That One Summer: A Collection of Steamy Contemporary Romance

Chapter 3

Carl needed to readyhimself for Jayel’s return. One of his initial concerns was his sexual desire. It was imperative that he fuck himself to exhaustion, or at least until his cock was too tired to crow in the morning. To assist him, he reached out to Carol Benoit.

Carol swiftly accepted his invitation to meet, insisting that it had to be before 7 PM. Although Carl was uncertain about the importance of the time constraint, he chose not to dwell on it. His main focus was the discomfort he experienced at the thought of being alone in a house with Jayel. The memory of that kiss still lingered in his mind.

In his role as the owner of Above Water Plumbing, Carl usually didn’t tend to service calls, but fixing Brian’s hot tub was more of a family obligation than a personal favor. Little did he know that Jayel would be returning from college on the very same day the hot tub repairs were planned. With the timing set, he couldn’t back out. Delegating the task to a staff member might be seen by Jayel as deliberate avoidance, adding an extra layer of complexity to the situation.

Carl leaned back on the sofa. He relived the past, allowing thoughts of Jayel to replay in his mind. Carl’s affection for Jayel had always been paternal... up until that night. His God-daughter was now a beautiful adult, and, for him, irresistible.

Thoughts of Jayel lingered in Carl’s mind incessantly. His longing for her persisted, unwavering. Carl fought against it, but what damage could fantasies do? Wasn’t he at least at liberty to experience what he desired in his mind? He leaned back and freed his partially erect manhood. With a sigh, Carl moistened his fingers with saliva and began pleasuring himself. Vivid mental images of Jayel played out in his mind like an unfolding gallery, driving his pace as he stroked himself. However, once he reached release, guilt flooded over him, clouding his senses.

With sticky fingers, Carl drained the remaining drops of the beer he had been consuming. Still seated on the sofa in his bedroom, the bathroom was conveniently nearby. After stretching, Carl ambled toward the en-suite bathroom. Pausing in front of the full-length mirror, he scrutinized his reflection.

His nose had been broken in the past, and the slight curve resulting from the break was hardly discernible. His lips were thin, likely inherited from one of his birth parents, neither of whom he knew. Carl knew his biological mother had abandoned him on a firehouse doorstep when he was just two years old—too young to remember her. As for his biological father, he remained unaware of his identity.

Carl grew up with the knowledge that thin-lipped people were said not to be good kissers. He begged to differ. He smiled at the reflection of the man in the mirror staring back at him. He was distinguished and accomplished. He was a man that any parent would be proud of. It was too bad that both sets of his parents were a loss to him.

“Enough!” Carl blurted out, determined to stop wallowing in self-pity.

While Jayel may not be a romantic prospect for him, he acknowledged that she was still an integral part of his family. His achievements remained intact despite developing feelings for a woman half his age, with whom he had assisted in her upbringing. He continued to demonstrate his goodness. Furthermore, he sensed that Jayel was grappling with similar emotions toward him, as the kiss they shared was passionate and felt undeniably perfect.

Resisting closeness with her presented a daily struggle for him. He had grown accustomed to the sound of her voice. Each morning, Jayel would either call him or join him for breakfast. If she didn’t make the first move, he would. There was never a day without some form of contact. Why did he take the reckless step of kissing her that way without considering the consequences beforehand?

He had abandoned her, leaving her alone under the gazebo in the rain. Acting like a coward, he fled overseas that very night without offering any clarifications. Over the next six months, he focused on his business endeavors, particularly investing in the oil and gas sector to expand his already significant portfolio. It was only Adele’s plea for him to return that eventually brought Carl back. The thought of Jayel moving forward with her life without him was agonizing.

Adele’s intuition suggested to her that Carl and Jayel had feelings for one another. With Jayel tucked away at college, Adele saw no reason for Carl to remain overseas. She confronted him and requested that he come home.

Upon Carl’s return home, he discovered that Brian and Adele did not condemn or pass judgment. They did not see anything wrong with Carl loving their daughter, Jayel. In fact, they were open to the idea of their union, but they emphasized that the choice must be Jayel’s to make. Jayel had the autonomy to choose her own path. Carl agreed with their stance. He was adamant about never pressuring Jayel into anything, which was why he had made the difficult decision to leave and stay away for so long. However, he had returned, and she was returning as well.

Carl shook his head to dispel any distractions, determined to concentrate on his strategy to compose himself. Carol had directed him to pick her up by 7 PM, and it was now a quarter to six. He hurried into the shower.

Moving quickly, he smoothed back his thick, sandy brown hair, which tended to curl up after being washed. His hair had been a topic of debate with Carol, who felt that curly hair was more appropriate for young boys.

He had intended to shave, but time was slipping away. The slight beard he had grown obscured his dimples—features cherished by Jayel. From childhood, she had a habit of kissing each dimple and holding tightly onto his neck. He smiled at the memory, thinking it well and good to keep them hidden.

He picked up the cologne bottle on the counter and dabbed a small amount on his fingers, then discreetly applied it to his lower abdomen, spreading the scent over his pubic hair. He’d done this in consideration of Carol. With a grin reminiscent of the Cheshire cat, he straightened his appearance. Carl snatched up his suit jacket and left the master suite, heading toward the garage. He moved quickly. If they were to make the dinner reservation he had arranged, Carol needed to be picked up by 6:45.

Carl pondered over Carol as he walked to the garage. She didn’t meet his approval based solely on her attractiveness. The woman gave damn good head. Being of a similar age to him was also a motivating factor. Carol was established, and she operated within the social circle he had recently become a part of.

They both found utility in each other. He viewed her as a necessary companion to accompany him to professional events. Carol viewed him as a benefactor. Tonight, he urgently needed her to necessitate his cock.

His cell suddenly chimed before he could start the engine of the Lamborghini. Carl checked the message. Damn his luck! Carol canceled their date, feigning a necessity to care for her younger sister, who had been attacked by her boyfriend. She’d written:

“The bastard blackened her eye.”

It was apparent that Carol had forgotten she told him weeks prior that her sister was a declared lesbian. But what did he know? Maybe her sister’s “boyfriend” was a stud.

Regardless, Carl was in a horrible predicament. He went back inside and spent the evening eating crackers and cheese while nursing a couple of bottles of wine.

In the morning, he would assert himself. It was time to confront the situation and face the music.