by Tasha Black
She looked up from the tag and admired that physique in person. He was wearing black cotton boxer briefs. If Addy had a favorite type of men’s underwear, those would be it.
Stop it, Addy, stop it right now…
“Okay,” she said. “What we’re going to do is get you comfortable in the water.”
“Oh yes,” he said. “The water is very comfortable.”
“Sorry,” she said. “I meant we’re going to help you feel confident in the water and ready to swim.”
As soon as she said it though, she realized he really was comfortable in the water. This was going to be different from her usual adult beginner lessons.
“Grab one of those boards,” she said, indicating the stack of blue kick boards.
Remington looked surprised, but he walked immediately to the large diving board and bent over it as if he were going to snap it from its base.
“No,” she said.
He looked up.
“No, I meant the, um, blue foam boards, right back there.” She pointed again.
“Oh,” he said. He grabbed a kick board and came back to her.
“Go ahead and get into the shallow end if you want,” she said.
She flicked off the overhead lights and put the padlock on the gate. It wouldn’t do for anyone to think she’d done anything but shut down after the last lesson.
She went down the steps back into the pool. The water felt good, warmed slightly from the day’s sun. The lights on the inside of the pool itself were still on, giving the water a soft glow.
Remington stood waiting for her. The kick board looked absolutely tiny in his beefy arms.
“We’re going to work on floating,” she told him, trying not to gaze into his eyes.
“What should I do?”
“Lower yourself into the water,” she said. “Then hug the board to your chest.”
He did as he was told.
“Now turn around,” she said, “so your back is to me.”
He spun around.
“The next thing you’ll do is lean back,” she said. “I want you to get your ears wet. If you try to keep your head up, you won’t float. I’ll hold your head so you don’t have to worry about going all the way under.”
“Yes, I will lean back,” he said agreeably.
Addy watched as he lay back in the water.
She cradled her arms beneath his head, but he was so serene she felt sure he would have remained calm even without her there.
“Very good,” she said, trying not to think about his head being between her breasts. “It’s great that you’re letting your legs float up. If you let your lower back arch slightly you’ll find it’s easy just to drift.”
He had a faraway look for an instant, presumably because he was trying to figure out how to arch his lower back.
Then his posture changed slightly. His hips had been drifting down but now they rested on the water.
Wow. He really was a natural.
Addy knew she should stop there. This was two to three lessons in for most first-time adults. But she couldn’t resist.
“If I let go, do you think you could kick your legs?”
“Of course,” he said.
“Okay,” Addy said. “I’m going to let go. But when I say stop, be sure to stop. The water is shallow so you can just stand up.”
“I will stop and stand up when you tell me, Addy.”
“You’re going to keep your legs very straight and close together when you kick,” she advised.
“Yes, I will keep them straight and close,” he agreed.
“I’m letting go,” she said.
She stepped back and watched.
There was a moment of perfect silence.
Then a terrific splashing began as Remington kicked like a horse. His legs were straight and close together, just as she had instructed. He shot across the pool like a rocket.
Addy called out for him to stop, to prevent him from crashing into the wall at the other side.
Instantly the churning of the water ceased and Remington stood in the pool.
She was stunned by his size all over again as he towered over her.
“That was amazing,” they both said at the same time.
She laughed nervously and then his laughter joined hers.
“You are a wonderful teacher, Addy,” Remington said, moving nearer.
Try as she might, Addy could not convince her body to retreat or her brain to shout out a swim coach instruction.
Instead she stood before him, transfixed.
Time seemed to stretch, and she watched droplets of water streaming from his hair, the grooves of his muscles accentuated by the light coming up from the pool. He moved toward her, his fingers trailing twin lines in the water until he was so close it seemed inevitable that he would wrap his arms around her and kiss her.
His handsome face was beautiful in the moonlight, strong jaw and ice blue eyes. She could practically feel his heat pressed against her, the cool water lapping at the spaces between them.
She pictured him slipping a finger under the strap of her bikini, sliding it slowly down her shoulder, leaning down to lick her nipple into his mouth, sucking lazily until she whimpered for more.
She pictured herself kneeling beneath the surface to peel off his briefs, testing her breath control by pleasuring him under the water until she was desperate for air and he was desperate for release.
But Remington moved no closer and she was forced to battle her fantasies back so she could remember how to speak.
“You’re so beautiful, Addy,” he murmured. “It’s almost a cruelty to be so close…”
Her traitorous body surged with desire.
She bit her lip and prayed for will power.
“But you are not attracted to me,” he said.
Let it go, Addy. It’s fine if he thinks that.
“I-I am attracted to you,” she said. “I just don’t want to be in a relationship right now.”
“Aren’t you lonely?”
Wow, that cut a little deep. If he had accused her of never having any fun she could have laughed it off.
But lonely… well, loneliness was accurate. In spite of the friends, she never let anyone too close. School always came first.
She’d been truly close to so few people in her life, and one had been taken from her.
“I have my friends,” she said. “I have my mother.”
And it was true - Honey and her mom were enough. And maybe Nikki too, by the end of the summer. They were enough until she was out of med school.
“You are a healthy young woman,” he said. “You are at your prime for mating. Your body demands it. I know, because mine demands it too.”
He looked down at the tent in his shorts, unembarrassed.
Addy felt her body burn in response.
“This is a dangerous game,” she heard herself say.
“More dangerous for me than for you,” he replied.
It was true. And that was why she couldn’t do this.
But before she could say as much, he pulled her into his arms, leaned down and kissed her.
The moment his lips touched hers she was lost to the sensation of his warm mouth, the rough shadow on his jaw, the heavenly sensation of feeling small and protected in strong arms.
His erection pounded between them, jutting into her belly. She longed to explore his body, assuage his need, but he was holding her so tightly she couldn’t even slide a hand between them.
He abandoned her mouth and kissed his way along her jawline to her ear.
“Addy, please, will you allow me to choose you for my mate,” he whispered.
His hot breath sent tingles down her spine.
But the weight of his words brought her back to Earth.
“I can’t,” she whispered back.
Suddenly the shelter of his arms was gone.
She opened her eyes and he had backed up a few paces.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I will
not ask again. I can see that it pains you.”
Although she wanted to scream with frustration, Addy managed to nod stiffly with a buttoned lip.
“I should go,” he said. “Will you give me another swimming lesson tomorrow?”
Addy smiled and nodded in spite of herself.
His replying grin was enough to start her heart beating again.
“Good night, Addy,” he said. “Thank you for my lesson.” He snagged his clothing from the chair where he had left it and effortlessly hopped the gate.
Addy stayed in the water and watched him until he disappeared.
Then she went to the far shallow end and rested on her back, kicking lightly and looking up at the tapestry of shimmering stars as she floated into the deep.
The universe was so large.
How significant were the career goals of one woman on one planet orbiting one star?
Would it be wrong to give up on her plans if it meant an adventure with an alien?
You can do it, Addy. I know you can.
Her father’s voice in her head never failed to give her the strength to persevere.
I know, Dad, she told him inwardly. Don’t worry, I will resist.
Remington
Remington woke with the sun, as usual.
He had tossed and turned all night. The dreams of Addy were endless. Addy in his arms. Addy pinned beneath him, moaning in abandon. Addy rising like Venus from the frothing sea.
He dashed off to the showers and then dressed quickly and headed to the restaurant to look for the schedule that would tell him his day off.
The air was cool and the birds sang in the trees. The lake lapped mysteriously at the pebbled shore, its depths unknowable when compared with the bright blue of the pool.
Though the chances were slim, Remington felt hopeful about his day off. And about Addy as well.
Her words denied him in a fluster of confusion, but her body welcomed him so eloquently.
Perhaps there was hope that he might win her yet.
She made noises about not being ready for a mate during this part of her life.
But what part of a life would not be improved by the presence of a mate to assist and encourage? The birds built their nests and watched for predators together. The wolves each had their own task to strengthen the whole. What was it about studying that made Addy feel it had to be done in solitude?
Remington and his brothers had studied humanity together, making sense of the inscrutable through their warm discussions and wild arguments. They had learned to use their bodies, and to speak with only each other as a point of reference. Remington could not imagine assimilating all that knowledge alone, trying to analyze and imbibe a culture without the perspective of his brothers.
Perhaps he would ask her about her studies, try to understand what she was studying. Maybe there was a way for him to help even if she didn’t see it yet.
She wanted to be a doctor, to heal other humans in need.
He had constructed an entire human body from stardust and hope.
Surely that must be worth something.
He ducked in the back door of the restaurant.
Inside, a symphony of banging and the scents of a hundred breakfast foods greeted him. The kitchen staff was already preparing for the breakfast rush, which began with a parade of elderly golf players, all desirous of burning hot coffee and freezing cold cranberry juice.
“What are you doing here?” Malik asked. “It’s your day off.”
Remington’s heart soared.
“I wanted to look at the schedule,” he replied.
“Sure,” Malik said. “But it’s pretty boring for you, each week is the same. You always have Sundays off.”
Remington followed his employer to a bulletin board on the back wall of the kitchen, next to Malik’s own small office.
“See,” Malik said.
Remington glanced at the huge spreadsheet. It was impressive and efficient, even if it was not as beautiful as the one’s Addy constructed. His own name appeared on one side and sure enough, he could see the green box that said OFF on each Sunday going all the way across the pages.
“Thanks,” he told Malik.
“Did you want to pick up a shift today?” Malik sounded hopeful.
“What does this mean?” Remington asked.
“It’s your day off, but if you want to work anyway, you could stay here and allow another employee to go home,” Malik explained. “I was thinking Jocelyn might want a day off.”
“I don’t want a day off,” Jocelyn said scornfully on her way past.
“Oh, hello, my dear,” Malik said, sounding a bit embarrassed.
Jocelyn was known to be unskilled as a waitress. Remington imagined this was why Malik preferred to give him her shift. He was proud that his employer appreciated his skills, but relieved that he could go.
“Thanks anyway,” Remington said quickly, heading toward the door.
“Have fun, my boy,” Malik called after him.
His eyes were still adjusting to the sunlight on the lawn when Remington nearly bumped into someone.
“Oh, hey,” Addy said.
“Sorry, Addy,” Remington replied.
“Did you check your schedule?”
“Yes,” he said with a smile. “Today is my day off. I have off each Sunday this summer.”
“Great,” Addy cried. “Sundays are my days off too - there are no swim lessons on Sundays. At least, there are no official ones.”
“That’s nice,” he told her.
She smiled, then looked down at her feet.
“Well,” she said, “Honey said I could use her car today. Want to go to town?”
“Yes,” he responded eagerly.
They walked in companionable silence to the gravel lot behind the main house, where Addy unlocked Honey’s car and they got in.
The drive to the little town was peaceful.
“The trees are so lovely,” Remington said.
“Were there trees on Aerie?” Addy sounded fascinated.
“No,” he replied. “The only flora was more akin to lichen, but carnivorous.”
“Oh,” Addy said. “Is it beautiful there?”
Remington gave that some thought. At times he missed the contrast of rocks on sand, silhouetted by stars, so close they nearly filled the sky. But was it beautiful?
“It was beautiful to me,” he said. “But not in the way of your landscape. Aerie is a dry place. Mostly there are rocks and loose crystal, like sand.”
His hand went to his necklace. The stone in the pendant was of a common sort found on Aerie. He suspected it might be more valuable on Earth. One of his regular customers at the dining hall, an old Geology professor named Dr Blum, had offered to buy it from him more than once. But he was not willing to part with it. It was all he had left of his home.
“This made the trip from Aerie with us,” he told her. “A little piece of my home world I carry with me.”
“Do you miss it?”
He had missed his home terribly when he’d first arrived on Earth, especially during his stay at the lab in Stargazer. Things had certainly been simpler for him on his planet. And even though his thoughts had been more consumed by other matters lately, he still felt the pull of Aerie, calling to him through the void.
“Sometimes,” he said.
They reached the edge of the little town of Purple Mountain. Remington knew it was called Purple Mountain because a sign in the center of the street proclaimed Welcome to Purple Mountain.
He recognized storefronts, like he’d seen in the movies, and wondered if there were a place he could take Addy for a milkshake. He had been wise enough to bring some of his pay with him.
“We’ll go to the hardware store first,” Addy said. “See if they can arrange to bring in a couple of truckloads for a sandcastle competition.”
The day passed pleasantly. The gentleman at the store was only too happy to arrange for a sand delivery. When a woman came in and asked
for several large bags of mulch, Remington carried them to the car for her so that the owner could continue his business with Addy.
“Thank you, son,” the older man said to Remington as he came back in. The man gave him a smile so big his cheeks nearly covered his eyes. “Not too many old school gentlemen like you out there.”
Remington smiled politely though he had no idea what an old school gentleman might be.
But Addy winked at him and patted his shoulder.
“He’s a keeper, kid,” the owner said to Addy.
She laughed but didn’t respond and Remington was left guessing again.
Once their sand business was conducted, they went to the print shop.
Remington was quite taken with the wild spectrum of paper colors and the scent of the ink in the air. He examined the bins of clips and pens and erasers and the business books in the circular rack.
When the young woman behind the counter finished helping Addy, he lifted their large box of posters and started for the front of the store.
Just then, a man appeared at the glass front door, his arms laden with precariously stacked packages.
Remington placed the posters back on the counter and dashed to the door to help.
“Thanks, buddy,” the man said as Remington held the door open with his foot and took half the stack of boxes so they could both come in easily.
“You’re welcome,” Remington said. “A shared load is a burden for no one.”
He placed his half of the stack on the counter, and picked up the posters again.
Addy was gazing at him in a funny way. He wondered if his wording had been incorrect. The subtleties of her language had proven more difficult to master than any of them had expected.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said. “Yeah, of course. Let’s go see if we can get anyone to post these.”
“We’ll put one up,” the girl behind the counter offered.
“Thank you,” Remington replied, handing her a poster.
“We don’t normally do this, but you seem like such nice people.” She smiled warmly at him.
“Ready for lunch?” Addy stood by the door, looking a bit impatient.
“Sure,” he replied, joining her.
