Warning: Things are heating up. Something pretty close to smut here.

Part 3—The Secret's in the Telling

There is a secret that we keep
I won't sleep if you won't sleep
Because tonight may be the last chance we'll be given
We are compelled to do what we must do
We are compelled to do what we have been forbidden

—Chris Carrabba

1

Wednesday it rained all over Stephanie's parade. She had been so looking forward to having the day off and spending time on the beach under Carlos's umbrella. The lifeguard job provided long breaks between bouts of staring at the swimmers out in the ocean, and she'd been fantasizing about applying sunscreen to Carlos again and having him do the same to her. The thought of her hands on him and his on her sent shivers up and down her spine and made her warm in all the right places.

But she awoke to dark clouds and showers, and knew he wouldn't be on the beach today. All the lifeguards would probably be off, and most likely Carlos would spend the day with his girlfriend. Stephanie was more disappointed than she should be.

"See you later," she said to Mary Lou and Tina as they left for the restaurant. They were working the lunch shift today and would be finished at three.

Still wearing the skimpy tank top and panties she'd slept in, Stephanie channel surfed until she found an old movie and stretched out on the couch, volume low. It was such a relief to have a day off. She was sick to death of fielding questions about her black eye from customers. She'd tried to cover it with concealer and makeup, but it still showed. So she'd amused herself by seeing how the customers reacted to various fictional explanations.

"Mud wrestling," she told one middle-aged couple, causing their mouths to fall open in astonishment.

Julio worked on Tuesday evening and stayed close, listening to her various explanations with an almost-smile on his face. "Bounty hunting," he muttered under his breath as she passed him, and gave her a delighted grin when she used it on the next customer that asked.

When it came time for her break Carlos was at the door waiting, and the first thing he did was study her face, hands on her shoulders. After running careful fingers over the diminishing bump on the back of her head he gave a very slight nod of approval, grazed his lips across her bruised cheekbone and settled on the bench with her. They sat in comfortable silence for her fifteen minutes, thighs pressed together, with Stephanie drinking her Coke and Carlos sipping the water she brought out for him.

"See you on the beach tomorrow, Babe?" he asked when she rose to go back inside.

She nodded. "I'll be there, Batman."

oOo

Carlos felt a swell of satisfaction when he looked out the window Wednesday morning. Raining. He wouldn't have to work. He could spend hours with Stephanie instead of just half hour breaks on the beach with the world watching and Ashley hovering. Ashley still tended to show up for his breaks, following him up onto the boardwalk, possessive, taking his arm and slipping her hand under his t-shirt to caress the skin of his back.

He avoided her as much as possible, and ignored her the rest of the time. But she didn't take the hint.

After calling the Recreation Department to make sure he didn't need to show up, Carlos showered and dressed, leaving Julio and Lester sleeping. Since the incident with Stephanie on Saturday night Julio had been much more like his old self. Carlos knew they weren't out of the woods yet, but Julio was so appalled at his own behavior that he was really trying now. It was heartening to see.

Carlos took his car, an old but well maintained black Ford Explorer, to the large shopping center at the outskirts of Point Pleasant to pick up a few groceries. Half an hour later he was dropping them off in his room, storing milk, juice and cheese in the mini-fridge and stacking cereal and crackers on top of the microwave. Lester and Julio would have plenty to eat today, and he was free until Lester had to leave for his dinner shift at the restaurant.

Carlos found a parking spot just a few houses down from Stephanie's place. Lucky. Parking was always difficult in Point Pleasant during the summer, the streets lined with cars. It was heading toward noon. He wondered if Stephanie would like to go out to lunch.

He climbed the stairs and tapped on the apartment door.

oOo

Stephanie was having the most erotic dream. She was floating on her stomach on a smooth, rippled raft in a bathwater-warm sea, gentle swells carrying her up and down in the sun. The water lapped over the edges of the raft to tickle her bare breasts, her nipples hardening and sending tingles down through her belly. The sea ran between her thighs, soft as satin on her pussy, making the juices well up from deep within. The sky was crystal azure, the sea a clear aqua, and the clean, spicy scent of the air brought with it a sense of absolute contentment. She'd never experienced anything so pleasurable before.

She drowsed, drifting in and out of consciousness, feeling terrific, warm and cozy and well rested, if a little damp down below. What a great nap, she thought. Who knew the couch was so comfortable?

She lay there limp and relaxed. But she still felt like the swells were carrying her, rising and falling with gentle regularity. And then through her half-asleep daze came the realization that it wasn't a dream. She was really moving.

Her eyes fluttered open and she tensed and began to push herself up, confused.

"Relax, Babe."

At the sound of Carlos's voice Stephanie calmed. The floating motion was the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. She allowed her head to tip back from where it had been buried in his neck and she saw that she was lying on top of him. Her legs were spread and he was hard between them.

"Batman," she whispered as their eyes met, his dilated deep and black, her vibrant blue darkening to indigo, tied together in a union that seemed preordained.

The feeling of her dream was still with her, and without thinking Stephanie drew her knees up to increase the contact and thrust her pelvis against him, the feeling of his hardness through the thin silk of her panties sending almost painful waves of desire shuddering through her.

Carlos gave a groan and slid one hand down from her back to her buttocks, pressing her even tighter against him.

They were both panting by this time, eyes locked, both moving to increase the delicious friction between them. When Carlos took her mouth with his, tongues tangling, Stephanie burst into climax with a moan that he felt all the way to his toes. As the tremors quaked though her, Carlos couldn't hold back any longer, joining her in feverish release.

TBC