by Angela Blake
Unknowingly, Lorena had moved closer to Lucas and had fitted herself to his side. He placed one arm around her just like he used to do.
Lorena took a deep breath before she looked up at Lucas who was already gazing at her.
“Que pasa?”
“I need to tell you something, but before I do you, you have to promise you’ll wait till I’m finished before you say anything, and please think very carefully before you make a decision because it is a big deal.”
“Are you offering to be my sponsor?” Lucas teased.
Lorena slapped him on the arm, an amused smile tugging on the corner of her lips before she sobered up.
“When I told you to go to America, when you got that scholarship, I knew that I had to let you go, so you could pursue your dream. So I convinced you that it was okay.”
“I know why you did it, Lor. We agreed we’d try the long distance thing, but it was too hard after a while, I thought we both agreed to that.”
Lorena gave an exasperated sigh. “Would you stop interrupting?”
Lucas held up his hand and mimed shutting his mouth.
“It was the right decision at the time, but what I didn’t tell you is that I was pregnant.”
She proceeded to tell Lucas the story, why she had made the decisions she made, and Lucas listened quietly nodding to let her know he was keeping up.
When she was finished, she waited anxiously for his reaction.
“I’m sorry.”
“What?” she whispered unsure of where this was coming from.
“I’m sorry I made you feel like you were alone when you lost the baby, and like you had to let me go, so that I could pursue my dream while you raised our daughter. That wasn’t fair to you, and I wish you had told me the truth, but I understand why you didn’t.”
“Really?”
He rolled over, so he was looming on top of her. “Really. When can I meet Elena?”
Lorena laughed, a lovely carefree sound. “How about tonight? She’s with the baby sitter right now, but we can go see her.”
Lucas leaned in and nuzzled her neck. “I like that-we.” He pulled back and gazed at her, his eyes full of questions. Lorena nodded as he pressed his lips to hers.
He kissed her slowly at first, as if taking his time letting the years reacquaint him with what his body already knew, but soon his kissing grew more insistent, and he gently bit down on her bottom lip. She parted her lips and groaned as their tongues battled for dominance.
She lifted her hips and pressed herself closer causing Lucas to moan in the back of his throat. His hands ran up and down her body leaving goosebumps in his wake.
Lorena ran her hands over his back and snaked them underneath his shirt. She helped him out as he helped her out of her shirt.
He placed both hands on her breasts and began to knead them till her breasts practically spilled out of her bra, and all the while Lorena was writhing, gasping like a swimmer who was desperate for air.
She reached between them and placed her hand above his crotch and began to stroke. Lucas smiled against her as he grinded into her hand. He brought her hands up slowly and wrapped them around his neck.
He reached down and lay his hand on top of her crotch and watched as her eyes glazed over with uncontrolled desire. He unzipped his jeans and kicked them off as Lorena watched him through hooded eyes.
She kicked off her own jeans and watched as his eyes trailed over her body. He unclasped her bra and took one breast in his mouth. He began to suck and lick until Lorena was practically clawing on his back. He took the other breast and did the same till both her nipples were erect. She impatiently grinded against him until he finally tore himself away and lowered his boxers.
He thrust into her in one quick stroke, and they began to move together in wild abandon not caring if the whole world heard them. He began to nibble on her ears and bit her neck as he steadily thrust into her.
She ran her hands up and down his back and over his hips causing him to tremble in desire.
They finally came together, both of them shouting, their voices echoing on that empty beach.
“Let’s go home,” he finally said a while later as he was stroking her back.
Lorena smiled up at him as they got dressed and moved towards his car. They got in and drove towards Elena, towards their future.
THE END
In The Sea: A Workplace Romance
Chapter One
Ashlyn had barely thrown her bag on the bed assigned to her before she hurried out the house’s back door. There was nothing like the beach, and she didn’t want to wait to hear the sound of the waves and feel the warm sand between her toes. The beach was one of her favorite places ever, even though she had only been a few times. She was like a mermaid when it came to the water, and she had tried out for the swim team solely so that she could spend time in the pool at her high school.
“Wow!” Ashlyn said quietly as she stood at the edge of the steps that came down on the beachside of the dunes. She kicked her flipflops off and tossed them to the side beside a few other pairs of flipflops. She was at the beach, and the crew was going to be there for two full weeks.
“Thank goodness for beach scenes,” Ashlyn murmured. She looked around, but the beach was fairly empty. Most people weren’t quite off work yet, and the all-dayers had gotten tired already. It was the perfect time. “Too bad I didn’t take time to put on my swimsuit. I’ll just dip my toes in.” Ashlyn began walking along the edge of the beach, the cool water making the sand squish beneath her toes.
Mark was trying to invade her thoughts, but Ashlyn was trying to push him out. She had pretty much ignored him as much as possible after their interesting encounter. He was still nice to her, and he acted like every gentleman should. Ashlyn was doubting herself. Maybe she really had said something that made him think what he did was okay. If she didn’t remember, then she could have said yes.
Ashlyn gazed out over the ocean. It stretched on to the horizon. The beach wrapped around and stuck out, creating almost an inlet. The waves were tough, and Ashlyn knew that the current would tug strongly under the top layer of water.
Ashlyn froze as she saw something splashing in the water. She first saw hands flailing, then she caught a brief glance of a head. All was silent as the person disappeared, then the person bobbed up again and frantically gulped in air.
Ashlyn didn’t have to think a moment longer. This person was drowning! She had to save him! Ashlyn plunged into the water, her clothes still on. She fought through the breakers and soon reached a smoother part of the ocean, but by now, her feet were barely touching. Ashlyn took a deep breath and began swimming as fast as she could, the weight of her shorts tugging down at her waist. She didn’t care. She pushed onward.
Ashlyn reached the bobbing man, and she saw that he was bigger than she was. Luckily, the salt in the water would help him stay somewhat afloat as she pulled him to a safer depth. Ashlyn wrapped an arm around the man’s chest, seeing the surprise in his eyes as she grabbed on to him. She didn’t have time for formalities. She had to help this person. He might die if she left him out here.
He started fighting against her, but Ashlyn knew how to save a life. She steadily pulled him toward shore. She moved a lot slower with him in tow, but she finally made it to where she could safely stand and the current’s pull was not too strong.
The man started coughing. Ashlyn looked at him and wondered if she should pat his back or tell him to raise his arms, but as she moved toward him, he took a step away.
“Can you breathe?” she asked, ready to perform CPR if necessary.
The man nodded his head up and down. As Ashlyn watched him, she couldn’t believe it. Was he laughing? What was he laughing about? Ashlyn gently bobbed in the waves as she looked at this strange man who was laughing about a near-death experience.
“Do you need help making it to shore?” Ashlyn tried again, trying to help the man as much as possible. Maybe he was a lunatic as well. Maybe th
at was why he was in the middle of the ocean in the first place.
Finally, the man coughed up a little water, gave a final cough, and wiped at his mouth. “You sure are a strong thing for being so little,” he commented.
He had a southern accent, and Ashlyn smiled at the twang in his “thing.” “It’s really not hard to save someone, even if they’re bigger than you, but it would have been easier if you hadn’t been struggling so much. Couldn’t you tell I was trying to help you?”
The man threw back his head and laughed. Ashlyn was indignant. What was so funny, and why couldn’t she be included in the joke? “I didn’t need any saving, but I do appreciate the effort.”
“What do you mean you didn’t need any saving? You were flailing around like you were being tugged under!” Ashlyn set her face in a straight line to this character of a man.
“I was looking for a shell,” the man continued. “The best shells are found away from the beach where the tide has not turned them and broken them so much. I had my goggles, and I was diving down. I found a real beauty, but an undercurrent pulled me just then. I wasn’t able to grab onto the shell. I just sort of rolled it with my fingers. The current somehow managed to tear my goggles away. So, I was trying to get that shell and my goggles. That’s why I was bobbing up and down like a lost sea buoy.”
Ashlyn couldn’t help it. A smile slowly spread across her face, then she started to giggle. “I guess I shouldn’t wait around for a thank you, then. I just made you lose the location of your precious shell.”
The man laughed. “Hey, it’s no big deal. I’m sure I’ll find another shell just as nice that won’t be so dangerous to my life. I’m Brandon.”
“Ashlyn.” Ashlyn wasn’t sure if she should shake hands or just leave the ocean. After all, she wasn’t wearing a swim suit, and the water was really weighing down on her shorts.
“It’s nice to meet you. You are very kind to have come out to the ocean when you clearly weren’t dressed for swimming today.”
Ashlyn looked down and saw that her pale pink blouse was now clinging to her, clearly showing the lines of her bra. Ashlyn blushed and tried to pull the shirt away from her body, but the water wouldn’t let that happen.
“Well,” she said, trying to turn the attention away from her shirt. “I guess I have served my purpose here. You are saved, whether you wanted it or not, and I had a refreshing swim.”
“Whether you wanted it or not,” Brandon finished off. “Hey, I’ve got a towel on the beach. It’ll be nice and warmed up by the sun right about now. I insist you use it.”
“No, really, it’s okay,” Ashlyn said. “My house isn’t a far walk from here. I don’t mind. In fact, it feels rather nice to be cooled off.”
“Do you have a vacation home then?” Brandon started leading the way into shore, and Ashlyn instinctually followed him. After all, she needed to go back to the house anyway.
“No, no, no,” she quickly denied. “Nothing of the sort. I’m actually. . .well, I’m working with a film crew. We’re filming a movie in the area, and everyone is put up in a beach house while we’re working.”
“Wow! That sounds nice! What movie are you filming?”
“It’s called Firebird. It won’t be out for at least another year, though. It takes a crazy amount of time to cut and produce a movie.”
“Will your name be in the credits?”
“I don’t know,” Ashlyn replied. “So, what are you doing here, spending time diving for seashells?”
“I know this may sound crazy, but I’m house sitting.”
“You’re house sitting? At the beach?”
“Yes, it is a thing. The house is actually a half hour drive from here, so I’m not as close as you might think. Anyway, the family is going to spend the summer in Europe, and they wanted someone to take care of their house while they were gone.”
“So you take care of the house?” Ashlyn just wasn’t getting this idea.
“Yes, I’m not paid to do it, but I get a place to live for a few months. Meanwhile, it gives me time to work on my music. I’m hoping that if I get good enough, I can do more than just perform at birthday parties or ladies’ luncheons.”
“Do you play an instrument or do you sing?”
“I play acoustic guitar,” Brandon answered. “I sing too. I guess there are a thousand guys out there my age trying to become famous for doing something like this, but I can always hope I’ll get a chance at the big shots.”
For some reason, his easygoing way of approaching life appealed to Ashlyn. He wasn’t ruled by someone else’s clock, nor was he worried about reaching a certain career goal. He was just enjoying life as it came to him.
“Here’s my towel,” Brandon said, holding the bright yellow cloth out to her.
Ashlyn shook her head one more time. “I’m really fine, thanks.”
“I insist. Please.”
Ashlyn reluctantly took the big yellow towel and wrapped it around her. It was warm, and it felt nice. It also gave her a chance to fix her clothing from clinging to her. She waited a few minutes, taking her time drying off. She wasn’t quite ready to see the last of this gentleman.
“Maybe you should come and be an extra on set,” Ashlyn suggested, her stomach feeling fluttery. It was not as though she was asking him on a date, but that was sure what it felt like. She didn’t know how to handle a rejection or an acceptance. “They will take pretty much anyone if you come in about two days around nine in the morning.”
“Where would I go?”
Ashlyn gave Brandon the directions. “I don’t really know the requirements, but I know that they like to have a good mix of people.”
“It sounds like a fun opportunity. Do I get paid?”
Ashlyn shook her head. “No, extras just get the fun of being in the film.”
“Does it give me a chance to possibly get a higher role?”
Ashlyn shrugged as she remembered Javon. “Honestly, I don’t know. Sometimes, extras are given small speaking parts. I guess you never know where fate might take you.” She paused and slowly pulled the towel off her shoulders and handed it to Brandon. “I hope to see you there.”
Brandon smiled. “I just might take you up on that offer. Do you need to be walked back to your accommodations?”
Ashlyn looked up the beach then back at Brandon. He was a kind man, but she couldn’t keep him from his drive.
“I’ll be just fine. I enjoy time by myself to just think sometimes, you know?” Ashlyn wondered if her comment would make him think that he wasn’t welcome, but Ashlyn was just speaking the truth. She was tired of evaluating her every action in how it must appear to a male. “If you ever want to come by just to hang out, we’re usually not filming in the evenings.”
Brandon nodded. “Thanks for the invite.” Ashlyn took a step away. “Thanks for the save too.” Ashlyn smiled at him before she turned and walked away.
Chapter Two
Ashlyn didn’t know if she should even expect Brandon to show up, but there was a small part of her that hoped he would. During their first day, they blocked off one end of the beach and filmed an intimate scene between the main two characters. Ashlyn enjoyed the scene, because the words from both characters gave her hope for a future filled with love.
That evening, Brandon did not come by. Ashlyn had showered as soon as they were done filming and changed into something that was semi-nice, but she didn’t want anyone to know if Brandon didn’t come, so she tried to occupy herself with a book and pretend that she wasn’t waiting for anyone. She couldn’t hide her disappointment though as she climbed into bed at 12:00am and Brandon still hadn’t shown up. She held the same hope for the following night, but Brandon did not show up then either.
The next morning, she had dark bags under her eyes from not sleeping well. And of course, that was when Brandon showed up for the extras casting. Ashlyn saw Brandon, and she waved to him as he was corralled around with the extras. He waved back, but they didn’t have an opportunity to
talk. Ashlyn wondered if there was some way she could put in a good word for him, or if after letting the camera take a spill in the woods, it was better for her not to say anything. Gary still was not very happy with Ashlyn.
Pamela approached Ashlyn. “Do you know that extra? He seems to be smiling your way an awful lot.”
“Which one is it?” Ashlyn asked, not wanting to do anything to indicate that they were talking about Brandon.
“He’s got dark, longish hair, looks like some sort of beach bum.”
Ashlyn laughed. “Yeah, I met him the other day on the beach. That is an interesting story. I’ll have to tell it to you later.”
Pamela laughed. “Ashlyn, you always have an interesting story. Your life is never boring like the rest of ours where we just work, eat, and sleep without any fun in the middle.”
Ashlyn smiled, knowing her friends’ words were true. “Yeah, except with that guy, his name is Brandon, I really think he’s a gem. He’s a gentleman to begin with. He has that whole Southern charm thing going for him. I might see if he can hang out at the beach house after filming. Let me know what you think of him.”
“Now, you want my opinion,” Pamela gave Ashlyn a serious look. “I thought you could navigate these waters by yourself.”
Ashlyn shrugged. “Maybe I can, but I don’t know. I think Brandon may really be a good guy for once.”
Pamela shrugged. “Invite him over. See how he does with groups. It’s hard to get a true perspective of a guy when you’re the only one observing him.”
Ashlyn agreed and repeated her effort to invite Brandon over. The more she thought about it, the more she wanted it to happen. As soon as they were done filming for the day, Ashlyn hurried over and invited Brandon to the beach house. She didn’t want to sound desperate, but she really didn’t want him to turn her down. That would be a true indication that he was not interested in her.
“Hey, what are your plans for the night?” Ashlyn asked.
