40. Gage
GAGE
I have a late cancellation for my Sunday sunset sail, so I ask Charli and her grandparents to go out on Wanderlust. Thankfully, they’re free.
Cap got clearance for more activities from physical therapy and I know he’s been itching to get on the water.
I show him the cabin, the engine block, my tools and I also explain the solar panel set to run the boat’s electric while Charli and Margaret have some wine and snacks in the cockpit.
She complains of being cold and grabs one of my gray Wanderlust sweatshirts from my cabin. She looks so fucking cute in it.
Charli plays first mate on our cruise around the bay. It reminds me of sailing with my parents, and my mom and dad made such a good team. I want that with her too, so much.
Her grandmother is taking pictures of us too. Charli says that she never goes anywhere now without her phone. They are both really nice solid people. Her whole family has been good so far, except for her mom. She seems pretty shitty since she wrecked Charli with a couple of texts.
Charli stands next to me at the helm and puts her arm around my waist, leaning her head on my shoulder, just the way my parents used to.
Margaret says, “Now you two smile for me.”
My happiness must be apparent. Charli laughs into the wind and we face each other, both ginning widely.
“These will be perfect, kids.”
Cap interrupts, “Enough, Margaret, enjoy the sail.” He pats her knee and she shushes him.
“Andi told me If there’s no pictures, it didn’t happen,” Margaret says as she flips through the images on her phone.
We all laugh along with her. I bet everyone will have these pictures of us tonight.
Cap and Margaret remain in the cockpit while I stay at the helm and Charli is on the foredeck pulling lines as we begin to tack.
Cap shouts to me over the wind, “I told you before, you won’t find a better first mate than that one right there.
” She cleats the line and beams at us. “That’s the way, honey. ”
No, I don’t think that I’ll ever find anyone else like her.
The walls that I’ve tried to build around my heart have been eroded.
I’ve slipped into having a life in Seascape.
It’s freaking me out a little bit because I was supposed to be a summer person, not a new resident.
People at the shops have started to say hi to me by name and I see those damn kids from the Academy camps all over the place.
Sometimes some of them just walk down the pier to see what I’m doing.
I feel like I matter here. And it feels good, too damn good.
I’m waiting for something bad to happen, to fuck it all up.
The sunset is kind of a bust, it’s a little too cloudy out, but we had a good time anyway. Cap and Margaret are gracious as usual when I drop them at the dock. He shakes my hand goodbye and, with a gruff tone, says, “Treat her right,” before walking away.
Charli stays to help me clean up before we go to her place. Cap’s words irk me though, of course I want to treat her right, she has all of me now.
As soon as we get in the door of her apartment, she strips down to her underwear, a hot pink bra and thong set. “If I knew you were wearing that under my sweatshirt, I wouldn’t have been able to speak to your grandparents.”
“I know, that’s why I didn’t tell you.” She patters across the room and lights a candle set in the center of the coffee table. “Mood lighting,” she says on a low laugh.
Watching her, with that beautiful body and eyes just for me, I realize I want to have this everyday with her. Coming home to be with her every night.
She pushes me back onto the couch and drops to her knees between my legs. “I've been thinking about this all evening.” She licks her lips and undoes my zipper. I’m growing already. Her bra is really pushing her tits up, till they’re practically spilling over the fabric.
She pulls me out of my shorts and runs her thumb around the head of my dick, precum leaking out.
Leaning over, she clamps her lips around the tip and pumps up and down on my shaft with her hand.
Her head bobs up and down as she sucks me in, and I rock my hips slowly, rocking in and out of her mouth.
Fucking heaven. Her other hand strokes my balls, causing me to breathe heavily.
I tilt my head back into the cushion and enjoy her mouth.
She hums like my cock is the best thing she’s ever tasted.
She takes me all the way into her mouth, her pink lips tight on my shaft.
“Touch yourself too.”
Her eyes flick to me before her hand dips lower sliding into her panties. A sigh escapes her mouth as she does what she’s told.
“Are you wet?”
She nods as she licks my cock hungrily, swirling her tongue over my head. Jesus, I love how she makes me feel so good. I push to the back of her throat. She takes me all the way again, her eyes watering, but keeps going.
Her hand is working furiously, the sounds of her arousal thick between us. She lets out a groan, the vibrations rumbling over me. Tingles run down my legs, making my muscles twitch. The soft glow from the candle puts shadows across the room, illuminating her sweet face.
Her long hair is tickling my thighs. I close my eyes because my vision is going hazy.
Fuck. I’m getting close. I try to think about other things to make this ecstasy last longer.
Anything, the smell of Seal Rock, cleaning the head on the boat.
Shit, nothing works. When I reach down and run my fingers through her hair, she looks up at me.
“I’m going to come if you keep that up,” I grind out. “I want to fuck you now. Come up here.”
She pulls me out of her mouth and runs her hand up and down my length. “Are you sure, baby?”
“Hell yes.”
She crawls up me and I turn her and put her back on the couch. I grab her hand and suck her wet fingers into my mouth. “So good.”
She licks her lips before answering, “You can have more.”
“Later. You’re going to take my cock first.”
Then I yank her panties down and pull a foil wrapper from my pocket before shucking my shorts.
“Promise?” she taunts me.
I wrap the condom over myself and get between her legs at her entrance. As I roll her clit under my thumb, she bucks and arches her back. “Did sucking my cock turn you on?”
“It did.” She pulls her bra cups lower so that her nipples are exposed to me. I grab the base of my shaft, slide into her warmth, and lean down over her, kissing each nipple before sealing my mouth to hers.
“You’re so gorgeous, Charli.” We are erratic at first, she’s lifting up to meet me and I rock into her. It’s urgent and fast. I brace my forearms on either side of her torso as her tits bounce out of her bra. I kiss her mouth and our tongues tangle.
She begs, “More. I love your cock.” As I pump into her again and again. I slip my hand between us to press on her clit.
“Is that it?” I ask breathlessly.
She arches into me harder. “Yes. Faster.”
After a few more thrusts, I can’t hold on any longer after that blow job and her dirty talk. “I’m there.”
“Oh God, me too,” she pants as she clings to me shuddering, from her release.
She’s still breathing hard when I pull out of her. The sweat cools on my body immediately as shock erupts in my chest.
“Fuck.”
Her eyes flutter open. “What?”
“The condom is completely shredded.”
“Oh shit.” She sits up and looks at me, the tangled bits of latex hanging in pieces.
We’re frozen for a long moment, panic racing through my body.
“It should be okay, I’m on birth control,” she blurts out.
Breathe. That’s back-up. I sink down next to her, grasping her hand in mine. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah.”
We sit back pressed together on her small sofa. My lips graze her neck up to her chin before reaching her mouth to kiss her tenderly. She holds my face in her hands, gently. I fucking love her. I press my forehead to hers. “I’ve never not used something before.”
“It’s a big deal.” Her hands find mine. “Besides, I was thinking about asking you if you wanted to stop using anything any more.”
Silence falls between us and I tense. This is fucking big.
“I’m really falling for you. I feel so happy when we’re together, happier than I’ve ever been before.” She squeezes my hands.
God, me too. I can tell her. “You make me really happy too. I didn’t know it could be like this.”
Her green eyes search mine. “I was clear at my last check-up before we met.”
“Yeah, I was good at my physical too.” My heart pounds in my chest.
“I want to feel all of you every time.” She hooks her leg over my thigh, slipping her hand lower to touch me. “I want this with you.”
If I wasn’t hard before, I am now. Is this reckless? Maybe, but I want her this way. “That’ll make you totally mine.”
“I’m already yours.” She kisses me slowly and long. “I have been for a while. But I was afraid to tell you.”
“Don’t be scared to tell me anything.” After the pain she’s had in her life I don’t want to be the source of more.
“Before, you said you’re only here for the summer.”
It gets me thinking about my uncle and his advice to not let her get away.
“Let’s just take it one day at a time for now.” I wish I could slow time down for us.
“The days are slipping by and neither one of us wants this to end, but . . .”
“I’m not supposed to leave until October.” That’s months away.
“If you’re not here and I’m not there, and we don’t do long distance, we won’t be together anymore.” A single tear slides down her cheek.
“I know. I’ve thought about it too.” I wipe the tear away, knowing it’s because of me.
“What are we going to do about it then?”
“One of us has to make a change or a sacrifice.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” A look of disappointment flashes across her face, and I know it’s my fault.
* * *
Later the next morning I get a text from my Uncle Bill.
Uncle Bill: I got nice pictures from your sail yesterday.
Me: From?
Uncle Bill: Margaret Armstrong.
Me: I knew it. Yeah- they’re good people. I took them out because there was a cancellation.
Uncle Bill: So you and their granddaughter.
Me: Yes, we’re together.
Uncle Bill: You both look very happy. And they like you a lot too. That’s saying something.
I smile to myself. Things are falling into place.
Me: I’m happy.
Uncle Bill: Don’t let her get away.
Me: Working on that.
Uncle Bill: I’ve been meaning to tell you, I think I’m going to sell the boat.
I sit forward, as my heart races, pounding in my chest. I owe Bill for helping me when I was at my worst. WTF? What have the last seven years of my life been? Was it just something for me to do?
Me: What do you mean?
Uncle Bill: Wanderlust is your job right now. I’ve met someone down here and I’m ready to retire. You’re happy there. It should all work out.