A Life Less Ordinary

by Bernadine, Victoria

  Brett nibbled gently at her lips as he said, “See? That wasn’t so bad.”

  She stared at him, her eyes huge. “No,” she murmured slowly, shaking her head, “no, it wasn’t.”

  Manny tensed as Brett once more pressed his lips gently but confidently against hers, her muscles tight and stiff as he gathered her closer.

  “Relax,” he murmured, his voice soft as velvet, luring her into its depths.

  She forced herself to stay still, but gasped sharply as he skimmed a firmly possessive hand down her bare arm then flinched as he moved his mouth from her lips to her neck and began to suckle.

  “Yeah, baby – you like that?” he asked hoarsely then began to kiss, lick and suckle on her neck in earnest.

  She tried.

  She tried to relax, to enjoy the touch of his hands, the feel of his mouth, the heat of his body.

  But she’d been untouched for too long. Her skin was too sensitive; his fingers and lips leaving trails of sharp, biting electric sparks that shocked rather than aroused and only made her even more tense.

  In her dim memories of sex, she knew she’d enjoyed it. Perhaps not to the extent described by every romance novel she’d ever read, but she’d enjoyed it well enough. But right now...right now, she was shaking in a mixture of arousal and – dear God, she was still terrified. She couldn’t make herself relax, she couldn’t stop shaking, and Brett just kept talking, trying to encourage her, she supposed.

  Except he never once used her name, and kept calling her babe and baby.

  Out of all the pet names he could have chosen, she thought in growing panic and irritation, he had to choose that one.

  Harvey was obstinately silent, probably sulking somewhere.

  Manny tried to refocus, to shut off her mind, to stop shaking, to relax, to enjoy the moment, to let nature take its course, to enjoy being kissed and caressed, to be grateful for the fact that somebody was attracted enough to want to have sex with her, no matter the reasons. She shook from warring emotions and spiralling thoughts.

  She could do this, she told herself grimly. She could do this -

  Then Brett burrowed a hand beneath her shirt and cupped her breast, and she shoved him away without thinking.

  “I can’t – I can’t do this,” she blurted desperately.

  Brett frowned, blinking, confused. “What? Why?”

  “Because – because – because I just can’t!” Manny wailed, almost in tears. “I’m so, so sorry! I didn’t mean – I thought – but this is just -”

  Brett’s eyes widened. “It’s okay, it’s okay,” he hastened to assure her as he awkwardly patted the back of her hand, “I’m sorry, too. I thought you wanted this as much as I did.”

  Brett’s look of confused consternation would have been funny under other circumstances, Manny thought as she sniffed tearfully. Her shoulders slumped in defeat, and she realized there was no way she could begin to explain this when she didn’t fully understand it herself.

  “You should probably go,” she muttered, unable to meet his eyes.

  “This is my cabin,” Brett reminded her blankly.

  Her eyes flew to his, her face turning bright red. She yanked her hand out of his.

  “Oh! Oh, right. Right. Then...I should go.”

  She surged to her feet, fumbling for her purse and scrambling to put on her shoes, her entire body burning fiercely with humiliation. Her eyes kept sliding past him, never quite landing on his face.

  Brett leaned against the wall by the door and watched her, his arms tightly crossed, as she finally got her shoes on and straightened. She forced herself to meet his eyes.

  “I’m sorry,” she said again. “I should have known better.”

  “You win some, you lose some,” Brett shrugged ruefully. “I’ll see you around.”

  She nodded jerkily, muttered, “Good-night,” and bolted.

  * * * * *

  Day 111

  Manny paced her room, fidgeting, her hands twisting together as she shook her head.

  “Stupid, stupid, stupid,” she muttered with each step.

  She was flushed with humiliation and self-loathing, her heart beating rapidly, breath coming more quickly.

  She wrung her hands and thought she needed to leave without seeing Brett again. Of course, she thought bitterly, the sick heat of embarrassment suffusing her again, that wouldn’t be difficult. Brett was already pursuing two twenty-somethings who had arrived that morning before Manny had gathered enough courage to creep out of her cabin. Manny had expected him to not have time for her, especially when she’d noticed the two young women in one of the neighbouring cabins, but it was the way he’d looked right through her that had sent her scurrying back to her cabin, calling herself every name she could think of.

  The sudden rapid knocking on her door made her jump and give an involuntary yelp. She pressed a hand to her chest and tried to catch her breath. She walked cautiously to the door, her eyes wide, wondering who could be there, until she remembered that she’d promised the couple two cabins over that she’d go hiking with them today.

  Manny plastered a smile on her face as she opened the door, then gaped at a grinning Zeke.

  His grin faltered as he took in the look on her face. He gently urged her back into the cabin and stared searchingly at her. She knew she was blushing furiously and began to curse herself even more intensely.

  Calm down! Harvey commanded. You haven’t done anything wrong!

  It’s embarrassing! No, humiliating! That’s what it is!

  You made out with a guy who’s now ignoring you for somebody younger and prettier -

  Thanks.

  You still didn’t do anything wrong!

  “Manny?” Zeke demanded sharply. “What’s the matter? What’s wro – Oh. My. God! Is that a hickey on your neck?”

  Manny winced as his voice rose in both volume and pitch, then stared at him in horror as his words sunk in.

  “What?” she screeched and rushed to the nearest mirror. “Shit!” How on earth had she managed to shower and dress without noticing that?

  Zeke gaped at her, and in the corner Harvey was watching, his arms crossed, an unholy grin on his face.

  This ought to be good, he chortled.

  Oh, sweet Jesus, shut up!

  Zeke’s expression changed from shocked and appalled, to concerned, to terrified – to enraged.

  “Did somebody -? Who was it? Where is he? I’ll murder the son-of-a-bitch!”

  Manny gaped at him again.

  What?

  “What? No! No, no – he didn’t do anything I didn’t allow him to do.”

  Now it was Zeke’s turn to gape at her. When he realized she was telling the truth he shut his jaw with an audible snap.

  “Jesus, Manny! I’ve only been gone – what? Two weeks? And you’re off getting laid the first time I leave you alone?”

  What! Harvey yelled.

  “What?” Manny screeched again.

  Zeke’s expression flashed regret before his face hardened again.

  “You heard me! What kind of woman are you?”

  What? Harvey howled.

  “What?” Manny screeched for the third time. “Are you calling me a slut? You?”

  “What the fuck do you mean by that?” Zeke snarled.

  “I mean,” Manny growled, stalking towards him, “I mean it wasn’t me who buggered off in San Francisco or Las Vegas or Ringo! And you have the gall – the gall - to judge me?”

  By this point, she was poking him in the chest with every word and had him backed up against the wall as she rose onto her toes to yell in his face.

  They glared at each other.

  “I only slept with Babe,” Zeke snapped.

  Manny frowned, blinking. She shook her head in confusion, momentarily distracted from her justifiable rage.

  “What?” she finally managed.

  “Luciana and I just hung out. Alicia was a cover because I needed to work on – something, and – and I needed a bre
ak from your sightseeing. Babe’s the only one I actually slept with.”

  Manny, still frowning furiously, eased down off her toes, one hand unconsciously on Zeke’s chest in order to keep her balance.

  “Well, I didn’t have sex with Brett,” she finally said. “I chickened out.”

  Zeke blinked.

  “Oh,” he said.

  “Yeah. Oh,” Manny agreed and stepped away from him.

  “So – who is this...Brett guy? And where is he now?”

  Manny shrugged. “He’s the park ranger here, and he’s moved on to the two twenty-year-olds who arrived this morning.” She turned away. “No harm done,” she added flatly.

  “Except to us,” Zeke said.

  Manny bowed her head, but kept her back turned. “That’s not Brett’s fault, is it?” she said coldly.

  Zeke hissed in a sharp breath. “No,” he admitted. “No, it isn’t. Would it help if I told you I – I’m sorry?”

  “You’re always sorry, Zeke,” Manny sighed.

  Zeke shifted uncomfortably. “That’s because I’m always wrong,” he said softly. “Do you want me to go back home?”

  Manny hesitated. “I’ll let you know,” she muttered.

  ~~~~~

  “Are you...okay?” Daisy asked delicately.

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” Manny sighed dully. “I just have to accept the fact that I’m never going to have sex again.”

  “Manny -”

  “If I’d known that was all I was going to get, I would have paid more attention.”

  Daisy tried to stifle her chuckle. “Don’t give up. You never know what might happen tomorrow. You’ll meet that guy and it’ll just...happen.”

  “If I couldn’t let it happen with Brett, then it ain’t ever gonna happen,” Manny replied. “Young – cute as the day is long – built like a brick shithouse and willing to fuck me like a rabbit.”

  Daisy paused, considering. “...rapidly?” she finally asked.

  “I was thinking repeatedly.”

  “Which then translates to rapidly. Ooh, I think you made the right decision there, Manny.”

  Manny opened and closed her mouth several times, a small squeaking noise coming out whenever she tried to speak.

  “Quality, baby, not quantity!” Daisy hooted.

  Manny shuddered. “Ugh! Don’t call me baby! Brett was calling me that every five seconds.”

  “So?”

  “It felt like something out of a porno...and like he couldn’t remember my name.” She shuddered again.

  “Okay – first of all, just how many pornos have you seen? And now I know you definitely made the right choice!”

  “Thanks,” Manny replied drily. “Zeke agrees with you, by the way.”

  “Zeke?” Daisy asked sharply.

  “Yeah – he arrived this morning. God knows when he left home in order to get here that early.”

  “Good Lord. How – you told him?”

  “Not – I wasn’t going to, but I have this huge-ass hickey on my neck. Zeke assumed the worst, so I had to tell him the truth, otherwise I think we’d be hiding body parts in the woods right now.”

  “Awww. That’s actually rather sweet!”

  “Sure. Until he accused me of being a slut.”

  “Say what now?”

  Manny winced as she jerked the phone away from her ear, then carefully replaced it.

  “I set him straight pretty damn fast, let me tell you! He won’t be making that mistake again!”

  “I should hope not!”

  “Anyway. Brett’s already putting the moves on a couple of twenty-year-olds, and I’m...really looking forward to leaving for our next destination. This...everything is just so stupid on so many levels.”

  “Could have been worse,” Daisy said brightly.

  “How?”

  “You and Zeke could be hiding body parts in the woods.”

  “True.”

  Daisy’s voice became very serious. “Brett could have reacted badly to you suddenly putting on the brakes. Very badly.”

  “I know,” Manny said soberly. “I’m always grateful for the kindness of most strangers.”

  “Just – be careful. Okay?”

  “I will. Now I just have to decide if I’m going to forgive Zeke. Again.”

  Daisy hummed.

  “What?” Manny demanded.

  “I’d prefer it if you did forgive him. Or at least decide to tolerate him for a while longer. He may be a moronic asshole, but – and I realize this sounds strange – I trust him. To keep you safe, I mean.”

  “Yeah, when he decides to stick around,” Manny said bitterly.

  “Well, maybe it’s time for you to set down different ground rules. Tell that if you let him stay on the trip, he at least tries to think before he speaks. Give him royal shit for his double standards, and – I don’t know – say he can’t get laid if you don’t get laid.”

  Manny was once more reduced to squeaking noises.

  When Daisy finally stopped laughing she said, “And dear God, tell me what he says! Take a picture of his face, if you can.”

  “I’ll see what I can do,” Manny replied drily. “Thanks for your help.”

  “I’m always here for you,” Daisy said airily.

  * * * * *

  Day 112

  Zeke saw the tall blonde man walk into the office ahead of him. The blonde’s uniform was crisply pressed, and Zeke supposed he could understand why women would find him attractive.

  He’d surreptitiously watched Brett, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce. Research for his blog, he assured himself, and had absolutely nothing to do with his own confused feelings of anger, guilt and remorse. He’d planned to tell Manny the truth about the blog even though Leah wanted him to still keep it secret, but their argument yesterday morning, and the revelation that Manny had taken the first – okay, the second...possibly even the third – chance she got to try and get laid – well, it had shocked him. But that was no excuse for his reaction, and even now, he wasn’t sure what had been driving him to insult her the way he had. He didn’t like what it told him about himself.

  However, none of that changed the fact that her behaviour was completely out of character and he didn’t understand that, either.

  Until now, looking at Brett.

  A handsome thirty-year-old – what the hell was he doing with Manny, Zeke fumed as he pushed open the door and entered the office.

  The blonde man looked up with a smile, and Zeke gritted his teeth as he got a good look at the high cheekbones, clear blue eyes, and square chin.

  “May I help you?” Brett asked.

  “Just trying to get the lay of the land,” Zeke replied lightly and winced inwardly at his unfortunate choice of words. “Manny told me you had some maps of the park? I forgot to get some from the girl who was here yesterday.”

  Brett’s eyes widened, and Zeke was pleased to see him swallow as his smile faded.

  “You’re Manny’s travelling companion? The one she was meeting here?”

  Zeke grinned, a hard, predatory gleam in his hazel eyes as he walked to the desk. He was inordinately pleased to realize he had a couple of inches in height and breadth on the younger man.

  “The one and only,” he agreed mildly enough.

  “And...she told you to come talk to me?”

  Zeke shrugged. “Of course. You’re the park ranger, aren’t you?”

  “Yes. Yes, I am.”

  “Great! We’re looking for a nice hike, not too strenuous, but which will give us some great views of the park.”

  “Oh! Yes, of course.” Brett pulled out a map and proceeded to unfold a map and point out a couple of trails that would meet those requirements.

  Zeke thanked him and as he refolded the map he casually added, “By the way, if you come near Manny again, I’ll break both your legs.”

  Brett reared back. “What?” he sputtered.

  “She told me you didn’t do anything she didn’t allow, but I’ve been
watching you in action. I suspect you were amazingly persistent, and you dazzled her with flattery and charm and attention. She’s not like a lot of other women – she would have thought you were sincere. And then yesterday and today, you’re sniffing around the two youngsters who’ve just arrived.”

  He steadily met Brett’s eyes.

  “I don’t like anyone hurting my friend. So, I’d appreciate you staying as far away from her as possible for the rest of our stay. Got it?”

  Brett’s mouth opened and closed like a fish, but he couldn’t find anything to say until Zeke was at the door.

  “If she’s sleeping with you, why was she in my cabin the other night?”

  “She’s not sleeping with me,” Zeke said without turning.

  “Then what’s it to you?”

  “She’s my friend, and she’s like -” he chuckled, “a babe in the woods when it comes to men.” Zeke turned, and now he looked dark and dangerous as he stared hard at Brett. “I don’t want her hurt any more than she already has been. Do we have a deal?”

  Brett gulped and nodded, his blue eyes wide.

  Zeke very gently closed the door on his way out.

  ~~~~~

  “Are you trying to kill me?” Manny moaned as she almost fell into her cabin. She hobbled to the couch and flung herself down. “My feet feel like they’re on fire.”

  Zeke shrugged sheepishly. “I think I zigged us when we should have zagged.”

  Manny groaned as she eased off her sneakers and blissfully wiggled her toes.

  “My own fault,” she sighed, “I should have called a halt after I realized we were going straight up.”

  “It wasn’t straight up,” he tsk’d as he sat beside her on the couch. “A sixty degree angle – tops.” He motioned for her to put her feet up on his lap.

  “Are you nuts?” she exclaimed in horror. “You can’t – my feet stink! And they’re hot and sweaty and -” she ended with a yelp as he reached down with an exasperated sigh, grabbed her feet and plopped them on his thigh.

  “I’ll wash my hands later, Auntie Em,” he assured her impatiently and began to rub her right foot.