Alla Kar - Stroke Of Fear

    Her tongue darts out and dampens her lips before she stands in front of me. She looks so small, I could wrap her in my arms and never let go.

   “Raise up your shirt,” I say.

   Red rushes toward her cheeks, but she lifts her tank. A nice yellowing bruise is running along her ribs. “Christ, does it hurt?”

   She nods. “Sometimes. But, I think it’s just bruised.”

    It is. I’ve had plenty of injuries, especially working in the lumberyard. “Yeah, I’m going to wrap it, alright? Then you’ll need to ice it twice a day.”

   “Okay.”

I stand up, grabbing the Ace bandage from our kit. “I’m gonna need you to take your shirt off.”

   She stands there for a few minutes without saying anything. At first I think she’s not going to take it off. I wouldn’t blame her or be mad. But she fists the edge of the tank, and lifts it over her head. Shit. She’s wearing a lacey yellow bra, her tits hanging over the delicate cups. If I could just pull down that fabric, I could see her soft, pink nipples. Shit, I’m getting myself hard.

   Swallowing, I reach around her. It looks like I’m taking her in my arms, holding her tight. God, if I don’t want to do that. Stretching the bandage, I wrap it several times, my fingers brushing against her flat stomach. She inhales sharply, I can’t even tell if she’s breathing at all. “You’re so soft,” I whisper against her ear.

   A light moan escapes her lips. Jesus, give me the self-control of a nun. I’m going to take care of this girl all summer long—in every possible way.

   “Are you flirting with me, Tanner?” He voice is soft, but I can tell she likes it.

   Brushing my fingers along her stomach, I wrap the bandage around her again. “Darlin’, I haven’t stopped since we got here.”

   She doesn’t respond. But, she’s shivering. And it’s not cold in here.

   After I finish, she reaches quickly for her shirt, pulling it over her torso. I watch as the lacey bra is covered by the cotton. It almost hurts to watch her cover up.

   “Your turn?” she asks, pointing toward my bed. “Lay down. I’ll take a look.”

   Grabbing the bottom of my polo, I pull it over my head and toss it to the floor. Aubrey’s eyes travel from my neck to the edge of my jeans. I hope she doesn’t look any lower. Her biting that lip is having its effect on me. Lifting a brow, I lay down on my stomach. “Holy hell, Tanner. Your back is pretty bruised.”

   I’m not surprised. It hurts like a fucking bitch. “Okay.” I get back to my feet. “Put the other icepack on the worse spots and wrap the other bandage around it to keep it there.”

   She nods, placing the icepack on my back. I hiss through my teeth.

   “Want me to stop?”

   “No, ma’am. Keep goin’.”

   I hold the pack in place as she wraps the bandage around my torso. The weight of her breath against my cheek is making my dick protest against my jeans. A few seconds later she finally finishes. Her eyes widen. “Feel okay?”

   I twist back to forth to make sure it’s in place. “Think so. Thank you.”

   Aubrey nods, kicking her foot against the edge of my bed post. “So, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow? I’m horseback riding with Heath.”

   A sting of jealously hits my chest. No, don’t even fuckin’ go there, Tanner. “I’ll definitely see you tomorrow.” I walk her over to my cabin door and lean against the frame. She waits on the steps for a few seconds like she did last night. I see the devastation in her eyes. She wants me to kiss her. I want to kiss her. But not now. Not here. It has to be the right time. I’m going to make her wait—until she can’t take it anymore—and fuck her mouth with my own. Show her how a real man kisses, makes love and touches. She’ll never want to let go.

   Defeated, she gives me a small smile and walks into the night. I watch her hips sway the entire time. Slamming the back of my head against the door, I groan. This is going to be one tempting summer.

Aubrey

“So, you want him to kiss you? That’s what you’re saying?”

     Flopping back against my pillow, I scream to the ceiling. “I don’t know! I just…I figured he was a little attracted to me. He’s had three chances and nada. Nothing. I’m getting no clues from him.”

   Cassie jumps onto her bed and taps the end of her pencil against her mouth. “Well, you did slap him in the face, Aubrey.”

   “I know. I wish I hadn’t. He is so…aggravating, but so sexy at the same time. It’s driving me insane.”

   “Hmmm, well, maybe you should make the first move. Just grab him and kiss him.” She gives me a sly smile.

   “No,” I groan into my pillow. “He is old school. He has to ask me out, I’m not going to come off as some pushy Yank to him.”

   Cassie sighs. “Well, just see if it happens. Oh, how did horseback riding go today? I saw you with Heath earlier.”

   I shrug and flip over to stare at the ceiling. “Fine. Heath is nice. He talks a little too much for my taste. Especially about himself.”

   “Blah,” Cassie says. “I thought girls were supposed to do the talking. Some guys just don’t get it.” Cassie gets up and starts changing into her bikini.

   “Where are you going?” I ask, sitting up on my elbows.

   A sad look crosses her face. “All the counselors are going to the cliff to swim. I would have invited you but…”

   I take my lip between my teeth. “I totally get it. You go have fun. I have a thousand books on my Kindle to read.”

   I screw my eyes closed when I feel Cassie sit on my bed beside me. “Do you want to talk about it? I mean…you’re obviously afraid of the water, Aubrey. Why?”

   Why? God, I want to tell her. More than anything in my life. To just say it. Get it off my chest, but I don’t. Instead I shrug one shoulder. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

   She presses her pink lips together and pats my leg. “Call me if you want me to come back. I promise I will.”

   I nod and turn to bury my head in the side of my pillow. I listen as Cassie gets her things together and leaves. An ache in my stomach starts to burn. I want to go with them. I want to go so badly it hurts, but I can’t.

   I don’t know how long I’m asleep for. Three loud bangs against our door wakes me up. Sleepy-eyed, I tip-toe toward the door.

   Tanner is standing on the other side, leaning against the frame. His white T-shirt hugs his upper body, not to mention his holey jeans that hang just right on his slender hips. It brings things to mind that aren’t exactly chaste.

   “Hey,” he says. “I figured you would be here. I’m heading into town to get a new phone. Mine broke. Want to come with me?”

   Yes! I gesture for him to come in. The door clicks behind him. “Let me get into some jeans and then we can go. I’m really glad you came by.” Heat rushes toward my cheeks. Way to sound desperate, Aubrey.

“I figured you didn’t want to be by yourself.”

   “I don’t.” I change into my jeans in our bathroom, and Tanner leads me outside.

   I follow him to an old, blue pickup truck. It’s rusted, but looks like it can go if needs to. Tanner reaches for my door before I can touch the handle and opens it for me.

   “Thank you,” I mumble, sliding into the truck. It’s neat, leather and it smells nice.

   Tanner gets behind the wheel and his truck roars to life. He glances over and lifts an eyebrow. “What?”

   “Your truck is clean.”

   A smile tries to form on his lips, and he tries to hide it. “Did you expect it to be messy?”

   I nod. “Actually, yes. I just figured it would be dirty like other guys, I guess.”

   Tanner snorts. “I can assure you dirty things are allowed to happen in here, but no trash.”

   I laugh, it feels good coming through my throat. This guy is the biggest flirt.

   “You obviously don’t know guys very well. A real man loves his truck.” He slaps the steering wheel. “A real man takes care of his truck like he takes care of his woman. That’s why most men call their trucks ‘she.’”

   I don’t know why, but that turns me on. Tanner stretches his arm over the back of the seat as he leans back. I watch as his muscles move underneath his tanned skin.

   “What kind of music do you like?” he asks, reaching for his radio. He flicks through a few channels until he lands on a country station.

   Country isn’t my first choice but I do like a lot of the songs. “Anything, really,” I say, shrugging. “I just like music. I used to blast the radio at the pool while I pract—” I snap my lips together. Fuck. I haven’t told anyone I use to swim in competitions. Why did I tell him that?

   Tanner gives me a few minutes of silence. “You used to swim in high school.” It’s more of a statement than a question.

   I glance out the window. “Yeah.”

   “Why don’t you anymore?”

   “I just don’t,” I lie.

   Tanner clears his throat. “Okay.” Then he turns the radio up and hums along to a Jason Aldean song until we reach the city.

* * *

   I point to the latest 4G phone sitting on the display shelf. “You have to get this one.”

   He crinkles his nose and picks it up to examine it. “I doubt I’ll be able to work it. You know I am from the south; we don’t even wear shoes.”

   I bark out a laugh. “I’ll teach you how to use it. You won’t regret it.”

   He grabs the phone and takes it up to the counter to check out. “You hungry? I think we missed supper.”

   My stomach growls in protest. “I am. Want some Chick-Fil-A?”

   “Sure.”

Tanner pays for our food and insists we get it to go. I don’t ask any questions, I’m just glad to eat. I pig out while Tanner drives. When we pull into a vacant field, I sit up in my seat.

   “Is this where you kill me and we end up on the ID channel?”

   Tanner shifts the truck into park and grabs his chicken sandwich from the sack. “No, I want to get in your pants before I kill you.”

   Heat rushes toward my cheeks. He just put an image in my head that will never leave. I’ve been avoiding thinking about him on top of me. But, now all I can think about is his naked ass. “Ha. Ha.”

   He winks. “This is just a place I like to go sometimes. You want to leave?”

   I step out into the field, shaking my head. “No,” I say over my shoulder. Tanner basically inhales his sandwich, and I feel his presence behind me only a few minutes later. “It’s so peaceful. I think it’s better than the woods.”

   Tanner’s breath is hot on my neck, causing all of my nerves to stand on end. “Want to see something amazin’?”

   “Yes.”

   Tanner interlaces his fingers with mine. That sense of safety and comfort rushes over my body, leaving me shivering.

“Are you cold?” he whispers.

   No, I’m fucking burning up. Everywhere. “No,” I say. He pulls us toward the trees to the left, maneuvering our way through the thick branches. He gives me a gentle squeeze.

   “We’re almost there, hold on.”

   Tanner holds each branch back for me, so they don’t slap me in the face. When the trees thin, I can see the sun glistening off the water. My throat starts to burn, my chest feels heavy.

   Tanner moves the last branch, and I see the lake in front of me. It has a dock, a fishing boat and is in the middle of nowhere.

   “My brother showed me this last month. He said it helped his homesickness when he first moved out here. It’s like a paradise no one has found yet.”

   “It’s really beautiful.”

   He gives my hand another squeeze. “Do you miss it?”

   My eyes avert toward the ground, but I feel Tanner’s calloused finger lift my chin up to meet his eyes. “Do you miss it?” he repeats, his lips forming the words so smoothly. I watch his face, the thin coat of hair covering his strong jaw. His dark, heavy eyebrows hang so perfectly right over his gray eyes. How can he be this gorgeous and normal? No scars? No emotional damage. I must look like a train wreck in comparison.

   “No,” I lie. “I can’t make myself miss it. I don’t even think about it. That was a part of the old me. I’m new. Fresh. The water isn’t part of my life anymore.”

   Why is it so hard to breathe now? I take a few large inhales to show myself I can breathe normally. I can’t. It hurts.