“No cheerleaders?”
“Let me think about it.”
“Can I get that in writing?”
Her mind drifted off. “Francis, we need food.”
“Right.” That was another part of the American experience that he couldn’t wait to expose her to. “We’ll go grocery shopping. Now. Then we’ll come back here and I’ll show you what outdoor cooking is all about. Tomorrow, my gorgeous dream girl, we’re going clothes shopping. I have a few outfits that I can’t help envisioning you in. Besides, you’ll need something appropriate for the hot tub.”
“Will I? Is clothing really necessary?”
“I’m not positive. Mr. and Mrs. Pritchard next door may like to weigh in on this matter, although it’s possible they may have differing opinions. Do keep in mind how short the fence is in the backyard.”
“Hmm. Perhaps somebody needs to liven up this beautiful neighborhood.”
“Yeah…as much as you’re kind of turning me on even as you speak, do also keep in mind that there are several other university employees living in the area. Let’s approach the public nudity idea gradually.”
“We’ll see.”
“As long as nobody else does, I’m all for it.”
Lena had been smiling since they entered the house. She was still doing it. “With that in mind, I would like to propose that we both need some freshening up. What I’m thinking is this—you wash my back and I’ll wash yours. Then we can see what else needs scrubbing. I just can’t wait to get into this shower.”
“Why wait? It’s yours too. I’ll grab some towels and show you how this thing works. I think we should both get steamed.”
And amongst other things, they did just that.
To say that it had been an eventful day seemed like a gross understatement to Hamlin. Shopping, barbecuing, hot tubbing, and finally just relaxing had all gone spectacularly well. Night had fallen and the only reprieve from the darkness was from the soft glow of solar lights along the path leading up to the stairs. Some stars were visible in the night sky above. He lay on a reclining padded lounge chair on the back deck.
Lena lay on him, nestled between his legs, her shoulders against his chest. They had pulled a blanket over themselves to prolong this portion of the evening. Fall was arriving soon and the heat of the day was dissipating.
“Francis, do you miss your girlfriend?”
“Who?”
“Good answer.”
Under the blanket, he tightened his grip on her. “You know, it hurt like hell at the time, but now I realize she was exactly right. It was fun, but I was being delusional about the whole thing. We’re both better off in the long run. Or, at least, I know I am.”
“And what are you being now?”
“Infatuated, I suppose. Being around you today was like Christmas, New Years, my first date, and every other good thing I can think of, all rolled into one. Is it possible to be addicted to another human being? It’s like you’re a drug that I can’t stop taking.”
“That is good. You can take all you want.”
“I just hope my heart can take it.” He lowered his voice as if the neighbors could hear. “You know, I think I had at least a partial erection for like the last eighteen hours straight. As soon as I’m near you, my body starts getting ideas. How can I survive that over the long run?”
“Are they good ideas?”
“You are always a good idea.”
She snuggled in tighter. “You know what I missed in Vostok? Just being outside. There, outdoors was a dangerous ordeal. Here, you just breath in the fresh air and enjoy it.”
“I know,” he said. “Hey, here’s a question. Do you like to walk?”
“Walk? What do you mean?”
There are some excellent trails through the park,” Hamlin replied. “We should start walking. You know, for exercise.”
“Okay. I would like to walk with you.”
They stopped talking and let the peace of the evening envelope them. It was the most relaxed Francis had been in months.
“Francis?”
“Hmm?”
“May I make an observation?”
“Hmm.”
“If you stop rubbing my breasts, your erection problem may lessen.”
“Hmm. I’m pretty sure I don’t want to do that.”
“Suit yourself. But no more complaints.”
“Hmm. Who’s complaining?”
She laughed softly. “I’m just, as you say here, giving you a hard time.”
“Yes you are.”
Another peaceful interlude followed.
“Francis?”
“Hmm?”
“We…will have some problems to take care of. You know?”
“I know.”
“Even in this palace, I will eventually get bored.”
“You’ll need a job. That way I can retire early.”
“That wasn’t really what I was thinking,” she said.
“We can buy a little ranch out in Montana, and then raise free-range hamsters.”
“For pet stores?”
“No, silly. For the barbecue.”
She shook her head. “I think you lost your mind back in Antarctica.”
“You know what it is? Seriously. Trust me on this—I know some psychology profs. It’s a release of all the stress built up over the past three months. I feel so relaxed right now. It’s just incredible. So, all the bad things are just pouring out of me. And that makes me almost giddy.”
“I feel it too. It is like…how do I say it…like a week’s vacation at a luxury resort—but this is my life now so it won’t ever end. It will just go on and on. Incredible!”
“Listen, Lena. Don’t fret about the details just yet. Let me work some of my magic. I know you’ll need a purpose and a focus. With your brains and abilities, I’m sure we can find something that will make you very satisfied. In the meantime, I’ll teach you everything you need to know about being an American.”
“Can I drive a car?”
“I don’t know. Do you know how?”
“I can drive anything. Even some light armored vehicles.”
“Sounds like a BMW would be right down your alley. And why not? We could probably finance it over ten or twelve years—just one hundred and twenty easy payments.”
She lifted her hips and readjusted her position. She settled back in.
“Make me a few more promises like that and this evening is going to end very well for you.”
“Oh my. Well, if that’s the direction the night has taken, I do have an idea. How about we put in a pool?”
“A swimming pool? Here?”
“Sure. Just more easy payments, that’s all.”
“Francis!” She had transformed back into her husky voice. “I might have to let you have the grand prize for that.”
He was way past being intrigued. “And what’s the grand prize?”
She turned sideways under the blanket, and whispered the answer into his ear. Then she settled back in and snuggled up close. “Just one thing before you slip into another sex induced coma. Francis?”
“Yes?”
She moved until her lips just touched his. Her eyes were open just a slit. She had assumed the dreamy look he liked so much.
“I love you,” she said soft and sweet.
“I love you too.” They kissed slowly. Hamlin marveling at the warmth pouring off her soft body. She felt like she could melt all the ice in Antarctica. And at that moment, he wouldn’t have bet against it.
Read on for a free sample of Prehistoric Beasts and Where to Fight Them
One of Katherine Muir’s favorite things about taking a panoramic submersible down was watching the bubbling waterline crawl up the viewing windows, letting her see the old, familiar world get replaced by the new, exciting one under the surface. But that was about the only thing she regretted about the design of her new vehicle, this sleek and solid lozenge built with viewports that were much stronger than those of any panoramic-view vessel, but much smaller, too.