“The only bird in this case,” she said in a deep, dark baritone. “I’m afraid my girlfriends ditched me at the last minute.”
We stood face-to-face on the gently lapping deck. “Then we’re in good company,” I chuckled, feeling more relief than I should have. “Since my first mate just ditched me.”
She seemed to smile, as if relieved. “Well then,” she said, sliding a wicker handbag off her shoulder and onto the nearest deck chair. “I suppose we better get started so we don’t waste a second of our time together.”
There was something flirtatious about her smile, her voice, hell—her whole body. I nodded and swiveled the second deck chair slightly around, as if offering it to her.
“Sit tight,” I cautioned, leaping up to the bridge just above deck. “It’s bound to get a little bumpy out there.”
“Oh, I’m planning on it,” I thought I heard her murmur as I took the stairs to the bridge two at a time, and then hoped I was only imagining things…
Chapter 29
Carla
The marina had always been a calm, restful place for me. Waiting for Roy to come in on his boat, listening to the lapping waves against the dock pilings, watching other fishermen come and go with a slow, gentle wave or a tip of their fishing hats.
But today I couldn’t wait for Roy’s boat to come in, namely so I could tell its “captain” the good news—Roy had recovered, to the point where they’d be moving him out of ICU later that afternoon and into a private room where not only could Mom spend the night—no more visiting hours restrictions for the devoted wife—but nurses and staff could also begin discussing things like physical rehab, speech therapy and even his diet and nutrition.
I’d only just learned the news and the minute I knew Mom was safe, happy and occupied with the move from the ICU to Roy’s own room, I’d raced straight to the marina to share the news with Kellan.
That had been nearly an hour ago. I thought I’d timed things pretty well. Roy usually brought the boat in around four in the afternoon, just long enough to take his clients to one of his favorite fishing holes, float around for a while, drink some beers, listen to some music, share some fish stories, possibly a few “off color” jokes, maybe catch a fish or two and then head back in time for the guests to make “happy hour” at the marina’s waterfront bar.
Kellan had been sticking to the schedule all week, but it was well past five when I finally saw the familiar profile of “Roy’s Retreat” at the mouth of the marina, cruising steadily through the “no wake” zone as I paced a tread in the weathered planks of the dock in front of Roy’s empty space.
I could hear the music, louder and louder as the 36-foot cabin cruiser crept into view, raucous reggae rivaled only by equally riotous laughter. I chuckled to myself, assuming Ryan had booked a frat boy cruise from the local university and the “boys” had gotten a little rowdy.
As the boat crept closer, and closer still, I paused in my pacing. A beautiful woman, clad only in a bikini top and see-through black cover-up tied around her skinny waist, danced freely, back and forth, holding a glass of wine aloft as Kellan steered the boat expertly into the slip.
I should have left—I could have left—but was transfixed by the scene. Kellan looked suntanned and handsome on top of the bridge, piloting the ship in to a small, soulful coast as I instinctively reached to tie off the lines to hold it in place against the dock.
He bounded down from the bridge, two steps at a time, as our eyes met in mid “thanks”.
“Carla?” he asked as the exotic looking woman on the bow stumbled, slightly, during the docking procedure, spilling her wine.
“Kellan, darling,” she murmured, voice velvety smooth and shockingly intimate. “Pour me another, will you?”
He stood, torn between his old lover and his new one, literally stuck between us with one foot on the boat’s railing, the other on the deck. “Yes, Kellan,” I huffed, turning without a backward glance. “The customer is always right!”
I nearly made it around the corner before the tears came, sudden and unwelcome, my chest heaved and my shoulders quaked as I leaned against my car, my face wet with tears and my mascara smeared in seconds flat.
I knew it wasn’t just about Kellan. That these tears were for my mother, for poor Roy, for Miami Models and the life changes that were coming—with or without Kellan. But at the moment, finding Kellan at the wheel of an all-day pleasure cruise for two seemed as good a reason as any to crumple against my car!
Chapter 30
Kellan
I could have stormed Cedar Key Memorial and demanded to see her. I could have lurked at her place, pacing the front steps until she came home. I could have kept blowing up her cell phone with text messages and voicemails—despite the fact that she’d never returned my first few dozen.
Instead, I did nothing. Well, nothing except pace a rut in the beach out in front of my rented cottage a few blocks away from her mother and Roy’s beach house. I’d taken out the room at the Sea Vista Cottages when Carla had told me it would be a good idea to cool things off after our first encounter on the beach, secretly hoping she’d see the error of her ways and move in with me at some point.
Instead, things had gotten more hectic—not less—and between Carla’s constant vigil at the hospital and me trying to captain Roy’s Retreat all day, I’d barely seen her. Which is why her showing up at the marina earlier that afternoon had been so shocking—and doubly so considering the way Esmeralda, my high-paying divorcee client, had acted upon seeing Carla waiting there at the dock.
If only Carla had waited around for me to get Esmeralda—who’s coquettish temptress shtick got old before we’d even backed out of the marina—off the boat and in her Mercedes, I could have explained that nothing had happened out at sea.
All I’d done was endure far too many hours bobbing on the sea, listening to my client’s endless prattling about this ex-husband or that—there were five in all, despite Esmeralda being only 52-years-old— and baiting hooks that she didn’t seem very interested in dropping into the sea.
Esmeralda was lonely, that was all, and sought to fill her time with petty diversions like ski weekends in Aspen, safaris in Africa, jet-setting weekends with her BFFs or, when they were all busy, charter fishing cruises with young, virile captains.
Once she’d gotten done flirting—and realized I was never going to respond in the appropriate manner, according to her anyway—Esmeralda had settled in to enjoy the ride. Once I realized she wasn’t interested in fishing and I could stop baiting useless hooks, I enjoyed it, as well.
It had been a nice break in between the constant misery of worrying and waiting out Roy’s diagnosis and fretting over Carla’s family woes—alone—in my rented cottage by the sea. There had been zero romantic connection, and yet the moments out at sea, bobbing gently as we sipped the wine Esmeralda had brought along, passed pleasantly enough until it was time to return to the marina.
And all hell broke loose!
After Carla had stormed off, I couldn’t exactly race after her. With Ryan out of commission—for who knows how long—I’d had to stay behind to make sure Esmeralda made it off the boat and to her car safely, then wash down the decks, clean out the coolers… all by myself for the very first time.
By that time, I’d texted and called Carla a dozen or more times, all with no response. A quick run by the hospital made it clear visiting hours were not only over but for “immediate family members” only, and Carla’s family cabin down the beach had been empty as well.
That was hours ago and now, a few beers and several miles paced by the sea later, I was starting to wind down. She would find me when she found me, and either allow me to explain myself or suffer in silence until I found a way to tell her the truth.
I turned, sighing, reaching for another beer in the small metal pail full of ice and bottles by my beach towel, only to see a light on in the tiny beach cottage I’d rented for the week. I smirked, knowing I had left it long before
sundown—no need to turn on any lights. A drifting shadow in the living room confirmed my suspicions that I had an unlikely intruder and, tossing back the last of my beer, I drifted up the beach and toward the cottage.
She appeared between the open sliding glass doors just as I reached the top step to the small wooden deck overlooking the ocean. In one hand was a bag of miniature powdered donuts, in the other a bottle of sangria.
“Sorry,” she said, our eyes meeting in the dim moonlight. “It’s all the corner store had at this hour.”
“What time is it?” I croaked, my voice full of emotion as I approached her.
“After midnight, Kellan,” she said, and to hear my name on her tongue was all the forgiveness I needed. “I’m… I’m sorry it took me so long to come to my senses.”
I took the donuts and sangria from her hands, setting them down on a small metal table on the deck. “It’s my fault,” I said. “I should have explained. I know… what it must have looked like.”
She melted against my chest, her body so familiar and warm it was all I could do not to squeeze her tight until her bones started snapping. “I didn’t give you the time, Kellan,” she said, pushing me slightly away as we stumbled into the living room. “I ran off before you could explain. It’s not… none of this is like me!”
“I know,” I said, squeezing her hand as the tears came. “It’s been traumatic since the moment you got that phone call back in South Beach. I’m here for you, Carla. I would never hurt you, especially not like that—and not now.”
She nodded, fiercely, as she returned to cling to my chest. “I know that, Kellan. I just… I was so happy to tell you the news—”
“What news?” I asked, pushing her away this time.
“Roy’s out of ICU,” she said, words all running together. “He’s got his own room and Mom can stay with him, 24/7 if she wants, but they think… they’re going to release him by this time next week!”
We fell onto the couch, the weight of her words dragging us down with relief at the same time. “Thank God,” I murmured, as if a weight had been lifted off my own shoulders. “I’ve been so worried, for Roy, for your mother, but mostly for you. I’ve never seen you like this before.”
“I’ve never been like this before,” she confessed. “Today, at the dock, I was so happy with the news, and you were the first person I wanted to share that happiness with. When I saw you, and that woman…”
“Nothing happened, Carla.”
“I know that,” she said. “When I… I was still leaning against my car, crying, when she walked out to hers. She saw me, and figured out what had happened, and explained everything. I should have run to you then, but Mom texted and needed me back at the hospital to help her fill out some paperwork, and I’ve been there ever since trying to get Roy into his room so she could get a good night’s sleep and, well…”
“I’m glad you’re here,” I said, the shock of the news subsiding and something else taking its place so quickly I could hardly contain it.
“I’ve been dying to get here all night,” she said, reaching for me as if she, too, had desires as yet unfulfilled. “I just want to put the last week behind me, Kellan, and you’re the best medicine I’ve found yet.”
I chuckled as we tugged at each other’s clothes. “Let Doctor Feelgood make you feel good again, Carla,” I murmured, the words so ridiculous we were both laughing by the time we stumbled to our feet to tug the last of our clothes off over our ankles.
When she was done, Carla pushed me onto the couch and sank between my legs, wasting little time in stroking and licking and sucking and teasing my grateful cock to attention. Even then, she serviced me thoroughly, gratefully, eagerly, tenderly, and adoringly, until I began to squirm and murmur incoherently beneath her tight lips and tender tongue.
As if sensing my release, she suddenly stood up and slid a thigh on either side of my waist, using her left hand on my shoulder to steady herself and her right to guide me deep inside as I clung to her waist and held her tight before pumping away furiously.
Normally gentle and patient, tonight we were both greedy and eager to thrust and fuck and pound and grunt our way through the night. I had been moments away from orgasm in her mouth but, once wedged deep inside, watching her grind and writhe on top of my lap, I found myself thrusting and pounding to my heart’s content.
It was as if we were in suspended animation, the room and the crashing waves falling away as we began to sweat and curse and grunt and flail. The poor couch sagged and creaked beneath our arching, aching, dripping bodies until at last she came, crying out so loudly I thought the windows might shatter.
Her hair clung to her damp shoulders, her nipples stiff as I reached forward to bite and tease them and make her come again and again. Carla’s body quivered and trembled as I mounted for my last assault, fast and furious as her eyelids fluttered open and shut and I came powerfully deep inside her, both of us clinging to each other, our hearts pounding, and our lips parted as we struggled to catch our breath.
We stayed that way long after I had shrunk and slid from between her fiery lips, until our bodies dried and cooled and, once able to breathe again, she slid from on top of me to sit at my side, naked and shimmering with sated desire.
I rose silently, naked as I strode onto the porch to retrieve her gifts. “How did you know I hadn’t eaten?” I murmured, twisting the cap off the sangria and offering her the first sip.
“I didn’t,” she confessed, lips full and bruised after she’d wrapped them around the bottle and taken a long, luxurious sip. “But I knew we’d both need our energy for the makeup sex I had planned for you all night.”
I nibbled a donut, so sweet and savory after the taste of her ripe, rich lips against my own. “Just the night?” I teased as we began to pass the treats back and forth to each other, naked and sticky on the couch.
“Well,” she teased, licking a powdered donut provocatively. “Visiting hours don’t start up again until nine tomorrow, so…”
I took the donut from her hands and ate it, tasting the sweet and savory sensation and already burning with rekindled desire. “Well, then,” I said around a seductive mouthful, “we better get busy, right?”
Chapter 31
Carla
“Shank youth,” Roy said, struggling to thank me as he sat, propped up in his hospital bed, looking ashen but hopeful. His body might have been close to paralyzed on the left side, making speech, to say nothing of mobility, difficult, but his eyes were hopeful and alive.
“Don’t thank me,” I insisted, squeezing his limp hand emotionally and wanting him to know how easily I’d understood him. “You’re family, Roy. You’re…. my father. I’ll always be here for you.”
We shared a silent tear, Mom wiping Roy’s dutifully away as I sniffled and snorted and laughed while making a mess of wiping my own. Mom looked haggard, tired, but hopeful as well, wearing a bright pink Roy’s Retreat t-shirt as if to cheer her husband back to health.
“How’sh theth boath?” he struggled and I squeezed his hand once more in reassurance.
“Just fine, Roy,” I said, nodding toward Mom who gently slid from her husband’s side. “I don’t know how much Mom has told you, but… we’ve been keeping it running for you.”
Roy’s eyes widened before exhaustion seemed to drag them back down. “Youth?” he asked, but I shook my head.
“Dad,” I said, as Mom gently led him toward the bedside. “Meet my… boyfriend… Kellan. He’s been piloting the boat for you all week!”
Kellan looked bashful but well-scrubbed, a real feat considering he’d been pinned beneath me and making his patented “O” face less than thirty minutes earlier on the floor of his rented bungalow. He offered a hand and, summoning what I imagined would be the last of his strength for the day, Roy sat up a little higher and squeezed his hand a little tighter.
“Shank youth,” Roy said, struggling to keep his emotions in check.
“It’s my privilege, sir,” Ke
llan said, voice hoarse with emotion as well. “But I owe most of the week’s success to Ryan. And Carla, of course. And your wife, as well…”
We all blushed, even Roy, as Kellan’s “acceptance speech” ran down. Roy nodded, as if suddenly exhausted, and Mom shot me a concerned look I immediately recognized—and understood. Kellan seemed to sense it as well and before I could kick his shin beneath the hospital bed, he said, “Well, I don’t want to bother you, but I had to meet the man for myself and let you know we’ll keep the business afloat as long as you need us, okay?”
Roy nodded, as if to speak again would embarrass us all. But I noticed his grip strengthening around Kellan’s hand, and how much effort it took for him to do so. As Mom whispered comfortingly in her husband’s ear, Kellan and I quietly slipped from the hospital room and out into the hall.
The rules were far more lax here on the 4th floor recovery unit, the nurses less frantic and severe as we walked slowly toward the elevators. “We might be here awhile,” he noted as we stepped into the first available car. “He looks pretty weak.”
“That’s what I thought,” I murmured, clinging to his side. “I just… didn’t know how you felt about that.”
He nodded, and held the door open for me when we reached the lobby. “I thought I’d head back,” he said, making my heart freeze. He seemed to sense it, and dragged me toward a potted palm in the hospital’s bustling lobby. “Just for this morning, to close up the office and maybe respond to some messages at Miami Models, you know? Grab us some essentials, clothes for a week or two and then be back by tonight. That okay?”
I sagged onto a bench as he sank beside me. “It sounds perfect, Kellan. I can’t… I can’t believe how much you’ve done for me, for all of us.”
“It’s like you said upstairs, Carla. Family takes care of family. You’ve always treated me like family, and I want to return the favor, that’s all.”
Forbidden: A Student Teacher Romance Page 19
