Thanks to those who reviewed, I'm starting to get a bit more interested in the characters now that I've had more time to sort my thoughts on this story...
He spotted Jo sidling over. "Hey, I didn't expect to see you here." He was surprised and, he admitted to himself, glad she was there to liven up the party. He introduced her to Brooke but kept his relationship to both women under wraps…..didn't know why he did that. Oh wait, it was because he didn't want to seem like the tool who used women for sex. Didn't want to explain that it was mutual. Or that he enjoyed far more than the sex.
He went to get some beers, leaving the two women behind. The breeze was nice, offsetting the humidity. No one else was really around the coolers, too busy prepping the pontoon.
But then there was a tap on his shoulder, breaking the solitude.
"You didn't think you could leave that quickly, did you?" Okay. That was just a little unexpected. But she didn't have to know that.
*grin* "Naw, course not. What's up?"
"I was just thinking of doing something tomorrow…your place?" That was a little too quick.
"You know, normally a conversation starts with 'I'm doing fine, and you?' and then we talk about the states of our lives, and then about something controversial like politics, and then about how much we hate the people here, and then food, and then we settle on sleeping with each other. At least, that's how I talk to my bros." Followed by a wink, he knew he could get a reaction out of her.
A slight frown. "Something wrong? You seem a little on edge, even though you look like you should be completely relaxed."
"What do you mean by look? I'm good." What in the hell was she talking about…? Maybe he shouldn't have gotten her worked up…
"Well look at you. You're at a party with a girl, who is very cute I gotta say, you're wearing beach-y swim trunks, you've got two beers, and you're surrounded by cool people, aka me. But for some reason, you jump on me when I ask about our mutual craving."
"Hey, I'm not a sex demon if that's what you're saying…..and you noticed the trunks? I picked them out myself."
"Did you know your defense mechanism is humor?"
"Yes."
"And that it's infuriating?"
"I hope so." Damn the way that sarong hugged her hips. She may not be as naked as the other girls there, but she definitely had an edge over them….she allowed more for the imagination. Distracting. She paused for a good ten seconds. He looked over to where Brooke sat. He had to admit, Jo was right about his craving for sex….but not to the point where he couldn't have a decent conversation without bringing it up.
"God, you would think I could deal with you…." She shook her fedora-ed head and chuckled half-heartedly at the ground.
"Maybe if we started this day over you could invent a way to handle me. Hi Jo! I didn't expect to see you here."
She smiled then. And it was gorgeous. "Hey Mike…So how about that presidential campaign?"
The little things made her different. Not just the forever-reprimanding tone, the non-legginess, the unstyled medium-length hair, or even the insistence to always be on top. Granted, not all her differences were positive…but a good amount were.
He watched lazily as she got dressed. Ironically, this was his favorite part of the post-session ritual. Not the too-short conversations, or the mini-meals in the kitchen, or the goodbyes with promises of more to come. The way a girl put on her clothes showed her character more than anything else. This was ironic seeing as how Mike took his off for a living….but that showed his character as well….and lots of it ;)
There were the girls who would shamefully sneak into the bathroom when they thought he was asleep, either new to the one-night stands or uncomfortable with their bodies once off the sex-high. Others slinkily slipped into tight jeans and tanks, more than hinting they wanted more. And still others threw on whatever they could find on the floor and skipped out like it was all in a day's work. Jo was basically the embodiment of the latter. Only when he stopped her with conversation or forced her to eat some fruit did she stay longer than necessary. He didn't get it. She was the most constant "buddy" he'd had since…ever…and yet he knew practically nothing about her. And it wasn't like he didn't try. He tried like it was his job. Because her droll sense of humor was refreshing from the screaming fangirls. Because while not drop-dead stunning she had an attitude to smack him around whenever she felt like it. Because she was, no matter how she opposed it, his friend.
"I haven't seen Vanessa around in a while."
She looked up from putting on sandals, blowing hair out of her face. "You didn't know she got herself a man?"
"Seriously? Bro, no one ever tells me anything 'bout their relationships."
"Hmph. Do I look like a bro to you?" A skeptical smile as she sat on the edge of the bed. He was still nude, "airing out."
She unbuttoned her collared shirt to expose herself. "Do these look like they'd belong to a bro? I'm offended." She buttoned back up, grinned, and proceeded to the kitchen.
He called out as she opened the fridge. "Not your boobs, girl…it was the grunting that threw me off-" He heard her scoff, then continued "-How'd you find out about Vanessa anyway?"
"I called and her husband answered."
"Damn that was quick...makes you wonder about your own relationships." Oops. He covered his face with both hands, trying to wipe away the drowsiness, prepping for the barrage of "ground rules" to be repeated yet again. Second time that month. He was getting worse at watching what he said around her. At getting too close.
Movement ceased in the kitchen. He heard her set a bowl, probably filled with cereal (no milk), down on the counter. She stepped in, stopped at the doorframe and leaned against it, one hand on her hip. Laid her head on the frame. Sighed. "Mike, you know we don't talk about that stuff."
"Yeah yeah….I gotchu." He stood and put on a pair of briefs.
She Jerked her thumb in the direction of the front door. "I think I'm just gonna go. I'll see you around, alright?"
"Wait, hold up. You've still got cereal sitting there. And you know I don't eat that stuff. It's for all guests only."
Oh boy. Now she was really going to lay in on him, he could see it in the way she positioned herself, now both hands on the hips, legs shoulder-length apart, eyebrows set low.
"Tell me something, Mike. If it's for all guests, how come I'm the only one who eats it?…Why is it my favorite brand of cereal? Why is it in the cabinet for your stuff only?"
"I'm impressed you know that's my personal cabinet. You must swing by here often." Try to put her at ease. Calm her down.
"Stop it." That's it. She had no right, especially in his Goddamn house.
"No, you stop. You're a great person, but I can't stand this. I know we have rules, but can't we just be friends? You've got to admit you like visiting my place for more than the sex. My boyish good looks mixed with my charisma have gotta work on you somehow, or else you would've found another boy toy by now, considering all the mistakes I've made and all the lines I've crossed."
The silence after was more than a little awkward. She sized him up then, taking in his steady gaze. He inwardly commended her for keeping eye contact as opposed to letting her eyes wander. He commended himself for doing the same.
"Fine." Woah. That was a first.
She took powerful strides over to him and pushed him back onto the bed. "But let's make this last time good, 'cause I'm going to miss this body once we become real friends."
"Huh?-" She kissed him angrily, found the band of his briefs with her thumb. Climbed on top of him.
"Wait-"
"What? Don't you want to be 'friends'?" His briefs were slipping off.
"Hey, stop." He shoved her off, rolled on top of her, pinned her down. "Let me clarify…..friends with benefits. This won't be our 'last time'." She was breathing heavily….and then a smile at his phrase-change, a raised eyebrow.
"As you wish." She glanced down his body length. "Someone else likes our little understanding too."
He gave her the signature grin combined with the almost-squinted eyes (his smolder). This time he was the one to take the clothes off.
Let me know when cheesiness starts to be an issue...and til then, please review and critique!