Beautiful Burn(7)

“Ready, captain?” I waited for her to sit before I pushed the boat off shore and leapt in.

“It's chilly.” She rubbed her palms together and looked out to the horizon.

“Sorry, I should have told you to bring a sweatshirt.” I frowned and prayed for calm winds. A trip across the bay could be miserable with just a cool breeze. I watched as she dropped one hand in the water, ripples fanning out as her fingertips skimmed the surface. A half smile curved her lips as she watched. She looked like she didn't have a care in the world at the moment, and I envied her.

Gentle rocking swayed us as I took hold of the oars and pumped. I was used to this, relished the slight burn in my biceps, the tightness in my already tightly etched abdominals as I worked. Rowing was one of my favorite forms of exercise. I never got into the whole gym scene -- I got outdoors. I loved the woods and water too much to not spend all my free time in them.

“Is it safe to be way out here like this...in a rowboat?” Her words whispered across the wind, brown eyes wide, worry becoming evident on her face.

“I've done this a hundred times. Are you okay?”

“Yes, I must not really be a boat person. I hope you’ve got a bag,” she laughed while shaking a cigarette out of her pack. “Want one?” She held the wrinkled box out.

The urge to indulge in one cigarette surprised even me. “I’d rather share one.” And with that simple statement, my stomach dropped, my mind fell, and I lost my moral compass. I wanted her. She was forbidden and taboo but our past pulled at us. I was older, her teacher, still married, and I fucking wanted to possess her. Own her. Make her scream and cum and beg for more. What the hell was I thinking?

A half smile tilted her lips as she lit the cigarette in her mouth, sucked a long draw, then held it out to me.

“Put it in my mouth.” My eyes locked with hers.

“With pleasure,” she cast me a sexy look before holding the cigarette in front of my lips. I pulled it into my mouth, wrapped it around my lips and inhaled. I blew the smoke out as my eyes landed on hers. I found them riveted. Not on my eyes, but on my lips. My suddenly parched lips. I exhaled and flicked my tongue out to trace a path of dampness across the top and bottom. Her mouth popped open for a fraction before she closed it again, her eyes darting up to mine before she pulled away.

“You’re a bad influence,” I finally said.

“I could say the same for you.” She released a sardonic laugh before taking another draw as she looked out to the dark, lapping waves against the side of the rowboat. “Where are we going?”

“Old Mission,” I answered.

“Really?”

“Sure. Why not?” My forearms burned with the delicious tingle of muscles being pushed to the limit.

“Why not just drive it?” She shrugged and puffed again, looking at me thoughtfully.

“Hey–puff, puff, pass.” Her eyes widened before she shook her head and held the cigarette out to me, one elegant arm extended in the moonlight. Captivating smooth lines and curves. I sucked the cigarette into my mouth and took another quick puff and blew it out. “What’s the fun in driving? You miss the experience. That’s what you asked me for, right? Inspiration? Here it is, you’re living it, baby. Soak it up.” Her laugh carried on the air around us and had me pumping faster, more determined than ever to get there. I was anxious to show her what I had in store.

“Great. I’m all ears. Hit me with inspiration.” She gestured with her hands in a way that was both awkward and endearing.

“Turn around.” I indicated over her shoulder.

Her head whipped, hair flying, before a soft, “Oh,” escaped from her lips.

“Pretty cool, huh?” I slowed my rowing as we approached the shoreline of the slim peninsula that darted into the bay. I relaxed my arms, feeling an uncharacteristic fatigue burning at my muscles. I rubbed at my neck and shoulder as I watched her stub out her cigarette and shove the butt into her pack.

“It feels like the end of the world.” The rowboat scraped sandy bottom Auburn launched into the water. Her shriek filled the silent breeze around us as she hit the water, my laugh following while she ran up to shore. She’d only been in up to mid-calf, but I doubted the waters of Lake Michigan had risen to a comfortable swimming temperature yet.

“It’s beautiful.” She stood in awe on the beach while I pulled the boat out of the surf.

“It’s my favorite time to come.” We stood shoulder to shoulder, not quite touching, yet close enough for platonic feelings to be choked out by more intimate ones.

“You come here a lot?”