Jewel Ann - Idle Bloom

I take a swig of water and sigh. “Yeah, I know.”

* * *

I don’t think we make conscious decisions as to what images get burned into our brains. Some of mine will forever haunt me, but this one, I will take to my grave and save it for my next life too.

“Hey, Oli.”

Long bare legs extending beyond one of my Harvard Crimson T-shirts stretch out on my couch and cross at the ankles. That sexy mess of raven hair is piled in a knotted bun on her head, and she’s wearing black thick-rimmed glasses while reading a paper—an actual newspaper. This naughty school girl image is a keeper.

“What are you doing?” I ask, grabbing a glass of water without taking my eyes off her. Not that I could even if I wanted to.

“Reading the paper, specifically the business section. Why, what does it look like I’m doing?” She folds the top of the paper down and peers at me over the rims of her glasses.

“Where’d you get the paper? You know you can get all that info online now.” I drain my water, wiping the back of my mouth with my wrist.

“I got the paper from my house. I subscribe. And, yes, I’m aware that this information is available online.” She brings the paper to her nose and sniffs. “Ah, but this smell. You can’t get it online. I love the smell of newspapers and books. I rarely use my Kindle. Besides, it reminds me of my grandparents. They used to live near us and I’d stop by their house on my way to school. My grandma would pour me a cup of orange juice in one of those little juice glasses with the flowers on the outside and I’d sip it and watch her and my grandpa drink their coffee and read the newspaper. It still smells the same.”

I’m conflicted right now. I should feel the urge to share one of my own childhood memories. But I’m a guy … with her looking like this on my couch so the only urge I’m feeling is the one to bend her over the back of the couch and make her scream in ecstasy. I’m not proud of it.

I walk closer. “Glasses, huh?”

Vivian nods. “I only need them to read, otherwise I get a headache.”

I lift the hem of my shirt she’s wearing. No underwear, again!

“Did you walk to your place wearing this?”

She gives me the over-the-glasses’-rim look again. “Yes, why?”

God! The neighbors must love her. I shake my head, roll my eyes to the ceiling, and sigh. “No reason, I’m going to shower.”

A very cold shower!

* * *

“I’m going home to shower and get dressed,” Vivian yells into the bathroom while I’m in the shower.

“It was a perfect morning on the water. We should go boating,” I call over the water.

“Boating?” she says with uncertainty in her voice.

“Yes, my parents own a boat. We can take it out, pack some lunch, make a day of it.”

“Um …”

“I’m not taking no for an answer. Go grab your suit, pack a bag, sunscreen, whatever.”

I lather my hair and wait for a reply, but I don’t hear anything. Maybe she’s left already. Peeking my head out, I see her leaning against the door frame picking at her lower lip, eyes downcast.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing … Well, I don’t have a swimsuit. They’re back at my parent’s house. I’ll just wear a sundress or shorts and a tank.”

“You don’t have a swimsuit?”

Vivian shakes her head.

“How can you not have—”

Her gaze falters and I physically feel the pain radiating from her.

“In that case, shower, get dressed, and I’ll be over to get you in an hour.”

She squints at me.

“No questions, just go.” I give her a simple wink and a smile.

Her shoulders slump and she nods a few times before turning and walking out like an errant child. I want to chase after her, wrap her in my arms, and squeeze all the painful insecurity from her body, but I don’t. The intricate details of her self-doubt that are woven beneath her surface cannot be unraveled in a day. I know this, but it still won’t stop me from trying.

* * *

“Where are we going?” Vivian asks as we turn onto Soldiers Field Road.

“Shopping.”

“For?”

I give her a sideways glance and a grin. “Necessities.”

“There’s more than one 7-Eleven in Cambridge.”

“Not quite the necessities we need.” I rest my right hand on her bare leg.

“We?”

“Yes, we.”

Vivian shakes her head and stares out her window. By some miracle I find a parking spot and parallel my smaller car in between two SUVs.

“Newbury Street? Hope you brought your black card.”

“Funny coming from the woman who will probably own Newbury Street someday.”

Vivian opens her door before I have a chance to get out. “Wall Street, Oli, not Newbury Street.” She grins and hops out.

We both slip on our sunglasses, I take her hand, and we walk down the sidewalk scoping out the multi-level stores and boutiques.

“Why do you call me Oli?”

“It’s short for Oliver, doesn’t anyone else call you Oli?”

“Not since I was a kid.”

She looks up at me. “You don’t like it?”

“I didn’t until …”

“Until what?”

I can’t hide my grin. She stops and faces me. “Tell me.”

Bending down I brush my lips against hers. “Until you begged me last night, ‘Oli … please!’”

Her skin flushes and she shoves my chest. “Jerk. How do you like that instead? That’s your new name because you’re making fun of me.”

I palm the back of her head and pull her back to me, tasting every inch of her mouth until her body melts into my touch. I’m sure people are staring, but I don’t give a damn.

“I’m not making fun of you,” I whisper as she rubs her lips together. “Now let’s get what we need and get out on the water.”

Vivian

“I’m not wearing this.” I yell from the dressing room.

“Let me see.” Oliver chuckles sitting on the bench outside.

“No. Tell the clerk to bring me a one-piece that’s not cut low in the back.

“Vivian, you’re twenty-one, not fifty. You’re not getting a one-piece. I’m the only one who’s going to see you in it.”

“Oli—Oliver, it doesn’t cover—”

He opens the door and slips in the dressing room with me.

“Get out!” I try to cover myself.

He smirks. “It’s Oli to you, and I’ve seen you naked. What? Are you trying to hide from me?”

I huff, letting out a sigh as I release my arms to my side. His seductive eyes consume my body as his tongue slides out to wet his lips.

“Turn around.”

I shake my head.

He cocks his head to the side. “Really?”

“Fine!” I turn around.

He moves my hair off my back and kisses my neck as we stare at each other in the mirror. “Alluring, captivating, divine, elegant, exquisite, mesmerizing, radiant, ravishing … stunning,” he whispers.

“What are you talking about?” I roll my eyes.

“You. In case you’re tired of hearing me call you beautiful. I have at least a hundred more. I could go on.”

I stare at the simple white string bikini Oliver picked out. It barely covers my most private parts, let alone anything on my back. But for some reason, I want to please him today.

“I’ll get it. Now get out of here.”

Oliver lights up like the Fourth of July. Simultaneously, he pulls the ties on my hips letting the material fall to the ground. I raise a single brow.

“Just testing it out … for later.” He smirks. “I approve.”

“Pervert.”

“Not yet.” He pulls the ties to my top revealing my naked breasts. “Now I am.” He winks. “See you in a few minutes.”

He looks all too pleased with himself as I exit the dressing room.

“Here.” He holds out his hand as I exit with the flimsy material.

“You’re not buying this.”

“Yes, I am.”

“Would you like me to add that to the rest of your stuff?” the clerk asks.

“The rest of my stuff?”

“Yes, Miss. The gentleman has some undergarments for you as well.”

I sling the squinted death look at Oliver. “Panties? You’re buying me panties?”

He motions for the clerk to take my bikini and he hands her his credit card. It’s not black.

“I don’t need panties.”

“I disagree,” he says with his back to me as he signs for the purchase at the counter. He takes the bag in one hand and grabs my hand with his other. “Shall we?” He leads me out of the store.

“A, I have plenty of panties. B, I told you I don’t wear them sometimes because it makes me feel sexy.”

He opens my door and sets the bag by my feet after I get in. Then he leans down and brings his face a breath away from mine as his hand slides up my leg. His thumb eases past my shorts. He stops and shakes his head as the pad of it meets my bare sex, no underwear.

My face contorts into a grimacing smile as my shoulders rise into a guilty shrug. He presses his thumb to my now wet center. My mouth relaxes as I suck in a breath and try to close the distance between our lips. He moves his head back just enough to deny me. He grins then moves his thumb a little higher. I moan as he rubs slow circles.

“How do you feel?” he whispers.

“G–good.” I grip the side of the seat and let my head fall back.

“What else?”

“Turned … on.” I close my eyes.

“What else?”

I tilt my hips up as he works me up so high I fear my own reaction to the impending fall.

“Oli …”

He speeds up, pressing his lips to my neck, and when his teeth graze over my sensitive skin I lose it.

“What. Else?” he whispers in my ear as the blinding sensation rips through me.

“Sexy … I feel … sexy.” I try to catch my breath while my head’s still spinning.

He kisses me hard then shuts my door.

I hate that I have no self-control to deny him giving me an orgasm while parked with the door open on a public street. Now he’s sporting a ridiculously smug grin as he pulls out into traffic.

“What was the point of that?” I break the silence.

“I wanted to prove that I make you feel sexy. Now that you know that, you can start wearing underwear.”

“What does it matter if no one else can see that I’m not wearing underwear?”

“First, some of the dresses you wear are awfully short. Second, I know you’re not wearing underwear and I don’t like walking around saluting everyone I pass.”

“Saluting?”

He shoots me a you-know-what-I-mean look.

“Whatever, you’re just being weird.”

“I’m being a guy.”

“That’s what I said. You’re being weird.”

* * *

“Can you believe I’ve never seen Boston from the harbor like this?” I say, sitting on his lap as he takes us farther away from the coastline. I’m wearing the bikini and he has on his board shorts with no shirt.

“Are you serious?”

“I know, it’s crazy. There are tons of boat tours, even the whale watch, but I’ve never gone. I haven’t even been over to the airport.”

He nuzzles his face in my hair and kisses the back of my head. “What do you think?”

I laugh. “It’s amazing. When you think about all that land that was manmade and the tall buildings sitting where there used to be water … it’s incredible.”

“I think you’re incredible.” He kisses my shoulder, squeezing me tighter.

“I think you’ve lived here so long you’re taking it all for granted.”

He slides his hand over my stomach and up to my breast, slipping his fingers under my top. “I think we need to throw out the anchor and go down below.”

“Oli …” My breath hitches as he cups my breast.

“I can’t wait. You in my shirt with those sexy glasses this morning, and now this bikini … God, I’m dying, Vivian.”

“How many women have seen this view with you?”

His body stills against mine. We’re one with the rhythmic sway of the ocean.

“Does it matter?” His hand moves from my breast back to my waist.

“Of course not. It doesn’t change anything, I’m just curious.” I’m twenty-one with enough insecurities to sink this boat, and while I’m too smart to really think this is a good conversation for us to share, I’m too young to not have a burning curiosity.

“I can’t really say. It’s not my boat, so I’ve been on here with my parents’ friends and Chance’s friends …”