The Reunion

These reunions are always such a fucking waste of time.

For probably the hundredth time in the past hour, I glanced at my watch. The bastard suggested the time was 8:37pm, and not 10:59pm like I desperately hoped.

Why the fuck do we have to have these things anyway? I silently groused. So we can see what our former students are up to after graduating? Big fat fucking deal. They never paid attention to us, now we're supposed to pretend that they missed us, and that we actually meant something to them?

Horseshit.

I resisted the urge to look at my watch again and decided to make the rounds once again.

We decided to have the reunion in the school gymnasium, as we pretty much always did. I guess it was to keep costs down, but I also supposed it was a way for the former students to reminisce. Walk about the hallways, remembering all the good times and bad.

More bad times than good for me, I thought to myself.

I had been teaching high school for the better part of 20 years and was frankly sick of it. Kids these days don't give a shit about anything or anyone. They show up to school, do the bare minimum in order to pass, then wonder why they can scarcely get a job that pays more than minimum wage. Plus, things had gotten worse over the years. Kids were still lazy and entitled, but now they were just fucking dumb. Not only do you have to put up with the entitlement and piss-poor effort, but now they come to class years behind where they should be. Sure, there's the whole "Covid effect", when kids stayed at home for long periods, learning remotely, but I swear my elementary school counterparts let them get away with murder, and then they expect it to continue when they get to high school.

I made the rounds of the gym once again, saying hi to a few kids I hadn't seen before, sharing knowing looks with my coworkers who were as equally annoyed by this inane tradition, and grabbed a can of Pepsi from the snack table.

I looked at my watch.

8:43.

Fuck.

Two hours and seventeen minutes to go until this idiocy was over for another year. Fortunately, I only had two more years to go until I could retire, which meant at least one more year of these fucking reunions before I could say no thanks to any more.

I polished off the Pepsi and looked around the sea of bodies, clumped together like scum on the water. An apt analogy. I smirked to myself.

As I looked around, I caught a glimpse of fiery red hair that I hadn't noticed before. She was obscured by another student, so I took a few steps to my left.

Holy shit.

Melinda Samson.

Melinda was one of the rare exceptions to the rule of students being lazy and entitled. She was never the prom queen or valedictorian, but her marks and personality set her aside from her peers. She achieved honours in pretty much every subject as far as I was aware, and it was rumoured that she had actually been headhunted out of her university by a prestigious NGO.

She was going places.

So why the hell was she back in this shithole?

I meandered closer, keeping a respectful distance. Even though she was no longer a student, it probably wouldn't look right if her former, middle-aged Civics teacher was caught checking her out.

Yeah, yeah, I'll admit it.

I have a thing for redheads.

I kept circling, resuming my rounds, feeling that this was akin to a high school dance, with me keeping an eye on a potential troublemaker.

Of course, in this case, Melinda was the polar opposite of that.

I stopped by a group of kids I recognized from a few years ago and chatted politely about what they were up to these days. Oh, doing retail, huh? Big surprise there. Got a job with your dad's company? Glad to see nepotism is alive and well. Between jobs at the moment? Hmm, shocking.

I was just about to resume my rounds and glance at my watch once again when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned and was stunned by a vision of beauty.

Melinda had always been a rather plain girl, in my estimation. Homely, would probably be a fair assessment. I'd heard she had a boyfriend, but I never asked any questions about it.

None of my business.

Time has a way of treating some people very poorly, others... rather well.

Such was the case with Melinda. She was now a certified stunner.

That mousy, rather plain girl with braces and a relatively flat chest had apparently changed in more ways than one. She seemed taller, her braces gone, rendering her smile dazzling, her hair cascaded in gently curves that accentuated her face, which (I'll just say it) was fucking gorgeous.

Oh, and she had sprouted breasts since last we met. And then some.

"Mr. Jones!" She gushed. "I wasn't sure you were going to be here!"

I composed myself and made sure to keep full eye contact. "Melinda! How are you? Yeah, I'm here, only because I had to be." I stuck my hand out for a cordial, professional shake.

She looked at my hand and surprised the fuck out of me by hugging me. I kept my hands clear, but that didn't prevent me from noticing her chest poking into mine, and her delicate perfume. It had an effect on me, and I was glad when she broke contact.

"I know there's a prohibition on teachers and students hugging, but there's nothing that says a former student can't give her favourite teacher a hug!"

I blinked. Favourite teacher? Me? I had to have misheard her.

I pressed on, trying to keep the conversation tone the way it had been when we were teacher and student. "I heard you got a job with an NGO, doing work to support new families to Canada or something. That's pretty cool."

She looked at me for a moment with a quizzical expression, then nodded slowly. "Yeah, Beyond Borders. Pretty cool." She continued to stare at me, as if wanting to say something but choosing not to. I also decided not to make something out of what was probably nothing.

"Well, I always knew you were going to do amazing things, and I'm glad to see I was right. You're one of the few success stories to come out of our little town."

Melinda smiled at me. "Thanks, Mr. Jones. Your class actually helped a lot." She glanced at her watch. "I should probably run. I said I'd meet one of my girlfriends for drinks after socializing here for a bit." She smiled at me, then turned and walked away.

I let out a breath and enjoyed the view of her curvy ass making its way away from me.

Get a grip on yourself. She's close to half your age.

Still, it was nice to see a former student all grown up and having made a name for herself. The fact that she named me as a contributor to that made my heart swell with pride.

And caused another part of me to swell slightly, too.

Knock it off. She said your class, asshole, not you.

I breathed deeply once again, and watched as Melinda disappeared out of the gym, and probably out of my life for good... and damn if I didn't feel that more than I expected. After a moment I looked at my watch and then started making the rounds once again.

A few days later, on a Friday after school, I was in the local grocery store, stocking up for the weekend.

Dinners had become slightly easier recently, as my wife had decided a year ago that things between us were no longer working. It wasn't acrimonious. There were no screaming matches, no bitter words used when talking about each other with friends. We had simply drifted apart. Probably the deciding factor had been my reluctance to have kids. She wanted them, I didn't. She was a few years younger than me, so she rationalized that if she wanted to have kids, her time for successful conception was running out, so she might as well try to have them with a man who was willing.

I was looking at the wine section when I heard an unmistakable voice, one I'd heard only two nights ago.

"Mr. Jones?"

I turned my head, and there was Melinda.

She was dressed fairly modestly, wearing a blouse and pants. I assumed she was just getting off work like I was.

"Melinda! What, are you stalking me now?" I asked in what I hoped was a playful tone.

She giggled. "No, I'm picking up some food for dinner. My parents are dropping by, and I want to impress them." She looked at the bottle in my hand. "Kinda weird seeing a teacher with a bottle of booze. You were always telling us about the evils of drinking."

I smiled at her tease. "Well, underage drinking, sure. It's all part of the job. But you're all grown up now, you're capable of making your own decisions."

"That's true," she replied. That same look crossed her face that I had seen on Wednesday, where it looked like she wanted to say more but was holding back.

"What wine were you thinking of picking up?" I asked, steering the conversation to neutral territory.

"Hmm? Oh. Actually, I'm not picking up wine. My dad drinks beer and my mom doesn't drink. No, I just saw you and wanted to say hi."

"Oh, I see. Well, it was good to see you."

She nodded, took a small breath like she was going to speak again--then stopped. "Yeah, you too. I'll see you around." She hesitated again, then turned and walked away.

I felt my own brows bumping into each other over my nose.

What in the world does she want to say to me that she didn't already say the other night?

I shook my head. Probably it was a case of me imagining things. Melinda had always been a bit awkward, maybe that was the one thing that she had retained from her adolescence.

Saturday morning, I made my way to the community pool. One thing that you cannot say about me is that I don't take at least relatively good care of myself. Every weekend, and a few times during the week when my schedule would allow, I got in a few laps. I was never a contender for the Olympics, I only did maybe 10-15 laps, 20 tops, before calling it a day.

I dropped off my gym bag and outside clothes in the changeroom, slipped my trunks on, rinsed myself off, and made my way onto the deck. Thankfully it wasn't too busy. I decided that I'd try to go for 20 laps today, 17 at the very least. I dropped my towel on an empty spectator chair and headed towards the pool.

"Now who's doing the stalking?"

My head whipped around, and I nearly swallowed my tongue.

There stood Malinda, clad only in a very form-fitting red one piece, hair tucked up under a swim cap, dripping wet and grinning from ear to ear. I stood there gaping for a moment before regaining my senses.

"Well technically I'd say you, since this is your third time."

Melinda laughed, and I tried desperately not to noticed how that simple act jiggled her ample breasts.

"I'd agree with you, only this time I was here first, so this one is on you, Mr. Jones."

"Peter," I said before I knew what I was saying.

Melinda smiled that dazzling smile of hers. "You'll always be Mr. Jones to me, but I appreciate the sentiment." She looked at me again for a moment, that look back for a third time. "Do you come here often?"

I was kind of surprised by the mundane nature of her question but just rolled with it. "Yeah, a few times a week when I can. Saturdays for sure. I try to get in about 10-15 laps."

"Ten to fifteen, eh? Not bad for an old man."

I held back on the "young whippersnapper" line that came to my brain, and instead rolled with, "Thanks, you're not too bad yourself."

Oh, fuck.

A surprised look crossed Melinda's face as I tried to think of a way of backing out of my verbal FUBAR. Thankfully she let me off the hook.

"Thanks, Mr. Jones. But I actually meant more in terms of the swimming."

My heart slowed its racing drumbeat, and my nuts began to descend out of my body. I nodded, not trusting myself in case of another verbal gaffe.

Melinda glanced at the pool. "I was thinking of leaving since I already got in a few lengths, but I'd be up for kicking your ass if you were up to being beaten by a girl."

I chuckled. "I'm sure you probably would kick my ass, Melinda. And I have no issues being beaten by a girl."

Melinda grinned wolfishly. "Well then get in the pool, grandpa, because I feel like kicking some ass."

With that she turned and headed over to the edge of the pool, sitting down on the deck and slipping in. I hesitated for a moment, then decided, Fuck it. I followed her into the pool.

We made our way into two different lanes, and she lined herself up with the wall. I matched her position. "Ready?" she asked. I nodded, and she launched herself down the lane. I launched myself seconds later, but it was clear from the very start that she was going to be true to her word and kick my ass from here into next week.

After 10 laps or so I conceded defeat and waited for her at the end of my lane. I watched her churn the water effortlessly and afforded myself the luxury of watching her butt wiggle as she powered on. After five more laps she stopped and joined me at the wall, wiping water from her face, breathing hard.

"Wasn't that ten laps?" She asked. "I thought you said you were going for fifteen."

I shook my head. "Ten to fifteen," I corrected her. Besides, it was clear from the start that you were going to beat my pants off."

She grinned at me. "Beaten by a girl. How are you ever going to live that down?"

I grinned back. "I'm sure I'll survive. Not the worst thing that's ever happened to me."

Melinda ducked under the rope separating our lanes and looked at me. "I had the chance to go out for regionals in swimming, but I never did. My coach said I could have made it to the Olympics."

I nodded, exceedingly impressed. I told her as much.

Her face darkened slightly. "Thanks. I just never had the confidence in myself."

We stood there for a moment, her looking sad and me having no real idea what to say. Teachers are always supposed to be comforting to students when they share something like this, but I was never any good at it. One of the reasons I never wanted kids, frankly.

Melinda broke the awkward silence. "Anyway, the past is the past. No point dwelling on what could have been."

"True."

She moved past me towards the ladder at the side of the pool. She clambered out, and I was rewarded with another view of her glorious ass.

You're the ass, checking her out after she shared something so painful.

She stood at the edge of the pool, waiting for me. I climbed out and stood dripping beside her.

"I'm going to dry off in the sauna," she announced, taking off her swim cap and shaking her head to allow her hair to tumble free. "You wanna join me?"

I thought about what I had planned for the rest of my day. "Sure. I don't have anywhere to be for a few hours." With that, I grabbed my towel, she grabbed hers, and we made our way into the sauna.

There was another couple of people in the sauna, a couple of high school girls I didn't recognize. They seemed to recognize me, as one whispered something into the ear of the other one, and they both scampered out the door. Melinda made her way up to the second level of the wooden benches, tucking her towel under her arms and wrapping herself in it. I settled for draping mine across my lap. She leaned back and closed her eyes, so I contented myself with enjoying the dry heat.

"What are your plans for the rest of the day?"

I opened my eyes, unaware that I had drifted off. "Pardon?"

"What are your plans for the rest of the day?" She repeated.

"Oh. Nothing much. Probably going to run some errands, have dinner, then go for a swim."

Melinda's eyes opened and she looked at me quizzically. "Another swim? Didn't you just go for one?"

I smiled, realizing the apparent contradiction. "Oh, I meant my pool at home. That one's more for just floating around in. Can't really do laps in it."

"Oh. Makes sense."

I let a few seconds pass before I asked my own question. "How about you? Plans for the day?"

She shook her head. "Nothing exciting. Go home, shower, walk the dog, dinner, then probably pj's and Netflix."

"You don't shower here?"

"No. I prefer showering at home. It's weird, I know."

I shook my head. "Not weird at all. We all have our preferences."

Another silence hung over us. She spoke up again.

"How's Mrs. Jones?"

I hesitated to answer, not because I felt bad about answering, but because I spoke of it so seldom. "Oh, we got divorced about a year ago. Totally amicable. We had just grown apart."

Melinda's face softened. "I'm sorry."

I shook my head and smiled reassuringly. "Don't be. It really was for the best. We're still on good terms."

"Oh, that's good then. My parents' divorce fucking sucked."

I cocked my head. "Didn't you say that your parents were over for dinner last night?"

"Yeah, but I meant my mom and stepdad. Sorry, I'm just used to thinking of them both as my real parents. My real dad is a fucking asshole."

Sometimes discretion is the better part of valour, so I decided not to ask about her dad. I stuck to a safer topic. "What's for dinner at Chez Melinda?"

She smiled, appreciating my joke and probably the change of topic. "Nothing much probably a salad, maybe some hummus and dip later during Netflix. How about the House of Jones. Whatcha got on the menu tonight?"

I couldn't resist putting on a French accent. "Oh, uh, we are serving zee Caesar salad to start, zen we will be having lobster caught fresh this morning with asparagus wrapped in bacon, and zen for dessert we will be serving a selection of fine French desserts, most notably zee crème glacee."

Melinda snorted. "Oh, god, that had to be the cheesiest French accent ever!" She giggled, shaking her head. "It does sound good, though. Beats store-bought salad."

"Why don't you come over?" I asked, again before I had a chance to consider my words.

Melinda looked at me with a mix of surprise and hesitation. "I thought you said you were having lobster. Would you have enough for two people? Usually, lobster is just for one."

"Oh, I haven't bought it yet." I explained. "That was part of the errands I was going to run after I'm done here." She didn't react negatively, I thought in amazement.

Melinda appeared to be considering my offer. "Okay," she said finally. "I still need to go home and walk my dog, but I can't say no to lobster. What time?"

"Seven?"

"Sounds like a plan." With that she stood up and let her towel drop, and for the briefest of instants I regretted that she was still wearing her suit. "What's you address?"

I gave it to her, then stood up as well. Melinda smiled as she walked out the door. "See you then," she called over her shoulder.

I stood there for several minutes, trying to get my bearings.

Had I really just asked that gorgeous young woman to my house for a dinner date?

No, you asked a former student to come over and share a meal, because hers sounded bland and she said as much.

I nodded to myself, trying desperately to believe that.

I don't consider myself to be a gourmet cook, but I'm not half bad. My ex-wife always said it was one of the things she appreciated about me the most. I think my love of it comes from a willingness to try new things.

After the pool, I went to the grocery store and picked up the ingredients for tonight's dinner. I picked up lobsters that were already dead, because I hate the sounds they make while cooking them. People say it's not actually screaming, but I'm squeamish enough that it sounds like that.

I forced myself to keep my thoughts neutral about my guest. Melinda was 21 years younger than me at 45, and I knew the likelihood of a 24-year-old woman being interested in me were slim to none. In all probability she just wanted a good dinner, and she was right - lobster was more interesting than salad.

I did a spot of tidying when I got home. Even thought I could have fallen back on the trope of becoming the sloppy bachelor now that my ex had moved out, I prided myself on keeping a clean house, much like I kept my body pretty fit.

With the salad made and the house tidied, I put the lobsters on the barbecue. It was a bit unconventional, but I loved cooking most of my meals on the barbecue. Even in the winter you could catch me outdoors, grilling away.

I glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall. 7:05. Well, a few minutes was nothing to be worried about.

I sat down and cracked open a beer. The evening was cooler than the afternoon, but a nice, comfortable warmth that would make eating outside pleasant, rather than a sweat fest.

Looking at the clock again, I began to wonder. 7:13. Well, maybe she had second thoughts. If that was the case, the second lobster could be used in a salad for tomorrow's dinner.

The doorbell rang at 7:17. I made my way to the door and opened it. Melinda stood there, looking chagrinned.

"Sorry, sorry. There was a backup on one of the roads on the way here, and I was sitting for like ten fucking minutes."

I smiled to assure her it was a big deal, and resisted the teacher urge to scold her for using foul language. "No problem. Yeah, I should have mentioned the construction. I'm so used to it I never really think about it."

I stepped back and invited her in. She stepped inside hesitantly and looked around. My home was a simple bungalow, modestly decorated. My ex had taken a few things, but had decided to that for the most part, she wanted a fresh start with her own furniture and such.

Leading Melinda to the patio, I thought about something. "I probably should have given you my cell number," I thought aloud.

Melinda nodded and took out her own phone. "What's your number?"

I gave it to her and checked on our dinner. Melinda looked around at the backyard. "This is pretty sweet, Mr. Jones. And you were right about the pool."

The pool was the average kidney bean shape, nothing flashy but functional. Jodie, my ex, liked swimming in it to cool off on hot days, and would often tan herself on one of the loungers.

Melinda slipped off her sandals and sat at the edge of the pool. "Mind if I stick my feet in for a minute? The a/c in my car is busted, and I'm hot as hell."

Hell yes, you are, I thought to myself, but then shook it off. "Sure. Mi casa es su casa. Dinner's almost ready, be another five minutes or so."

The young redhead sat on the edge of the pool and slipped her feet in. I noticed that she was wearing a sleeveless shirt and shorts. She had a decent sense of fashion, comfortable yet stylish.

"That feels so good," Melinda commented as she luxuriated in the water's cooling effect. "I could get used to this."

"Yeah, my ex-wife enjoyed it a lot. It was her idea, really. I prefer real pools that I can swim in, but she liked it, so we kept it."

Melinda looked at me. "It's kind of weird hearing someone refer to their ex-wife in friendly terms," she commented. "My biological dad and mom refer to each other as 'bitch' and 'asshole'. Sometimes worse."

"Must be odd hearing your mom refer to your dad as a bitch," I quipped.

Melinda laughed, her eyes sparkling like the water. "You're really good with the one-liners, Mr. Jones. I remember that about you. You always had a goofy comment or two when we were in your class. Made you that much more fun."

I smiled at the compliment. "Yeah, there were a few times when some of you just made it easy, with the dumb things kids say sometimes. I did have to hold back on the 'that's what she said' responses more than a few times."

I checked the lobster again. "Done like dinner," I announced.

Melinda got up and moved to the table. "I didn't know you could barbecue lobster," she said, sitting down.

"Yeah, it's a bit uncommon, but I prefer it this way." I picked the lobsters off the grill and plated them, handing one to Melinda. "I find the smoke from the barbecue enhances the flavour of the meat."

We began to eat, and then something occurred to me. "Shit, I forgot the drinks. What would you like?"

Melinda considered this. "I'm paranoid about drinking and driving, even with something small. Do you have any alternatives?"

"Sparkling water with lemon or lime?" I offered.

"Lemon would be nice."

I brought out the drinks, her with lemon, mine with lime, and we resumed eating. Melinda sighed in contentment. "This is really good. I don't usually eat this well unless I go to my parents' house."

"We'll have to do something about that," I said.

She looked at me. "I'd like that."

The main part of dinner over, I cleared the table and checked in with Melinda. "I've got a couple of options for ice cream; do you have any preferences?"

Melinda grimaced. "Sorry, I should have said something earlier. I'm actually lactose intolerant."

"Oh," I replied. "Well, shit. I don't have anything else to offer right now."

"It's all good. It's on me for not saying anything earlier."

"Hey, I'm good with skipping dessert. Don't need to grow a beer belly, especially since I don't drink beer."

Melinda giggled. "You're a goof."

I smiled at her compliment and realized that I was glad she felt comfortable enough to banter slightly. I sat down at the table again and we gazed out over the yard.

"It really is a nice evening," Melinda commented. "Warm, cozy. Like a blanket."

I nodded. "It's lovely."

Without any preamble, Melinda got up and plopped down at the edge of the book again. I stood, kicked off my Birkenstocks, and joined her.

"Do you keep the pool heated?" She asked.

"Yeah. Jodie liked having it available to swim in for as long as possible. Plus, I hate getting in and feeling like I'm going to have a heart attack from the cold."

Another giggle from Melinda. "I know what you mean. I get to almost waist-deep and then I have to take the plunge, or I might never do it."

We sat for a while, just enjoying the contrast between the warm air and the cool water.

Melinda finally spoke after a few minutes and looked at me. "That was a lovely meal, Mr. Jones. I really appreciate it."

"You're welcome," I said, looking back at her. Your salad did sound kind of uninspiring."

She smiled shyly at me, and we held the gaze for longer than we really should have. Something in her face seemed to soften, and she looked like she was glancing at my lips.

I don't know what possessed me, but I leaned in and kissed her. Maybe it was my imagination, but I could have sworn she leaned in too.

Our lips touched for the briefest of moments, then she withdrew, a million thoughts racing over her face. After a few seconds she spoke.

"I... I probably should get going. I need to let the dog out again before bed."

She stood up and quickly moved to retrieve her shoes. I stood and followed her, silently kicking myself for my impulsiveness.

Melinda moved quickly to the front door. I followed at a safe distance, trying to think what to say. She reached the door and turned around. "I... thanks for dinner," she blurted, then opened the door and hustled to her car. I watched her get in and drive away, giving me a quick wave and she pulled out of the driveway.

I stood in the doorway for a while after she had left, thinking I probably had fucked things up royally.

As I lay in bed later that night, I replayed the kiss in my mind. I shouldn't have done that. I thought angrily. There are a lot of teachers who have gone down for stuff like this.

I tried to remind myself that those teachers usually lost their jobs for inappropriate behaviour with underaged students. She could still say something, though. Talk to the wrong people. Sometimes the court of public opinion is just as bad, if not worse than an actual trial.

My phone chimed, and I looked at it. It was a message from an unknown number.

Thanks again for dinner. Sorry I left so quickly.

It must have been Melinda.

It's okay, I typed back. No harm done.

Good, came her reply. Are you doing anything this Friday?

I stared at the phone, almost not believing what I was reading.

No, nothing major. Meeting a friend for drinks after work. Probably done by 6, 6:30.

Okay. Dinner is on me this time. 7:00, my place.

Her address followed in the next message and no further messages followed, so I put the phone on the nightstand and plugged it in.

Friday night arrived faster that I would have thought. I met Chen at the bar as planned, and we shared our usual gripes about students and coworkers, as well as wishing we could retire now.

He asked me if I was seeing anyone, and I said no. I didn't think Chen would say anything to anyone else if I mentioned Melinda, but I kept it to myself. Plus, I really didn't know what was going on there anyway.

Around quarter to six I got a text from Melinda.

Can I come to your place instead? I'll bring some food.

No problem, I typed back. What did you have in mind? Salad? I added a smirk emoji at the end.

Lol. No, I'll grab something else.

I finished my beer with Chen, and we parted company. I still had the better part of an hour before Melinda arrived. I headed to my house and waited.

She actually arrived on schedule this time. "I'm glad you told me about the construction, made getting here a lot easier." She held up a paper bag. "Dinner is here. A bit of assembly required. Mind if I use your kitchen?"

"By all means," I smiled, gesturing to the kitchen. She headed over and got set up.

"I didn't know what you liked, so I made a wild guess," she informed me, bustling about. She pulled out some salmon and a few veggies. "I thought salmon would be good, as it goes along with the seafood motif from the other night. And I brought some veggies, thought I'd do up a quick stir-fry."

There seemed to be a nervous energy about her, but I kept my thoughts to myself. She prepped everything while I watched, popping the salmon in the oven once it had heated up. She turned to me, looking apologetic.

"It's not exactly lobster on the barbecue, but hopefully it's good enough."

"I'm sure it's fine. I love salmon, and you can't go wrong with a good stir-fry."

"Yeah, that's what I was thinking," she babbled. "Stir-fry is one of my favourites. I usually cook them with tofu, but it's not everyone's cup of tea."

"True. I like it, but it does have to be cooked just right so it doesn't taste like rubbery cheese."

Melinda giggled and checked the salmon. "Almost done."

I set the table while she finished up in the kitchen. I poured her a glass of water again, assuming it was a safe choice. She brought the food over.

"One good thing about my real dad is he taught me about fish. He loves to fish, and we used to go fishing a lot. He even taught me how to clean a fish, and once I got over how gross I thought it was, it was actually kind of fun."

We sat down at the table and started eating. I got the sense that there was something on Melinda's mind, but I waited until she was ready to broach the topic.

"Thanks for agreeing to let me come here tonight," she said once we were done eating. "I have a nosy landlady, and if she saw me with a guy she might blab about it to my mom."

Ah, there it is. "Makes sense," I agreed. "Last thing you want is someone poking their nose in your business."

"Yeah. My mom's already all over me about getting married and having grandkids, so I don't need to give her any false hope. Not yet, anyway."

I nodded. "How about dessert? I made up a fruit salad while I was waiting for you."

"Fruit salad is one of my favourites," she agreed enthusiastically. We cleaned up and then enjoyed our dessert in silence.

Once we were done, I offered her an aperitif, but she still declined. I had a small glass of Baileys anyway.

Melinda got up and sat on the edge of the pool again, dipping her feet in. I joined her but kept a respectful distance this time. She swirled her feet around for a while and then spoke up quietly.

"I'm sorry for leaving her so abruptly the other night. I... it's just that..."

"Melinda, I get it," I said gently. "I misread things, so that's on me. I'm sorry that I kissed you, that was out of line."

She looked at me, shocked. "You... you didn't kiss me. I kissed you."

Now it was my turn to be shocked. She felt that she had initiated our kiss? I churned this over in my mind.

"Well... maybe it was mutual, then," I said quietly.

Her face remained shocked for a moment, and then very slowly melted to relief. "Okay. That's... that's good to know."

I scooted over. "Melinda, I get the sense that there's more on your mind. You've been super fidgety since you got here."

She looked down at the water and started making small circles with her feet.

"Yeah, you're right. I've been trying to find the courage to say it." She paused. "I guess the truth is... maybe I had a crush on you in school."

She said the last part quietly, so I had to be sure I heard her correctly. "A crush?"

Melinda blushed. "Yeah, just a bit. It was silly, just a dumb teenager crushing over her teacher, even though I knew that you were older and married." She paused, looking across the pool at nothing in particular, and then at me. "When I saw you at the reunion, those feelings came back. And when you said you were divorced..."

Her words hung in the air around us. This was quite the confession, and I needed to make sure I processed it correctly.

"A crush is okay. It's normal."

She shook her head. "No, I used to have a crush on you. Now it's... something more."

Another bombshell of a disclosure. My heart was racing, but my mind still lagged behind, unsure of how real this all was.

"I know you're not interested in me, and I didn't mean to make things awkward," she babbled, seeing the look on my face. "I... I'll go..."

Melinda turned to leave but I gently grabbed her wrist. She looked shocked, but also maybe hopeful.

"Don't go," I said gently.

She looked at me wordlessly, and then leaned in. I met lips with my own, no confusion this time as to who had started the kiss.

It was mutual.

She reached out and cupped my face with her hands. I mirrored her move.

People saw that at times, like this, the world stands still. I've always thought that was a crock of shit, but in this moment, it did.

The sounds of the world around us, the gentle breeze, the insects chirping... all melted away until it was just us. Even the sensation of the water on our feet seemed to dim as we kissed.

After a few moments, I decided to see how far she would go. I stuck my tongue out and licked her lips. Her eyes flew open, and then just as quickly lowered to a look of blissful approval.

We kissed for probably ten or more minutes. Finally, she broke off the kiss.

"I've wanted to do that for years," she admitted in a hushed voice.

I smiled. "I'm glad you did."

Melinda looked at her watch. "I have to let my dog out," she announced, and then got up. "I followed her to the door, half expecting another speedy departure from Melinda.

She surprised me again. Instead of a hasty departure, she turned around at the door, hand on the doorknob. "I... I need to think about things," she told me. "I'm not looking for a boyfriend right now, and you are a bit older, so..." Her voice trailed off.

I saw her point. "Fair enough. I'll respect your decision either way."

"I appreciate that," she breathed, relieved. "I'll let you know when I've thought it over."

With that, she gave me one last smile and then got into her car.

I watched her drive away again, simultaneous pangs of sorrow and hope playing in my chest.

The next morning was hot as fuck. I woke up sweating, never a comfortable feeling. I changed the sheets and headed for the kitchen.

Turning on the news, I learned that it was "going to be scorcher" (Why do news stations always use that word? Don't they have anything like a thesaurus?) I cooked up a light breakfast of eggs and toast and sat out by the pool.

I thought about the confessions and events of last night. My kiss with Melinda still lingered on my lips, as did a faint taste of her lipstick. My mind replayed the whole night, and I thought about my next move.

Since today was Saturday, there was a chance I'd see her at the pool again if I went there. I didn't know if she planned on keeping to a schedule of always going on a Saturday, but after thinking it over I decided not to take the chance. Any unplanned interactions could sour her on me. It was best to let her make up her mind without any interference.

My day otherwise looked to be uninteresting. I was maybe going to meet with Chen and a few of the other guys for a trivia night at the local pub, but apart from that nothing major.

I decided to go for a swim in my own pool, as it was getting warmer as the morning progressed. I stepped out onto the lanai and looked around my yard. The good news about where I lived was there weren't a ton of neighbours around. I had still had a fence built that was fairly tall for privacy, which Jodie appreciated when she sunbathed in the yard.

I reflected on that. More than a few times, Jodie had opted to go fully nude for her sunbathing, a notion I obviously hadn't had any issues with. And of course, we'd had a few clothing-free romps in the pool.

The stirring in my groin reminded me that it had been a while since I'd had any such romps. There had been plenty of times when I was younger, but for the most part those days seemed to be behind me.

For now, I thought, my mind drifting to Melinda.

Cool it, I hushed by libido. That was probably a one-off. We're likely not going to hear from her again.

I decided to strip down for my swim, glad yet again for the tall fence. The cool water seemed to do the trick, especially when it hit my groin. Thoughts of Melinda vanished.

The rest of the morning and part of the afternoon moved past in an unhurried manner. I did some browsing online, read a few chapters from my latest Jack Reacher novel, and generally chilled out. The weather forecast had been spot-on, overused descriptive words and all.

I was thinking ahead to dinner, when suddenly I heard the a/c click off out of cycle. I kept the lights off during the day, so that was no help. But then I tried the tv and realized that the power was out. Well, shit.

Thinking about my options, I decided that the best choice were some cold cuts and salads for dinner. No point grilling anything, as that would just make me sweat all the more.

I headed to the store and realized upon arriving that the power was out here too. Fortunately, the store had a backup generator, so I was able to complete my purchase.

When I got in the car, I checked my phone and realized I had gotten a text from Melinda.

Is the power out at your place?

Yeah, I responded. Seems like it's the whole city.

Fuck. Mind if I come over? I'm melting over her in this apartment. Plus your pool has my name on it.

It doesn't actually. We never named the pool, was my cheeky reply.

Ha ha. So is that a yes?

Sure. Mi pool es su pool. Usual time?

Perfect. See you then.

I drove home, grateful that I had picked up enough meat and salads that a guest wouldn't go hungry.

Melinda arrived promptly at her usual time, wearing a light summer dress. I couldn't swear by it, but it almost looked as if she had forgone a bra.

We dined on the lanai as usual, and she expressed her appreciation of my having bought foods that were cool. I expressed my hope that the power would come back on soon, as the leftovers wouldn't taste good tomorrow if they were warm.

After we'd satiated ourselves, I decided to have a beer. I asked Melinda if she'd like one. She hesitated for a moment, then shrugged.

"Sure. Might as well get over my fear at some point." I assumed she meant her fear of driving drunk, even though one beer was not likely to warrant much attention.

I grabbed two cold ones from the fridge, and we sat in silence as we sipped. Melinda was a fairly slow drinker, seeming to take small sips and savouring it. She looked out over the backyard for a while and then stood up. "I'm going to stick my feet in," she informed me. I nodded and watched as she strode over to the steps of the pool, hiked up her dress slightly, and stepped down onto the first step.

"Ohh, that's so nice," she moaned in pleasure. "I wish I had brought my swimsuit."

I cursed myself that I had thrown out the suits that Jodie had left behind. Not that it really mattered, they would probably not have fit Melinda anyway.

She stepped down again, and I realized that by now, her dress was up past her knees. She had very shapely legs, almost like... oh, of course. A swimmer's legs.

I enjoyed the view and was about to say something about being careful not to slip, when sure enough, that was exactly what happened.

With a sharp gasp, Melinda lost her footing and fell into the pool. She didn't go under, but she was almost completely soaked regardless. I rushed to her aid and helped her out, taking her hand as she made her way back to the steps. She stepped up onto the deck, dripping everywhere.

"Boy, maybe you were right about the whole booze thing. You are one clumsy drunk," I joked.

She glared at me for a moment, then grinned. "Shut up," she snapped, even though her tone was anything but cross. "Do you have a towel?"

I made my way to the linen closet and grabbed a fluffy towel. When I returned, Melinda was wringing out her dress. I admired the way the dress clung to her in all the right places and confirmed by earlier suspicion of the presence or absence of a bra. I handed her the towel.

"Thanks," she said, then began to dry the skin that was visible. This of course, would have little effect, seeing as her dress was still soaked.

"Do you want to drive home and get changed?" I asked.

"No. With the power out all of the traffic lights are out and getting her was bad enough." She looked at me meaningfully. "I don't want to be wet all night, though."

I thought about our options. Using the dryer was not possible, since the power was still out. The only real solution was to hang up her dress to air dry, which presented another challenge of its own. I did come up with a solution.

"If you go into the bathroom, there's a robe hanging on the door. You could slip that on and then hang up your dress out here to dry."

Melinda agreed to the idea, and I directed her to the washroom. I realized that I had developed a sheen of sweat in the evening air, as it was fairly still with no breeze.

I weighed my options and decided to head inside and change into a swimsuit. I walked back outside and walked down the steps into the pool, submerging myself as far as my neck.

Melinda joined me a few moments later, clad in my bathrobe and holding her dress. She placed the dress on the clothesline and moved to the top of the stairs.

"Try not to fall in this time," I advised her. "I only have the one bathrobe."

"Smartass," came her grinned reply. She watched me paddle around for a while.

"It would be nice if I could join you," she said. "You don't happen to have an extra suit, do you?"

"Sorry, no. I threw out the one that Jodie left behind."

Melinda nodded, looking disappointed. She moved around the edge of the pool. "Your fence is fairly tall," she remarked. "Taller than most I've seen."

"Yeah, my wife and I liked our privacy back here. Jodie especially liked it for sunbathing. Kept prying eyes from doing their thing."

Melinda looked at me, a strange look crossing her face. "You mean nude sunbathing?"

Her words surprised me, but I supposed it wasn't too surprising she had worked that out. "Sometimes, yeah."

She looked at the fence again and back to me. "I'd love to join you," she repeated. "This robe is nice but hot as fuck."

I struggled to think of how to accommodate her wish. "You could always just keep your underwear on. That's almost like a swimsuit." It was a lame idea, I'll admit, almost certain not to work."

Melinda looked at me again, the same look crossing her face from moments ago, clearly considering what to say in response to my suggestion.

Finally, she spoke. "Well, my underwear is already wet. So why not?"

With that, she strode over to the table and undid the robe's belt. She shimmied out of the robe and plopped it onto one of the chairs, and I was treated to the sight of her naked back and panty-clad bottom. She was indeed not wearing a bra. Then she turned around, and her magnificent globes came into view. They were full and firm, with nipples that jutted out proudly, no doubt from her earlier fall into the pool. I forgot to breathe for a moment. Not just because of her body--which was stunning--but because she trusted me enough to bare it. Even in the heat, a chill ran down my spine.

I watched her lithe body glide back towards the steps, and this time she strode carefully into the pool. Taking a chance, I quickly glanced at her panties. Th wet fabric clung to her lower half, leaving little to the imagination. I tried not to stare.

I failed.

Melinda stepped all the way in, and then half-dove into the water, keeping her head above the surface. She did a few breast strokes to the end of the pool, then swam back and joined me in the shallow end. Placing herself against the wall opposite me, she grinned wryly.

"Not the way either of us expected the night to go," she commented quietly.

I shook my head. "No, but given the circumstances I'm glad we're in the pool. This heat is intense."

Her near-naked body was adding to that heat, as well.

"It is," she agreed. She leaned back and closed her eyes. "I've always liked the feeling of water on my body when I'm swimming. It's cleansing in a way, you know."

I listed to her talk, but I have to confess that I was more focused on her breasts. They were visible through the water, distorted but still a sight to behold. I realized in that moment just how long it had been since I'd been in this pool with a woman, let alone a half naked one."

Melinda noticed my lack of focus on her words. "Do you like the feeling?" She asked.

I mentally shook myself out of my reverie. "Oh, yeah. It's great. It's kind of freeing. Jodie was pretty much always naked in the pool, said it made her feel more confident."

Melinda seemed to consider this. Then, to my surprise, stood up and stuck her thumbs in the waistband of her underwear, then slid them down her legs and stepped out of them. She tossed them aside and turned to me.

Her pussy was on glorious, unobstructed display.

I noted that the hair on her vulva was trimmed, not overly long but noticeable. Her lips were nice and prominent. It kind of reminded me of Jodie's, though she usually kept her bush full.

My gaze didn't seem to bother Melinda in the slightest. She smiled, and clasped her arms behind her, inviting me a more fulsome gaze. I indulged myself and felt myself starting to rise to the occasion.

"Your turn," Melinda said quietly after I'd had my fill.

I hesitated briefly, but then reasoned that up to this point, everything had been consensual. I stood up, looked Melinda squarely in the eyes, and dropped my trunks.

Melinda's gaze naturally went south. I'm not a stallion by any means in terms of my size, but I knew I had a respectable penis. Plus, Melinda's full nudity was helping my body do what nature intended.

Her eyes widened. "Looks like someone's happy to see me."

I smirked. "Well, can you blame him? You are quite the sight to behold, Melinda."

This caused a blush in my young guest. "Thanks, Mr. Jones. I appreciate that."

"I think since we're both naked, now's probably as good a time as any for you to call me Peter." Melinda shook her head.

"That's just too weird for me. Sorry."

I didn't point out that standing naked in the water with a 45-year-old man with a rising hard-on was probably not the in realm of "not weird" for most 24-year-olds.

Choosing to say nothing, I instead focused on the beauty in front of me. Melinda's body was toned by her years of swimming, her muscles showing on her arms and legs while still having the feminine curve that I loved.

Almost unconsciously I began to move toward her. She did not flinch or move away and accepted my approach with open arms. I took hold of her hips, and she wrapped her arms around my neck. We held our gaze for what seemed like hours. I could smell the gentle scent of her hair wafting over the water, her femininity somehow enhanced by it. Her green eyes were captivating, the type you get lost in.

With no words exchanged between us, we closed the distance, and our lips met. The previous kisses had been sensational, but being naked with her made this one phenomenal. Our tongues met, intertwining and swirling, a wrestling match with no losers, only mutual winners.

My penis also enjoyed the moment, as it raised to its full glory and bumped Melinda's stomach. She looked down at it, then at me, and wordlessly took it in her hand. I pulled her closer to me and kissed her deeper, and she began to slowly stroke my shaft, unhurried, rubbing the tip expertly. This elicited a sigh from me, directly into her mouth. Melinda broke the kiss.

"You like that?" she asked me in a husky voice. I nodded.

She then led me to the stairs, gently leading me by the penis. Without a word she directed me to sit on the step, and I complied. She looked deep into my eyes, then bent down and lowered her mouth over my firm shaft.

The contrast between her warm, soft mouth, the hot, thick air that blanketed us, and the water lapping our bodies had an amazing effect. Melinda continued to suck, her tongue swirling and caressing the head of my dick, her hand sliding up and down in time with her mouth. I reached out and took hold of her breasts, and she moaned in appreciation.

I squeezed her young breasts and played with her nipples. Her moans increased, and the vibrations worked wonders on my penis. The familiar sensation of an impending orgasm began to rise in my balls, and I gently began moving my hips in time with Melinda's hand and mouth. She sucked harder and began to fondle my balls.

My ejaculation was not far behind this. I gripped her auburn hair, and closed my eyes, a primal groan escaping my lips. Streams of hot cum spurt forward into her mouth, and I realized that the volume was due to the fact that I'd not had an orgasm in quite some time. Melinda kept sucking and stroking, undeterred by the load I was depositing.

After several moments, I was sated. I leaned back, breathing heavily. Melinda milked the last few drops from me, then straightened up. Throwing her head back and closing her eyes in bliss, she swallowed my load like it was the dessert she had really wanted. Then looked into my eyes again with a devilish smile and wiped up a dribble of semen from the side of her mouth, sucking her finger like a lollipop. She licked her lips.

"That was tasty," she purred. She stroked my now-deflating phallus. "What's next?"

I chuckled. "That was fucking amazing, Melinda. Best goddamn blowjob I've ever had." I stood up and pulled her close. "I want to taste you."

Her eyes sparkled with desire. "I'd like that, Mr. Jones. But we'll have to go inside. I can be a little loud when I cum."

The prospect of what was to come was enthralling. Without another word, I took her hand and led her to the bedroom.

My bedroom was not too dark, dimly lit by the sunlight outside. I guided Melinda to my queen size bed, and she flopped down on her back, propped up on her elbows, and spread her legs. Smiling at her, I kneeled down and caressed her thighs and inner legs. She rubbed herself in anticipation, and I lightly kissed her inner legs, coming close to her pussy but never quite making contact.

"Don't tease me," she moaned.

I kissed her vulva then, fulfilling her wants. Kissed, then lightly licked her mons. She groaned and threw her head back, clutching her breasts. I've always loved taking my time with a woman, and it was clearly working.

By and by, I began licking at her slit. She was already well lubricated, her juices shining in the dim light. The contact caused Melinda to buck her hips involuntarily. I gripped her by the back of her thighs and pulled her incrementally toward me. I took my time, letting my tongue tease and taste her with reverence.

Melinda guided my head with her hand. "There, right there," she coaxed. I complied with her request, keeping up with the licks, my nose bumping her clit. I buried as much of my tongue inside her as I could, causing Melinda to squeal in delight.

"I'm so close," she announced in a breathy whisper. "So close. Make me cum..."

Music to my ears.

I kept up the pace, knowing any change could throw her pleasure off. I did lightly rub on her clit, though, and this made a world of difference.

Melinda bucked her hips up, and I held on, still pleasuring her, her taste, smell, moans and tremors goading me on.

"Fuuuuuuuuuck!" she squealed, her whole body twitching as her orgasm racked her body. I kept up my part, helping her to climax fully.

After a few moments the twitching stopped, and her hips gently eased back down onto the bed. I kissed her pubis lightly, licking up her juices.

Melinda let out a very contented sigh, and I looked up at her. Her eyes her closed, chest rising and falling, her arms splayed at her sides. She lifted her head and looked at me, her smile that of complete satisfaction. "That was so good. You have no idea."

I stood up and flopped down beside her on my side. She rolled over and faced me, tracing patterns on my arm with her fingertip. She smiled at me, and I grinned back.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do all that, sucking you off and you eating me out," she admitted coyly, and I leaned forward and kissed her.

"Worth it?" I asked.

"Definitely."

We lay like that, caressing each other and stealing kisses and glances, our eyes and smiles telling more than words could. There was something on my mind, though, that had to be asked.

"So, should we talk about where this is going? Define the relationship, as they say?"

Melinda looked at me for a few beats, then spoke. "I meant what I said before, about not wanting a boyfriend. A boyfriend would mean settling down, having a family. I'm not ready for that."

I nodded sagely. "I can accept that. If this is to be our only time together, I'll abide by your wishes.

Melinda caressed my face. "I think I'd like to do this again. We don't have to define things yet. I definitely don't want to stop this, whatever it is."

"Me neither," I affirmed.

Without warning, there was a clicking sound, followed by the whoosh of the a/c finally kicking in. "Power's back," I observed.

Melinda sighed deeply. "That means my window a/c unit will be running again." She paused and looked at the bedroom clock, which was flashing. "What time is it?"

"Hang on." I got up, and picked my phone up off the kitchen counter, and brought it back to her. "Just after nine thirty."

Melinda sat up. "Shit. I need to let the dog out." She stood up and padded naked to the clothesline in the back yard, coated in a layer of sweat from our exploits.

She checked her dress. "Still damp," she muttered. She turned to me. "Guess I'll have to wear it home wet." Her voice and face told me this was not ideal.

"Why don't you borrow one of my shirts?" I offered. "Might be big on you but it'll do the trick. And you can borrow some of my gym shorts, they have a drawstring."

This elicited a chuckle from Melinda. "That might work. I'll look ridiculous, but my landlady won't be around to report on the absence of my dress, so yeah, let's do that."

I watched her dress herself in a long-sleeve t-shirt, and shorts. I noted that she didn't bother with her underwear. She turned to me.

"I look ridiculous, but it'll do. I'll have to come back for the dress."

"And your panties," I added.

Another coy grin. "No, I think you can keep them, at least until the next time."

With that, she kissed me lightly, then turned and opened the door. She turned back to me. "When will our next time be?"

I thought about this. "Saturdays seem to work."

"Perfect. I'll see you then. Mind if I come over earlier?"

"More time with you? I'd like that."

This caused her to move closer and kiss me deeply. I held her waist, enjoying the feeling of her warm skin through the shirt.

She finally broke away. "I'd like that, too," Melinda whispered.

With that, she gently slipped out of my arms and out the door. I closed the door behind her and let out a slow, satisfied breath, still catching traces of her scent in the air--warm, musky, unmistakably hers.

Next Saturday could not arrive soon enough.

On Tuesday I got a text from Melinda.

Do you want to go for a walk? Winston Park.

Sure. What time?

8? I'm taking Daisy for a quick run.

Okay.

Great! See you by the fountain.

The evening air was not as hot as it had been the other night, when Melinda and I had enjoyed our first sampling of each other. Although the park was busy, I figured that if anyone saw us, we could easily explain ourselves as a teacher and former student having met up spontaneously.

Melinda was already at the fountain when I arrived. Daisy, her Border Collie, seemed enormously happy to meet me. Dogs are always good judges of character.

We set out, strolling through the park and dodging people rolling past on bikes or skateboards. I saw a few young people, but none that looked like students.

Melinda was dressed in leggings and a matching top; her hair held in place by a simple clip. She explained her appearance. "I usually run with Daisy," she said. "Figured you wouldn't mind if I didn't dress up."

"I'm bitterly disappointed. I fully expected you to come to the park dressed in high heels and a full-length dress."

She elbowed me in the ribs. "You probably wanted to see me naked again."

"I wouldn't complain. Some of the pearl clutchers might."

We carried on for a bit and came to an open grassy area with few people. Melinda produced a ball from her pocket, unhooked Daisy and threw it. The dog took off in delight.

"I wanted to talk about the other night, and where things are going."

I looked at her. "I thought we'd agreed that this wasn't going to go much further than physical."

Daisy returned with the ball, tail wagging in anticipation. Melinda threw it again.

"I'm okay with that for now," she admitted. "I do want kids and a family, but just not right now."

"Probably not with me, either," I said.

She paused. "Well, I just..."

I held up a hand. "No offense, taken, Melinda. There is an age gap between us, and I'm sure your parents wouldn't be thrilled for their daughter to be dating a guy close to their age."

We paused momentarily for Melinda and Daisy to play their drop and throw game.

"I never really wanted kids, anyway," I continued.

Melinda looked surprised. "Not even one?"

I shook my head. "I just never really felt the dad type, you know? Some guys are born with it, some aren't." I paused. "Jodie did, which was part of the reason for the divorce. She's younger than me, so she's still got a few years where she could have kids."

Daisy returned again, and Melinda reattached the leash.

"So you're okay with this being just a friends with benefits thing?" she asked me.

"More than okay," I smiled.

"Good. Looking forward to Saturday."

"You could always bring Daisy if you want. My backyard is big enough, and she'd have lots of stuff to sniff."

Melinda shook her head. "No, she's an absolute attention hound. If I'm not paying attention to her almost constantly, she gets barky."

"Fair enough. I want to be the one getting the attention from you." I grinned. "And I don't mind a little petting, either."

This set Melinda off, and we both giggled as we continued our walk.

Melinda arrived at my door on Saturday at the designated time, wearing the borrowed shirt and shorts from last week. I couldn't help but comment.

"This must have looked interesting to your nosy landlady."

"She's away for the weekend," Melinda said with a shrug. "And if anyone else saw me, I don't care. None of them know my parents."

"Ah, I see. But if you're returning those to me, you'll be going home in your underwear."

She grinned, devilish as ever. "I'm not wearing any."

My eyebrows shot up. "No? So you'll be driving home naked?"

The thought alone was enough to get my imagination running.

Melinda smirked. "I've got a bag in the car. I'll get changed after dessert." She waggled her own eyebrows at me.

This girl is on fire, I thought.

Not that I was complaining.

Dinner consisted of grilled veggies, burgers, and sweet potato fries. We took our time eating, chatting idly about inconsequential things.

After I cleaned up the plates, I stood in front of her, feigning imperious authority. "I think it's time you gave me back my clothing, young lady," I commanded. She grinned.

"You'll have to catch me first."

With that, my young lover took off like a shot across the yard. I followed in hot pursuit.

We chased around the yard, me grabbing for her and her squealing at each attempt, wriggling away each time. At one point I did grab the hem of the shirt, and she ducked out of it and continued the chase. True to her word, she had no bra on. I enjoyed the erotic sight of her breasts jiggling as we played our cat and mouse game.

The chase continued for another few moments until I finally cornered her. She grinned like a Cheshire cat, then slipped off the shorts and threw them at me. The distraction gained her escape and a few extra seconds.

I finally managed to grab her around the waist, and she pretended to resist. Our playful struggle left her backside pressed firmly against me, and the way she squirmed only made me harder.

She noticed this and gripped me there, turning to whisper in my ear. "Getting hot and bothered, are we?"

"You have no idea," I whispered back, then tightened my grip on her waist and carried her to the side of the pool. "And I know just how to cool us down."

With that, I tossed her into the deep end of the pool, Melinda whooping in surprise. I quickly shed my clothes and jumped in after her.

When I surfaced, Melinda splashed me. "Jerk," she said, mock angry for tossing her into the pool.

I splashed her back, and a short water fight ensued. Melinda tried to make a break for the shallow end, but I moved to intercept her and pinned her to the side with my body. "Going somewhere?"

A sultry look from Melinda. "Maybe inside?"

"Naughty girl. Is that all you ever think about?"

I felt her grip my length under the water and begin to stroke me. "Guess I do have an obsession with this little fellow. Oh, and the rest of you, I suppose."

My turn to grin. "Well, then. However shall we solve that?"

Melinda's grin widened, her hand still stroking me with purpose.

"I think you know."

Oh, I knew. And I wasn't about to disappoint her.

I made my way to the steps and out of the pool, taking her by the hand. We grabbed a couple of towels and quickly dried off, and then we headed to the bedroom.

Once there, I pointed to the bed. "Face down, ass up," I directed here. She grinned in anticipation and crawled on the bed, wiggling her amazing ass at me enticingly. I stepped over to my desk and rummaged through the drawers until I found what I needed. I pulled out a Trojan, ripped open the package and slid the condom on, making sure the fit was good.

I'll need some more of those, I reflected. It had been a while.

Melinda watched me, eyes filled with lust. I got on the bed and tapped the entrance to her slit a few times to tease her, then slid my shaft up and down her wetness. She moaned in pleasure. Spurred on by her arousal, I sank my rigid member deep inside the lovely redhead.

The pleasure was palpable. Melinda's pussy was tighter than I could have hoped, and moist beyond my dreams. Her readiness for me stirred something deep inside me, and I grabbed her glossy red hair with one hand and gently tugged back, while the other hand steadied me behind her.

She threw her head back in pleasure at the dual feeling on her hair being pulled back, and my rod thrusting deep into her pussy. She met my thrusts with counterthrusts of her own, her ass jiggly beautifully as it smacked my thighs.

After a while she fell forward, gasping. I knelt waiting for her to recover. Mere seconds later, she sat up enthusiastically. "I wanna ride you," she grinned.

I lay down and she immediately swung a leg over top of me. She surprised me by kneeling over me but facing away from me. I was still treated to the site of her flawless ass.

She leaned forward, and bounced her hips up and down, her bum rising and falling rapidly. I gripped her ass and helped her slam down onto my cock each time. Her moans began low and steady, and eventually her voice began to rise, her pleasure magnifying. She sat up, head lolled back, gripping her breasts and she rode me to a screaming orgasm for her.

She was right about being loud.

Once she had come down from the blissful high, she turned to look at me over her shoulder. "Your turn to cum. How do you want me."

"Missionary," I informed her.

We switched positions so that I was hovering over her, rubbing my dick along her channel once again. I gripped my shaft to make sure the condom was still fully on me, when she stopped me.

"We don't need that," she said.

I looked at her. "Are you sure?"

She simply nodded, biting her bottom lip in anticipation.

I slipped the Trojan off, tossed it aside, then slowly eased back into her.

The sensation of my penis being bare inside her was thrilling. Her tightness and moistness seemed to be amplified now that our genitals were completely skin-to-skin. I thrust hard and deep, but slowly, wanting to savour this as long as possible.

Melinda seemed to read my mind. "I'm glad we finally got the chance to do this. I've wanted to do this for years."

I smiled. "Just enjoy it," I encouraged her.

Our eyes locked, and she gripped my arms as we made slow, sensual love. The need for words was long past.

My stamina over the years has improved, so I was able to coax another orgasm out of her before I felt my own rising. I began to thrust faster, and Melinda sensed the change."

"That's it, baby. Cum in me. I want to feel it. Cum for me... Peter."

Hearing my name drove me over the top. I leaned down and kissed her passionately, thrusting hard and deep. Her hips matched my thrusts, her moans like angels in my ears. I broke from her kiss and looked her in the eye as I began to pour my essence into her. The eye contact and the feeling of my sperm jetting into her caused her to achieve one last orgasm. I kept thrusting as her head thrashed about, and then she made eye contact again.

No words, just primal lust.

Eventually, I stopped my thrusts and kissed her deeply. She returned my aggression, our tongues again expressing their own passion. We continued this for a good long while, the shared afterglow almost as good as the act itself.

Once we had satisfied our passion fully, I rolled off of her and onto my back. She turned on her side and closed the gap between us, the sweat on her body somehow making her glow even more.

"That was amazing," she breathed, her eyes full of tears. I looked at her and kissed her.

"Abso-fucking-lutely," I agreed. "Best sex ever, honest to God."

She smiled. "Better than your wife?"

"Ex-wife," I gently reminded her. "But yes, ten times better."

She touched my cheek tenderly, a tear rolling down hers. Concern etched my face.

"You sure about the condom thing? We can try to get the morning-after pill..."

Melinda shook her head. "It's not that, it's... I've never felt like this with anyone else. It's like you see me, you know?"

I did know. I also knew where this was headed.

"I do care a lot for you, Melinda. Sex with you is absolutely fantastic. But I don't want you getting too attached. I'm probably the same age as your parents, and kids are not in the cards for me." I paused. "I'm happy to keep this up as lovers, but that's all that I want."

Wiping away a tear, Melinda sniffled and nodded. "I don't want to push you into something you don't want."

I kissed her forehead. "I appreciate that, Melinda."

She looked at me. "Call me Mel?" she asked hopefully.

"I appreciate that, Mel."

With that, she kissed me. We cuddled and caressed for an indeterminate amount of time, then drifted off, still tangled up in each other--no promises, no regrets. Just the quiet certainty of now.