by Gina Hummer
“Shirley’s making pot roast tonight, so; lots of potatoes.”
“I see,” David nodded, and they resumed putting the groceries away in silence. “So,” David said as he put away the last of the ice cream that would be the night’s desert. “I get the feeling you don’t like me very much.”
Karen shook her head. “No, that’s not it. I actually like you quite a bit. I can tell you’re good people.”
David sat on one of the kitchen stools. “Okay, so whatever it is, I want to hear it. I promise; my feelings won’t be hurt. For an actor, my ego’s not all that fragile.”
Karen sat down on another stool and steepled her fingers underneath her chin. She was quiet for a moment before she let out a big sigh. “Listen, I think it’s one thing to have a fun little fling. Hell, I have several of them on a regular basis. But a serious relationship is quite another. Is that where this is going?”
David glanced down, a shy smile tugging at his lips. “That’s my plan.”
Karen sliced her gaze into him. “You think you love her, don’t you?”
“I do love her. I’ve never felt like this before. I know I’ve known her only for a short time, but I just… I feel so connected to her. Like I’ve known her my whole life.”
“For all of your thirty years, you mean?” Karen asked her question wrapped in sarcasm.
In spite of himself; David let out an exasperated sigh. “Why is that such a problem?”
“Well, of course it’s not a problem for you – you’re the younger one, and you’re the man!”
“I’m not out just for a good time, Karen, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“Well I hope not. Listen. Just so you know, I thought it would be good for Charlotte to have a little fun with you. So long as that’s all it is. But once you start getting into serious business, well…that’s a whole different ballgame.”
David raised an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”
“Listen; Charlotte likes to play all nonchalant and all that, but I saw her after the whole mess with Ben, and she was a wreck. She couldn’t stand to go through that kind of betrayal again.” Karen leaned back against her chair. “So all I’m saying is, be sure that you’re not just intrigued by the thought of being with an older woman, that you really do care about her the way you say you do. Otherwise, just keep it light and fun.”
David crossed his arms. “And what makes you the expert on younger men and older women?”
“My husband was nine years younger than me. Nine years doesn’t sound like a big deal, but when you’re forty-eight and your thirty-nine year old husband changes the deal on you and decides he wants children and you know you don’t want to be a sixty- year -old woman running around after a twelve- year old, well that makes me an expert. He’s now married to a woman seven years younger than he is and he’s running after kids all day, happy as a pig in mud.” Karen stopped and crossed her legs in defiance before she started talking again.
“My ex said he never wanted kids. He had a right to change his mind. And I had a right not to change mine. So, okay---- you don’t have a problem with the age thing, and I have to admit; it makes you a little endearing, but it also makes me wonder if you have any idea what you’re getting yourself into.”
David was quiet, except for the sound of his fingers drumming against the countertop.
“Obviously you feel quite passionate about the subject,” he finally said.
“Alright, you say you love her. Today. What about tomorrow? Will you always feel this way? Time could change your mind, too.”
Karen stood and looked at David. “Like I said, I’m a nosy broad, and I hope I haven’t crossed a line with you. I guess all I’m saying is…be sure. Be absolutely, positively sure that Charlotte is what you want. Not some Hollywood fantasy.”
David smiled and stood to join Karen. “I love to see how much you care about Charlotte, and frankly, if you didn’t give me a bit of a hard time, I’d wonder how much of a friend you are.”
Karen snorted. “Really?”
David nodded. “She is lucky to have you in her life.”
Karen leaned against the counter. “You didn’t say whether you want kids.”
“Well, truth be told, my biological clock has never jangled so much as a broken note. I like kids, so long as they’re other people’s. It has honestly never been my thing.” David looked down. “I’m sorry your marriage didn’t work out, but I can assure you, that will never be an issue with me and Charlotte.”
Karen studied his face. “Okay,” she said, not entirely convinced.
David glanced at the wall clock. “Well, I’d better get back or Charlotte might think I’ve run off.” David planted a huge kiss on Karen’s cheek. “Thanks for the talk. I appreciate it.”
#
Charlotte gathered her clothes and headed to the divorcee cabin, which housed the washing machine. She stood over her pillow case, which doubled for a laundry bag, quietly sorting clothes.
“Magnificent.”
Charlotte gasped and dropped a pair of jeans. She turned to see David leaning against the doorjamb, grinning.
“Here we go again. How is it that I never hear you sneak up behind me?” Charlotte murmured as David moseyed over for a kiss.
“Even doing laundry you’re just so damned sexy.”
“Oh, yeah---- Laundry. Every man’s aphrodisiac.”
David gripped Charlotte around the waist. “I can attest that it’s working on me.”
They both laughed before going in for another kiss. Charlotte pulled back. “Speaking of laundry let me throw in a load for you. You couldn’t have had much in that backpack.”
“Well, I’m not so sure how I feel about you washing my kegs.”
“Your what?”
“I believe you Americans call them ‘underwear’.”
Charlotte shook her head. “I feel like I need to go out and buy a British-English dictionary.”
“Oh, no worries, love. You’ll always have me to translate for you.” David planted a kiss on her forehead. “So what’s on the agenda for today?”
Charlotte resumed sorting her laundry. “Book club. Pride and Prejudice, the ultimate chick lit.”
“Oh dear. Sounds fascinating.”
“Hey, I could make you sit in on the discussion.”
David shuddered. “Not that I don’t appreciate good literature, but I’ve never quite understood the allure of sitting around and discussing it. Probably stems from when I was in school and got called on to give deep, critical analysis, and half the time I hadn’t done the assignment.”
Charlotte started the machine. “Let me guess. You were one of those kids who charmed and bewitched your way through school.”
David laughed. “Hardly. I got my diploma in summer school. Hey, since you’re going to be tied up with your book club, do you mind if I borrow your car? I’d like to run into town for some man things.”
“What are man things?”
“You know… soap, deodorant, razors. That kind of thing.”
“And how do you expect to walk around town without being accosted by another mob?”
David licked his lips. ‘Well, I’ve got all that figured out. First, if you notice, I haven’t shaved yet, so we’ve got a nice…” he looked at his watch. “…ten o’clock shadow going on. Second, I’ve got a baseball cap and sunglasses and a patented slump that makes me appear about two inches shorter than I am. Finally, if I’m forced to talk to anyone,” he cleared his throat. “I’ve done several movies in an American accent,” he said in a perfectly executed Midwest twang. “I think I’ll be okay.”
Charlotte giggled. “Sounds like you’ve got everything covered.”
“I thought you’d approve. So how about those car keys?”
#
All through dinner Charlotte couldn’t stop staring at David. He’d caught her a few times and grinned as she busied herself with finishing her salad. After dinner, David and Emma became engaged in a movie t
rivia one-upsmanship game, and so far the older woman was winning. Of course, Charlotte wasn’t sure if David was letting her win, but it was fun to watch. She plopped her chin in her hand, her mind shifting to the past few days with David.
During the day, while Charlotte was participating in her retreat activities, David had been burning up the phone lines with William, discussing upcoming location shoots, premieres, and scripts. He continued to teach her kitchen tricks, even helping her prepare a Mexican feast for the ladies the previous night. So far, they’d stuck to the no-sex rule, though there were times Charlotte wanted to just say the hell with it and rip his clothes off.
Charlotte and David were off the hook for clean up duty that night, so after the games were over, David walked over to Charlotte and sat down.
“You’ve been awfully mysterious tonight,” he said as he trailed one finger up her arm.
“Have I? I hadn’t noticed.”
“Almost like you’ve got something up your sleeve.”
“Sorry to burst your bubble.”
David nudged her shoulder. “How about we take a walk around the lake?”
Charlotte nodded her agreement and after they had said their good-nights to everyone, they set off for a stroll in the breezy night air. David filled her in on his conversations with William, and Charlotte bounced an idea for a new book off him, her embarrassment having finally dissipated around him where her writing was concerned.
Without even realizing it, they were near the boathouse where they’d first gone fishing. Charlotte wrinkled her nose and looked up at the sky, which was filled with patches of purple and indigo, broken up by dark, puffy clouds.
“I think it’s going to rain.” she muttered.
David looked up. “Oh, I doubt it. We’ve had beautiful sunny days ever since we got here.” He kissed her forehead. “A metaphor, don’t you think? Besides, nothing in the forecast said anything about rain.”
Charlotte closed her eyes and let the damp wind wash over her face. She shook her head. “Yeah, like the weatherman never gets it wrong ----”
Just then a fat, juicy drop of water smacked against Charlotte’s bare arm, and it was followed by a rapid succession of raindrops. Sheets of rain began to cascade against them in short order, followed by furious crackles of thunder and quick snaps of lightning.
“I’ll never doubt you again,” David yelled as he grabbed Charlotte’s hand and they dashed through the downpour to the boathouse. Fortunately it was unlocked, and they managed to duck inside.
“Woo!” Charlotte yelped as she flung water from her hands. She and David looked at each other and burst out laughing.
“Well, you’re certainly a better predictor of the weather than I realized,” David laughed.
“Now you know from now on to listen to every word I say.”
David cupped Charlotte’s face in his hands, her face slick with rainwater. “Every word,” he whispered as he drew her in for a kiss. Charlotte’s teeth began to chatter, and she held him close.
“Cold?” he asked. Charlotte nodded, and David wrapped his arms around her. “Here… Better?”
Charlotte tilted her face up to David, the tiniest sliver of moonlight from the boathouse’s lone window illuminating his flawless features. The rain beat against the outside, raw and primal like a tribal drum. She ran her hands up and down the length of his arms and shivered.
“Do you remember when I made fun of you about that movie you made where you had to screw all night to stay warm?” she breathed.
He pushed her hair back from her face and looked deep into her eyes. “How could I forget?”
“I think I’d like to give it a try now.”
Without a word, David smashed his lips against Charlotte’s. She moaned and shucked his wet tee-shirt from his body, her hands traipsing across his chest. He responded by flipping her tee-shirt over her head and yanking the straps of her bra down in one frenetic motion. His hot tongue melted one of her icy nipples and Charlotte began to groan softly as she pushed her fingers through the thick brush of his hair. He began to gnaw her at her other breast, greedy with lust for her. David grunted and bent down to lift Charlotte from behind her knees, which elicited a surprised gasp from her. He set her down on the floor, and she whimpered.
“What’s wrong?” David pulled back.
“Find a tarp… something, anything to put down on the ground.”
David moaned and looked around furiously. He spotted a shiny blue tarp wedged inside one of the boats. He looked up and saw a worn blanket hanging from a hook on the wall. He grabbed that as well, and threw them down on the rough concrete. Charlotte wriggled on top of them, getting comfortable. David pounced and ripped the zipper of her jeans open, anxious to get them off her. Her cotton panties were soaked, and David let his finger linger over the moist material for just a second before he pulled them off. He drove his face in between her legs, which caused Charlotte to cry out just as a raucous slap of thunder shook the boathouse. Charlotte screamed as he devoured her like a sumptuous feast. Just when she thought she would explode he stopped. He looked at her, his body heaving.
“I have a confession to make.”
Charlotte’s heart lurched. “What?”
“You remember when I went to town to get ‘man things’ the other day?”
Charlotte nodded, struggling to catch her breath. “Yes.”
David pulled his wallet out of his jeans and extracted a condom. “I bought a box and put one in my wallet, in case, well you know, you never know where you might be…”
Charlotte laughed and pulled David’s face to hers as they greedily tore each other’s lips off. Finally they broke away, and together they slashed open the condom wrapper before Charlotte helped David out of his jeans. She gulped when he took off his boxers and her hand fluttered to her throat.
“Wow, this is what I’ve been missing out on all this time?” She shook her head at the rock-hard mound of flesh pointing straight at her. “Goodness---- I’m glad I’m not a virgin.”
David grinned. “Oh, I would have enjoyed deflowering you.”
“I think you’re deflowering me now,” she said as she let her fingertips meld into him. David closed his eyes and let out a soft sigh at Charlotte’s touch. She took the condom from between his fingers and rolled it down his shaft. They resumed their passionate kisses, intoxicated by each other. David pushed her breasts together, forming one giant nipple, and began to suck relentlessly. Charlotte panted and writhed beneath him, clamoring to feel him inside her. She clutched his shoulders, beseeching him to fulfill her unspoken request. His head bobbed up and down, his tongue swirling all over her nipples as though they were tiny lollipops. Charlotte flung one leg around David’s waist, on the verge of tears from wanting him so bad.
Without warning he plunged deep into Charlotte, causing her eyes to pop open in shock and emit a guttural growl. Charlotte flopped back against the blanket, rapture flooding every pore of her body. David lifted her bottom and pressed himself against her.
“My God woman…” David gasped as he moved in and out of Charlotte. Her only response was to gyrate her hips to meet his thrusts, her mind focused only on the incredible waves of passion rolling through her. Charlotte began to mewl and thrash her head against the slick tarp. Her mouth dropped open and she squeezed her eyes shut.
“Oh, God,” she moaned. “Oh I don’t want to come. I want it to go on forever.”
“No, no, no,” he murmured. “You have to come, because I want you to come like you’ve never come before.”
“Oh, God, oh God,” she bleated.
The rain continued to pound against the roof as David and Charlotte thumped against each other with unfettered abandon. Finally, Charlotte could hold back no more and she gave in to the climax she’d been holding off for so long. Charlotte grabbed David’s arm as she shot straight up and let out a long, piercing scream of pleasure. She clenched around him, her core still pulsating around his thickness, which continued to pound awa
y inside of her. Charlotte collapsed onto her back, her body convulsing as David clasped his hands around her hips.
“Oh, sweetheart,” David chattered. “My God, I’m about to burst!”
David pumped away, picking up speed as he dropped deeper inside her. Charlotte felt him tense up, and she held him as he let out a cry. He wobbled inside her, and for a moment all he could do was hold himself above her, his face contorted like a crying newborn. Finally he collapsed on her, his sweat dripping onto her chest and shoulders. The rain had stopped, and now only occasional flashes of lightning were the lone clues to the ferocious thunderstorm. Charlotte delivered soft, gentle kisses all over David’s face as he ran his fingers along the outside of her thigh.
“God, that feels so good,” he whispered.
“You feel so good,” she breathed into his ear before she flicked her tongue over the succulent lobe for a brief second. A rumble of pleasure fled from his lips before he finally rolled off her, removed the condom, and fell onto his back. Charlotte stared up at the ceiling and placed her hand over the thud of her heart in an attempt to regain her equilibrium. David pulled her over to him and engulfed her in his arms. She burrowed her head into his embrace, content.
“Well, that was certainly worth the wait,” David said.
Charlotte let out a soft laugh. “Yes, it was.”
He rubbed her arm. “You’re amazing, Charlotte.”
“Well, you get some of the credit.”
He chuckled. “You’re so kind.”
“Aren’t I?”
David kissed the top of her forehead. “Indeed.”
“You know what? If we don’t go now, I may fall asleep here,” she murmured. “We should head back to the cabin.”
David gave her a quick squeeze. “What? You don’t want to stay here all night on top of this lovely tarp?”
“Oh, yeah---that’s all we need. Some fisherman walking in on us in the morning naked as jaybirds. Besides, you’re supposed to be hiding out, remember?”
Charlotte sat up. David grinned and put his hands behind his head.
“What a lovely view. I could look at it all day.”
