifted up to see him repositioned between my legs. When his head lowered, I scrunched my eyes closed. I had no idea what to expect.

  “Oh, holy hell!” I screamed as the heat of his tongue burned my flesh. Those long, soft strokes marked the start of something wonderful. A soft suck and a long stroke––this was the method he used to bring me to the edge. He had taken me back to the place I was two nights ago when I would have done anything to feel the crash and burn of my first orgasm. He slid his finger inside of me and sucked the nub at the center of my heat. I exploded around him. I felt my walls clench his finger as the spasms took over my body. Somewhere in the distance, I heard my voice call his name, but it sounded so far away.

  We lay together in naked bliss. My head was tucked under his chin. Every few minutes, he kissed the top of my head, and I kissed his bare chest. How would I ever say goodbye?

  Chapter Five

  The week passed by too quickly. I spent my days with Alex and my nights at the diner. We had found various ways to please each other without ever having sex. He was a master when it came to my body. He could trigger a response with just a look.

  He showed up at the diner at eight-thirty every night. Ted saw him coming and put together the blue plate special. Knowing that it was the least complicated thing to fix, he ordered it nightly. He watched Ted leave right at nine and stayed with me so I wouldn’t be alone. He said he was afraid of me closing the place by myself, but I thought he was more worried about Sam showing up.

  He accompani
ed me to my car every night. We stood there and kissed like teenagers. Hell, I was still a teenager. Sometimes he followed me home, and we joined my dad for the late-night super-scary movies. Other nights we headed to his house. I hadn’t spent the night with him since the incident by the lake.

  Tomorrow was the Fourth of July, which meant that tonight was all about the pies. I was entering a new pie this year. It was a two-crusted pie with blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries. I had won every year for my cherry pie, so this year I was going to change it up and challenge myself. It was my last year to enter. Our kitchen corkboard sported six blue ribbons.

  Alex sat at the table and talked to me while I rolled out the dough for the crust. I know I must have looked a mess. I had never been accused of being neat in the kitchen. I pushed back the hair that had fallen in my face. Alex laughed at the amount of flour that was left in my hair.

  “Are you sure I can’t convince you to drop out of the kissing booth?” He looked at me with pleading eyes.

  I leaned down and gave him a closed mouth peck on the lips. “That’s what they’re getting for one dollar.” I leaned again and gave him an open-mouthed, tongue-sucking, lip-smacking kiss. “This is what you get for free.”

  “Point taken. I just hate to think of you kissing someone else while I’m here.”

  I listened to the while I’m here part and felt my heart squeeze. It was a crushing feeling to know that in a week, he’d be gone, and I was supposed to go on with my life. I had known what I was getting myself into. In fact, I’d talked myself in and out of this relationship many times. In the end, I’d decided that a few weeks with Alex would always be better than never having met him.

  “Do you have your tickets and everything set up for California?” I took the crust and put it into the pie tin and threw it into the oven for a little precooking. Sitting down next to Alex, I waited for his answer.

  “I’m all set. I have my plane ticket and hotel reservations.” He seemed to drift off as if thinking about something. “I was wondering…if I gave you a key to the house, would you check in on things? I haven’t put it on the market yet. All the furniture is still there. I’ve just had all of the personal items removed.”

  “It’ll be fine. We don’t have a high crime rate here in Waycross. Why haven’t you put it on the market?”

  “I’m struggling to sell it. I have a lot of feelings about the place, and until I come to terms with them, I can’t let it go.”

  “I understand. It’s a family home. Even though you didn’t know your grandfather, it’s still part of your heritage. I would have a tough time selling it as well. Besides, it sits on the best piece of lakefront property available.”

  “I couldn’t care less about my grandfather. It’s the place where I met you. You mean something to me.” He leaned forward and held my hands in his. I still felt the heat we created together every time we touched.

  My eyes pooled with tears, and I swiped at them with my flour-caked hands. I stood up quickly and walked to the sink. “Damn flour. I got it in my eyes.” I turned on the water and washed my hands. I splashed water in my face and tried to hide the fact that I was crying. No one had ever said anything so sweet to me.

  The conversation was not brought up again. I finished my pie and called it a night. When I walked Alex to his car, he promised to pick me up at ten o’clock in the morning. He drove out of sight, and it reminded me that one day soon those taillights would be gone forever.

  “Come here, Tilly,” my dad called from the living room. The TV was muted, which meant he wanted to talk.

  “What’s up?”

  “Are you going to be okay when Alex leaves? I like him, and I know how close you two have become. I’m worried.” He cracked his knuckles and waited for my reply.

  “I’m not sure. I knew it was just a summer fling when it began. Why did he have to be such a good guy?” I couldn’t tell my dad that I’d be crushed. He’d have no idea how to deal with that.

  “I’ll have to say, he surprises me all the time. He has a level of maturity way beyond his years. Honey, if it’s supposed to work out, it will. Your mom wasn’t in my life long enough, but during the time that she was…” He looked off into space. “Well,…what I’m trying to say is that I wouldn’t trade that time for the world. So enjoy the time you have together, and remember that God has a plan.”

  It was funny to hear my dad talk about God and his plans. Three years ago, he was cursing God for ruining our lives. I suppose that time gave you a different perspective.

  Tomorrow would come way too soon, so I climbed into bed and fell asleep.

  The entire town came out to the fair. Alex and I walked hand in hand around the grounds checking out the exhibits. He tried his hand at roping and actually did a decent job for a city boy. The 4-H animals were on display in the corrals. I loved the sheep. My favorite part of the fair was watching the little ones ride the sheep. Some of them could stay on a long time, and some fell over right away.

  We strolled on over to the pie-judging tent. The winners would be revealed in just a few minutes. I walked through the booths and saw that the Swanson sisters had made jars of their strawberry preserves. I pulled money out of my pocket and purchased two jars, one for Alex and one for my dad.

  “This is the best-tasting stuff on earth,” I said as I handed Alex a jar.

  “I’d have to argue with you on that one.” He leaned in and whispered in my ear, “I’ve tasted you, and nothing could be sweeter.”

  I must have turned several different shades of red at his comment. I could feel the heat of my blush on my skin.

  “It’s almost time to announce the winner. Let’s go.” I pulled his arm and led him to the judges table.

  I listened intently as the names of the winners were read. When my name was called, I was thrilled. It wasn’t a blue ribbon this year, but second would do. I proudly accepted the prize and pinned it to my shirt. I would wear this all day.

  “I’m sorry you didn’t get your blue ribbon summer, Tills.” Alex seemed to be more upset than I was that I didn’t win.

  “It’s just a stupid contest. I entered for the experience, and I love making pies. I’m not going to judge my whole summer on losing a contest. This amazing writer told me that it’s not a race to the finish. He was right. The journey is where the real prize is.”

  Looking at his watch, he began to frown. It dawned on me that it was almost time for me to kiss a bunch of people. I led him toward the kissing booth. Manning the booth currently was Rachel. I hadn’t seen her since the night of the incident. Some part of me was still angry with her. The line to kiss her was five deep. She giggled and swooned as the men and boys flirted with her. She dressed the part of the country girl today. Her hair was in pigtails, and she had dotted in a few fake freckles across her nose. Her shirt was tied at the waist and was unbuttoned obscenely low. Her ass cheeks were hanging out of her Daisy Dukes. This was typical Rachel.

  “Who’s the girl in the booth now?” Alex asked.

  “That would be Rachel. Do you want to kiss her?” I questioned.

  His eyes grew big.

  “No, I would be afraid of catching something. She’s not attractive at all. She looks kind of used.”

  His description of her made me laugh. “You have no idea. However, she is very sweet once you get to know her. She just has this weakness for men––all men.”

  I looked back at Rachel and saw that her attention was centered on Alex and me. She looked at me cautiously. I smiled, and she relaxed. She pointed at Alex and then waved her hand in front of her face, indicating that he was hot.

  “Well, it looks like it’s my hour at the booth. Where will you be?” I pulled on his shirt, getting him as close to me as possible. I pressed my lips to his. “You get the first and last kiss of the day.”

  “I’ll be standing right here giving the evil eye to anyone who dares to kiss my girl.” He kissed me hungrily, and then turned me around and pushed me toward the booth. O
ver the loudspeaker, I heard my name announced as the next kisser.

  I stood behind the wooden counter of the booth and collected tickets for every kiss. The older men just placed a peck on the cheek. The younger boys sometimes tried to slip you the tongue. I was going to have to sanitize my lips after this. I constantly looked at Alex to see how he was faring and saw that he was being a good sport.

  Joe Leto approached next and handed me his ticket. I bent forward and puckered my lips. The sweet old man placed his kiss on my cheek. When I looked at Alex, I saw he had completely tensed up. Why would he care about old Joe? I followed his line of vision and saw that Tommy, Jake, Brian, and Sam were headed my way. I looked back to Alex and found Rachel hanging on his arm. I watched as he ignored her and kept his eyes on Sam.

  The boys got in line and made their way to the front. Tommy said hi and gave me a quick peck on the lips. He walked over to Rachel and Alex. Brian and Jake did the same. It was when Sam stepped up that all hell broke loose. Alex pushed his way through the crowd. On his heels were Sam’s friends. Everything happened in what seemed like slow motion. Sam eyed me, then Alex. He reached into the booth and grabbed my head. Before I could say a word, his lips were on mine. He was hurting me with the force of his kiss, trying to force my mouth open. I pushed at his face, trying to free myself from his grip. All of a sudden, I was back at the lake in my mind, and just like that night, Alex came to the rescue. He pulled Sam off of me and sent him flying. The only difference was that today Sam had reinforcements. Jake grabbed Alex’s arms. Tommy dragged Rachel away. Brian just disappeared completely. He was obviously the smart one in the group.

  Sam charged toward Alex. I could hear the air get pushed out of his lungs as Sam threw a punch into his stomach. I screamed for someone to call for help. I knew Alex was not going to go down easily, but two against one was unfair. I ran from the booth toward the melee, but onlookers stopped me. All I could do was watch it play out until help arrived.