by Lynn Donovan
She gasped and pulled back. Heaving for air. “I—we can’t.”
He, too, panted and blinked several times. His eyes were dilated with lust. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She stepped back another step and wiped her swollen lips. God she wanted more.
“I… need… to study.” She couldn’t believe she said that. It was so far from the truth.
He closed the distance and took her into his arms again. “Are you sure?”
She stared into his crystal blue eyes. She could easily lose her soul in those eyes. “No. But yes.”
He chuckled. “Me too.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “Um. Let’s eat. And I’ll tell you about my visit with Dad.” He lifted his shirt and turned it right side out. “And then we’ll study.”
Her breath had returned to normal. She glanced at the boxes. Her King Jr. Meal had barely satisfied her hunger, but could she eat an entire box of Moo Goo Gai Pan? She nodded. “I didn’t know you were bringing Chinese.” She took a box to the couch and eased down. “I ate a kid’s meal from BK.”
“I should have texted.” He followed with the other box. “I wanted to surprise you. Like your dad does.”
They laughed.
“So, what’d your dad say?”
He took a long breath. “Yeah, so you know how I told you he’s dating some floozy, right?”
She lifted a bamboo shoot with chopsticks and shoved it in her mouth. “Right.”
“Well.” Dillon chuckled. “I told you I haven’t met her yet.” He lifted a baby corn cob and dropped it, he shoved the chopsticks into the vegetables and squeezed them together, bringing out a mushroom and rice. He quickly put it in his mouth and wrapped his lips around the sticks.
She couldn’t help but stare at those lips. She wanted to taste that mushroom.
“…Yeah.”
“Well, that’s going to change.” He shoved the sticks in his food and lifted his eyes to meet hers. “Dad wants me to meet her Saturday evening.”
“Really?” She slid a cluster of vegetables and rice off her chopsticks. “How weird. My Mom arranged for me to meet Mr. Douche Bag Saturday, too.” She wrinkled her nose. “How strange.”
“Huh. Well, I have an idea.” Dillon smiled. “Let’s you and me get together Saturday morning, have breakfast, and go play some laser tag—if you want. And then we can get cleaned up for our debut with our parent’s new sex toys.
“Eww. Don’t put it like that.” She frowned. “That’s a visual I don’t want in my head. But, breakfast and laser tag sounds perfect.”
“Really?” Dillon’s eyes sparkled. “You, Miss Wendy, are the girl of my dreams.”
“Aw. You say the sweetest things.” Heat filled her face. She ate her food, even though she wanted to set it aside and do naughty things with him, instead. But she seriously had to get some studying done.
She couldn’t afford to fall behind. There weren’t enough hours in a day for her to get caught up if she ever got behind. Besides, if she was going to spend the morning and afternoon with Dillon and then all evening with her mom and Mr. Douche, she had to get ahead and stay ahead.
Wendy’s breakfast sat a little heavy in her tummy as Dillon parked at the Epic Events Center. Why did she opt for the Cowboy’s Breakfast with two meats, hash browns, and two eggs? She could have ignored the two pancakes, but who can resist two golden cakes drenched in whipped butter and syrup. Dillon laughed as he ate his yogurt and granola.
“What a girl’s breakfast!” she had teased him.
“You wait. I’ll have the advantage later!” He drank down his non-iced water.
“Ha! You’ll be hungry and I’ll be energized with all these carbs and protein!” She quipped. Lifting her mug of coffee and finishing the last dregs. “And caffeinated!”
He chuckled. “We’ll see.”
She smiled even though her stomach was uneasy and followed him into the huge building. He knew where he was going as he strode past several pay counters and stood in line at a neon wrapped booth. Black lights exposed multiple white cords on black, skin-tight Borg-like workers. Dillon paid and the female Borg pushed a button which lifted a horizontal door. Wendy followed him through the portal to a set of computers. She placed her feet in the outline on the floor and looked into the screen. Instructions indicated: “Smile and Press Enter”
Wendy smiled and reached for the key.
“No!” Dillon leapt to her station. “You’re not making a College ID! Make your warrior face. You’re Warrior Wendy!”
She laughed and made a mean, scrunched up face. He pushed enter and a card flopped out on the table. “What do I do with this?”
This gets us our laser vests and guns. He led the way into the dark room. Black lights transformed everything into either black matter or neon colors. She giggled. “I should have rethought my shirt. It’s seemed cute for our first date.” The white striped and cream lace trim were definitely a disadvantage. Dillon bellowed, “Wahahahaha! Warrior Wendy has a handicap. We shall up your life points and give you a head start!”
A high school boy with a yellow wrap-over vest approached them and began giving instructions. His name was Jalen. He helped Wendy choose a vest that fit her smaller frame, and showed her how to adjust the side straps so it could be snug. He handed her a laser gun.
She leaned into the boy and whispered, “How does this work?” She glanced at Dillon who was springing up and down as if to warm up. They boy lowered his voice and showed her how to shoot the gun, he also gave her some insider tips on how to maneuver through the field and catch her opponent unawares. She whispered, “Thanks!” And approached the Mighty Dillon of Askari.
“You ready?” She goosed him in the side with her gun.
Still bouncing up and down. “Wait. It’ll say when.”
“Oh, okay.” She paused and listened. A synthesized voice bellowed across the room. “Let the Game Begin!”
Wendy took off to her left.
“Wait!” Dillon called after her. “Wendy, Wendy, wait.”
She stopped and turned to him, concerned something was wrong.
He shot her sensor points. A loud ping sounded from her vest. “Oh you!” she squealed and shot at his vest, but he had run around a corner. ”You just wait, Mighty Dillon of Askari!”
She ran the way she had started. Jalen had told her about some excellent advantage spots where she could easily track Dillon’s movement and shoot him without him even knowing she was in range. Some unfamiliar voices echoed in the field. They weren’t alone. Was she supposed to shoot them, too? Or only the opponent she came with? Just then her vest pinged.
“Ah, man!” Apparently you shoot whoever is wearing a blue vest. She was red… with neon white strips. Basically she was a walking neon target!
She dashed behind a pillar and peeked over the railing. Dillon had snuck down to the lower level and was working his way between a wall of neon painted rocks. Were we supposed to climb that to get up to the upper level? She had no idea, but she wasn’t about to try it either. This level was good enough for her. She took aim and shot at his blue tri-points. His vest pinged and he hollered. “Where are you?”
She ducked behind the large pillar that framed the railing. He spun around looking for her and she shot him again.
“Ugh!” he groaned. She giggled. A red-vested kid came up beside her. “Hey.”
“Hey.” The kid looked at her inquisitively. “That your opponent?”
She nodded.
The kid, he had to be ten or twelve, leaned out and shot Dillon. “Ah, come on!”
She lifted her hand and high-fived the kid. “Thanks.” He nodded with such sincerity and ran off for his next victim.
“Oh, Warrior Weeeendy!” Dillon’s voice echoed from below.
She pursed her lips and sought another of Jalen’s suggested hiding spots. It was another great place. She hit Dillon’s vest sensors six times. He only shot hers three.
“Warrior Wendy, you’re the high score pl
ayer!” the synthesized voice echoed across the field. “AH! You Lucky Lucy!” Dillon’s voice echoed across the room. She moved to find him and tell him “Good Game.” She hurried to the stairs, how’d he get down there? As if summoned, Jalen came out of nowhere. “Oh! Jalen.” Wendy reached out to stop him. “How do I get down there?” She pointed over the railing.
“Follow me.” He led the way to an industrial ladder with a fall cage. She thanked him and descended the ladder. She looked right and left, no Dillon. “Dillon?” she called.
A faint voice came from her right. “Yeah.”
She followed the sound and found him leaning against the large cylinder. He held his rib cage under his right arm and breathed shallow. She hurried to him. “You all right?”
“Yeah.” He barely breathed the word. “Some punk slammed into me. Didn’t mean to hurt me. But, man. It really took my breath.”
Wendy wrapped her arm around him and slipped her head under his arm. “You need my help?”
“I think so.” He pulled her back around the cylinder into a corner, and lowered his face to hers. “What—?” He smothered her word with his mouth and she lost all thought about his injury. His hand moved down to her bottom and pulled her firm against him. Her body responded in way’s she never imagined. If they weren’t in a public place…
She slipped her hands under his shirt, blocked by the vest, and then wrapped her arms around his bare midriff. Skin to skin even only at his waist was intoxicating. His mouth devoured hers. His tongue explored and teased hers. Then he leaned back and they both panted for air. He kissed her cheek, trailing his kisses to her ear lobe. Biting it gently between his teeth, and pulling at it softly. She moaned. Trailing kisses down her neck. Her pulse quickened as his lips passed over the throbbing in her throat. She inhaled deeply and kissed his ear. And then his neck. He continued down to her neck line. He pulled her shirt down and sought the delicate skin beneath.
She pulled back. Gasping for air.
They were in public! Hidden behind a cylinder in the dark, but it was still public. “Dillon.” She mumbled. “We can’t. Not here.”
He staggered slightly. “I—I know.” They paused a moment to regain their composure. Then he took her hand and led her out from behind the structure and up to the upper level. Heat flushed her cheeks. Did anyone know what they had been doing. She made no eye contact. Just let Dillon guide her out of the Epic Event Center and to his red and black Tesla Roadster.
She closed her eyes and lay back against the headrest. He got in and drove without speaking. “I can’t believe we did that.” She finally muttered.
Dillon laid his hand over hers. “I’m sorry. I got carried away.” He cleared his throat. “You bring out the beast in me, Wendy. I’m sorry I lost control.”
She remained silent for a while.
“I’m not.”
FIVE
Dillon pulled against the curb in front of Wendy’s apartment. “You know? We’ve got, like three hours.”
She smiled. “What do you suggest?”
Dillon smiled and opened his door. She followed his lead and opened hers, as well. He walked around his little sports car and put out a hand to help her to her feet. They walked hand in hand to her door. She unlocked and pushed the door open. He followed her in. She smiled over her shoulder and continued toward the little hall that had three doors: restroom, stack laundry closet, and her bedroom. He turned her around to face him and leaned down to kiss her gently. She wrapped her arms around his neck and lifted up on tiptoes to press into his lips. A fire ignited in her midsection. She pulled him by the neck, while still kissing him passionately, into her bedroom and kicked off her shoes. He fumbled with his shirt, lifting it over his head and tossed to aside. She did the same. His eyes widened as he took in her beautiful breasts and soft skin.
He pulled her close and kissed her neck. Trailing one after the other down her neck until he heard her moan. A quick pinch and she was free of the restraint that kept him from pleasuring her even more. She arched her back and he lifted her into his arms to gently lay her down on top of her homespun quilt.
“Wait!” She pulled open her side drawer, lifted out a box, and set it on the night stand.
He smiled. “Thanks. How’d you—?”
“Dad, who else?” She rolled her eyes.
“Tell your dad I appreciate it.” He kissed her nose and then her eyelid.
She moaned. “I will not!” She pulled him down to her.
For the next hour, they explored each other’s pleasure zones, becoming very familiar with each and every one. Until they lay together exhausted and sleepy. Dillon’s breathing was slow and deep. He had fallen asleep. Wendy laid with her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. Drifting in and out of a peaceful slumber.
A tune played on Wendy’s phone. Quietly at first, then growing louder. She scrambled to lift it. It was her alarm to take a shower and get ready to meet her mother for dinner. Dillon roused with her sudden movement.
“Wazit?” he muttered.
“I’m sorry. I’ve gotta get ready.”
He looked at his phone. “Me, too, actually.” They both scrambled from the bed and gathered their respective clothing. She scurried to the bathroom and slipped on her robe. When she came out, he was dressed and waiting for her. She laid her head against his chest and wrapped her arms around him. “Mmm. This was fun.”
He stroked her hair. “Yeah, I love laser tag.” He grinned mischievously. “The sex was fun, too.”
She looked up into his ornery eyes. “Oh you!” She swatted him. “Get outta here so I can get ready to meet Mr. Douche Bag!”
He feigned hurt. “Ow! Hey, I’ve gotta spend an evening being nice to a gold digging bimbo.” He laughed. “Hey, I’ve got an idea.”
She waited for him to express his thought.
“Let’s get together afterwards and compare notes!”
“Sounds like a plan.” She winked and shoved him out the door.
Wendy set her brake and stared at the Red Robin sign. “Gourmet Burgers and Brew” Wonder how many brews it’s going to take for her to get through this night. The only exciting thing about tonight was meeting Dillon later. Memories of this afternoon flashed in her mind. She closed her eyes, recalling how he had made her feel and his delightful reactions to her touch, as well. She sighed.
Tonight they would swap horror stories about how this evening went. She’d get to tell Dillon all about the douche her mom was dating, and he’ll tell her all about the gold digging bimbo his dad was dating. She chuckled to herself. Knowing she would report everything back to Dillon kind of made this not such a bad night after all. It was like being a spy and remembering every detail for the debriefing later with her staff.
Excitement washed out the trepidation from before. Now, this was fun. She giggled. Later, they’d swap something else, too. A tingling sensation shot through her midsection. She grabbed her purse and leapt out of her Jeep. Let’s get this over with, I’ve got more fun things to do tonight!
She straightened the skirt of her dress and walked to the entrance.
“Welcome to Red Robin.” A peppy high school girl greeted her while pulling out a menu from a slide slot in the concierge stand. Her name tag read Tiffany. “Just one?”
“Uh.” Wendy searched the tables for her mom. “I’m meeting somebody… so—” Just then her mother’s long arm flew up into the air. That blowing long-armed wind sock. Wendy closed her eyes for a moment to compose herself. “I see her, may I go on in?”
“Of course.” Tiffany slipped the one menu back in the slot.
Her mom’s table was situated behind a column. She couldn’t see Mr. Douche. Not yet. She wove her way toward them, butterflies flitting in her tummy. She rounded the column as her mom and Douche Dude stood.
“Honey.” Her mom pulled her into an exaggeratedly joyful embrace. “I’d like you to meet my friend, Blake.”
Wendy stepped back from her mom and smiled at him.
“Mom.” Wendy felt the heat rise into her cheeks but suppressed the eye roll. He looked so familiar. She shook his hand.
“Well, she sure is.” Blake seemed, like her mom, over-the-top joyful. He pulled out the chair in front of the pillar and she let him seat her. Just then a waitress brought Mom and Blake their drinks. They had both ordered some fru-fru margarita with an orange slice and a chunk of pineapple on the skewer.
Mom smacked her lips and pulled the stemmed glass toward her. “Come to momma.”
Wendy widened her eyes, silently reprimanding her. She’d never seen her mother act like this. She was… goofy. How many of these had she already had?
“Whatcha drinking?” the waitress said.
Wendy looked at the margarita longingly. No. She’d better keep her wits about her. Besides, she had a report to give later. “I’ll have an ice water with lemon, please.”
“Oh, Honey!” her mother spoke too loudly. “Come on! We’re celebrating. Live a little.”
“Mom!” Wendy leaned toward her to speak quietly.
“There he is!” Blake stood again.
Wendy glanced up at him but remained leaned in close to her mother. She spoke through clenched teeth. “Stop! How many of these have you had?”
Her mother scrambled to push her chair back and stand. “This is my first one!” She grinned from ear to ear and looked past the column over Wendy’s shoulder.
Wendy tried to get her mother’s attention, in spite of the height difference now that she was standing. “Mom!” she hissed. “Listen to me! I’m—“
Blake stepped out and was hugging his son. Wendy took hold of her mother’s wrist. “Mom! I’m not kidding. You’re acting like a foo—“
“Come! Meet Patty and Wendy” Blake pulled the boy with him. Patty’s smile couldn’t possibly stretch any wider . She stuck out her hand and shook his. Wendy glanced up at the person belonging to the muscular arm.
She looked again. “Dillon?”
He looked down at her. His face paled. “Wendy?”
