The Key Club

by Victoria Calaway

  She reached inside the door and picked up her small bag. “Is this fast enough?”

  Ryan laughed. “Do you want to change before we go?”

  “That would be good, thanks.” She did want to get out of her dressy work clothes and put on some comfortable jeans.

  While she changed, Ryan put her bag in the car with his, and soon, they were on the road. Lina hadn’t asked where. She somehow trusted Ryan, and anywhere with him would be wonderful.

  An hour later, they stopped at a fast food restaurant for a hearty meal of cheeseburgers, fries, and a soda, then were on the road again.

  “Tell me about you?” Ryan asked, breaking the silence.

  “Not much to tell, really,” Lina replied. “I was an only child, my parents are deceased, and I never knew any uncles, aunts, or cousins. They were originally from Montana, and when they got married, they moved south so that my dad could work on an assembly line for a car manufacturer. I graduated high school, took some job training to be a legal secretary, and that’s what I do.” She looked at him. “What about you?”

  “I’m a simple guy, not complicated. I’ve been in law enforcement since I was twenty-one, and worked my way up to Detective. I worked in Homicide for a couple of years, then a year in Special Victims, and now I’m in Vice. I like it better.” He glanced at her with a smile. “I have a brother, also in law enforcement, but not here. He prefers street patrol. He’s a year older, and we were the only kids. My parents left him the main house, and I got the vacation house.”

  “That’s nice. My parents didn’t have anything to leave. They rented, and the insurance was barely enough to pay for the funerals, but that’s okay. They’re at peace.”

  “That’s what’s important.” Ryan took her hand and brought it to his lips to kiss the backs of her fingers. “I think you’ll like the house. It’s right on the beach, and the houses are spread apart, so there’s privacy.”

  “I’m sure it’s lovely.”

  They fell into a comfortable silence for the rest of the trip.

  Chapter Six Ryan had been right. Lina did like the house. Furnished with padded wicker, it looked cozy and inviting. Only a few yards from the incoming tide, with a constant ocean breeze, the house was cool and comfortable. There were two bedrooms, the master with a private bath, complete with whirlpool tub for two and a separate shower, and the living room was separated from the kitchen and dining area by a long bar.

  Ryan took their bags to the master bedroom and put them on the foot of the bed. “After we get unpacked, would you like to take a walk on the beach before dark?”

  Lina smiled. “I’d like that.” She reached for her bag.

  Ryan indicated that Lina could put her things in one side of the dresser, and he would use the other. It took only minutes to put things away.

  Hand in hand, they walked off the low porch onto the white sand, then to the firmer sand at the edge of the surf. Barefoot, they walked along the edge, where the water slid in and out. It felt surprisingly warm, Lina noticed, and curled her toes in the sand as it washed away around her feet.

  Fascinated by a tiny shell that washed up, she stooped to watch it as it stood on end and wiggled its way into the sand. Unable to resist, she ran her hand into the sand and scooped it up, delighted to watch it wiggle, She laughed softly.

  “What is this?” She held her hand so that he could see, finding that he had stooped beside her and watched her.

  Ryan smiled, that glint back in his eyes that she had seen on occasion. “It’s a baby clam.” He took it from her palm and put it back on the sand. “Watch.”

  Immediately, it stood on end and wiggled itself into the sand. When the ocean water washed in, it was gone.

  Lina laughed. “That’s adorable! If I had those in an aquarium, I’d never make it to work. I’d watch them all the time.”

  Ryan chuckled, then hugged her to him. “I believe it.” He took her hand again, and they walked along once more. “If you come down here early in the morning as the tide goes back out, you can usually find a few nice shells. Want to come in the morning and see?”

  “Oh, I’d love it!” She hugged him tightly. “Thank you, Ryan. I’d never seen the ocean or beach before. This is wonderful.”

  He looked at her with surprise. “You’ve never seen it?” When she shook her head, he asked, “Why not?”

  She lowered her head. “I’ve never had the opportunity.” She walked along the water’s edge, not looking at him, as she explained how she’d grown up. Living in a world of physical abuse, wanting to be like other kids with loving parents where the father didn’t drink and the mother wasn’t a cheat, about living in a house where winters were too cold and summers too hot, and very little nourishing food. She explained how her mother resented her for wanting to graduate, how she’d had to sneak off to night school with a friend, and how she’d been mistreated for wanting to be better than where she came from.

  “Is that why you were still a virgin? Not wanting to be like your mother?” Ryan asked, his tone gentle.

  Lina sighed heavily. “Yeah.”

  He stopped and turned to face her. “You aren’t like that, Lina. Just because you gave yourself to me, doesn’t mean you’re like her.”

  Lina knew that wasn’t true, but she said nothing. After all, she willingly slept with him without knowing the first thing about him, even his name, risking her health, her life, her morals. She did things with him that she vowed to never do with a man because her mother had, right in the room with her, and to her, it meant turning into a skanky slut. She blinked away tears that burned her eyes, thinking of how much she had come to love Ryan. Although he didn’t know that, she hoped that it did somehow make it all right to give in to him. Heaven help her, she could not say no to him, and she didn’t know why.

  Ryan’s fingers touched her chin, lifted until she looked at him, and his eyes searched her face. He then bent his head and kissed her, pulled her into his embrace, and deepened the kiss.

  Lina wrapped her arms about him, pressed her body close to his, and responded to his kiss with a passion that she didn’t realize she possessed. The things he’d made her feel before seemed tame compared to what she felt at that moment.

  Ryan broke the kiss, and keeping an arm about her, they walked back to the beach house, and just after closing the door, he swept her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom. He took his time undressing her, allowing her to undress him, and then he gently crushed her to him as his lips came down on hers. Putting his hands so that he cupped her butt, he lifted her, and Lina wrapped her legs around his waist. Ryan took one step to the bed, put a knee on the mattress, and lowered her beneath him.

  Lina kissed him feverishly, her hands moving over his shoulders, chest, back, and down to his firm butt. She arched against him, unable to get close enough.

  Ryan moved down her body, and Lina moaned with unbridled passion. She arched her hips, wanting Ryan to bury himself deep into her, but when he moved down her body, she worried that he didn’t want to try with her again.

  “Ryan…Please…” came on a ragged breath.

  Ryan continued his caresses and kisses down her body, and Lina was sure her body would catch fire and burn the house down around them. Her body burned, and the ache between her legs became almost unbearable.

  Lina felt Ryan’s hands on her thighs, and when he pushed them even wider, she willingly spread them for him. His tongue licked up the center of her folds, caressing and bathing her clit.

  “Ryan…oh, God…” Her hands went to his hair, and she arched upwards.

  Ryan pulled her folds wide, then clamped his mouth over her and sucked her hard. Lina cried out and arched off the bed. He pulled back, tugging her clit as he sucked, then moved forward, then pulled back again. The tip of his tongue flicked hard and fast over the center bud, and Lina shook with the sensations. She whimpered with each breath, her legs quivered, and her body writhed. Ryan gently inserted two fingers into her hot, wet opening, and Li
na cried out again, bringing her legs up and wide.

  Wanting her ready for him, he inserted a third finger, and began thrusting in and out of her, bringing wetness with every thrust. Lina screamed as her orgasm exploded, sending a gush of juice over his hand.

  Ryan moved away from her for a moment, watching the pure passion on her expressive face. When he moved over her, Lina put her hand on his chest.

  “In the dresser,” she managed between breaths. “The doctor said use it.”

  Ryan got up and went to the dresser, opened the drawer where she had put her clothes, and found the tube of lubricant. Taking it with him, he went back to the bed. He coated his massive cock heavily with the gel, then use his fingers to put some into Lina. Using his slick finger, he spread some of the gel on her anus, then pushed his finger into her tight opening.

  “Ryan!” she cried, as her body responded to the sensational invasion. She shook violently as another orgasm rocked her.

  Ryan moved his finger, held his cock as he positioned it against her opening, and with a slow, steady push, he entered her fully. Slick with the gel and her own secretions, Ryan was inside her without resistance, and Lina gasped at the filling of her.

  “Ooooh, Ryan, yes!” Her hands went to his hips.

  Ryan started moving in and out, filling her over and over, and Lina’s mind went into oblivion, filled with lust, crazed by passion.

  “Lina…you feel so good…so damn good…” Ryan breathed, as he continued his thrusts. “Don’t stop…please, don’t stop…” she pleaded softly.

  Ryan’s thrusts became harder and faster, and Lina met each one, pulling at his hips each time he filled her. Pounding against her, Lina’s body rocked.

  “Ryan…it’s…I’m…” Then she tensed for only a second before she exploded, a hoarse scream ripping from her as her body writhed and jerked beneath him.

  “Oh, yeah…Cum for me, Lina,” he whispered, low and husky. “Keep cumming for me.”

  Unable to stop, Ryan pummeled into her, craving his own release, wanting hers again.

  Lina, unable to come down from that peak, took more and more of Ryan’s hammering cock, the head bouncing off the back of her deep inside. Thrashing her head, she gripped the sheets, and continued to meet his thrusts.

  Harder and faster, Ryan slammed into her, losing control. Lina moaned and whimpered, trying to reach another peak. Higher and higher, Lina started shaking, then she violently exploded, screaming Ryan’s name, her hands tearing at the sheet beneath her. As she exploded, Ryan slammed deeply into her and let out a hoarse, deep groan as his balls exploded, sending a rush of hot cum into her. His cock and balls throbbed, pushing out more cum, filling her.

  Catching his weight on his elbows and knees, Ryan collapsed, and felt Lina go limp beneath him. They both heaved great gulps of air, and when he could, Ryan withdrew from her and moved over to lie beside her. They both lay limp for a long few moments, then Ryan pulled her into his arms.

  “Are you all right?” he managed.

  Lina could only nod. Tears filled her eyes. She had never known sex could or would be like that, and now that she did, she wondered what it would do to her. Would it make her crave it the way her mother had? She wrapped an arm about Ryan, pressed him close, and silent tears fell. She didn’t want any other man. She only wanted Ryan, but what if he didn’t always want her? The thought was agonizing, as well as terrifying.

  Ryan made love to her twice more during the night, and three times during the next day. Lina loved his attention and affection, his lovemaking, and his vibrant passion. She loved his voice, his laughter, and the sparkle in his eyes when he looked at her. There was nothing she didn’t love about him, she realized, and every second was precious. Although she had known him so short a time, she knew she could be happy with him for the rest of her life.

  Ryan made her no promises, no offers other than the moment, and Lina made no pretense that any of that would happen. She had learned the hard way to take one day at a time, to take nothing for granted, to assume nothing. She refused to pretend Ryan cared for her. If he did, he would say so. Somehow, she was certain of that.

  With a heavy heart, Lina rode beside Ryan on the way back home, saddened the weekend was over, and nothing had changed. She would go back to work, and Ryan would go back to whatever he did. She worked days; he worked nights. Their time together had been limited to his nights off. She had no illusions that it would ever be anything more than weekend flings.

  After Ryan left her at her apartment, she unpacked her things, including the sea shells she’d found on the beach that morning. Taking one of the pretty shells, she sat down on the sofa and cried. She missed him already, and she ached to spend her life with him.

  “If my own parents didn’t love me, how can I expect anyone else to? Nobody ever has, so why do I hope Ryan will?” she asked aloud into the empty room.

  Saddened by her thoughts, she went to bed.

  Chapter Seven Days came and went, and so did the weekend, without a word from Ryan. Lina wanted to call, but she had always been told that chasing after a man was wrong, and that calling a man was chasing after him. She didn’t want to appear desperate or slutty, so she kept silent.

  After the third week, Lina was tired of crying, tired of wondering what she had done wrong over that weekend at the beach, tired of going over every single detail to try to figure out why Ryan had suddenly dumped her without a word.

  Perhaps after he knew she really had healed, that she could have sex without problems, his guilt at hurting her had been assuaged, and he had shown her a better side of sex so that they could both move on. Lina, however, didn’t want to move on. She wanted Ryan, and only Ryan.

  A month went by, and then two. Lina lost weight, couldn’t eat, and when she did, she lost it later. She went to work, went home, and did very little else. She went to the store only when she ran out of something, she did her chores when she felt the need, but mostly she cried and slept.

  After a rough day of throwing up, afraid she would dehydrate, she forced herself to make a trip to the emergency room. She knew she couldn’t keep this up, but her nerves were shot. She had never needed anyone as she did at that moment. She needed Ryan, but she would not call him.

  After tests, the emergency room physician confirmed that Lina was pregnant. She went limp as blackness clouded her brain.

  If Lina had it figured correctly, she got pregnant the first time she slept with Ryan, even though she had bled so heavily from the tear inside her. That would make her about three months along. Even if Ryan wouldn’t want anything to do with her or the baby, she felt he had a right to know.

  After days of contemplating, she picked up the phone and called the police department and asked for Ryan.

  “I’m sorry. Detective Silver is on an extended leave of absence. Can someone else help you?” came the reply.

  Lina almost laughed. “No, no one can help.” Bitterly, she replaced the receiver.

  On Wednesday, Lina received the usual key club invitation, and she shook her head. “That’s how I got into this mess to begin with!” she said, angry that she still got the stupid invitations. She tossed it on the counter in the kitchen, made herself a sandwich, grabbed a soda, and went to watch television.

  She knew she was already showing some, and as she thought about it, the more tempting the party seemed, before she grew as big as a house. Ryan obviously didn’t want her, so why was she moping around like a sick cow after him? Why shouldn’t she go out, maybe meet someone else? Because I’m pregnant, that’s why, she told herself. Nobody would want anything to do with a woman who was carrying another man’s child, and she’d be foolish to believe they would. Still, she needed to get out, do something, talk to someone, have a life.

  Deciding she couldn’t find it there as she had hoped, Lina decided to pack up and move. She didn’t want to be tempted by the parties, and she didn’t want to be tempted to knock on Ryan’s door. She would find a new apartment, hire a moving company
, and get out.

  By the end of the month, Lina found a new apartment close to her job, had everything arranged for her move, and expected the moving company. She still had not heard from Ryan, and three calls to the department had been dead-ends as well.

  As the moving company loaded her things, she jotted a note.

  Ryan,

  I thought you might want to know you’re going to be a father. I don’t expect you to take care of me or the baby. I won’t ask you for anything, but I did think it’s only right that you know. I don’t know what happened that you didn’t want to see me again, but an explanation would have been nice, and the right thing to do. I wish you happiness.

  Lina

  Hurrying to his apartment, she left it on the door, sealed in an envelope, and stuck with tape to keep it from blowing away. She’d written his name in bold letters across the front so he wouldn’t think it might be a sales ad of some kind. Painfully, she realized he didn’t want to see her, therefore she refrained from knocking to see if he was home. Even more painfully, Lina turned and walked away.

  Lina settled into her new apartment, taking her time at unpacking a bit every day after work and on weekends, and once she was done, she bought things for the baby from every paycheck. Her new apartment had two bedrooms, one of which she turned into a nursery.

  She finally felt the baby move, causing her to gasp and put her hand on her stomach. She smiled, knowing her baby was alive and well, and a part of Ryan grew inside her. Although still hurting for him, she loved him, and she knew that would never change. She only wished he had loved her in return. It was only when she felt movement that she grasped the full realization that she was going to be a mother, that she loved her child, and she wanted it more than anything.

  When she went for her check up at the end of the week, they performed an ultrasound. Nervous, she lay on the table and watched. The baby kicked and moved it’s feet and hands, and Lina could clearly see the baby’s heart beating.

  Happy tears filled her eyes. “Can you tell what it is yet?”