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Summer Spirit

By: LunaEroticaMystica



This is my first Contest Submission: SUMMER LOVIN'. The title of the contest sparked the idea for it. My muse and memories of summers-gone-by inspired it. One lonely spirit came to me and asked me to help set them free. I hope I succeeded. Please Read, Vote, and/or Comment. I love getting feedback and do take criticism into consideration. Enjoy and Thank You! :)

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"Momma!" The tiny tot screamed at the top of her lungs. Devin slammed the suitcase lid down and ran out of the room to see what the screaming was about. By the decibel of the scream, she figured her daughter must have fallen and gotten a booboo. 

She entered the living room ready to rush in and comfort, only to stare and blink, seeing that her little monkey had climbed out of her playpen and on top of the golden retriever and was currently playing horsey, saying "Neigh, Neigh, dog, dog." 

The dear dog took it like a champ and carted his little package around like the pony he was, without the aid of sight. The little imp had thrown her favorite blankey over the dog's head. When he crashed into the wall, she slid off and bonked her head on the floor, letting out a true scream. Mom ran in and rescued baby with one arm and whipped the blanket off the dog with the other, pushing him to safety. She blew a breath out lifting her sweaty hair off her face. 

"Shaylee, Grady is not a horsey. Come help Momma finish packing for the beach." Eager to please, the green eyed fae child took her mother's hand and toddled along. Shaylee was sitting nicely in the center of Devin's bed watching her pack the suitcases. Devin was singing itsy-bitsy spider to her. She turned her back to get her swimsuit out of her top drawer when she heard an impish giggle. In the mirror, she could see that her clothes were scattered and the baby was inside the suitcase tossing panties and bras up in the air.

"Whee!" The little one smiled. Devin gave up on packing and swooped down on her little bundle of joy, tickling her belly until they both fell on the floor laughing. Shaylee snuggled against her and kissed her loudly on the lips. "Momma," she said softly.

"Oh baby, Momma's going to miss you so much!" A tear rolled down her cheek as she reached for the phone to call her own mother.

"I just don't know if I'm ready to leave her," she said into the receiver.

"You need this, Dev. Shay will be fine and so will you. We're going to take her to the amusement park and buy her ice cream. Grandpa will build blanket forts with her. This is your time."

"I feel guilty Mom." She bit her lower lip, a habit she did when she was unsure of something.

"Devin you have been home with that baby 24/7 since she was born. I know that things did not work out with asshole the way you wished they had. But, he's in your past now. The divorce is finalized and you are a free, beautiful, intelligent, strong-willed woman. Take time for you; pamper yourself, revisit your old haunts and let yourself feel like a woman again. Don't let what he did take anything away from you. He's the moron who hurt you and your baby girl, not the other way around. Trust me, your issues with him will be here waiting when you return. But for now, focus on you. Besides, you wouldn't deny me exclusive cuddle time with Shaylee, now would you?" Her Mom had a point, always the voice of reason.

"Thanks Mom. I love you."

"I love you too. Now finish packing and get that sweetpea over here and in my arms. Oh and Dev, honey? I bought a little something to help you celebrate." She could hear her mother's grin through the phone.

"Mom," she began.

"Nothing extravagant, don't worry. Just something to help you feel like the pretty woman you are." Her mother loved shopping, especially for clothes. While there was no denying that her Mom had great taste, she didn't want to be spoiled. Although, a small part of her thrilled at the prospect of a new outfit or two. 

She put the baby down for a quick nap while she finished packing. Then she gathered dog toys, dog food, and the rest of Shaylee's toys and comfort lovies. She turned on the shower, undressed, and took a quick look at herself in the full length mirror. 

Her blue gray eyes stared back at her. She had the typical freckles of a redhead that spread across the bridge of her nose and a generous supply on her cheeks. She had a petite body. Cute, was what she was always called. Her long, curly hair was in need of attention, and a trip to the stylist was the first order of business once she got to the shore. At thirty, her breasts were still pert. Motherhood had finally given her a grown woman's figure at long last. She lifted her breasts up and smiled at herself. 

***

Devin stood in her parent's living room, her hands moist with nerves. She released the dog and handed the sleepy baby off to her mother. Her Mom had been true to her word and then some. 

She lay out enough outfits to last her two weeks. Fun and flirty dresses, sassy and sexy tops and skirts, relaxed and causal outfits. Really cute. She was going to have fun trying them on and wearing them to the beach and boardwalk.

"Mom, you shouldn't have," she scolded. Her mom beamed at her.

"I wanted to." Her Mom reached into her pocket and pulled out an envelope. "It is just a little something to go towards pampering yourself. Treat yourself to a manicure, pedicure, and a blissful massage. I wish we could have sent you somewhere exotic. But for now, I hope this helps." 

Devin hugged her mom and squeezed her eyes shut against the tears starting. Then she hugged her father who was currently being smothered with doggy kisses.

"Thanks Daddy. I'm sure you will spoil Grady rotten. But remember table food gives him a stomach ache. So please control the urge."

"Me feed the dog people food? Wherever would you get an idea like that, Devin?" When her father laughed, his blue eyes sparkled mischievously. 

"Dad that goes for Shaylee, too. Just because you have a sweet tooth, doesn't give you permission to indulge my daughter in sweets, too." She gave him a stern look. 

"Only one piece of cake a night." He winked at his grand-daughter who was eying his piece of pie. "Oh alright, and a cookie after lunch."

"Dad!" Her Mom came up behind her and put her arm around her, pushing her towards the door.

"Don't worry sweetie. I'll keep him in line with the sweets and the people food," her Mom assured her.

"No all day shopping sprees, either Mom. Shay still takes two naps a day." She pulled out a long list of instructions and emergency contact numbers. 

"Boy, you have an awful lot of rules," her parents said in unison, laughing. 

"Grappa," Shaylee shrieked, reaching for her grandfather and squirming out of her grandmother's arms. 

"Yup, we'll be just fine." She kissed the baby on her chubby cheek.

"Pumpkin, you better get a move on so you don't hit rush-hour traffic," her father reminded her.

"Drive safely," Mom put in.

"I will. Thanks guys." She took Shaylee back in her arms and snuggled her, showering her with kisses as she tried her best to hold back her tears and not let her baby feel her apprehension.

"Mommy loves you so much. Are you going to be a good girl for Gramma and Grandpa?"

"Yeah, me go," the little one nodded. "Grappa," she said again.

"I see how it is," Gramma put in. "Shaylee, say Gramma."

"No. Momma." The imp pouted.

"Momma has to go bye-bye. But you will have fun. Take care of doggy for Mommy. Okay?"

"Momma go?" she asked with confusion.

"Yes, Momma go bye-bye. Shaylee stay and have fun. Momma talk to you on the phone." Shaylee clung to her, not letting go. 

"No bye-bye." She scrunched her face up. "Me go too!"

"Shaylee, let's have a tea party," Gramma suggested, trying to distract the little one. 

"Devin, just go. She will be okay in a few minutes. I promise. We'll call you after she settles down." Shaylee reluctantly let go of her mother and peeked around her grandfather's shoulder looking for the promised tea party.

"Momma bye-bye." She waved. "Dog dog." Bless her small attention span. She pointed and then ran off to wrestle the dog. 

Devin's mother handed her a tissue and sent her on her way with another hug. Her Dad took the clothes out to the car for her. "No trolling for boys on the boardwalk," he said.

She cracked up. "Dad! I'm not a teenager anymore. Besides, if I were going to do any trolling, it would be for men." She winked, then swung herself into her car. 

"You never know, baby-girl. You never know." She groaned inwardly, waved, and hit the acceleration.

***

The drive was thankfully uneventful other than the crying-over-the-music-blasting session. She pulled up to the quaint seaside inn, stepped out of the car, let the HS part-timer park it, and took a deep cleansing breath of sea air, then sighed.

"Yup, still smells like fish." She pinched her nose and headed for the entry door. It had been years since she had been back on the shore she had grown up on, fell in love, out of love, suffered losses, and ultimately distanced herself from. The hustle and bustle, the traffic jams, and the rude people had just become too much for her. But for weeks, she felt herself being drawn back here for some reason. 

She checked into her room, called the spa she used to go to and got herself an appointment for the morning. After calling to check up on Shaylee, who was currently napping peacefully, she made her way outside. 

The inn was on a private beach. She had been itching to dig her toes into the cool sand and did just that, sighing with pleasure. She walked along the shoreline, letting the warm water lap at her feet, watching the sun sink below the horizon. The setting sun left in its wake a profusion of vivid colors: fuchsia, peach, lavender. 

She had never been a sun-worshipper. She burnt to a crisp if she wasn't careful and so she wasn't a fan of the beach during the day. She didn't eat seafood and one time tried to rescue a lobster from a lobster tank at a popular seafood chain. Ah but twilight, right before moonrise when the sand cooled off, the ocean felt warmer, the beaches cleared out, the boardwalks were lit and buzzing with activity; that was her time. And right now, she felt like a teenager again. 

She walked a bit further when something on the sand caught her eye. She moved closer to examine it and noticed someone had written a message in the sand, something she had done more times than she could count. It said "D.B. 

Ah, to be carefree again and in love, or at the very least lust. Her stomach growled at her demanding attention as if signaling the unhealthy turn her thoughts had taken. Her nose twitched and she started salivating at the most welcome smell coming from up on the boardwalk. 

"Jersey Pizza!" she shouted to the skies. She picked up the pace until she was nearly running toward the boardwalk with one thought in her head. She neglected to notice the man who was bent over a metal detector and slammed right into him. 

"Oh my god. I'm so sorry, sir," she began apologizing. "Are you okay?" The metal detector started beeping.

***

Annoyance edged his voice when the beeping stopped. "Dammit. Why don't you learn to look where you are go--." The words abruptly stopped when he looked up into the stormy depths of her eyes. A tingle of recognition overtook him and he remembered a slip of a girl laying beneath him on a checkered blanket under the boardwalk so very many years ago. But no, the memory faded as quickly and he realized this woman couldn't possibly be the same girl.

"Do I know you?" she asked with her hands resting on her hips. Was it possible? Could this girl be the very same? Well, for now he would see where the interaction led and not let on that he might know her. That could come later.

"I don't think so, darling." She scowled at the condescension and turned on her heel. She tried not to notice the tousled chestnut hair or too-blue eyes in his handsome face.

"I'm no one's darling," she shouted back. He leaped to his feet and chased after her. 

"Wait!" He grabbed her hand and pulled her close.

"That doesn't mean I don't want to get to know you." 

She huffed out a breath and yanked away. "In your dreams, buddy." She threw back at him. "Do I look like a silly co-ed?" 

Ah that fiery temper. Without a doubt, Marc now knew this was indeed his Devin. He gave her a devilishly handsome grin.

"Ah there's the fiery spirited girl I remember." He tugged her against him and plundered her mouth, his groin stretching his board-shorts.

"And no, definitely not a silly co-ed any longer." He looked her up and down appreciatively. He saw her gasp of recognition and wondered if her heart skipped a beat, too.

"Apparently you are still the same ole player I remember. Just as arrogant and just as macho. Men don't change, do they Marcus? What were you searching for, buried treasure?" He watched her curse under her breath. He imagined she was thinking something like 'What ill luck to come upon my former summer fling.' He grinned at the thought.

"Actually, I am looking for the locket my daughter lost yesterday when we were at the beach. It belonged to her mother and is very special to her." 

Devin seemed momentarily at a loss for words. "Oh. Where is your wife?" She scanned the beach.

"Never married. Left me and left the kid shortly after she gave birth to her. Where's your husband?" He shot back.

"Finally out of my life. I'm newly divorced," she stated proudly.

"Good. That means we are both free to get reacquainted with each other. Pizza? I heard that shout of joy from across the beach. My treat."

"Do I get frozen custard with that as well?" She batted her eyelashes. Ah those moody eyes of hers.

"I think I can manage that." He reached into his pockets and pulled out a few crumpled dollar bills, smirking at her. He knew she couldn't resist food and as if on cue, he heard her stomach growl. He also knew her enough to know that she had probably been enjoying her peace and quiet when she crashed into him. Too bad for her. She could have peace and quiet after they caught up. 

She nodded and headed up to the boardwalk with him. He gave her another once over, noting that she had filled out nicely over the years. He wondered how she would look in a flirty little dress. She must have felt his eyes on her chest, because she stared at him until he returned them to her face. 

"Man, how long has it been?" he asked, steering her to the pizza booth where they had shared many pizzas at before. 

She smiled. "A long time. Ten or maybe twelve years. It was the summer after I graduated high school. You had graduated already, what like five years before me? A college man." They ordered their pizza and found a bench to sit at.

"Yeah, everyone thought it was inappropriate because of my age." He recalled how upset her family had initially been.

"Well," she tutted.

"Not so big a difference now, is it? I'm guessing you are thirty? Although you don't look a day over twenty-five." He lightly touched her cheek.

"Don't you remember that flattery doesn't work on me?" she said in seriousness.

"No, but I know what does work on you," he winked back and she laughed, shoving him away.

"Will you cut the bullshit?"

"No bullshit." He lifted some cheese off her slice and lifted it to her lips. 

"This is the pathway to your heart sweetie, food." He smirked as she snatched the cheese off the pizza and smacked her lips loudly. She nearly fell off the bench from the laughter bubbling out of her, then pouted.

"Don't make fun of my food issues." He took the pizza out of her hands ignoring her growls and leaned his head to hers. 

"And this," he whispered as he gazed into her eyes, sliding his fingers into her hair before gently touching his lips to hers. She sighed against him.

"Mm. But, I can't," she protested.

"Can't what? It's just a kiss."

"Where's your daughter? How old is she? Where do you live?" She started flooding him with questions, biting her lower lip. He licked her lip to soothe.

"She's four-and-a-half." Then he nipped it. "We live a couple blocks away." He played with her collarbone. "She's with my dad." His lips found her ear. 

She pushed away from him remembering the devastation her young heart felt when he broke it.

I've been burned by you before. I just got out of a fraud of a marriage in which I was betrayed. I'm not going there again, not with you, not with any man." She stood firm. "Thanks for the pizza. I have to get back and call my baby."

"That's not fair, Dev. I'm a changed man." He frowned.

"Sure you are. Newsflash Marcus; people, especially men, don't change." She flipped at him.

"Ouch. You wound me," he said while clutching his heart. "Seriously? I have regretted every day how I hurt you. Then I met the woman of my dreams. We had all these plans of traveling the world, marriage, babies, happiness."

"I guess we were both fooled," she stated, not backing down. 

He shook his head and walked to the railing to lean out, a far off look in his eye. "You don't understand. She was my everything." He whispered.

"Betrayal sucks." She said bitterly. 

***

Marcus sighed deeply and turned around, the grin gone from his face, replaced with something Devin couldn't place. Anguish? There was something he was holding back, she could just feel it. She did not need more drama in her life, thank you very much, she had her own.

"She did betray me. She loved me, then left. Leaving our baby girl in my arms. I was so angry, raging, left with this lot in life. Why me? Why meet her only to lose her?" His words were quiet.

"Sounds like it was her choice. She's the idiot who left her family." Devin said angrily.

"Nothing was her choice. I wanted to murder the man who took her from me." His fists were clenched, knuckles white, temper flaring.

"I'm sorry. My husband had an affair too. It takes time. How long ago was it?" She tried to defuse him.

"The man who took her from me was driving that night. I cannot exact revenge upon him because he too died in the crash." He collapsed on the bench, his head in his hands, grief overtaking him.

"Oh God, Marc. God I didn't know. When you said, I just assumed; I didn't-- I had no idea." She began rambling, then put her arms around him and held him as he sobbed.

"I haven't spoken about it since it happened. It hurt too badly to even say her name. I'm sorry for unloading on you. Danae was my everything and Kyla is all I have left of her."

At that moment a loud "Daddy" pierced the silence and a short haired little girl came running down the boardwalk, a huge stuffed dragon in her arms and cotton candy on her face. She stopped just short of her father's arms and gave Devin a once over.

"Who is she?" The little girl asked matter-of-factly.

"An old friend from when Daddy was younger," he answered.

"Oh." Her lips formed the words. "Are you sad today?" she asked her father, looking at his red eyes, "or just scratchy eyes again?" 

Devin's heart twisted. How hard it must be to keep the pain and sorrow from this little girl. She turned her attention back to Devin. 

"What's your name?"

"I'm Devin." She held her hand out. "You must be Kyla."

"Yup. Look. Grandpa won me a dragon! I'm going to name him Tiger." She smiled at her.

"He's a handsome dragon. Why Tiger?" Devin touched the scales of the stuffed dragon.

"See those little stripes on his back? Like a tiger and he growls like one too. Grrr," she demonstrated and giggled. "Tigers are Mommy's favorite. She told me so." She eyed her father who just sighed. 

Just then a handsome man with gray hair and dark eyes caught up to the little girl. "Kylie, you run too fast for Grandpa to keep up." Marc's father said, catching his breath. "Marc, who is this?" Devin felt him assessing her. 


Summer Spirit



"Wait a minute, I'd know that sweet face anywhere. Devin Blithe. You are just as pretty as you were when my son was chasing after you some time ago."

"Thanks Daniel. You always knew how to make a girl blush," Devin replied, standing on tiptoes to embrace the tall man. 

Marcus quirked his eyebrow. "Now how is it that my father can flatter and make you blush, but as hard as I try, I can't?" He wanted to know.

"Son, you still have a lot to learn about women, especially this particular one." His father joked. 

"What brings you here Devin? I had heard through the grapevine that you had abandoned us for greener pastures. Are you back for good or just a visit?" he asked, hopeful.

"Just what I wanted to know, myself Dad," Marc replied.

"I just got out of a tumultuous marriage. I'm taking a week for myself to get away from the chaos and center myself again. My daughter is staying with my parents," Devin answered.

"Aw, how old is she?" Daniel asked.

"Shaylee is twenty-two months. This is the first time I've left her alone for any amount of time." Her voice hitched a bit. Daniel patted her back. Kyla kept tugging on his hand trying to get him to pay attention to her.

"Well good for you. You should come on over for BBQ one night while you are here. We would love to catch up more with you, wouldn't we Marc?" Marc gave his dad the cut-it-out-look. Kyla had begun bouncing up and down impatiently.

"What about you, Daniel? Any ladies in your life?" Devin remembered when Marc's mother had died of cancer the summer they spent together. She suspected much of what happened between the two of them was a result of that loss. But Marc had never explained himself to her. He had just said goodbye. 

It wasn't until he went back to college that she learned the truth from his father. She had been young and selfish and unable to put things into perspective back then. She just knew he was saying goodbye. 

"Um it looks like Kyla might need the potty." She recognized the tell-tale hopping from one foot to the other stance.

"As a matter of fact, I do have a girlfriend. If you come to the house you will get to meet my Marina." Kyla's impatience had reached the limit and she looked at the grown-ups once before heading into the crowd. 

"I gotta go!" she stated, holding herself. 

"And she's off again. Nice to see you. Please visit," he shouted as he followed the little girl back into the crowd, directing her to the bathrooms. A faint "Bye Daddy," was heard.

"Your Dad looks great," Devin commented, relaxing as she always did after being around such an upbeat soul.

"He's doing well. He worries about me. He hates that history has repeated itself. But what can you do? Marina makes him very happy. She's the total opposite of Mom, but she suits him. Anyway, you should take him up on his offer." She could tell that Marc was about to make another move when he moved his hand to her hip, but a seagull came out of nowhere and dive-bombed them, snatching the slice of pizza off of her cheap paper plate and depositing a gift atop of her head. 

"Eww, ugh gross! You little bastard! Get back here with my Jersey pizza!" she screamed and took off at a sprint after the winged villain. She knew it was utterly silly to chase after the bird. It wasn't like she would get the precious slice back. But at the same time, if she didn't get to eat it, no one should. She could hear laughter at her back.

"Devin, come back it's just a stupid bird. It's not like it was aiming for you." He tried to reason with the irate woman who had just leaped over the banister and landed feet first into the sand. She turned back to stick her tongue out at him and the seagull's mate took aim and shot another load at her. This one landing all over her shirt. Her shriek of rage was heard all up and down the boardwalk. 

"You want a piece of me too, bitch? This was a brand new shirt, thank you very much! Here. Here you want it so badly?" In a rush of anger, she lifted her shirt, not remembering she didn't have time to throw a suit on under her clothes and threw it at the bird. The shirt landed on the winged villain and it started screeching and stumbling around, flapping its wings inside the garment. 

***

Seeing that the evening was heading towards disaster, Marc did the only thing he could do; he leaped over the banister himself. His jaw dropped as she exposed herself to the world. He caught up to Devin and threw himself at her, knocking her to the ground and pinned her beneath him. She screamed and flailed around like a lobster in the pot. 

"Get off of me!" 

He scooped her up in his arms kicking and screaming and dropped her into the ocean. A wave swelled above her and her eyes widened in alarm. "Oh no!" It knocked her down and dragged her under. She fought the current. But he was there, his arm around her, holding her against him. 

"I gotcha. Dev, I'm sorry! I forgot your fear of the ocean. Listen, calm down. I'm trying to help you. If the cops see you topless, they'll throw you in the slammer, no questions asked. You aren't nineteen anymore." He brought them to the shallows and sat with her between his legs. "Lean your head back."

"What? Why?" she asked. He could tell she was tired and confused. She looked down at herself for the first time, noticing her state of undress and groaned.

"It's okay. Tilt your head back and I'll try to get some of the bird shit out of your hair." She did as he asked, blushing profusely as she tried to cover herself up. She began muttering to herself about her idiocy and heathen gulls. 

"Come back to my place and you can wash up. I can get you a shirt to wear," he suggested. "We can pick up a slice on the way back and custard, too." He added. "Didn't think I'd forget about that, did you?" 

She crawled onto the sand and caught her breath, shaking her head. He stripped off his wet t-shirt. "I know it's wet, but it's better than nothing," he paused, "in the eyes of the law, that is."

***

"I just want to go back to my inn and take a long hot bath, call my baby, and go to bed," Devin said. "Thanks for the offer," she added as an afterthought. So far, this trip was turning out to be more stressful and disastrous than being home with her thoughts. 

"It was great seeing you again, Marc. I'm sorry for my immaturity. Who would have thought in a million years that you would have been the cool-headed one?" She gave a small smile. He hugged her.

"You've always been hot headed, baby. You've just tried to hide it with sass. Did it feel good to vent to the birds?" He kissed her forehead and she blushed again, hugging his wet shirt to her body. Her nipples pebbled up from the chill in the air.

"It helped," she admitted.

"Can you do me a favor?" he asked.

"Um, what?" Suspicion crept into her tired voice.

"Let me finish helping you get the shit out of your hair. It really looks like a two person job. It's in there pretty damn good." He lifted some of the plastered gunk from her hair and grimaced. "It's definitely foul."

"Yeah, I guess." Her stomach rumbled. "I'll take you up on a new slice of pizza too and a twist custard." She stood up with his help. "Make that triple dipped."

***

Marc waited outside the door while nature called her to the bathroom. Devin decided that she was not getting in the shower with him naked, so she pulled out a green and brown paisley bikini top and a matching little bikini skirt, quickly putting it on. Just to be safe, she told herself. 

Marc was exploring the little room when she unlatched the antique door and peeked out; an invitation. He still wore his turquoise board-shorts, not wanting to be too forward. When he entered the bathroom, the shower was already running, and she was in it. Her cute figure beckoned him from behind the curtain. He stepped in behind her and stifled a noise. 

"Are you sure you wouldn't rather spare another two pieces of clothing from the crap?" He cursed inwardly, seeing her wearing a sweet little brown and paisley bikini top and matching skirt. It flirted against her curves and he tried to remember what it was hiding. The last time they had been together they were so young. He knew from the quick glimpse of her bare breasts in the ocean, that she had filled out quite nicely over the years. He didn't know why she felt the need to wear the suit, but figured maybe she was trying to keep some semblance of modesty about her. Either that or she didn't trust herself with him. Even better. She turned around.

***

"No, I'm fine. Here." Devin handed her sweet smelling shampoo to him to lather in her hair. He shrugged and got to work. "I'm a little cold," she added.

"I could keep you warm." A slightly deeper voice caressed her senses. She closed her eyes, blocked out the crap in her hair, and focused on the sensations his big manly hands were causing. He ever so gently washing the white stuff away. After he was finished with her hair, he slid his hands down to her shoulders, sudsing them up as well, working his fingers beneath the bikini strap. He kissed the large freckle that sat on top of her shoulder. When her body relaxed, he slipped each strap off her shoulder, tugging the top halfway down her chest. 

"Do you remember, Devin?" He whispered in silky tones.

***

The mutual flashback came upon them. 

The girl watched as the youthful sun-bronzed god broke the water's surface and pulled himself up onto dock, his shoulder length chestnut hair tangling in the wind. She suddenly felt the urge for a dip. She took a graceful swan dive off the bulkhead; her hot pink bikini top floating away behind her, unawares. She swam underwater mostly to get to the dock situated a few lagoons past the creek out in the bay. 

The college stud saw the flash of orange sunshine streak beside him. He had jumped back into the water after retrieving himself a cold beer, and was floating in an inner tube. He leaned his head down to try and see what was in the water and collided with a fiery red head. She came sputtering up, cursing. Her gray eyes glaring into his ocean blue ones. She reached out to hold onto the inner tube to catch her breath.

"A Lady of the Lake? A living, breathing water nymph? Destructive Lorelei? Pray tell, what vision lies before me?" He reached his hand down to give the wet red hair a gentle caress. 

It took her a moment to process his words. 

"I see no rock, nor magical sword, nor mist enshrouded island on a lake," she answered as she composed herself.

"Ah a water nymph then, come to lure me into the depths."

"Those are some pretty big words," she replied. She felt uncomfortable under the heat of his gaze. He grinned at her.

"Might I be the knight to rescue the pretty damsel?" he asked her, gazing at her intently.

"I can swim just fine and I do not need some drunk city boy spreading rumors about me to his buddies or make me the butt of their joke," she mumbled. She didn't care if he heard. She tossed her wet hair out of her face for effect. 

His eyes traveled from her haughty face down to her chest. He noticed something and smirked at her scowl. 

"Darling it is not your butt that they'd be joking about, but your lovely bosom, if they knew." He chuckled. Obviously he knew something she had not. 

She turned three shades of red when she realized her suit top was missing. She let go the inner tube and sank back into the water. 

"Don't worry, I'm the only one here and the only one that can see you in all your glory."

"And that should make me feel oh so much better?" A storm was gathering in the depths of those gray eyes and all he wanted to do was dive in and chase it.

"Not for nothing, but I can't help thinking that your curiosity in me led you over here. Why don't you come on up and stay a bit? We can talk, have a beer, get you a shirt. I have a spare in my truck. Where did you come from anyway?" 

Dammit, his ego was big, but he was being sweet.

"I live on one of these lagoons," she muttered. "My parents will be looking for me." 

"Are you even old enough to drink?" He asked. 

"Not for another three years." She smiled sweetly.

"Ah, I see. Well how about a soda, then?"

She nodded and watched him walk to his car, open a cooler and hold up two cans of soda. She chose the left can. "How old are you?"

"How old do I look?" He came back over and handed it to her.

"Oh for crying out loud. Just tell me how old you are, please?" She popped the seal.

"I'm twenty-four." At her look of relief, he laughed. "What? Were you afraid I was going to say I was thirty or something?"

"Something like that."

"Ouch. Last time I checked I didn't have any gray up there. But, then again...."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean -- "

"Relax, siren. I'm teasing."

"My name is Devin." She extended her hand and before she could changed her mind, he lifted her up onto the tube.

"Mm even better. Devilishly, delectable Devin. I'm Marcus"

"Alliteration?" The look of surprise on her face pleased him.

"You got it. Literature major."

"I should have guessed it with those fancy words." She giggled. "I'm going to be majoring in Literature too."

He nodded. "Stay here, I'll grab you a shirt from my truck." He did, but not before drinking in his fill of the sight of the pert little breasts she was trying with difficulty to hide. 

"Would you like to come over to my Uncle's place later? He lives on a lagoon. Has a big fast boat. I've been needing a co-captain to pilot her."

"If your Uncle lives on the lagoon, what are you doing out here?" she asked him as she pondered the new bit of information. She was glad to know he had a good reason for using some of the outdated words that he did. 

"I might ask the same of you. I needed to get away from the noise of the summer house."

"I just needed to get away," she admitted. He nodded in understanding and walked up to his truck. She gulped when she caught sight of his growing erection tenting his suit just as he turned away. 

***

Devin now turned her attention to that same erection, the one that was pressing against her back in the shower, twelve years later. His hands had a gentle grip on her breasts and his thumbs were playing with her nipples. A tiny bell of warning went off in her head as he gently turned her to face him. She wanted to say something about how cocky and sure of himself he had been back then. She wanted to talk about the memories. She wanted to ask him why. 

He dipped his head down and licked the droplets of water from her breasts. She leaned forward which only pressed her breasts more firmly in his hands.

"I think you were right. I wouldn't have been able to get the crap out of my hair alone." She side-stepped away from him. He took the hint and backed off. He watched her turn the water off and grab a towel. She put her hair up in a towel twist and tossed him one. 

"Let's go back to the beach with the metal detector. I feel bad that you might have missed out on finding Kyla's locket when I crashed into you." She started brushing her hair and winced at the knots. The ocean had done a number on her hair as had the damn seagull.

"That's really sweet of you to offer. But I thought you were tired." He held his hand out to her. "Can I? I'll be gentle." 

She nodded and let him try to work the knots out. "I'd like to. Ow, I don't think this is working and it hurts," she grumbled.

"Sorry. I'm trying to be gentle," he frowned.

"I know and you are. I think I'm going to need professional help with this one. I was due for a hair appointment anyway. Maybe they can squeeze me in tonight." She grabbed her cell phone and the phone book that was in the top drawer of the antique dresser.

"What kind of style were you thinking?" He asked. "Not too short right?" She knew that he loved her curly hair. He had spent one afternoon coming up with arcane words to describe it. She sensed his apprehension and shook her head.

"What is it with men and long hair?" she demanded.

"I think it's a primitive thing," he laughed. 

"Actually, I'm planning on donating it for a wig to be made for a sick child. So, yes, I'm going pretty short. You have to have ten inches to spare for them to cut off and then you send it in."

"Wow," he responded. "Well, that's really generous of you."

"It's for personal reasons. This will be my second time donating." She held her hand up to him, as she turned her attention back to the receptionist on the line. The girl told her she had an opening in ten minutes if she could make it and yes, they do participate with the hair-donation program.

***

Marc agreed to meet her back on the boards at 8 pm after her haircut. He was anxious to see her new style, but a bit sad knowing that so much gorgeousness was being cut off. At least it was for a good cause, he tried to reason with himself. 

He berated himself for not seizing the opportunity in the shower to run his fingers through the long tresses one last time, to drag her wet body against his and show her how much he'd missed her. But she had looked so tired and he didn't want to rush her. So he had let it go for the time being. He reminded himself that she was visiting for a whole week and there would be time to make up for those lost years. 

To kill some time he went back onto the beach. It was hot and he was sweaty and a quick dip would hopefully cool him down, in more ways than one. 

He felt a brush against his shoulder and turned around, expectantly. But as usual, there was no one there except the wheeling seagulls. He stared down at the sand, trying to find some sea-glass to add his little girl's shell collection. Something white was sticking up in the sand and when he bent over to retrieve it, he realized it was a perfectly intact sand dollar. The third one he'd found in a week! It only just dawned on him that the locket he was searching for was a 14K gold sand dollar. 

Danae, his deceased-almost-fiance had had a fascination with sand dollars and he had given the necklace to her as a gift when the baby was born. She'd seemed surprised and pleased with the gift and then asked him if he knew the reason she was obsessed with them. She proceeded to tell him a touching story about sand dollars and the winged-gifts they kept hidden within.

"I don't know what to think or believe. But I find it funny that your sand dollar went missing and now I'm finding real sand dollars everywhere. I want to believe you are here with me. But you know me Danae, I'm thick headed and need a bigger sign." Marc said to the breeze. A large wave crashed on the shore, ocean spray splashing his face.

He felt a tingle at the back of his neck and turned to see a vision floating across the sand towards him. Her hair was straightened and cut just above the shoulder, playing against her snowy skin. 

Devin was running towards him, waving her arms around frantically. When she caught up to him, she was out of breath. A braid of her hair was in one hand and something gold was in the other. She was wearing a little sundress that showed off her feminine curves beautifully. Muted dragonflies floated across the front of the dress in a rainbow array of colors. A jade dragonfly pendant nestled between her breasts, completing the ensemble.

"Marc, Marc, look at this beautiful necklace I found up on the boards. It was hanging from one of the posts. Someone is going to be missing this, terribly. It's so unique, look." She unlatched the locket and showed him pictures of his recent past. 

On one side of the locket, a beautiful girl with long black hair and piercing green eyes was gazing lovingly down at a newborn nestled in her arms. On the other side, a handsome guy was smiling out. The locket read "until our time of forever." It was a promise.

Marc stared up at the sky in amazement. "You could have just hit me over the head with a sledge-hammer," He remarked wryly. 




Summer Spirit



Devin wore a look of confusion on her face. "Marc?" 

"Dev, you look beautiful. Yes, that locket is terribly missed and you just unknowingly found its owner. Well, its owner's Daddy." He let out a breath.

"What?" she asked, confused.

"That's Kyla's missing locket. The one I thought was in the sand."

"No way!" she exclaimed. "Seriously?"

"Yes and I just now got the big sign I've been waiting for." With that, Marc lifted Devin into his arms, crushing her to his chest, and kissed her with a hunger and ferocity that had her breathless. "Come home with me."

***

"Marcus." Something had shifted in him. His energy felt lighter and yet more intense. Devin was confused by the change of events and needed to understand what was happening before jumping into bed with him. That was not anywhere in her itinerary. "You are acting a little strange. What is going on?" She pulled a little away to search his eyes.

"I gave that locket to Danae. We were so young and crazy in love. We threw caution to the wind and ended up with our baby. The locket was my promise to marry her when she finished school. I took time off from work to be a stay-at-home dad while she worked hard. We knew that if she stopped school then, she never would have gone back. Her mother had her young too and made her promise to finish school. She never had the opportunity and so Danae made the promise and had planned to stick to it." He explained.

"Did she finish?" Devin asked quietly.

"She did. I was so proud of her! I was picking up the engagement ring that morning. I planned an extravagant proposal for that night. That was the day she died. Kyla was only 9 months old." He gulped back tears.

"God, that's so sad. So horrible, tragic. I can't imagine. How do you do it? How do you get through each day?" She saw his shoulders hunch. "I'm sorry. We don't have to talk anymore about it."

"No, I need to talk about it. It's time to break my silence. I've been grieving for many long years. If not for Dad's help, I'm not sure how I would have raised that baby alone. I had friends, family members help. I joined a Mommy and Me club; the only dad there, as you can guess. Kyla kept me going and knowing that Danae was with Mom helped."

In that moment, as Marc bared his soul to her, Devin came to four realizations. The first was that this was not the same hot-headed hottie she remembered from way back when. The second; she barely knew this man he had become. The third; something inside her urged her that it was time to reconnect and get to know him. And the fourth realization was the most shocking of all; she was indeed going to go home with him, if not tonight, then before the week was out. 

Her phone was ringing and she picked it up. "Momma?" Shay's tiny voice squealed on the other end of the phone.

"Shaylee! How's Momma's girl? Are you having fun with Gramma and Grandpa?" Her voice hitched hearing her baby's voice.

"Yeah. Momma, go bye bye." The little voice said.

"Did you go to the park?"

"Yeah, dog dog." 

"Is Grady being a good doggy?"

"Gway, gway." 

"Oh Shay, you said Grady. What a smart girl you are. Mommy loves you and misses you." 

The little voice started giggling and yay-ing exuberantly. "Momma, gway gway. All done." 

The line went dead. She shook her head. 

"She just said the dog's name for the first time," she told Marc proudly. He smiled. 

Her phone rang again. Her Mom apologized for the baby hanging up on her. They were just checking in and she hoped she was having a great time. She asked if she caught up with any old acquaintances, any male acquaintances in particular. How did her mother know these things? She wondered. Of course, talking about him in front of Marc would have been rude, so she made a non-committal sound and her mom chuckled and said "good for you girl." Then hung up and turned to Marc.

"Marc I have to tell you something," she took his hand and tugged down to sit in the sand with her.

"What's that?"

"The hair donation that I did today was in your Mom's honor," she said quietly, looking at him to gauge his reaction. He blinked at her.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that I grow my hair out and every six years, I donate it in your Mom's memory. I first did it a year after we broke up. Your Dad told me about your Mom. I was hurt. You gave me no explanation. You just disappeared! When I learned the reason, I felt awful with how selfish I had been. It just felt right."

"Wow, I don't really know what to say." Marc replied. He looked uncomfortable and Devin knew that he needed time to absorb. 

She changed the subject."So, what do you want to do now that the necklace is found?" 

Marc answered by grabbing her hand, tugging her up, and pulling her along the sand. He found a big stick and she grinned wide. 

"Would you like the honors?" He handed her the stick.

"Wow, does this bring back memories." Memories came flooding back. 

*** 

Devin wore a flirty peasant skirt with her bikini top. Marc seemed to live in board-shorts. He had a larger variety of board-shorts than she'd ever seen before; various colors, patterns, even fabrics. She wondered if he secretly enjoyed shopping and decided she'd like to put him to the test. 

The sun had already set and the moon was on the rise. They lay on a beach blanket in each others arms, gazing up at the sky. Marc was coaxing her soft lips apart when Devin abruptly sat up.

"What is it, baby?" he asked, his hands behind his head enjoying the view. She was staring out at the ocean. 

"Look at the moon!" 

He sat up and joined her. The moon was a huge orange orb that seemed to be floating on the waves like a boat. Neither had ever seen the moon that color or size before.

"That's unreal," he stated. She nodded her head. A bank of clouds was moving in fast, drifting across the face of it. They both watched, captivated by the sky as the clouds began to take shape. 

"It looks like an island." He pointed out the different palm trees to her.

"Or a snow-capped mountain," she acknowledged. He nodded in agreement. The clouds changed shape again. 

"It looks like --" He said.

"A ship." They said together, eyes meeting, and then quickly focusing on the peculiar cloud.

"I see portholes." He pointed them out to her.

"And people waving from the balcony."

"This is insane. Are we really seeing this?" he questioned.

"It's haunting," she breathed. "It looks like the Titanic."

"Oh my God, it does. But how?" 

"I don't know, but I can almost hear the cries for help. Ugh. Kinda creepy." She moved closer to him, looking away from the eerie sky. 

"Don't worry. I'll protect you from the ghost ship in the sky," he promised as he wrapped his arm around her. The ship disappeared in the mist that had formed as quickly as it had appeared. A dark cloud took its place, blotting out the moon.

"I think that's our cue." Marc stood up, helped her stand, and picked up the blanket. They ran towards the boardwalk, arm in arm. 

The rain came pelting down, steam rising from the still-hot sand. Sheets of water came down, making it difficult to see and to run. Lightning lit up the sky.

"What do we do?" she asked, a little panicked, knowing they needed to seek shelter soon. The boardwalk would leave them too vulnerable and his car was parked several blocks away.

"It came on fast, so likely it was will leave just as quickly. Summer storms can be tempests, but short-lived. Maybe we'll get lucky." 

They'd made it to the ramp up to the boards.

"I'm not running across there." Devin shook her head. "We'll be the tallest things on the boardwalk," she said vehemently. "Do you think we'll be safe underneath?" She considered their options. While she loved rain, she wasn't a big fan of thunderstorms.  

He let her go first. She crouched down and scooted under the shelter. He followed, carefully tossing bottles and cans away with a snort of disgust. With a snap of his wrists he spread the blanket back out. She watched him, curiously.

"It would make more sense to put the blanket on top of us, rather than under us." She said matter-of-factly.

"Are you afraid of a little rain?" His eyebrows quirked up.

"Well no, but it's hard rain and biting," she complained.

"The boardwalk will slow down it's path. Besides, I'll shield you from it." He smiled, his ocean blue eyes sparkling.

"With what?" 

Her innocence charmed him. He sat down and gently took her hand and placed a tender kiss on the top. She sat beside him, looking up through the slats, rain dripping down her face. He leaned forward and licked a drop of rain from her cheek. Millions of butterflies beat their tiny wings furiously in her stomach. 

"Um." He framed her face with his big hands. "Marc."

"With myself, darling." She wore quizzical look before realizing with delay that he was answering her previous question. "Relax. We're sheltered down here. Just you and me. I love you, Devin." He whispered softly in her ear as he pulled down her bikini strap to kiss her collarbone.

"You do?" She closed her eyes, sighing.

"I do, my fiery little siren. Have you forgotten how to be at home in all nature's elements?"

"I love the rain," she protested. 

"You're afraid of the ocean," he pointed out.

"I told you, I was stuck in an undertow as a child. It really scarred me."

"I know what you told me. I have my own theories and my own remedies." His hands traveled down to cup her breasts. "You need to learn to live in the moment."

"Marc. What are you doing?" She tried to wiggle away from him. A loud thunder-clap startled her and she jumped.

"I'm helping you relax. You're so tense." His hands moved back up to her shoulders to massage them. "Haven't you heard the saying, it's just the angels bowling?" His hands rested at the the top of her skirt, then slipped inside the loose waistband.

"That's just silly. It's the collision of the hot and cold air, everyone knows that. I'm not a little girl anymore," she stated proudly, sticking her chest out in the process, right into his waiting hands. He dipped his head down to capture one of her nipples with his mouth, swirling his tongue around it, bringing his leg between hers.

"I'd say that's lucky for me, isn't it?" His eyes danced with mischief as his fingers walked up and down her back, making their way to the front to caress her flat stomach. Her stomach muscles twitched when he followed those caresses with kisses. She looked down to see her skirt was slowly being slipped down her legs. 

The storm was moving away, the thunder not as loud, and the lightning farther off in the distance. The rain too, had gentled. She was hot and sticky and now wet and unsure of what to do with all the feelings running through her body. 

He had just told her he loved her. Next week they would be going their separate ways. He would be returning to college for his last year and she would be beginning her very first semester. She looked at him. His skin seemed to glisten from the mixture of sweat and rain and he smelled too good. She knew that the chances of a long distance relationship working were slim to none, and didn't want to let any moment pass her by. 

She returned his kisses and then crawled out of his reach, hiked her skirt back up, slipped the shoulder straps on, and then ducked under the boardwalk back into the open air. Rain kissed her skin. 

"Come dance with me," she invited. He stood up carefully, as he was quite uncomfortable now, and followed her out.

She threw her arms out and twirled around in circles, letting the rain wash away the sand, the sweat, and the nerves. She swayed; she leapt; she ran with abandon. 

Her sweet giggle was music to his ears. Watching her, Marc didn't participate. He wanted to enjoy this brief moment of freedom she allowed herself. He could see her walls coming down and was intent on bringing more down.

"Aren't you going to dance too?"

"I'll dance with you." He stepped forward and twirled her in his arms before drawing her body against his and swaying with her to the music of the receding storm. She tucked her head into his neck.

"I love you, too," she whispered. His hold on her tightened slightly. "I want to be with you. But, I'm not ready yet," she told him, nervously. 

"Okay." He did his best to keep the strain and frustration from his voice. "It's okay. I'll wait. We can wait. I don't ever want you to feel rushed," he reassured her, stroking her hair. 

"I want to assure you that I didn't tell you I love you just to get into your pants. I'm thinking about that of course, but that's not why I said it." 

She let out the breath she didn't know she had been holding. 

"I love you and I'm willing to wait," he promised her. The rain had stopped completely.

"Thank you," Devin said. 

"I want to do something while the sand is still wet." She walked forward and found a thin piece of drift wood. She picked it up and he followed her. She began writing in the sand. 

"D.B." He took the stick from her and wrote "& M.L," then gave the stick back to her. She drew a heart and he wrote, "In the moment."

***

The flashback ended and Devin looked down at the sand. Marc had taken over the writing, re-creating that moment they shared so long ago, but adding "found." Her eyes teared up.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm not sure. I'm just thinking about if we had gotten to have that moment. If we had made love the end of our summer together. You know, if things would have happened differently." She said forlornly.

"I've wondered the same, Devin. Believe me, I've had a lot of time to think about things. But that was the past. Our past experiences shape us. Who knows, if things had been different, we wouldn't have our darling little girls. I think it's best not to dwell in the past." Marc handed her the stick and watched her toss it into the sea.

"By the same token, thinking about the future can be maddening and uncertain. Let's live in the moment, like you always used to say to me," she suggested. 

"I like the sound of that. We'll think about here and now and not too far beyond." Marc took out a blanket and spread it on the beach, drawing her down to sit with him. They watched the sunset, side by side. He reach out where her hand rested on the blanket and curled his big one around it, just holding it.

**

Devin was surrounded by boys. Well mostly boys and a few men as well; if you could call them that. But she only had eyes for Marcus Lambardski. She learned that Marc's uncle's house was on the larger lagoon perpendicular to her own. 

The house wasn't large, but it had an open floor design with a couple of bedrooms and two bathrooms. The thing that held her attention was moored to the dock; a very large, very loud, sleek, black speed- boat. Devin was used to the loud boats in her neighborhood, but this was by far the most impressive one she had seen yet. 

She daydreamed about what it would be like to feel the freedom of that boat, the wind whipping her long curling hair around, and riding the waves. Not real waves, mind you. She was terrified of the ocean, but the bay suited her just fine and the boat would cause a wake to be just enough wave-like action for her. 

Now she was about to get her chance. She noticed a huge jacuzzi off to the side of the deck, a seeming staple among lagoon homes. Currently in the jacuzzi were several boys and a few lucky, or unlucky girls who had gotten picked up on the boardwalk the night before. They all seemed to be nursing hangovers. A couple of the guys waved her over and she walked up to them.

"Hey you must be Devin. Marc told us about you," one guy said.

"What brings you over here?" another guy asked.

"You want to come in and join us?" A boy smirked at her. She glared at the cute dark-haired boy. 

"Marc invited me to go out on his uncle's boat," she said flipping her hair and walking away, not seeing the response of jaws dropping and awe on the jacuzzi occupants' faces.

"Dude, did she just say Marc is taking her out on the boat?" she heard another boy ask. 

"Hey, that's not fair. I've been around for a month and have yet to get on that boat," one of the girls grumbled.

"Babe, I've only been on it once and then I had to wash the bottom of it. It's all hype anyway. You want to ride something fast, you come for a ride on my bike. That'll make you smile." The couple agreed with each other and kissed noisily, moaning over the jets as he slid her suit top off, with no care for the rest of the people in the spa.

Devin rolled her eyes, still with her back to the spa. Then her eyes lit up as Marc walked out of the house, a large cooler in his arms, his hair tied back in a pony-tail. He wore a smile on his face as he grabbed a couple of towels and then her hand.

"Are you ready, darling Devin?" he asked, handing her up into the boat. She nodded and looked at the sophisticated controls on the boat's dash, hoping he knew what he was doing. 

He saw the tension in her shoulders and brushed his hand down her arm before rooting around and finding a life preserver under the bench.

"For m'lady." He said, handing the flotation device to her.

"Thanks. I'm sorry I'm such a wuss," she blushed.

"It's okay. I'll take care of you though. Don't worry." He tapped her nose, indicated the seat she should take, then slid into the Captain's chair. Putting on the Captain's hat, he wiggled his eyebrows at her. "What do you think?"

"I think you are made for this," she said with seriousness. He smiled back at her. 

"Sit back, and enjoy. We won't give this baby juice until we are way out in the bay. So just enjoy the scenery and the ride. Grab a beer or a water if you are thirsty from the cooler. I brought some vittles too." Marc sensed she enjoyed his word play and he was pleased as punch, because it wasn't often an intelligent girl, with a sweet face, cute body, and great personality took interest in him or his words. He was going to hold onto this one, for sure. 

"Were you a Boyscout?" she wondered aloud.

"How did you guess?" he turned to look at her, with searching eyes.

"Oh I dunno, you seem ultra prepared in a Boyscout way." 

"Yes, I made it to Eagle. But listen, don't tell anyone around here okay? I don't want flack for it." He nudged the boat along the lagoon.

"You should be proud of it. I bet you didn't think it was uncool when it helped you get a college scholarship," she fired back.

"What are you psychic?" He laughed.

"Nah, my cousin just got a Scout scholarship with his Eagle. I was a little bent out of shape because I was a Senior in Girl Scouts and there was nothing comparable offered to me." She huffed and then watched a Mama duck chase after a stray baby duck and smiled softly. 

"So this is your uncle's boat? Some of the guys were talking about it. One girl had her nose out of joint about it." She was curious to know what the reactions of the other kids were about.

"Oh did she? That's funny. What did she say?" Marc was thoroughly enjoying this.

"Um something like 'I've been around for a month now and haven't been invited on that boat.' Then the boy she was with, replied, 'I've only been on the boat once and then I had to clean the bottom of the boat, it's all hype. Don't worry baby, come ride my bike.' Marc roared laughter.

"Ah, good old Jonathon. He's such a whiner and so is his latest fling. Thing is my uncle is the Captain and he is pretty picky about who he lets on the boat, let alone lets Captain her. This thing is an award winner," he said with pride, stroking the side of the craft.

Her eyes went wide. "Have you raced it?"

"I have once. I'm trying to prove to my uncle I can handle her," he said proudly. "Anyway."

"So, have you brought other girls out here?"

"To answer your first question, when my uncle isn't around, I've had a few friends out. But last week I wasn't around, and one of the knuckle-heads, drunken, got a hold of the keys. That is what the sirens were about, if you remember them from Friday night. I'm sure the entire neighborhood heard them."




Summer Spirit



"Oh I do remember. I just assumed."

"Assumed an ambulance was picking someone up for alcohol poisoning?"

"Insert foot in mouth, Dev," she chided herself.

He looked into her pretty eyes. "Just so you know, I'm more responsible than my cousins and friends. I'm like the den leader." He laughed at his joke. "I don't drink all that much, either. I'm busy taking a summer course." This admission surprised Devin. "Let me guess, a Literature class?" She recovered.

"Am I that transparent?" He asked with good humor. She looked away from him and realized they had left the lagoon and were almost to the bay. 

"Hold onto your hat. I'm about to show you what this baby can do." He said. She held on for dear life as he gave the boat gas. The force of the speed threw her back against the cushioned bench and she squeaked with excitement. Her hair came loose of the ponytail she had it in and whipped behind her. She watched as the blur of geese flew past them. 

"HOLD ON!" He shouted over the engine. Devin squeezed her eyes shut as salty water sprayed in her face. She reached one hand out to brace on the captain's chair. He pulled her hand into his lap and held it there. She nervously watched as jet-skiers timed their jump to coincide with the fish-tail wake the boat left behind. She could hear peals of laughter and screams of adrenaline coming from them. 

"Watch the back of the boat." He said mysteriously. She did and nearly flew out of her seat when a jet of flames ignited out the back of the boat.

"Oh My God!" She screamed. "Holy Crow."

"Like that?" He screamed over the roar. She shook her head no, vehemently. "Too much?"

"Yes!" He turned off the jet stream and eased the throttle. They skirted around a large wooden post set in the middle of the water, with a huge nest set atop it. Marc saw it too and pointed up.

"Oh, look at that osprey nest." She said with excitement. "They're such beautiful birds. Keep your eyes to the sky and we might see one. It's their breeding time."

Marc looked at her in wonder. "How did you know that?" She grinned and then reached into the little knapsack she carried with her and pulled out her Audubon bird identification book. 

"I'm an avid bird watcher." She replied, handing him the book, which was filled with notes. 

"You're delightful." He said with sincerity. He pulled the throttle and let the boat go into neutral and then stood up, stretched and sat beside her.

"Hey, wait is that safe?" She asked, pointing to the Captain-less boat.

"Perfectly." And then he was kissing her. His arms were wrapped around her and she snuggled in, sliding her hands up to his ponytail and releasing his mane of hair, running her hands through it.

"I should have warned you about the jet stream too. Sorry about that." He said guiltily.

"Is that even legal?"

"My uncle holds a special license for racing, so yeah." She gave him a doubtful look. 

"Your uncle."

"Yeah I know, my uncle. So, sue me if I was trying to impress a pretty, smart girl." He flirted and she forgave him instantly.

"A pretty young girl, you forgot to add."

He groaned. "Back to this again? You know, once you're a co-ed you're fair game." He winked. "Few more weeks, right?" It was Devin's turn to groan now.

"Don't remind me."

"Aw, aren't you looking forward to college? Partying, meeting all those boys? Furthering your education? Exploring the big wide world." He had turned her hand over, palm up and was rubbing circles around it, giving her little chills. 

"I uh." He was distracting her and he knew it. "What was I going to say?" She closed her eyes. He leaned over to whisper.

"You were going to tell me that you want to be my girlfriend." Her eyes flashed open.

"What?" He was giving her big blue puppy dog eyes and looking at her expectantly. "But I'm about to go away to college and you are returning to yours. No, I don't like parties and boys are way over-rated."

"All boys?" His question disrupted her thoughts.

"Yes, all boys. Well I mean, I'm not sure about men, but I haven't met any men yet. I mean -- Marc this is confusing." 

"I'm not asking you to marry me, Devin. I want to get to know you better. We have one month left before we have to think about the future. I would be willing to try to make things work, if that's what you decided. What do you say?"

"I hardly know you." She protested. "You're older than I am. My parents would kill me!" Her tone of voice rose.

"You're legal and like I said, in college you'll meet many age ranges. I think your parents would like me. I'm a good guy." His thoughts strayed as a shadow flew overhead. 

When they looked up they were privileged with the appearance of an osprey. They both stared up in fascination as it dove deep and came up with a fish in its beak. When Devin looked up to watch the bird, Marcus took the opportunity to pull her into his lap and hold her so he could gaze into her eyes.

"You must think me such a little girl."

"Actually, I think you are complex and deep and adorable, my delightful Devin."

"I have a confession to make." She said quietly.

"Go on." He coaxed.

"I'm shy and I'm awkward and I don't know how to approach guys. So, I'd rather ignore them and protect myself from the ridicule I have suffered in the past." 

"Well you've reeled me in."

***

"Devin? Earth to Devin. This is mission control." The voice snapped her out of her reverie. "Where did you go?"

"Delightful Devin," she whispered and looked up. Her head had found a resting place on his shoulder. The stars were twinkling above them.

"Ah, you were remembering when I asked you out," he guessed. "I was elated to get the answer I was looking for when you agreed to be mine during that exciting boat ride."

"You have a good memory," she said fondly.

"It seems we both do. Sometimes memories are all that keep me going." The grown-up, handsome Marc said under his breath. His hair might be cut shorter and he might now have lines around his eyes and lips, but he was still that same sweet, patient boy at heart. She tousled his hair and nuzzled his cheek with affection. 

She saw the old Marc through the sadness that creased his brow. She liked to imagine the other lines were caused by laughter and joy, not sorrow, but she didn't yet know. She did know that she was ready to find out. She looked out at the ocean and listened to the crashing waves, giving him a moment.

"That was my most memorable summer. The summer I spent with the most memorable, adorable, witty, charming girl I'd ever met." He turned to her, slid his hands down her arms to hold both hands firmly in his, drawing her gaze away from the ocean and back to his. There were tears glistening in his blue eyes. "I regret everyday what happened."

"Please Marc. Can we not go there? It's in the past and should remain there. I know the truth of why it happened. I'm the one that feels selfish for not getting it." Marc nodded in agreement. But that didn't stop the flood of memories or tears.

***

Marc, Devin, and a few of their friends were at his uncle's dock, crabbing. They had a pot boiling on the fire pit and had already caught five decent size ones. They were blissfully happy, but knew the summer was fast coming to a close. They chose not to focus on that reality and enjoyed each other instead. 

"Watch this," Marc said. "I bet you $50 I can put this crab to sleep." His boast had his friend agreeing to the bet.

"I'm in," his friend Jonathon stated, throwing in $10. Each guy and girl went around adding $10 to the pot. Marc winked over at Devin, who already knew that Marc had just earned them some date money. She acted innocently interested.

"Oh Marc, be careful," she purred, playing her part perfectly.

"Don't worry Dev, I'm not afraid of a little crab." The guys were guffawing and egging him on. Marc gingerly took a smallish crab out of the trap and flipped it onto its back. The thing flailed around a bit and threatened him with grabbing claws, but Marc was not to be deterred. 

"Ready?" he challenged. All eyes were on him and the crab.

"Aw, don't worry. This won't hurt," he crooned to the crab. He added it on thick, schooling his voice from giving him away. 

"Yeah, it won't hurt til your in the pot," one of the guys shouted.

"Shut up. I have to concentrate," Marc snapped at him. His friend was silent. Devin yawned, but tried to remain interested. 

The first time it was exciting, the second, okay cool. But after the eighth show, it got old. Still, she had to give Marc credit for his showmanship. 

"There you go baby." He eased his finger on the crabs stomach and stroked gently. 

Devin was a little jealous of the female crab who was enjoying the attention. The crab stopped moving. Devin wanted his fingers stroking her and maybe not just on the outside. 

"There now," whispering, he set the little crab on it's shell, on the dock. Everyone stared in amazement at the stunned crab.

"How'd you do that, man?" his friend gasped.

"Is it dead?" the friend's girlfriend asked, concerned.

"You mesmerized it. Marc the crab hypnotist." Jonathon, his best friend admitted. 

Marc looked over at Devin and flashed her a grin. 

"Go on, touch it. It won't bite or snap," he promised his friend. "Hard," he whispered to himself. 

His friend bent down and touched the little crab without incident. Each person took a turn until the last one, a girl, reached her finger out and touched the crab's claw. The crab woke up and snapped her finger hard. She screamed and swung around in circles with the crab still latched on. The crab lost its grip and flew back into the lagoon, but not before Cara, his friend's girlfriend, jumped into the lagoon after it with tears in her eyes.

"Shit." Marc cursed. "Man, I'm so sorry Cara!" he apologized profusely. 

"Asswipe!" His friend Casey said as he shoved Marc into the water. 

"I deserved that," he swam gallantly over to Cara to look at her finger.

"You okay? I'm really sorry. I didn't realize the crab was going to wake up. You must have startled her."

"You're a a real jerk, Marcus Lambardski." she said swimming away. Cara climbed out of the water, dragging her boyfriend away. "Let's go!" she stomped away with him trailing behind her.

"That was wrong." Devin admonished, laughing as soda poured out of her mouth. 

"I didn't realize it was waking up. Poor Cara. She'll be okay. I did offer to kiss it." Marc climbed up the ramp and grinned. Devin glared. 

"Kidding, Dev. Baby, I'm kidding okay?"

"Will you pet me the way you pet that crab?" she asked as she brushed up against him.

"Mhm and not just your tummy, anywhere you want," he promised. 

While Marc was collecting his winnings, Devin snuck over to the crab trap.

"You poor things," she whispered. "Don't bite me and I'll set you free." She made a deal with the crabs. 

"I can't see how anyone can watch a living creature suffer in a boiling pot like they plan to do." She was talking as she quietly unlatched the trap. She quickly looked up to see everyone was preoccupied with hot-tubbing, drinking, telling Marc he was a shit-head, or congratulating him. She hurried and dropped the crab trap back in and watched them side swim away. She hoorayed silently and then returned innocently to the activity.

It was time to cooked up the crabs. So Marc sent Jonathon over to the trap as he prepped the fire. Jonathon pulled the traps up and looked in them confounded. They were empty. He walked back over to the fire pit.

"Uh Marc?"

"How many did we catch?" Marc wanted to know.

"That's just it. Traps are empty."

"Huh?" 

His uncle came over, wanting to know where the crabs were. "Maybe when you were doing your crab shenanigans they snuck out."

"No, no I shut the trap and latched it," he said, confused as everyone else.

"Marc, where are the crabs?" His uncle demanded.

Marc looked over at Devin who was being way too quiet. He was about to ask Devin why she did it when he heard a car screech into the driveway. His dad flew out of the car with the devastating news that his mother had taken a turn for the worse.

Marc had never told Devin much about his family, let alone that his mother suffered from Cancer. So all of this came as a huge shock to her. Crabs forgotten, BBQ forgotten, Devin forgotten: Marc got into the car with his Dad and drove away without a word. 

Each day only grew worse until they spent their last few moments together, when Marc told Devin his mother was terminally ill and he had to leave.

***

That summer was the last she had heard of him, until this day.

"Yup, the best and worst summer of my life." He amended. "Hm. Well, Danae died in the winter. So I can truly say that." Marcus' phone was ringing.

"Go ahead and answer it," Devin said. He hit a button on his cell phone.

"Marc, have you sweet-talked that pretty Devin into coming for BBQ yet?" Devin blushed at his father's words. He had Daniel on speaker phone. 

"Dad." Marc gritted his teeth in annoyance like a teenager. "I'm working on it." 

She heard rich laughter on the other end and leaned toward the receiver to say "Hi, Daniel."

"Devin, I insist you come for BBQ tomorrow night. Marina is chomping at the bit to meet the girl who quite nearly swept my son away so long ago." He lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. 

"You know, between you and I, he still carries a torch for you." He paused, "despite everything."

"Bye, Dad," Marc said, quickly hitting "end." "Sorry," he mumbled.

"You're dad is wonderful." Devin remembered. 

After that fateful night when Marc shut down, his father began to open up to her about his wife. Most of the summer she had only seen Marc's uncle around. But his dad started coming out and partying with the boys to ease his worries for his wife. Marc never came with him. Daniel found a listening ear in Devin and confided in her. 

Truth be told, she knew more about Marc through his father, than she did from the man himself and she certainly knew his father on a deeper level.

"You got to know my dad pretty well. He adored you. Do you know that after Danae died, he tried to get me to find you and give you a call? He knew that you would listen to me, the way you did to him. He also knew you would be good for me." He touched her cheek. "That we would be good for each other." 

Devin was silent, listening to this new bit of information. "Why didn't you? Find me?" Her voice was barely audible.

"I didn't want to burden you. I didn't know if you were still mad at me or hated me. I wasn't sure you would even have remembered me." Now it was his turn to look away. He wore a look of uncertainty and it unsettled her to see it. She cupped his face in her hands and tenderly touched her lips to his. He blinked at her, not responding but not pulling away. She ran her hands up his neck to settle in his hair.

"I miss it being long," she said as she angled his head to make the kiss more comfortable for her, deepening it.

***

"Devin," his deep voice warned, thick with some unnamed emotion. The muscle in his jaw twitched as the tip of her tongue touched his upper lip. He still hadn't responded. She sighed and lifted her hands up in defeat, pushing herself up and off of the blanket. 

With a curse of frustration that control was slipping so easily away from him, Marc stood up and in one swift motion, plucked the surprised Devin off her feet. He lay her back on the blanket and covered her small frame with his body. He played with her shortened hair.

"I miss your curls." He whispered back, tickling her ear with his breath before sucking the lobe of her ear. Goosebumps pricked her body and she wiggled beneath him. He slid the straps of the sundress down her shoulders. 

"It's only temporary," she assured him. "My hair grows fast." She smiled. A rumbling in the distance caught their attention. They both stared up at the dark roiling clouds.

"Looks like rain," he stated the obvious.

"Mm, maybe we should hide out under the boardwalk," she suggested.

"Wouldn't that be ironic?" he asked as he gathered the blanket and grabbed his flip-flops and her cute sandals on the way up. 

"Race you," she called out, already running for the boards. Her cell phone slipped from her pocket.

"Not a chance!" he laughed, having a hard time keeping up with her.

"I'm still faster than you," she sang. As she ducked her head under the boardwalk, the first fat drops of rain fell.

"Must have something to do with age," he alleged, laying the blanket on the cool sand.

***

"Deja vu," Devin murmured. 

As he strode toward her, she backed up a bit alarmed at the severe look on his face. What was she doing? She asked herself. Trying to seduce him? She felt the wooden post against her back.

"Recaptured moment," he answered, plundering her mouth with his. She braced herself and gasped at the intensity. Her heart beat a wild rhythm and her knees became like jelly. He drew the straps all the way down and continued to kiss her shoulder.

"Still my favorite spot." He licked the freckle on her shoulder that she knew he was particularly fond of. She closed her eyes. His knee was between her legs keeping her from falling. He slid the dress down over her breasts and groaned appreciatively at their fullness. His fingers lightly circled her nipples and she strained against his knee, trying to get closer. Suddenly his touch was gone and she let out a small whimper of protest, sliding to the sand. She opened her eyes.

"Marcus?" He was sitting on the beach blanket, a come-hither expression on his face. She couldn't resist that look and moved towards him. He leaned back and relaxed, as if soaking up some rays. 

Rain was seeping through the boards, showering him. She knew he was waiting for her to make a move. She glided towards him with rain streaming down her face. She finished sliding the sundress the rest of the way down her body and shimmied out of it. She tilted her head back and opened her mouth, catching raindrops on her tongue and licking her lips invitingly as she savored the drops.

"Aren't you worried about acid rain?" Marc smirked up at her and she smiled serenely.

"Ocean means less accumulation of acid and pollution in the clouds."

"Good to know. I didn't know that. Guess I won't have a cow next time Kyla does that." 

At the mention of his daughter, Devin thought of her own baby girl. Shouldn't they have called by now? He could see that look in her eye and tugged her down beside him.

"I'm sure she's fine. But if you have to call and check in, here." He handed her his cell phone. She blinked at him in confusion.

"Go on use it. Yours looks sorta useless now," he remarked, pointing to the slender silver phone sticking up in the sand. She watched as the rain flooded it. 

"Oh no! Dammit, now what am I going to do?" Agitation setting in. He framed her face with his hands, leaned in close to her ear, and handed her the phone.

"You are going to call and reassure yourself that your baby girl is just fine. Then give my number to your folks so they can reach you. We'll worry about the phone later." 

She sighed and bit her lower lip, shrugged, and then dialed.

"Mom, mom is everything okay? My cell phone took a swim and is unusable," She knew she probably sounded harried and didn't want to worry her Mom.

"Course we're fine. Don't worry, you didn't miss any calls from us. Shaylee is ruling the roost over here. She's such a sweet baby and so smart. Do you want to say Hi to her? I could wake her up from her nap. It's been about thirty minutes."

"No, um it's fine. Don't wake her up. Just tell her I love her and miss her terribly." She really did want to hear that tiny voice, but it didn't seem fair to disturb her slumber. She resigned herself to the uneventful update. The thunder rumbled.




Summer Spirit



"Dev, are you all right? You sound wound up. Is that thunder? Are you outside in a thunderstorm? Young lady." She recognized her Mom's tone of voice. 

"I'm good Mom, thanks. Don't worry, I'm protected from the elements. Taking a stroll down memory lane is all. Emotional, you know. "

"Marcus." Her Mom pinpointed like the savvy mind reader she always seemed to be. "Don't you let him break your heart again." Her mom said sternly. "Or else he'll have to deal with me." 

"And me." Her Dad piped in. She looked guiltily at Marcus and walked a few paces away, unfazed by her near nudity. She threw a coy smile back at him.

"It's nothing like that. So much has gone on in his life. I've found closure from that time and so has he. Talk about it when I get home," she stressed the home part.

"Be safe and careful."

"I will Mom. I'll call tomorrow and talk to Shay."

"Oh and Dev?"

"Yeah, Mom?"

"It's okay to open your heart again and let someone in. It can be pretty darn lonely in there." 

She gulped and mumbled, "I know. I know it is. Okay. I have it covered. Love ya." She closed the phone and handed it back to Marc. 

"Oh crap, I forgot to leave your number." She redialed and gave her mom the number, just in case. Then she eased her nearly naked body onto his lap for a snuggle.

"Mm, this is nice," he said. 

Scooting around, she straddled his hips and moved her hands down his body to rest at the top of his board-shorts. 

He groaned. "Mm, even better." His own fingers found her wet through the small scrap of material hiding her from him. His thumb pressed inward, finding her nub and caressing it. She wiggled her butt as she undid the Velcro on his shorts.

"Don't you think we should move this to a drier location?" he questioned, rubbing up and down the edges of her panties.

"Hm, eventually." She grinned as she released his manhood from its barrier. His eyes widened as she wrapped her hand around the flesh and stroked up and down, gently rubbing the tip. A bead of come glistened at the top.

"Oh God, Devin. If you don't stop, I'm going to have to take you right here."

"And?" she demanded a little forcefully.

"I don't want it like this. I want it to be perfect. I want us to be dry." He laughed at his own joke. "I want it to be romantic."

"What's more romantic than rain and a summer storm?" Her voice took on a husky quality as she leaned forward and pressed a tiny kiss on his hardness. He literally growled at her and lifted her up from her bottom, dragging her onto his clothed hardness. She pouted as she grinded against him.

"Hey, I wasn't finished yet," she protested.

"No,baby, I think you are." He snatched up their clothes, belongings, and threw the beach blanket over her body, then tossed her over his shoulder. Ducking under the boards, he strode up the ramp. The thunder grumbled in the distance as if in appreciation. The rain was a light shower now as if the elements knew his intention. 

"Marc, what is with you and manhandling me? For crying out loud, put me down!" She smacked him in the chest. "You big brute. Neanderthal."

"Not a chance." He threw back at her as he silenced her with a bruising kiss. "You must not have read your history books either, neanderthals were actually pretty intelligent." She sealed her lips to stop the invasion and then bit him hard.

"Ow! What was that for? Geez Devin, I had no idea you were into that kinda thing. If you want to get rough, can't you just wait til we get back to my place?" 

She licked where she bit and rubbed against him like a wildcat. He found his car, unlocked the door, and deposited her in the passenger seat. But she wasn't letting go. Little goosebumps were marching up her arms.

"Dev. Let go, my house is only a few blocks away. We'll be there in less than five minutes. Besides, you look cold. We might just end up back in the shower again, if you aren't careful."

"Showers are nice. But I happen to go giddy for bubble baths," she confessed as she relented and loosened her hold on him. 

***

Marc shut the passenger door, watched her put her seat belt on and ran to the driver's side, feeling like a college kid again. She threw the beach blanket off of herself and slid down in the seat.

"Jesus, Devin. If we pass by any cops, you're gonna get arrested for indecent exposure. I think you're secretly a nudist, aren't you?" He turned his head to watch her. She was paying him no mind. His member leapt to attention and he was captivated. She slid her hands down to her thighs and spread them apart, playing with the folds with one hand and squeezing her right nipple with the other. Her eyes held his as she licked her finger. He forced his gaze away from her, tugged the blanket back up over her body and floored it.

She may have just moments before complained about him carrying her, but now there was no choice, not with her state of undress. He bundled her up and bounded into the house like an excited dog with a brand new toy, or was that a horny dog? What did it matter? 

He looked for the closest flat surface and found the kitchen table, considered it for half a moment, but rethought the location, at least for now. With great effort he made his way upstairs and to his bedroom. His work stuff was scattered across the surfaces and his and Kyla's laundry was piled high on the bed. He cursed, set her down on her feet, and swept the clothes into a clothes basket, plunking it onto the floor by his dresser. 

He turned around and found that Devin had already crawled into his bed and was making herself at home, rubbing her face on his pillow. He was thankful he had put fresh sheets on the bed this morning, not a typical thing for him, either. She was up against the headboard, her arms crisscrossed leisurely above her head, her legs crossed at the ankles, her hip tilted at an inviting angle. He got a quick image of her with long flowing black hair framing her face, but that was quickly replaced by the short, angelic, red hair, and the lusty look in her eye. An oxymoron, to be sure. 

"God you're breathtaking." He stood admiring her. She crooked her finger, calling him forth. He knew he would have followed her anywhere and that unsettled him. He pushed that fear away as he crawled up after her, pulling his shorts off as he went. He lifted her foot up and began massaging it. 

***

Devin stretched out her body and almost jumped out of her skin when he started massaging her foot. It tickled, but it felt so wonderful. He was good at it. Hell, he was good at just about anything he set his mind too. She let herself imagine and picture the other things she was sure he was great at and giggled. He stopped massaging, knowing he was tickling her and instead kissed her toes, which threw her into a fit of more giggles. He smirked at her as he sucked her toe.

"Oh my. Marcus, do you have a foot fetish?" She asked, shocked. Color graced his cheeks and he shrugged.

"Not normally, but you have perfect feet and I just couldn't resist a little nibble. Is that okay?" He wanted to know, he was asking her permission. She nodded and braced herself for the oddest sensation. She had never had a man kiss her feet, let alone suck on her toes. Her first thought was "Gross!" but then she felt like she was melting into the bed and didn't care. She was thankful for the pedicure she had treated herself to that afternoon along with the hair cut. He didn't stay at her feet for long and was already making his way up. Up to her knee; which he kissed each one in turn. Then up to her thigh; which he gave a little squeeze. His lips were replaced by his tongue and fingers. He made little circles, navigating ever closer to her heat. His fingers slid the material of her turquoise panties aside.

"I enjoyed that little show in the car," he confessed. His voice alone was enough to make her clench her thighs together. He nudged them apart and slid a finger into her wetness. 

"I'm really sorry about that. I'm not sure what came over me." She was blushing profusely, suddenly self-conscious and covering her breasts up, trying to close her legs. "That's not normal me. I've never done something like that before. You just drive me crazy. I can't think," she whispered desperately. 

He took her hands off her chest and held them. Then he scooted up to sit beside her. She was sniffling.

"Dev, what's wrong?" He was concerned and that touched her.

"I'm sorry. I'm confused and nervous. I've waited so long to have you hold me again, to have you touch me, to make love to me. I feel like I'm nineteen all over again, like it's the first time again."

"But it is," he nodded in understanding.

"You know what I mean: THE first time." 

He smiled softly, caressed her hair and nuzzled her neck, drawing her into the circle of his arms.

"There's no need to rush things if you are feeling overwhelmed. Hell, the truth is, I haven't been with anyone since Danae. I'm a bit out of practice myself, I'm afraid." 

She did a quick calculation in her head based on the age of his daughter. Four years. That meant he had not been with a woman in four years, if he were to be believed. But what reason had he ever given her to disbelieve him?

"Scouts honor," he promised as if reading her mind. 

It had been about two years for her. This news did make things a little better for her and she relaxed exponentially. She let out a small sigh and rested her head on his shoulder, just enjoying him. She dance d her fingers along his arm. 

He unwound himself from her and faced her. He was so handsome. Despite the lines of sadness, time had been kind to him. She could tell that he still worked out, although the chiseled physique of his youth had left him with a nice toned body, his six-pack had been reduced to barely definable abs, and there was a softness that she enjoyed about him. He still had a full head of chestnut hair, although it was beginning to thin a bit in the front. But his best feature, the one that had drawn her to him from the beginning and captivated her at this very moment, was his striking sea-blue eyes. She could swim in those eyes! She leaned up just as he was leaning down and they clunked heads.

"Ow," she said, rubbing at it. He kissed her forehead and then kissed the side of her mouth, lightly skimming across her lips to the other side of her mouth, making a loud smacking sound and laughing deeply.

"You're silly." 

"Thanks. I try," he winked. He lifted her arms up over her head and she watched him, curiously. She left her arms where he placed them. He kissed the pulse point of each of her wrists and she wondered if he could feel her pulse speed up. Turning his palms face up, he trailed his fingertips from her out-turned wrists down her arms. She tried hard not to laugh as it tickled immensely. He had just reached her armpit.

"Are we about to dance?" she asked, biting her lip.

"Dance?"

"You know, that scene from Dirty Dancing where he is getting her used to being touched intimately." 

He laughed, answering her by brushing against the sides of breasts.

"Oh Devin I do love you. Do you want to?" She blushed and loved hearing those words coming from his lips.

"What?"

"Dirty Dance with me?" His eyes were laughing as his head dipped down and his lips found her collarbone. He nibbled along it until he reached her left ear. "Does this still titillate you?" he asked in the softest of whispers as he caressed her earlobe with his lips and then gently sucked on it.

"Mm," she responded.

"Or this?" His fingertips brushed back up the sides and across her breasts, resting at her nipple, then pinching lightly, watching them pebble to a peak. He circled with his tongue before closing his mouth over one and sucking on it hard. Then he lavished the same attention on the other. Her eyes were closed and goosebumps ran up and down her arms.

"I uh, don't know how to dance. Not well at least."

"That's not exactly how I remember it," he said in barely a whisper as they shared another flashback.

***

The sky was crystal clear and millions of stars twinkled in a blanket of darkness. Even the Milky Way was visible on this hot summer night. There was the sound of laughter and music pulsing loudly, bodies moving to the beat. The thump of the base had people gyrating and bumping and grinding. 

Devin sat on the edge of it all. Her pretty sun dress was tear stained and the humidity had her unruly hair in a frizz as if she stuck her finger in a light socket. She was staring into the flames of the beach bonfire, willing herself not to cry, yet again. Marcus should have been here with her for the end of the summer bash, but he wasn't. 

She didn't want to be here either, but she had promised her parents that she would try and have fun. What parents of a teenager would actually encourage their child to go to a beach party? She knew they probably had their own plans and were having their own fun. She grimaced at that notion, not wanting to think about her parents in that way. Ew! She was nursing a bitter, watered down beer, but being the light-weight that she was, even that was enough to make her dizzy and depressed. She sighed and stood up, only to sit right back down. One of her friends walked over.

"Hey, Dev. You okay? You don't look so good." The girl must have noticed she looked paler than usual and felt her cheek and forehead, which were both clammy. "You need a ride home? Kevin and I could give you a ride. We're going to find a quiet place on the beach to have sex, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind giving you a ride home first," she paused. "It's my first time," the girl squealed. "I'm so nervous!" 

Devin gave her a half-hearted smile. It could have been her first time too. But, noo.

"Nah, Missy. I'm okay. Go have fun and be safe. I'll be fine. The walk home will give me some time to think." Missy shrugged. Devin knew that her friend was probably thinking that the last thing she needed was more alone time, but Missy was so focused on her own nerves and excitement about losing her virginity, that she didn't comment any further. She gave Devin a hug, then sauntered away.

Devin walked down to the edge of the water and put her feet into the surf, sighing.

"Care to dance?" a familiar voice asked from behind her. A pang of hope and then anger overcame her.

"The party is almost over," she said stoically. "Why bother coming now?" she hissed.

"I missed you. I miss you," Marcus' voiced tried.

"Some way to show it," she muttered, not turning to meet his gaze. He slipped his hand in hers and turned her to face him. She looked down at their feet.

"Just one dance and then I will leave you alone, for good." He emphasized "for good." 

Her emotions were so mixed up and she hurt. He hurt her! Why should she even give him the time of day? A dance? Why? So he could kiss her and try to sweep her off her feet? A last ditch effort to get her skirt up.

"I suck at dancing," was her clipped answer.

"That's okay, I'm pretty good. You just have to follow my lead." Marcus tried to get her to look at him. When he put his hand under her chin to tilt her face up, she turned her head away. He sighed, exasperated. 

The music and the party were winding down. 

He had just come from his parent's house. He helped his dad go through some of his Mom's stuff. It had been hard and he needed comfort. Maybe coming to see Devin was a bad idea. But, she deserved to know the truth; about his mom, about him, about his feelings. 

He had traded his trademark board-shorts for khaki pants and a Hawaiian print button-down. Devin didn't think to question the get up. She was too focused on her pain to see the tears on the surface of his eyes. He didn't wait for her answer and just held her close swaying with her. 

A slow song was playing and it was perfect. She felt so good in his arms, so right. She was graceful as he spun her out before drawing her back into his arms. 

He wanted to hold her forever, but knew this was Goodbye.

"Devin." His voice was quiet, but thick with emotion.

"Marcus, don't do this. Please." Her voice hitched and her eyes pleaded with him.

"I have to tell you something," he started.

"Don't," she said and then turned away from him and fled up the dune out of sight. 

He cursed, sighed deeply and then cried his heart out, missing his Mom more than ever. He was going to tell Devin that his mother had died and that was why he was being so distant. He was going to tell her he was sorry and that he loved her and wanted to work things out. She never gave him that chance.

*** Until now. 

"You were going to tell me that your Mom died, weren't you? That night at the bonfire," Devin asked, both of them coming back to the present.

"I was going to tell you more than just that. But yeah."

"I'm sorry Marc. I was so caught up in feeling sorry for myself and being nervous about school and dealing with my parents. I should have given you a chance to explain. Your Dad is the one who told me."

"Eh, it was a long time ago. Don't sweat it." He resumed his ministrations, working to put thoughts of the past behind them. His fingers trailed the curves of her hips and feathered across her stomach, causing her muscles to twitch.

"But I could have been there for -- Oh," she gasped when his head bent down and his lips brushed her inner thigh. The words fled her. He slid her panties down her legs and off her feet, tossing them away. His fingers skimmed along her swollen heat, slipping into her wetness, working two fingers up into her core. Her body arched up as his other hand reached up to tug at one of her nipples. She made a muffled sound and lifted her head up to see his head nestled between her thighs. 

She was up by the headboard and his body lay between her legs, his fingers holding back her lips for a better angle as his lips honed in on her clit, leisurely lapping at the sensitive nub. She let her head fall back, tossing it from side to side, making happy little sounds in time to his slurping and sucking. 

He alternated between lapping, swirling his tongue, sucking, and flicking gently. All the while his fingers worked inside her, building up a rhythm of their own. They were long and they stretched to find the secret spot she desperately tried to find on her own. She moaned loudly and clenched her muscles, her hands dropping down to caress his hair and then hold him to her center, riding with abandon. 

"Marc," she moaned. "Marc, I'm gonna come." 

He hummed against her and she whimpered. "Let go, baby," he urged her, picking up the pace. 

She let go of his head and furiously began twisting at her nipples and panting loudly. 

"Come on," his words encouraged. He lifted her hips up and plunged his tongue into her heat, as her body let go and her juices flowed out. Licking it up, he drank hungrily. She panted, catching her breath.

"That's it, atta girl. Feels good, doesn't it? You're so wet. Let me make you even wetter. Let me love you." He moved out from between her thighs, leaving his hand in place, to continue tantalizing her as his teeth closed on a nipple and tugged carefully. She felt herself building up again and tried to pull his hand away.

"Too much," she murmured. His lips found hers and he gently kissed them. But his fingers continued wiggling as his lips made love to ear. 

"You can handle more. I'm just getting started," he promised as he slid his fingers up out of her and rubbed at her clit. The friction caused her to scream silently in frustration. This was exquisitely bordering on torture. She pulled his hand away from her and pushed him back, taking the opportunity, upon seeing his bewilderment, to slip out from beneath his body. She knelt on her knees and forcefully pushed him onto his back, slithering up his body. He reached around her back and brought her down onto him, pressing his erection against her. She held herself away from him.