Hilary's Ass

Years of pining and not
a bristle or cone to show
for it. But that's how it
goes, timid in youth, late
in opportunity.

No denying I watch her
Waiting for the slightest
peak of flesh. Maybe
she won't notice me
notice the lace emerging
from the waistline of her
jeans. It's always sexier
the more she wears.
That is, until she wears
nothing.

A firm grip, right in my
palm and right at the base
of her bottom. Where leg
meets back. My favorite
curves of all her lovely
body. A grip of course
with my eyes, for although
there is much looking
there will almost certainly
be no touching.

Swing Shift Part 2

Zoned out again

My eyes notice her back pockets
Specifically that she has none
Smooth curves all the way down
That was third time I had noticed
In the span of half an hour
Not a line or stitch in sight

Distracted, I'm a target of elderly
ire. A gentleman waiting at first
patiently, has caught me in the act

Little does he know how little
I care, about the work I do
at the store. He can shout all
day but at the end of the conflict
I'll be on my fourth observation.

Swing Shift

This one's for Austyn

Swing Shift

Screaming babies bother
retirees looking for a quiet lunch
I am the monkey at the register
slapping at the flashing screen
Hours are slow on the clock
And pay is barely compensation
But there's gold afoot tonight

Our shifts that scarcely overlap
Have thrown me a cosmic bone
Vigilant at the hosting station
She waits for guests to arrive
My eyes are quick to find hers
And at once we share a thought
With her thumb and index finger
She puts a gun against her head
I reply with an emphatic nod
As we share this brief moment

1 New Text

1 New Text Message

Me: Late nights, the smell
            of tomorrow’s coffee waiting to
            be brewed. The bed is soft
but doesn’t offer rest, not when my
mind is swarming, infested with
worries and the remaining week’s
plans. The cat has no problem,
she’s asleep within seconds, the
lucky bitch. I play with the idea of
just forcing an all-nighter, play
those simulated fantasies until the
sun imposes itself on the curtains.
But that is an idea that has never
ended well. Class is fast
approaching, I won’t have much
time if I don’t spend it now, yet
here I am putting words to a phone
at the earliest of the morning

Justified

Justified

I’m great at rationalization
too great in fact. The person
I am most often rationalizing
my actions to is myself.

There has been much money
spent and time wasted all for
what I assured myself were
very good reasons.

They were not.

There have been a number
of situations I could have
avoided if I just hadn’t
listened to myself. I don’t
he always has my best
interest in mind. In fact
he’s kind of a dick.

Parallels

Not sure if I'm finished with this yet

Parallels

I know the way I’d like to live my life
and it’s reflected in characters I create.
I live vicariously through these words
as I lack the courage to make them true.
Fingers on a keyboard export idealism
but it is my heart that lacks the power
to bring it to fruition. Tales spin of men
who always get the girl, living parallel
to this world, devout in their beliefs
and to themselves and what they love.
It is in my nature, and so it is in theirs.
I’m hidden deep within layers of fiction
barely a light shining through canopies
verbose with vegetation. Beneath it
the earth is littered with the bodies of
work that only made it halfway or less.
Surrounded by these unmarked graves
I dig them up and recycle any parts
which may still have use and construct
something new and better, or perhaps
it dies as well, a monster that was never
meant to be. 

Fear

Fear

I’m afraid to let you know

you've been a vast source

of inspiration for my words.

Afraid to be more aggressive

in this little game we play.

To let you know I’d give the

world to hold you and for you

to want to be held. No room

to be bold, but rather patient

and faithful, or at the very

least hopeful. It could easily

be the case that nothing is as

it seems in my mind, rarely

do my expectations and reality

comfortably coexist. Alone

and uncertain, meditating on

my heart’s possible demise

while suspense builds, leaves

lingering suspicion of subterfuge

implements of my own deceiving

reason. I’m afraid to write this line

and the one that follows, or to

release this poem into the wild

for fear you may see all the truth

at once. I’m afraid to lose what

I have yet to taste of, and that this

is all very one-sided. I’m afraid

of you.

Clarrise

Clarisse

I’ve lost the music in my life.
A connection to eleven thousand
songs discovered over a bond
of six years, each one as dear to me
as the last, vanished in an instant.

Writing is difficult, without my
electronic muse. When normally
I’d be streaming soft classical sounds
as my pencil scrapes across paper,
I’m accompanied by the obnoxious
droning of an aging oscillating heater.

She provided backdrops for nights
spent cozy in bed with other girls
on playlists provided to her by my
gentle mouse click, and the lonely
days just me and Clarisse, personal
minstrel, playing something nostalgic,
getting high, and forgetting the world.

The music was a link to my younger
summers in old Virginian beaches.
Boat rides in open tides, blasting
rock reggae mixes, acoustic hot tub
nights in trunks, bikinis or less.
At the same time it took me to
carving fresh powder on the
mountain at night. Shrouded in
darkness and pulsing hard metal,
pushing my boundaries and
sending me quick through the snow
adrenaline accelerating me down

to the base, Clarisse always at my side.

Then recently she was stricken with some
fatal unknown error. A screen once rich
with music, videos, and life now sat empty
restored to factory settings. The amps
are unplugged and all the strings broken.
There is no rhythm and the keys fall silent

The Subtleties of Sex

The Subtleties of Sex

A slight arch, soft to the touch
allows me to slide red lace from
your waist. I am a tease; drawing
my lips a breath away from yours
and light fingered circles across
your lower back. Goose bumps
raising on tender skin, While mouth
and tongue approach your neck’s
peak and pull away each time until
we can stand it no longer and come
together.

There’s no jumping in. I wouldn’t
dare be so aggressive, to ruin it
for us both. It’s not a field to be
plowed but a single flower that
must be coaxed from its seed.
An idea contested by some, but
holds true for me despite what
my gender perpetuates.

Our breaths become uneven
hearts beat a spastic rhythm.
All at once the world seems
less cruel. Fading from thought
nothing remains but our bodies
the bed and the energy flowing
between it all. We are the force
that drives the world, the cosmic
balance found in our eyes which
grows stronger with every thrust
and gentle utterance that follows
from it.

Exhausted, your head on my chest
rising with each inhalation of the
sweat soaked air, hair that brushes
against my chin with each repetition.
Words are useless now, nothing to
express the time we have traveled
through.

Something or Nothing

Something or Nothing

There’s always someone the poem is built for,
in my case anyway. Fine-tuned and properly
threaded, or sometimes just thrown together
in a shambles, words on words like literary
chaos but all mean something in the end for
someone important, these words don’t just
appear from nowhere. They’re crafted and
cultivated, grown with care and with care
they are selected when they become ripe
and ready to join and juxtapose on simulated
paper, transported through the air passing as
electronic particles from its creation to its
destination and by optical receptors it is
received and passed along a highway of
nerves through the brain and through the body
now just a sensation and no longer words, as
if nothing was ever there.

Brotherhood

Brotherhood

Things have a way of falling apart
and you may not remember what
held it all together to begin with.
That bond that I was told existed
somewhere, disintegrated despite
its supposed strength which clearly
needed some reinforcement. That
word held meaning once, but like
us it became faded and lost with
time. It was a slow and agonizing
death, with no mourning period.

We're Off

For Karly, who doesn't know I wrote this because of her, until now.

We’re Off

I woke before dawn that morning, not that
it was my intention to do so. I had been
waking much earlier than was necessary
lately, making my alarm a superfluous
bother. Its mechanical green light stung
my fiercely tired eyes, which refused to
allow me more rest at this point. I was
careful not to wake the girl at my side as
I meandered out of bed, pulling on a pair of
basketball shorts, nonchalantly hanging from
the large recliner across from my timid twin
bedframe, with just enough room for two. As
the cool silky material grazed my thighs, I was
reminded of the cool silky thighs to my side.
I turned back to the girl.

Grey lingerie framed my favorite area, but
she was otherwise completely bare. I ran
my fingers through her auburn hair, ending
just at the blades. I continued down her
back with a gentle touch, stopping at the
rough lacey thong.  I covered her back
with a light blanket the cat was selfishly
sprawled on.  Her face was towards me
sleeping but locked in a smile, and for a
moment I smiled myself.

I found a pack of smokes in my desk
in the dark, hoping to find a box of matches
still left outside. As I left, the door attempted
to give me away, I checked one last time and
saw no stirring. The sky was cold blue gray and
the air still and quiet. The rich smell of sulfur
passed by my nostrils, and I breathed deep
the smoke of the morning. My lungs were
full now as they were of sweat and lust
the night previous. As the cherry burned
close to the filter, the door slowly swung
open behind me and I knew she’d be there.
She met me with these rich green eyes
a lush oasis in this otherwise barren
landscape.  In her hand dangled the keys to
my aging red SUV which always struggled
and sputtered to life. In an hour we’d be
in the canyon, but for now this was all we
were. 

Benny and the Jets revision round 2

Benny and the Jets

The Jacuzzi jets were relentless once activated. The inebriated hand that had brought them to life now skimmed across the bubbling water to gauge the temperature. Just hot enough. Ben turned back toward the blonde waiting in her black bikini behind the glass sliding door. Though the water was warm, the California mountain air carried a chill through the unfenced backyard, and Karly was not exposing herself to the cold until absolutely necessary. Ben signaled for her to join him now that the hot tub had been uncovered and the alcohol the two planned to continue drinking was placed on a table convenient to their reach from the heat. Karly slid open the door and quickly skittered across the cement patio to submerge herself just below her neck in the steaming tub.

            Ben returned inside to pick up two towels which Karly, in her excitement, had forgotten to take with her. He shut the sliding door behind him when he returned, and threw the two beach towels on the edge of the small steps leading up to the Jacuzzi.

“I call the Spiderman one.” He said as he removed his shirt and placed it next to a box of wine on the table.

Ben was also quick to be fully in the water. He gave a small chuckle when he pushed the excess air which had trapped itself in his trunks out and it bubbled to the surface. After making himself comfortable he realized that neither of them had drinks in their hands and that Karly was likely expecting him to fix that. He leaned out of the tub and poured two cups of wine from the box the two of them picked up in Mesquite on their way to Ben’s dad’s house in the small California mountain town of Tehachapi. He filled both cups nearly to the brim and handed one to Karly.

“Thanks.” She said as the cup traded hands.

“No problem.” Ben replied. He then made himself comfortable in the corner opposite of Karly, nestling his back into the jets.

“This is the shit.” Karly said taking a big sip of wine.

“Yeah it’s definitely a great way to end your night after bar hopping with your Dad and his old hippie girlfriend.”

“She got really drunk tonight.” Karly laughed.

“I definitely wasn’t expecting to see her trying to grind on my dad so much.”

“Whatever, I thought it was hilarious. I wish I could have gotten that drunk tonight.”

“Well there’s still plenty of time to catch up.” Ben said, raising his cup in a toast-like fashion. Karly laughed as she returned the gesture and the two took large sips from their cups.

           “Plus I have another little treat for us to enjoy.” He added when the cup left his lips.

He reached out from the Jacuzzi again, this time picking up his stash can which was disguised as an innocent Coke. He made sure to first dry his hands on one of the towels, then unscrewed the top of the can and tilted it to the side pulling out a joint and a small orange lighter; from which Karly’s excitement grew.

“I’ve always wanted to smoke a joint in a hot tub.” Ben said as regained his position across from Karly and lit the joint at the wick.

“I’ve just been looking forward to this hot tub since you told me about it last week. A semester of mostly dance classes leaves you a little sore.”

“You can’t try to make me feel bad for you taking a bunch of glorified P.E. classes.” Ben laughed between deep smoke inhalations.

“Whatever, you’re just jealous I never have to take another serious class for the rest of my time.”

“No you’re absolutely right, I’d love to just dance around all day every week.” Ben said passing the burning paper to Karly.

Karly laughed before she took a drag, “I can’t see you dancing that much sober.”

“Who said anything about being sober?” Ben replied. “I’m twenty-one, I do what I want.” The two laughed some more. “Besides I’d do just about any dance for hours on end if it meant no more math for the rest of my life.”

“I think you’re always going to need math.” Karly replied, handing the joint back to Ben.

“Yeah but I think I’ve got enough math skills to survive in life. I’m trying to be a writer,” He said taking another drag, his voice now deep with smoke. “Knowing how to find the measurement of a hypotenuse isn’t going to make dialogue flow more smoothly.”

“Well what if you wanted to write some sort of mathematical mystery thriller thing?”

“I have an imagination that can let me write about literally anything in the world and I’m going to write a book about math? Or math that kills people? Frankly, fuck that.”

“You’re right, that does sound pretty bad.” Karly laughed, plucking the paper from Ben’s fingers. “You were also right about smoking in the hot tub, this feels pretty fuckin’ great.”

Ben grabbed his cup of wine and took several large sips. “The alcohol doesn’t hurt either.”

“It was nice of your dad to get us drunk beforehand too.”

“Yeah honestly even though I did just turn twenty-one, I really wasn’t expecting him to want to go wild with us. He didn’t even start drinking himself until a few years ago.”

“Really? Isn’t he like in his late forties?”

“Yeah, well that’s what happens when you’re Mormon most of your life, leave the church, and then work in the coldest parts of Russia for a whole year.”

“That makes sense; I don’t think I could do that without vodka.”

“But the difference is that you’d rather do most things with vodka.”

Karly laughed, “That’s true.”

By now the marijuana was all but finished. Ben dragged the last of it down almost to his fingertips before tossing it out into the night, then let out a long sigh.

“Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty stoned.” He said.

“I’m just so relaxed.” Karly replied. “It feels nice just sitting here like this and getting comfortable. Speaking of which...” She said as she handed her now empty cup to Ben for a refill.

“Damn, looks like I’ve got some catching up to do.” Ben said, doing his best to chug the rest of his drink. He refilled both their cups, handing Karly’s back to her.

“Thanks.” She said, following with a few small sips then placing the drink on the cup indent next to her shoulders. “Time to just let go and let the jets take care of everything.”

“Yeah, let go.” Ben said somewhat to himself.

The two were silent for a moment, the only sound the loud bubbling and machinery from the jet system. Then a pair of brown swim trunks surfaced between Ben and Karly.

“Really?” She said smirking.

“Hey you’re the one who said to let go and relax.” Ben replied. “Plus with the jets on it’s not like you can see my junk or anything, and it feels fantastic.”

Karly laughed and rolled her eyes. Ben placed his trunks hanging half off the edge of the Jacuzzi. As he did he noticed Karly’s foot sticking slightly out of the water towards him with her bikini bottom hanging off her toes. Ben gave a small chuckle as he placed hers on top of his and sat back against the jets, trying his best not to seem obvious while attempting to see through the bubbling water surrounding Karly.

“You’re right,” She said, “This does feel pretty fantastic.”

“Seems like I’m right a lot today.” He replied, to which Karly gave a small laugh.

“I’m glad I came here with you.” She said. “I like having a best friend who isn’t just a dramatic hoe. And all the girls I know are so bitchy.”

“Well what can you expect, you’re majoring in dance. The majority of dancers I’ve known have been bitchy.”

“That’s true, and I never really look for girlfriends outside of those classes.”

“I just think trying to make friends with someone is awkward at this age. Like, hey I know we just met in class but do you want to come play video games some time?”

“That actually doesn’t sound hard.”

“I guess, I’m kind of dick though. I need to start giving people the benefit of the doubt more often.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know, it’s like I always assume the worst of people. If they’re being loud it’s not because they’re fun it’s because they’re stupid. If they’re in a bad mood it’s not because something bad happened to them it’s because they’re an asshole, and if they’re eager to be talk to me it’s not because they’re friendly it’s because they’re weird.” Ben said between sips of wine.

“Yeah you are kind of a dick.” Karly replied.

“Thanks.” Ben laughed.

“I think people are being real most of the time.” She added.

“See and my first thought is to say that you’re naïve. I must just be jaded as fuck or something. But I’m too young to be this cynical.”

“Maybe you’ll grow out of it. Start seeing the world for what it really is.”

“But what if I’m right and everyone is as fucked up as I think they are?”

“Everyone can’t be fucked up. You just don’t need to care so much. Ignore the fuckers and hang out with the people that make you happy. That’s what I’m doing now.”

Ben smiled at those last words, and the two shared a few more sips. Then suddenly the timer on the jets ran out and the bubbles started to fade. The two feigned to panic at seeing each other naked although neither minded the brief glimpses they had before Ben turned the jets back to high.

“That was close.” Karly laughed.

“Yeah, God knows how much I hate seeing hot naked girls.” Ben replied ironically.

            “There’s plenty of hot naked girls out there.”

            “Not quite Karly hot though.”

            “Oh I have my own brand of hot now?”

            “Well let’s just say that you’re as hot as my chest is hairy. Which is to say very.”

            Karly let out a small giggle. “That’s sort of a weird way to put it.”

            “And that’s just my own brand of humor.”

            Karly smiled and leaned her head back against the small cushion supporting her neck and began gazing up at the stars. After a few seconds Ben noticed the clarity of the sky and began doing the same thing.

            “This is why I love shitty little mountain towns.” He said, finishing his second cup of wine. “You empty too?”

            Karly hesitated for a moment, distracted by the gassy denizens of light. “Huh? Oh yeah, but I think I’m good for now.” Ben raised an eyebrow at her. “You’re right,” she laughed and handed him her cup for another refill. She took a few more small sips from the new wine and placed the cup back in its holder.

            “So what do you want to write about?” Karly asked.

            Ben seemed a little caught off guard. “We’re a little past that part of the conversation aren’t we?” He deflected.

            “Well yeah, it’s just that I’ve known you for almost three years now, and you’ve always told me you want to be a writer, but you’ve never really shared any ideas with me.”

            For a while the only audible sounds were the jets. “I have no fucking idea.” Ben said casually after some time. “Sometimes I wonder if I’m just lying to myself every day I get up. I tell myself I want to write, but I don’t really have any ideas. I don’t have a lot of life experience. I haven’t really had to deal with anything too serious before and I feel like if I want to be a good writer I have to know something about something. And I don’t.”

            “Isn’t that what your imagination is for? You said it yourself, you can think of absolutely anything and write it if you want.”

            “But I need something to draw from, some kind of inspiration or whatever you want to call it. Other writers…”

            “Ben you need to stop comparing yourself to other writers.” Karly interrupted. “I know a lot of the people you look up to might have had some kind of trauma or something, but I bet a lot of them didn’t. I think the short stories and other stuff you’ve let me read is great. You can write anything you want if you just stop holding yourself back and go for it.”

            Ben sighed and drew his gaze to Karly’s deep green eyes. “I guess I am too critical of myself.” He said. “You really like the stuff I’ve written?”

            “I wouldn’t keep pushing you if I didn’t.”

            “Thanks.” He replied.

            “Of course Ben, that’s what I’m here for.” Then a small grin made its way across her face. “But if you really want to thank me, how about a rub? My back and my neck are still sore from the car ride today.”

Ben laughed, “Yeah eight hours in that little Oldsmobile of yours will do that.”

            “Betty is a commuter car, not a road tripper.” She replied. “But how about you just get those hands over here.”

            Ben gave a short laugh and moved the short distance across to Karly who had turned her back toward Ben’s adjusted seat. She then moved the length of her from past her shoulders down her back to her chest, to give Ben’s hands the necessary room. He placed his hands at the top of her shoulders and started rubbing his thumbs in undulation, deep into the muscle. He could feel them relax as she let out a deep sigh. He then started moving his knuckles down her back in a rocking motion, the movements in the water carrying her back and forth, changing her position in the bowled seat.

           

            As Ben continued downward he felt Karly’s light back dimples, a favorite feature of his on any girl, and thought he should perhaps move back up before he was tempted to move any further down. Though now that he had reached down so far his heart began pounding, and were he not in a tub of water his palms would surely be sweaty. And then he noticed a budding erection and tried to put a little more distance between it and Karly’s unsuspecting back.

            He moved his hands gently back up in a similar matter to when they had gone down and started the process from the beginning. This time, however, he reached the tie supporting her bikini top, slowed, and nearly choked to death on his next words.

            “Do you, uh, mind if I get this out of the way?”

            “…No.” She replied after some time.

            Ben’s heart sped up even more as he slowly loosened the bow knots from around her neck and shoulders. He could feel her heart beating at similar pace with his through her back. The top fell and floated around the water for a few seconds before Ben took it and placed it with the other pieces of clothing on the side of the tub. He then continued maneuvering his hands around her.

Moving down past her shoulders again he began widening his placement and tried to nonchalantly brush past the sides of her breasts before continuing downward. By this time Karly was completely turned in her seat now facing the corner, while Ben was no longer seated but half squatting in center of the hot tub. His hands continued to caress her skin down her back, and again he reached those dimples he enjoyed so much.

            Ben figured now he would have to decide whether to continue this experiment, but before his brain had continued the thought, his hands had decided for him.  His left was curving around her thighs, meandering its way upward, while his right had found a place across her stomach, starting at the naval and similarly moving up. He could feel her staggered breaths through her chest and moved closer. He placed his lips just below her left ear lobe, starting with nothing but soft breaths against her skin. Moving ever closer Karly could feel what was once budding and now full, brushing against her back.

            Karly allowed herself to be taken in by the flow, relaxing even deeper in the water and Ben’s ever moving hands, one of which was now firmly planted on her right breast, and the other was stroking the area just below her waist line. Karly was not only relaxing but now getting livelier as well. Her hand ran up Ben’s thigh, eventually grasping him tight between the legs. Finally Ben could wait no longer and closed all space between their bodies. His hand which had been investigating her lower body delved deeper, and Karly uttered a small gasp.

            Unanimously the two thought to end the foreplay as Ben began grinding hard against Karly, who arched slightly forward and helped to guide him in from behind her. When the timer on the jets came to an end soon after, their inhibitions completely crashed and the two stopped holding back. Ben held on with care to Karly’s hips and started moving into her with a rough passion. Water from the tub began splashing about the patio, but neither showed any concern if they had even be able to notice through each other’s noise and movements.

            An exploratory hand had once again moved to massage the breast’s which fit so well into Ben’s roughly C cup equivalent sized palm, then Karly decided it was her turn to dominate the situation. She separated herself from him briefly and pushed him back to the side of the hot tub. Then she climbed atop and continued from where they had left off, rocking hard back and forth on his lap. Ben dug his hand deep into the back of Karly’s hair and pulled her face into his, the two sharing a series of long tongued kisses rolling as one into each other. Another familiar hand was holding tight to Karly’s butt, pushing and pulling to contribute to the sexual flow.

            Karly’s moans became more audible as the two continued to slowly build pace, shaking the Jacuzzi all about to the point that both of their drinks had fallen into the water with them, the light red color prominent at first but quickly swirled past their bodies to be filtered out.

            “I’m getting… close…” Karly said through significantly staggered breaths.

            Ben’s only reply was to be me more forceful while still remaining on the bottom, nibbling on her breasts and forcing her to rock faster on top of him. Karly released progressively louder noises, quickening with Ben each time, until she threw her head back, her delicate neck extending into the night, and shouted muffled pleasure to the stars.

            She collapsed her head and arms around Ben’s neck and struggled to catch her breath, as Ben’s own breaths echoed against her ears. His touch became soft again, tracing lines on her back while he placed a few kisses around her neck and shoulders.

            “That was amazing.” Karly whispered after some time.

            “I’ll say.” Ben replied. “Although, I’m not quite finished myself.” He said directing her attention back down beneath the water.

            Karly laughed. “Well, maybe she would dry off and take care of that.”

            She then stood from the water, exposing the whole of her upper body to the night and quickly grabbed one of the towels before the cold get through to her. Ben smiled as she did very little to dry herself off and instead quickly ran for the door, once inside she turned back toward Ben and gave him a quick flash of skin as she dried herself in a teasing manner.

            Ben was no longer hesitant and grabbed a towel himself. He haphazardly gathered up their clothing, wrapping them into a dripping ball, and tossed them inside. He then gathered up the alcohol which Karly was quick to relieve him of. As the two headed down the hall to the bedroom Ben stopped.

            “I’ll be right back.” He said. “I need to cover the hot tub.”

            “Alright,” Karly replied, “But be quick.”

            Ben stepped close to Karly and gave her a long kiss on the lips. “You should know,” He started, “I like to take my time. Makes it worth the wait.”

            “You tease.” She replied. “But if you’re quick I think it’ll be worth your while.” She said as she began to move her hand under his towel. They kissed again and Karly moved into the bedroom, leaving Ben staring in the towel. She turned back to him and smiled, then dropped her towel to the floor.

            “Hurry.” She said.

            And so he did, and nearly slipped on the wet wood floors. Quick into the yard, he stumbled to the tub and turned off its interior light. The cover came down with a loud wet thud, and he ran back inside, through the hall, into the bedroom, and into Karly.

Benny and the Jets revision 1

Benny and the Jets

The Jacuzzi jets were relentless once activated. The inebriated hand that had brought them to life now skimmed across the bubbling water to gauge the temperature. Just hot enough. Ben turned back toward the blonde waiting in her black bikini behind the glass sliding door. Though the water was warm, the California mountain air carried a chill through the unfenced backyard, and Karly was not exposing herself to the cold until absolutely necessary. Ben signaled for her to join him now that the hot tub had been uncovered and the alcohol the two planned to continue drinking was placed on a table convenient to their reach from the heat. Karly slid open the door and quickly skittered across the cement patio to submerge herself just below her neck in the steaming tub.

Ben returned inside to pick up two towels which Karly, in her excitement, had forgotten to take with her. He shut the sliding door behind him when he returned, and threw the two beach towels on the edge of the small steps leading up to the Jacuzzi.

“I call the Spiderman one.” He said as he removed his shirt and placed it next to a box of wine on the table.

Ben was also quick to be fully in the water. He gave a small chuckle when he pushed the excess air which had trapped itself in his trunks out and it bubbled to the surface. After making himself comfortable he realized that neither of them had drinks in their hands and that Karly was likely expecting him to fix that. He leaned out of the tub and poured two cups of wine from the box the two of them picked up in Mesquite on their way to Ben’s dad’s house in the small California mountain town of Tehachapi. He filled both cups nearly to the brim and handed one to Karly.

“Thanks.” She said as the cup traded hands.

“No problem.” Ben replied. He then made himself comfortable in the corner opposite of Karly, nestling his back into the jets.

“This is the shit.” Karly said taking a big sip of wine.

“Yeah it’s definitely a great way to end your night after bar hopping with your Dad and his old hippie girlfriend.”

“She got really drunk tonight.” Karly laughed.

“I definitely wasn’t expecting to see her trying to grind on my dad so much.”

“Whatever, I thought it was hilarious. I wish I could have gotten that drunk tonight.”

“Well there’s still plenty of time to catch up.” Ben said, raising his cup in a toast-like fashion. Karly laughed as she returned the gesture and the two took large sips from their cups.

           “Plus I have another little treat for us to enjoy in the hot tub.” He added when the cup left his lips.

He reached out from the Jacuzzi again, this time picking up his stash can which was disguised as an innocent Coke. He made sure to first dry his hands on one of the towels, then unscrewed the top of the can and tilted it to the side pulling out a joint and a small orange lighter; from which Karly’s excitement grew.

“I’ve always wanted to smoke a joint in a hot tub.” Ben said as regained his position across from Karly and lit the joint at the wick.

“I’ve just been looking forward to this hot tub since you told me about it last week. A semester of mostly dance classes leaves you a little sore.”

“You can’t try to make me feel bad for you taking a bunch of glorified P.E. classes.” Ben laughed between deep smoke inhalations.

“Whatever, you’re just jealous I never have to take another serious class for the rest of my time.”

“No you’re absolutely right, I’d love to just dance around all day every week.” Ben said passing the burning paper to Karly.

Karly laughed before she took a drag, “I can’t see you dancing that much sober.”

“Who said anything about being sober?” Ben replied. “I’m twenty-one, I do what I want.” The two laughed some more. “Besides I’d do just about any dance for hours on end if it meant no more math for the rest of my life.”

“I think you’re always going to need math.” Karly replied, handing the joint back to Ben.

“Yeah but I think I’ve got enough math skills to survive in life. I’m trying to be a writer,” He said taking another drag, his voice now deep with smoke. “Knowing how to find the measurement of a hypotenuse isn’t going to make dialogue flow more smoothly.”

“Well what if you wanted to write some sort of mathematical mystery thriller thing?”

“I have an imagination that can let me write about literally anything in the world and I’m going to write a book about math? Or math that kills people? Frankly, fuck that.”

“You’re right, that does sound pretty bad.” Karly laughed, plucking the paper from Ben’s fingers. “You were also right about smoking in the hot tub, this feels pretty fuckin’ great.”

Ben grabbed his cup of wine and took several large sips. “The alcohol doesn’t hurt either.”

“It was nice of your dad to get us drunk beforehand too.”

“Yeah honestly even though I did just turn twenty-one, I really wasn’t expecting him to want to go wild with us. He didn’t even start drinking himself until a few years ago.”

“Really? Isn’t he like in his late forties?”

“Yeah, well that’s what happens when you’re Mormon most of your life, leave the church, and then work in the coldest parts of Russia for a whole year.”

“That makes sense; I don’t think I could do that without vodka.”

“But the difference is that you’d rather do most things with vodka.”

Karly laughed, “That’s true.”

By now the marijuana was all but finished. Ben dragged the last of it down almost to his fingertips before tossing it out into the night, then let out a long sigh.

“Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty stoned.” He said.

“I’m just so relaxed.” Karly replied. “It feels nice just sitting here like this and getting comfortable. Speaking of which...” She said as she handed her now empty cup to Ben for a refill.

“Damn, looks like I’ve got some catching up to do.” Ben said, doing his best to chug the rest of his drink. He refilled both their cups, handing Karly’s back to her.

“Thanks.” She said, following with a few small sips then placing the drink on the cup indent next to her shoulders. “Time to just let go and let the jets take care of everything.”

“Yeah, let go.” Ben said somewhat to himself.

The two were silent for a moment, the only sound the loud bubbling and machinery from the jet system. Then a pair of brown swim trunks surfaced between Ben and Karly.

“Really?” She said smirking.

“Hey you’re the one who said to let go and relax.” Ben replied. “Plus with the jets on it’s not like you can see my junk or anything, and it feels fantastic.”

Karly laughed and rolled her eyes. Ben placed his trunks hanging half off the edge of the Jacuzzi. As he did he noticed Karly’s foot sticking slightly out of the water towards him with her bikini bottom hanging off her toes. Ben gave a small chuckle as he placed hers on top of his and sat back against the jets, trying his best not to seem obvious while attempting to see through the bubbling water surrounding Karly.

“You’re right,” She said, “This does feel pretty fantastic.”

“Seems like I’m right a lot today.” He replied, to which Karly gave a small laugh.

“I’m glad I came here with you.” She said. “Sometimes I feel like I don’t really have that many friends anymore. All the girls I know are just so bitchy.”

“Well what can you expect, you’re majoring in dance. The majority of dancers I’ve known have been bitchy.”

“That’s true, and I never really look for girlfriends outside of those classes.”

“I just think trying to make friends with someone is awkward at this age. Like, hey I know we just met in class but do you want to come play video games some time?”

“That actually doesn’t sound hard.”

“I guess, I’m kind of dick though. I need to start giving people the benefit of the doubt more often.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know, it’s like I always assume the worst of people. If they’re being loud it’s not because they’re fun it’s because they’re stupid. If they’re in a bad mood it’s not because something bad happened to them it’s because they’re an asshole, and if they’re eager to be talk to me it’s not because they’re friendly it’s because they’re weird.” Ben said between sips of wine.

“Yeah you are kind of a dick.” Karly replied.

“Thanks.” Ben laughed.

“I think people are being real most of the time.” She added.

“See and my first thought is to say that you’re naïve. I must just be jaded as fuck or something. But I’m too young to be this cynical.”

“Maybe you’ll grow out of it. Start seeing the world for what it really is.”

“But what if I’m right and everyone is as fucked up as I think they are?”

“Everyone can’t be fucked up. You just don’t need to care so much. Ignore the fuckers and hang out with the people that make you happy. That’s what I’m doing now.”

Ben smiled at those last words, and the two shared a few more sips. Then suddenly the timer on the jets ran out and the bubbles started to fade. The two feigned to panic at seeing each other naked although neither minded the brief glimpses they had before Ben turned the jets back to high.

“That was close.” Karly laughed.

“Yeah, God knows how much I hate seeing hot naked girls.” Ben replied ironically.

            “There’s plenty of hot naked girls out there.”

            “Not quite Karly hot though.”

            “Oh I have my own brand of hot now?”

            “Well let’s just say that you’re as hot as my chest is hairy. Which is to say very.”

            Karly let out a small giggle. “That’s sort of a weird way to put it.”

            “And that’s just my own brand of humor.”

            Karly smiled and leaned her head back against the small cushion supporting her neck and began gazing up at the stars. After a few seconds Ben noticed the clarity of the sky and began doing the same thing.

            “This is why I love shitty little mountain towns.” He said, finishing his second cup of wine. “You empty too?”

            Karly hesitated for a moment, distracted by the gassy denizens of light. “Huh? Oh yeah, but I think I’m good for now.” Ben raised an eyebrow at her. “You’re right,” she laughed and handed him her cup for another refill. She took a few more small sips from the new wine and placed the cup back in its holder.

            “My back and neck are still sore from the car ride today.” She said after some quiet moments.

“Eight hours in that little Oldsmobile will do that to you. How about a rub?” He asked.

            “Well I don’t think I can say no to a cross faded back rub in a hot tub.” She replied. “But you’re coming over here.”

            Ben gave a short laugh and moved the short distance across to Karly who had turned her back toward Ben’s adjusted seat. She then moved the length of her from past her shoulders down her back to her chest, to give Ben’s hands the necessary room. He placed his hands at the top of her shoulders and started rubbing his thumbs in undulation, deep into the muscle. He could feel them relax as she let out a deep sigh. He then started moving his knuckles down her back in a rocking motion, the movements in the water carrying her back and forth, changing her position in the bowled seat.

           

            As Ben continued downward he felt Karly’s light back dimples, a favorite feature of his on any girl, and thought he should perhaps move back up before he was tempted to move any further down. Though now that he had reached down so far his heart began pounding, and were he not in a tub of water his palms would surely be sweaty. And then he noticed a budding erection and tried to put a little more distance between it and Karly’s unsuspecting back.

            He moved his hands gently back up in a similar matter to when they had gone down and started the process from the beginning. This time, however, he reached the tie supporting her bikini top, slowed, and nearly choked to death on his next words.

            “Do you, uh, mind if I get this out of the way?”

            “…No.” She replied after some time.

            Ben’s heart sped up even more as he slowly loosened the bow knots from around her neck and shoulders. He could feel her heart beating at similar pace with his through her back. The top fell and floated around the water for a few seconds before Ben took it and placed it with the other pieces of clothing on the side of the tub. He then continued maneuvering his hands around her.

Moving down past her shoulders again he began widening his placement and tried to nonchalantly brush past the sides of her breasts before continuing downward. By this time Karly was completely turned in her seat now facing the corner, while Ben was no longer seated but half squatting in center of the hot tub. His hands continued to caress her skin down her back, and again he reached those dimples he enjoyed so much.

            Ben figured now he would have to decide whether to continue this experiment, but before his brain had continued the thought, his hands had decided for him.  His left was curving around her thighs, meandering its way upward, while his right had found a place across her stomach, starting at the naval and similarly moving up. He could feel her staggered breaths through her chest and moved closer. He placed his lips just below her left ear lobe, starting with nothing but soft breaths against her skin. Moving ever closer Karly could feel what was once budding and now full, brushing against her back.

            Karly allowed herself to be taken in by the flow, relaxing even deeper in the water and Ben’s ever moving hands, one of which was now firmly planted on her right breast, and the other was stroking the area just below her waist line. Karly was not only relaxing but now getting livelier as well. Her hand ran up Ben’s thigh, eventually grasping him tight between the legs. Finally Ben could wait no longer and closed all space between their bodies. His hand which had been investigating her lower body delved deeper, and Karly uttered a small gasp.

            Unanimously the two thought to end the foreplay as Ben began grinding hard against Karly, who arched slightly forward and helped to guide him in from behind her. When the timer on the jets came to an end soon after, their inhibitions completely crashed and the two stopped holding back. Ben held on with care to Karly’s hips and started moving into her with a rough passion. Water from the tub began splashing about the patio, but neither showed any concern if they had even be able to notice through each other’s noise and movements.

            An exploratory hand had once again moved to massage the breast’s which fit so well into Ben’s roughly C cup equivalent sized palm, then Karly decided it was her turn to dominate the situation. She separated herself from him briefly and pushed him back to the side of the hot tub. Then she climbed atop and continued from where they had left off, rocking hard back and forth on his lap. Ben dug his hand deep into the back of Karly’s hair and pulled her face into his, the two sharing a series of long tongued kisses rolling as one into each other. Another familiar hand was holding tight to Karly’s butt, pushing and pulling to contribute to the sexual flow.

            Karly’s moans became more audible as the two continued to slowly build pace, shaking the Jacuzzi all about to the point that both of their drinks had fallen into the water with them, the light red color prominent at first but quickly swirled past their bodies to be filtered out.

            “I’m getting… close…” Karly said through significantly staggered breaths.

            Ben’s only reply was to be me more forceful while still remaining on the bottom, nibbling on her breasts and forcing her to rock faster on top of him. Karly released progressively louder noises, quickening with Ben each time, until she threw her head back, her delicate neck extending into the night, and shouted muffled pleasure to the stars.

            She collapsed her head and arms around Ben’s neck and struggled to catch her breath, as Ben’s own breaths echoed against her ears. His touch became soft again, tracing lines on her back while he placed a few kisses around her neck and shoulders.

            “That was amazing.” Karly whispered after some time.

            “I’ll say.” Ben replied. “Although, I’m not quite finished myself.” He said directing her attention back down beneath the water.

            Karly laughed. “Well, maybe she would dry off and take care of that.”

            She then stood from the water, exposing the whole of her upper body to the night and quickly grabbed one of the towels before the cold get through to her. Ben smiled as she did very little to dry herself off and instead quickly ran for the door, once inside she turned back toward Ben and gave him a quick flash of skin as she dried herself in a teasing manner.

            Ben was no longer hesitant and grabbed a towel himself. He haphazardly gathered up their clothing, wrapping them into a dripping ball, and tossed them inside. He then gathered up the alcohol which Karly was quick to relieve him of. As the two headed down the hall to the bedroom Ben stopped.

            “I’ll be right back.” He said. “I need to cover the hot tub.”

            “Alright,” Karly replied, “But be quick.”

            Ben stepped close to Karly and gave her a long kiss on the lips. “You should know,” He started, “I like to take my time. Makes it worth the wait.”

            “You tease.” She replied. “But if you’re quick I think it’ll be worth your while.” She said as she began to move her hand under his towel. They kissed again and Karly moved into the bedroom, leaving Ben staring in the towel. She turned back to him and smiled, then dropped her towel to the floor.

            “Hurry.” She said.

            And so he did, and nearly slipped on the wet wood floors. Quick into the yard, he stumbled to the tub and turned off its interior light. The cover came down with a loud wet thud, and he ran back inside, through the hall, into the bedroom, and into Karly.