Just Sex (6 page)

She picked her discarded pumps off the floor on her way to the closet and set them on the shelf. “What’s that Alfred, Lord Tennyson saying? It’s better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.” She slid out of last nights clothes, yanked an old T-shirt off a shelf, pulled it on and shimmied into worn yoga pants. “Okay, Alfred, we’ll see if your theory’s right.” She slid her feet into a ratty pair of sneakers.

Kat stepped into her bathroom, tugged a brush through her hair, tied it up and wrapped an old silk scarf around her head. She splashed water on her pale face, squeezed toothpaste on her toothbrush and let her electric toothbrush do the work for her. “I’m too old to do tequila shots.”

Water dripped on her T-shirt. She grabbed a discarded towel and patted herself dry. She opened her medicine chest and caught sight of her bloodshot eyes. She fingered her puffiness, grabbed antacids and made her way downstairs.

The smell of paint warmed her heart. “Change is good,” Kat told herself. She spotted Patricia. “Looks like you have a plan.” She popped a chalky tablet in her mouth.

“Are we all right?” Patricia asked.

Kat slid her arm around Patricia. As fights with Patty went, this one was mild. “Always. We’re family.” She squeezed her small waist. “What’s the plan, boss?”

Patricia leaned into her, “Nothing happened last night?” she asked.

“I passed out.”

Patricia chuckled. “You didn’t?”

“Yes I did, and J.J. held me all night.”

“How did that feel?”

“Nice, after my head stopped spinning.”

A man walked by with a pail of paint. Kat whispered, “It’s been a long time. I forgot what it was like to wake up engulfed in a man’s heat.”

“That’s my favorite part of being married,” Patricia said. “It almost makes up for the toilet seat being left up.”

“I don’t know about that.” She picked up a roller and sighed. “Are we starting in the kitchen?”

Ron came up behind them. “Chop, chop, ladies, we don’t have all day for you to gossip.”

“Yes sir.” Kat poured paint into a pan and rolled the buttery color on the wall.

Patricia smacked a loud kiss on her husband’s lips, grabbed the small brush from his hand, pulled the six-foot ladder over to the wall, climbed it and started to edge the taped crown molding next to Kat.

He shook his head and swiped the tape off the counter. “Women.” Ron stood next to Kat and taped the trim.

She glanced over at him, “What did you and Sam do last night?”

“That boy beat my ass at Kinect sports. He knows how to make me feel old.”

Patricia laughed, “When I got home last night, he was passed out in the chair and Sam was asleep on the couch.”

Kat stood back from her wall and smiled. The buttery color warmed the space. “What do you guys think?”

“I love it,” Patricia said. “It brightens the space and makes you feel happy.”

Kat dipped her roller in the pan. “That’s what I was going for.”

Ron shrugged. “It looks yellow to me, but if you two are happy, then I’m happy.”

She moved the roller over the wall. “Spoken like a well-trained man.”

“I’m not stupid. I learned how to say ‘yes dear’ very early.”

“Hey.” Patricia flung her brush at Ron. It landed with a thud on Kat’s back. Patricia laughed. “Sorry.”

“It’s on now, bitch.” Kat chuckled, stomped over to Patty and ran the roller over her chest.

“That’s it.” Patricia dipped her hand in the paint and smeared Kat’s face.

Kat dropped her roller and pounced.

Ron waded in and pulled them apart. Kat and Patricia attacked him for his efforts. “I think I dreamed something like this last week,” he said.

“How did it end?” Kat asked

“Better than this is going to.” He picked up the tray of paint and poured it over her head.

Chapter Six

Kat rinsed yellow flecks of paint down the drain as she scoured her arms with an industrial-strength scrub brush. “God, what a mess.” She adjusted the temperature of the water to boiling in the hope it would remove all the caked-on paint.

By the time she’d cleaned the huge mess in the kitchen and put Sam and his friend to bed, it was after eleven. Kat turned and let the scorching spray pummel her back. She filled her palm with shampoo, massaged it into her scalp, rinsed and heaped a handful of conditioner onto her hair and wondered why she hadn’t heard from J.J.

Maybe he found someone younger and thinner.
Her heart cracked at the thought. Kat rinsed her hair, turned off the water, snatched the towel off the hook and scrubbed herself dry. “Stupid, stupid, stupid. How could I be so dense?” She wrapped her dripping hair in the towel, grabbed her wineglass off the vanity and chugged.

She jumped when her cell signaled a text. Kat picked up the phone and glanced at the read out.

[J.J.: r the kids asleep?]

Unwanted anticipation rocketed through her. “God, you’re pathetic.” She set her glass down with a snap and fumbled with the phone. [Yes]

[J.J.: Sext?]

She typed, [What?]

[J.J.: You’re in for a treat.]

She shoved her arms into her pink fuzzy robe. “I don’t think so. Phone sex I get, text sex I don’t.” Her phone jiggled in her hand. Kat couldn’t help the smile that crossed her lips.

[J.J.: Go to where you play with yourself.]

Kat made her way down the hall. When she suggested J.J. text her instead of calling her, she hoped he wouldn’t affect her the same way. Kat poked her head in and checked on the sleeping boys. She jogged down the stairs and hurried to the pink room. Excitement thrummed between her legs. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

She sat on the bed and her thumbs moved over the keys. [Ok.]

[J.J.: Get naked.]

The cool air-conditioned air washed over her exposed skin when she stripped off her robe, making the phone feel even warmer in her hand. [Ok.]

[J.J.: Get your vibrator.]

Her heart skipped a beat. How did he know she had a vibrator?

Kat laid the phone on the bed and scurried to the dresser. She opened the top drawer. The antique mahogany made a sound of protest. She cringed and glanced around. “Shh.” She pulled on the drawer slowly, grabbed her rabbit and hurried back to her phone and typed. [Got B.O.B.]

[J.J.: Turn it on.]

Her fingers trembled as she slid the switch to the on position. It came alive in her hand. Need swamped her. [It’s on.]

[J.J.: Rub it on your tits.]

She sighed, her pink nipples peaking into tight little nubs. Kat rubbed the vibrating phallus over her bare breasts. The phone chirped, stunning her. “Man, I got it bad.” She stopped her ministrations to look at the phone.

[J.J.: How does it feel?]

Her hormones hit high gear. She flopped on her stomach and typed like a madwoman. [Wonderful, wish it were you.]

[J.J.: I want you to put B.O.B. in your pussy and come for me.]

Kat rolled onto her back and moved the vibrator to her already wet pussy. She found her clit, arched into B.O.B. and started to climb the ladder of ecstasy. White-hot flames licked at her soul.

Stars exploded behind her eyes. When her breathing returned to a somewhat normal rate, she rolled back to her stomach and found her phone. Kat’s lips pulled in a satisfied smirk. [Oh J.J., you made me come. The bed’s wet!]

[J.J.: I’m stroking my cock, thinking how it’s going to feel to fuck you.]

She moved B.O.B back to her pussy and pictured him stroking his cock. Kat came again at the thought of his cock inside her. She moved her trembling fingers over her phone screen. [You made me come again!]

[J.J.: I want to bend U over, shove my big dick in and pull your hair.]

Kat pulled the soft pink throw from the bottom of the bed and wrapped the luxurious material around herself. She typed in all caps. [OH PLEASE!]

The message came back in all caps. [J.J.: WHEN I GET READY TO COME, I’LL PULL OUT, SHOOT CUM ALL OVER YOUR HOT ASS AND WATCH IT RUN DOWN THE CRACK OF THAT HOT ASS OF YOURS!]

Anticipation raced to her pussy and it clenched with greedy need. Kat didn’t feel any shame. She felt confident and sexy for the first time in years. Happiness infused her. [I’ll get on my knees and lick you clean while you pull my hair.]

[J.J.: YOU MADE ME COME AND NOW I HAVE A MESS TO CLEAN UP.]

She chuckled. [Now we’re even.]

Her cell phone rang and her heart jumped in her chest. Kat fumbled for the phone, looked at the readout, pushed the talk button and held it to her ear. “Do you do that often?” she asked

“No, but I think I’ll start. You’re a pro. I can’t wait to see you so I can do those things with you.”

“It’s one thing to do that over the phone, but…”

“How many times do you need to hear me tell you? I want you.” A sigh vibrated through the phone. “I dream of you.”

Kat pulled on her robe. “Until recently you had a girlfriend.”

“Yeah,” he chuckled, “and I called out your name the last time I was with her.”

An odd mix of triumph and anger filled her. “What? You didn’t. That’s horrible.” She sat. “I don’t know how to feel about this.”

“Sally and I had a simple relationship.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know. It was just sex,” he said.

Shock and disbelief hit Kat in the chest. “Did Sally know that?”

“Yes, but she always wanted more.” He paused. “You probably think I’m an asshole.”

“That’s something Gary would do.”

“Don’t compare me with that dick. I’d never do what he did to you, or anyone else. I was always up front with Sally. Maybe I could’ve done things differently.” Air whooshed through the cell. “I admit I fucked up the last time we were together, but I never led her on. I never told her I loved her.”

“But how could you have sex with someone you didn’t have feelings for?”

“I never said I didn’t have feelings for her.”

Jealousy hit Kat in her core. “Then you did love her.”

“No. She was my friend.”

Her blood froze at his tone. “Do you have sex with all your friends?”

“Come on, Kat. Are you telling me you’ve always loved the people you had sex with?”

She stood, her stomach aching and indignation stiffening her spine. “Yes. I guess it was different when I was your age.”

“Don’t pull that bullshit on me. You’re not that much older than I am.”

“I have ten years on you.”

“I don’t want to fight with you. Please, I know I was a jerk with Sally and I’m sorry. I’ve had a thing for you since the first time I saw you.”

She almost dropped the phone and had to remind herself to breathe. “That was over a year ago.”

“I know. Imagine my dismay, not only were you a client, but you were married.”

“Is that why you do my yard work?”

“Yes,” he said. “I wanted an excuse to see you, and if I was lucky, I would find a reason to talk to you.”

The resignation in his voice made the sick part of her jump with joy. “I think I said this to you last night. You make me feel things I thought were long dead inside me.”

“Kat, you awaken things in me.” His raspy breath whooshed through the receiver. “How did the painting go today? Can I see you tomorrow?” he asked.

The change of subject gave her time to think about what J.J. had just said. “Ron had all his guys here today and we finished.”

“That’s great.”

“Yeah, it is. Joe said he could start tomorrow on the floors.”

“You must be special for Joe and his men to start on a Sunday.

She wanted to ask why he sounded upset, but a yell came from upstairs. “Crap! Sam’s calling me, I have to go.

“I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

* * * * *

Kat barely heard the doorbell ring amidst the racket. Joe and his crew smashed, scraped, jackhammered and sucked up the old tile. She stepped over tools and debris and opened the door. A wash of color blinded her. The deliveryman held out the biggest bunch of wildflowers she had ever seen. Excitement filled her. “What’s this?”

“Delivery for Kat Henderson.” The man handed her the bouquet.

She sagged with the weight. “Thank you.” Kat turned and rested the arrangement on a table. “Hold on, I’ll get your tip.”

“No need. It’s been taken care of.” The man turned and strolled away.

She closed the door and picked up the vase. The din stopped, wolf whistles raining down on her. “What did you have to do to get those?” a big burly man holding the jackhammer asked and a smaller heavyset man who looked an awful lot like Santa Claus punched the burly one in the arm. “Shut up. Mrs. Henderson is a lady.”

Kat beamed at the men and strolled up the stairs, her hips swaying side to side. She walked into the bedroom and placed the massive vase on the dresser. The flowers gave the plain beige room a punch of color. She didn’t want to think about why she hadn’t picked a color for this room yet.

Maybe she would drag Patricia to the paint store later and pick out a less boring color. She glanced around the room. On the other hand, maybe she would start sleeping downstairs. No, Kat decided, she would make every inch of this house into hers. Kat picked up the card and read.

For my wild thing,

You make my heart zing.

J.J.

She giggled at the silly note, pulled her phone from her pocket and dialed. “You rock my world, even with your cheesy notes.”

“Hi, gorgeous.”

Giddiness settled in her heart. “Hey, thanks for the beautiful flowers. I love them.”

“You’re welcome. Did you like my note?”

“I didn’t know that you were a poet.” She sat on the bed and smiled.

“I’m a poet and didn’t know it.”

“Don’t push it.” She rolled her eyes and studied the lovely flowers. “You should have seen all the workmen’s tongues wagging.”

“They’re all jealous. I think Joe has a thing for you,” J.J. said.

“I know. I offered sex as payment for my new floors.”

“You better not! The only fucking you’re going to do is with me.”

Her nipples stiffened and warmth soaked her panties at his possessive tone.

“Where are you in the house?” he asked.

“The master bedroom. Why?”

“Because I need to hear you get off.”

The flutter in her tummy bloomed and sent a pleasant sensation throughout her body. “J.J., you’re nuts!”

“Please,” he said, his voice sexy and low. “Put your hands on your pussy.”

Her eyes darted around the room. “Oh what the hell.” She exhaled and moved her hand under the waistband of her pants. “J.J., this is crazy.”

“Tell me how it feels.”

His gruff voice sent shock waves through her core. “I can’t believe I’m doing this,” she said. “My pussy’s wet and hot. My pubic hairs are slipping through my fingers.”

“I want you to rub your clit in a flicking motion with your index finger.”

Kat ran her finger over her clit as instructed and sucked in air. If J.J. could turn her on this much with just his sexy voice and naughty words, what could he do with his hands and all the other masculine parts of his body? She would bet her life savings he could get her off with one touch. Her digit slipped through wet heat. “Oh.”

The sound of air rasping through the phone empowered her. Tension grabbed at her pussy. Kat rubbed harder and faster. Her orgasm crested. She bit her bottom lip to stop her screams.

“Baby, I wish I was watching you.”

Kat slipped her hand out of her pants. Her body hadn’t felt this good in years. “I can’t believe you had me do that over the phone.” Sudden realization hit her. “Oh God, what if the workmen heard me?”

“With all that noise I’m hearing in the background, I don’t think they can hear each other.”

A jackhammer sounded from downstairs. Relief washed over her. “You’re probably right.” She sighed. “You make me feel…”

“What?”

“I don’t know.” How could Kat tell him that he made her feel younger, sexier and more confident? Kat knew their relationship couldn’t last. Kat bit the inside of her lip. She decided to ride this wave for as long as it lasted and hoped she didn’t drown when it crashed over her.

“You are fucking unbelievable. Can I see you tonight?”

“I’m sorry. Sam’s community theater group has a play at seven o’clock. I’m on the costume and cleanup committee.”

“Where?” he asked.

“The high school.”

“I’ll meet you around seven.”

Her chest tightened. “You don’t have to.”

“I want to.”

She walked to the bathroom. “Do you really want to watch a bunch of kids flub their lines and massacre
Romeo and Juliet
?”