BENCHED (35 page)

"The sea rarely rises above five degrees."

He blinks a few times.

"Centigrade," I add quickly.

"You should learn to swim. I swim. It's relaxing."

I shrug. "Perhaps I should. Perhaps you only want to see me in a bathing suit."

"I want to see you in your birthday suit."

"You already I have," I say in a low voice as I move closer to him.

I slip up under his chin and nip at the skin of his neck. Gently, he lifts me bodily from the tabletop and sets me in his lap. He's so strong, he can pick me up as though I weigh nothing at all. It makes my chest flutter. I sit sidesaddle in his lap and put my arm around his neck, and rest my other hand on his chest, under his jacket.

"Yowch," he cries, when I tuck my hand under his arm.

"My hands are cold."

"Yeah, I can tell," he says in a high voice.

"Give me your body heat."

He starts laughing. "If you're not careful, I'm going to give you a lot of body heat right on top of this table."

Jason closes his arms around me and touches his lips to my forehead. He kisses my cheek and jaw before he meets my lips.

"What else do you dream about?" he asks.

"I dream about…." I pause, thinking. "Sex."

"With me?"

"Yes. Recently, anyway."

"Oh, so I'm not really the man of your dreams. I'm hurt."

"Men were strange to me before I came here. You still are in a way. Mother made sure I had many girls for company, but I never went to school as you do, socialized the way you do. You do not appreciate how much of a shock it was for me when I first came here."

"Well, I remember how you dressed, with those gowns or whatever. Is that how you dress at home?"

"Yes."

"I miss it. You looked cute. You should dress like that more often."

"I still have them. I could wear them for you."

"What else would you wear for me?"

I think about the surprise I bought and blush. "All sorts of things."

"Sorts of things like…?"

I dig my nails into his side. "Do you want me to spoil the surprise?"

"By all means, no."

"Good, because I'm not going to."

He smirks. "What are you wearing under your clothes right now?"

"Oh," I say as innocently as I can, "nothing. Am I supposed to?"

His smile widens and he breathes against my neck before kissing me. "You're giving my ideas."

"What sort of ideas?"

"Ideas like this.

Jason takes hold of me and turns me around, so I straddle his lap. I can feel him hardening under me. One hand slips up inside my top and rests gently on my breast, while he pops the button on my jeans with the other, and his hand dives down inside, under me. Between my legs. My thighs quiver.

I gasp as his finger runs along my slit and his hand squeezes my breast. He puts his lips against the back of my neck, and I feel his tongue, and then his teeth, just a touch. I lean back and spread my legs, and his finger slips inside me.

"That's good," I whimper.

His kisses trail along the side of my neck, along my jaw, as his finger moves inside me and his hand roams over my chest and stomach. Every touch makes me shudder. The air is cold, but he is warm. Warm breath on my neck, warm hands on my skin, inside me. I slip my hand under my top and rest it on top of his and slide my own hand down my pants, guiding him.

"Like that," I tell him, but I don't have to.

"I want to taste you again."

"Who's there?" a voice yells.

My eyes jerk open as a beam of light cuts across the field, sweeping from one side to the other, the edge of it passing not a foot from my toes. I stifle a cry and wriggle out of Jason's grip and bolt, and he comes running after me, into the trees.

I yank my pants up and button them just before Jason pulls me down onto the ground, drawing me down on top of him.

"Don't move," he whispers in my ear. "No noise."

I lie on top of him, eyes wide, breathing rapidly, scanning the field. The light beam makes me blink, and every time I close my eyes, I see a purple streak. When I open them again, I'm night-blind.

As the flashlight-bearer swings the beam away, my eyes adjust enough to pick up some details. A piece of metal pinned to his chest. A broad hat. A pistol belted to his hip.

"I think that's a policeman," I whisper.

"It's just a park ranger. Stay still."

Jason shifts under me, inching his way along the ground on his butt, until we're behind a tree. He sits up and pulls me against him.

"Now," he whispers in my ear. "Where were we?"

"We can't. He'll catch us," I protest, so softly it's more a breath than a whisper.

Despite my protest, excitement quivers in my belly. Jason starts to turn me in his lap, but I turn around half on my own and grind on his still-hard cock through his jeans. He deserves it for getting me so wound up.

He shoves his hand down his pants again, and the hint of roughness when his finger works inside me is strangely welcome. I squirm on his lap and take his wrist, so I can push his other hand up my top again, holding it place as he squeezes and cups my breast and teases my nipple with his thumb.

I let out a little sound, and the beam of light in the field swings around wildly.

"I know there's somebody there. Show yourself!"

Jason laughs softly in my ear, and I grab his wrist, not to stop him, to make him work his hand harder, faster. He's too strong for me to hold it in place on my chest. His fingers poke up through the collar of my top. I give him a look with heady, lidded eyes and suck his forefinger.

Then I close down with my teeth, nipping it. He yelps, and the footsteps draw closer. A panicked look on his face subsides as he slowly pushes a second finger into my body, and he starts to grin.

My legs snap closed around his hand, trapping him as I curl up. I turn sideways a little so he can work deeper inside me. I'm so wet, it must be soaking through the denim. As he fingers me, I rock my hips, riding his hand. Heat creeps up my neck and face, and Jason touches my nipple over my shirt.

"Pokies," he whispers.

I giggle when I realize what he means.

The policeman is still walking around out there. He starts our way again after my sound, and now I can't contain myself. I start breathing harder, trying to suck breaths in and out. Quickly, before they become whimpers or moans. I breathe in time with his fingers, and it only makes me hotter, furnace-hot, like a star in my belly. I grab a fistful of his shirt and bite down on it, staring him in the eyes as I bite the shirt so hard it should just rip off. I can't make a sound or we'll be caught.

"Whatever," the policeman says, loudly and angrily. "Freeze to death, I don't care."

Jason slows his rhythm as we listen. The footsteps grow fainter and fainter until they're gone, and then Jason pumps his fingers inside me fast and hard. I cry out, my ecstasy echoing across the field. I thrash in his lap, and he hugs me hard to hold me still as my legs take on a mind of their own, flailing. I hug him hard, and each panting breath is a whimper as my peak slowly subsides.

Jason gently draws his fingers out of my body and brings them up, and I watch, wide-eyed, as he licks them clean. Thoroughly.

I kiss him hard and turn around to face him. He's tucked his cock in his pants against his stomach, and I start grinding on him fiercely. I want him so bad. I want him inside me. I'll show him, I'll make him come too.

"Fuck," he groans, trying to push me away. "You're going to make me cream my jeans. Quit it."

I lock my arms around his neck in defiance of his halfhearted attempts to push me off.

"You could do it inside me," I growl in his ear. "Pull your jeans down and I'll mount you right now."

"Fuck," he croaks. "No."

"Then get up."

"What?"

I grin and wriggle loose from him. Now he tries to hold me against him, but I slip out of his arms and surge to my feet, though I almost fall on shaky legs.

Jason stands up, and I snap around to his side, yank his jeans down, and grab his throbbing cock. I stroke hard and fast, and he groans in my hand. His seed comes out in bursts, landing with wet slaps on the leaves. I jerk him dry, until he's almost pushing me off.

"Holy shit," he pants. "Fuck."

"I wanted to." I smirk at him.

There is a little bit of him on my hand. When he looks at me after tucking himself back in his pants, I lick the back of my hand clean, my eyes on him the entire time.

"You're a lot kinkier than I expected."

"What is a kinky?"

"I'll show you." He grins. "Come here."

He kisses me hard and plucks a leaf out of my hair.

I break from the kiss, stroking his chest as he holds me to him.

"If we keep doing this," I warn him, "you won't have any left for me when we do, ah, go all the way? This is the expression? Yes?"

"Baby, if we keep going like this, I'm going to be able to go all night when we finally get down. You make me so horny I can't think."

I turn beet-red.

He's so… so him. I rest my head on his chest and feel him all over, sliding my hands under his shirt to touch his soft skin and feel his muscles moving as he breathes. I pull him tight against me, trying to pull myself into him.

"We need to get back."

"I don't want to go back," I sigh heavily.

"There's tomorrow, you know."

"Yes, there is tomorrow."

Tomorrow is another day, isn't it?

"Come on, I'll walk you home. As far as I can, anyway."

I sigh again. "Okay."

"
P
rincess
? There is a leaf in your hair."

I blink when Mavra tells me this as I step down to the kitchen for breakfast. I pluck it loose and sigh. I will have to wash it, and all that entails. At least I have my lighter class load today.

Yawning, I walk to the toaster and reach for some slices of bread. As usual, Mavra rushes to do even such a simple task for me, and I sigh and step back, allowing her to do it.

She smears both pieces of toast with pickled fish, and I sit down to eat them while the eggs poach. I never had a taste for eggs before I came here, but they are so ubiquitous I cannot resist them. Mavra toasts two more pieces of bread and serves my eggs on them as I finish up my fish toast.

No matter how I try, I cannot stop fingering my phone in my pocket. When will he text me? Should I text him? I can't do it in front of Mavra; she'll notice and say something, probably to Bjorn. Then she'll tell Mother and they'll strap me into an airplane and ship me home. Away from Jason.

I'm so caught up in him, just thinking about him makes me bounce up and down in my seat. I want to hear his stories and listen to his voice, and I want to give myself to him. When I try to sleep, all I can do is imagine all the ways he can take me, all the things he can do to me.

"Princess?" Mavra says. "You're turning red."

"I'm fine."

"You haven't touched your eggs."

"Oh, right."

I poke them with my fork and let the toast soak up the yolks. That is my favorite part. I eat the poached eggs off the top and then eat up the yolk-soaked bread, pushing the last few pieces around the plate to make sure I get the last of it, and savor it.

Yawning, I trudge back upstairs. I woke early, planning to shower before class. I ignore the shower cap hanging by the bath and undo my braid before stepping inside.

Several more leaves fall on the floor, and I pluck them into the garbage can. Where did they all come from? I shake my head to see if there are any more, and then step under the water.

I could soak for hours. In fact, I would like to draw a bath, but there is no time. I can only give my hair a quick wash and don’t even bother with conditioner. After I dry it, I step out and run across the hall wrapped in a towel to finish drying and dress.

As I have every morning since this began, I check
The Royal Exposé
website. The lead story is another about Prince Liam and his antics with his new wife. I dismiss it and finish readying myself for my day.

I can no longer contain myself.

Anastasia: Jason?

Jason: Wat.

He omits the
h
purposely, I think.

Jason: I was asleep sorry you wore me out.

I giggle.

Anastasia: If that tires you out, I am going to exhaust you later

Jason: Tonight?

Anastasia: Take me somewhere I don't care where.

Jason: I'll take you where they treat you like royalty.

I quirk my eye at that and stuff my phone back in my pocket before Bjorn gives me the evil eye. He and Thorlief wait patiently for me in the foyer.

Yawning, I walk to my first class. Today it is easier to pay attention, though I am still so excited I want to bounce at my seat.

There is a spring in my step in the halls after class. The other students stare at me, exchange looks with each other, gossip. I feel a sense of foreboding as I realize they may be talking about me and Jason. I force myself still, make my expression neutral, and approach the rest of the day like a battle. I must keep my emotions in check.

If Bjorn suspects, he says nothing. Thorlief knows, and it only seems to set his jaw harder. The poor man is going to eat his own teeth if he doesn't stop.

Jason's cryptic text burns on my phone every time I look at it. I must glance at it quickly, hiding the action from Bjorn without looking like I'm hiding something.

The day begins to drag. When I am finally released, I send a text to Jason.

At practice. Text when I'm done. Slip away?

I frown. I can probably slip out even before dark, but if I do, I will most likely be spotted leaving the house. Unless someone can distract the others for me. I glance at Thorlief, mulling over asking him. For the rest of the day I hold my tongue.

When my last class ends, I head straight home, just like any other day, but my heart is swelling in my chest. I think of Jason with every step, imagine him walking with me, think of his voice and touch.

I'm smitten. Just the idea of him makes me grin like a fool, and I wish I didn’t have to care who sees me. Why can't I just be in love?

As I enter the house, singing an old tune I remember Mother singing when I was a little girl, I feel like I'm floating, lighter than air.

Thorlief knocks on my door while I'm studying.

"You're up to something," he declares quietly as he enters.

"I have to see him tonight. I need you to make sure no one knows I am gone. I will be leaving before dark, I think."

"You ask me to aid you in this now."

I stand up and look at him, hard.

"I have made my choice. It is only a week."

"It won't only be a week. I already know. I can see it in your eyes, little princess."

I sigh.

"Whatever it is, to stop now would be to tear my heart from my chest. Do you not see?"

"I see, and that is what I fear most."

I look down. "So you won't help."

"Of course I will help. Princess, I would give my life to protect you, you know that. You may be drawing yourself now into something no one can protect you from."

I nod. "I understand, but if I don't, I will regret it forever. I would rather have this time than never know."

"Very well. I will keep my idiot comrade busy. Go when you like."

I smile. "Thank you, Thorlief."

"Don't thank me yet."

He turns and heads downstairs.

I scurry to finish my homework so I will have more time with Jason. Ultimately, I must force myself to go slower, pay attention, and make sure I avoid any mistakes with the mathematics. When it is finished, I tuck it in the folders and pace my bedroom.

Jason: Done practice. Head to house. See you there. Big plans tonight. Stay in with me? Movie?

Anastasia: Yes!

I dress simply and clamber out the window and down the porch roof. I peer over the edge to make sure no one is watching before I run across the yard, leap the fence, land on my feet and hands, and sprint for Jason's house. I run full tilt, until I'm winded and grinning.

His housemate opens the door.

"Forgive me, which one are you?" I ask him.

"Akele. You'll learn to tell us apart, pretty princess. Come on in before somebody sees you."

I rush inside and pull my hood down. Akele's enormous brother is on the couch in the living room, watching television.

Jason descends the stairs and rushes to take me in his arms and kiss me.

"Yuck," Aheahe says.

Jason scowls at him. "You all ready?"

"Ready for what?" I ask.

"We gotta eat," Akele booms.

"We're going to hang out. All of us. We have something really important we need to show you."

"You do?"

He grins. "Yes. Come on, let's go."

Jason takes my hand and leads us out through the back door. There is a large building at the end of a dirt track in the backyard. Akele rolls up the front door and reveals the car.

It's… big, and very old.

"This is the Alohamobile," Akele declares, proudly. "Nineteen seventy-eight Cadillac Sedan DeVille. Only three more payments and she's ours."

As I look over the vehicle, I wonder how much the payments could be. Jason opens one of the back doors, and I slip inside. He scoots in alongside me, and tucks himself against me on the big bench seat.

Akele—I think—gets in the driver's seat, and the car rocks ponderously to the side. His brother gets in the other front seat and balances it out. The car rumbles to life and rolls out of the garage and grinds to a stop at the sidewalk before Akele pulls out into traffic.

"Where are we going?"

"A surprise," Akele booms.

"The best place," Aheahe says.

"A holy place," Akele agrees.

"Where?" I ask Jason.

He grins.

After leaving town and driving perhaps ten minutes, we arrive at Burger King.

"Princess." Jason offers his hand to lift me out of the car.

I stand up and look at the building. It smells good.

"You just go in and have a seat," Jason tells me. "We'll be right back."

"The one in town is better," Akele grumbles.

"We can't risk anyone seeing her. No one will notice us here."

"If you say so."

I sit patiently in the big booth in the back corner until the three of them arrive carrying so much food on four different trays that I can scarcely believe human beings are going to eat it all.

Jason stops them before they approach. He sets my own tray in front of me. The burger is neatly placed in the center, with the fries artfully arranged on the placemat in one corner, onion rings in one corner, and a cup of soda and a milkshake occupying the other two.

"Your Grace," Jason announces.

Very carefully and formally, he takes a strip of cardboard and forms it into a circle. I stare at him until I realize what it is. He places the paper crown on my head, nestling it just so in my hair. Then he sits down next to me, pressed up against my side, and we eat.

I carefully unwrap the burger and lift it from the paper.

"How am I supposed to eat all this?"

"Don't try that with me, Princess. I know how much you can pack away."

"I was hungover," I offer in defense.

I bite into the burger, and its flavors swarm my mouth. My eyes unfocus and I sit back a little bit, chewing it slowly before I swallow.

"She's having a burgergasm," Jason snickers.

I elbow him and then attack the burger, stopping only to eat French fries two and three at a time, and sip the milkshake. It seems strange to me to eat ice cream with dinner, but it somehow enhances the flavors.

By the time I finish, the fries are only half-eaten and I am absolutely stuffed. Jason has finished one giant double burger and is halfway through another. Akele and Aheahe piled their trays with so much food, it would take half an hour to list it all.

I clean my fingers with a napkin. Jason plucks a fry from my tray and pokes it toward my mouth. I eye him angrily and nip it out of his fingers with my teeth.

We spend the rest of the meal feeding each other French fries. This seems to greatly amuse his friends, even as he scowls at them for their smiles and quiet laughs.

I like this.

I finally reject a French fry, pushing his hand away to lean on his shoulder. I want a nap now.

When we return to the car, I lean on him and close my eyes. After a meal like that in the afternoon, a few hours of sleep would be like bliss, especially if I can stay with him.

I open my eyes and discover we are not back at the house, but at a grocery store. I pull my hood up and stick on my sunglasses and stay close to Jason as we take a cart and push it to the snack aisle, and begin filling it with all sorts of sodas and bags of snack foods, then take a trip up the dairy aisle.

Jason refuses to let me carry a single bag, but he cannot stop me busying myself with putting the food away as the three boys carry it back into the house. I open all the cupboards and put like with like as best I can.

He leads me to the living room after the last bag is carried in.

"We had a real debate over this," Jason says. "Whether to show them to you in original order, or chronological order."

"Original is best," Aheahe says.

"It's not the director's intent," Akele says.

Jason gives them the eye. "We can't spoil the OT for her. Come on. We're watching them in original order."

"Watching what?"

The doorbell rings, and I sit up nervously. When Akele opens it, three more football players are waiting outside. I recognize them even without their uniforms. I glance at Jason nervously.

"They're not going to tell anyone you're here."

By the time all the guests have arrived, the couches are full and there are people sitting on the floor. I look from person to person, fidgeting. Several girls have joined us as well, along with the football players.

Dee is one of the last to show up. She sits at foot of the couch on the floor.

Now I understand all the snack food. Akele and Aheahe distribute it, passing around huge bowls filled with fried potato chips, pretzels, corn chips, twisted orange… things, and bowls of dip, both warm and cold.

Jason plucks one of the puffy orange snacks out of the bowl and offers it to me.

"What is it?"

"Eat it."

I eye him warily, open my mouth, and take it from his hand with my teeth.

It tastes… cheesy.

"It's called a cheese curl, Princess. Welcome to America."

The giant brothers pull down the blinds, darkening the room. Then they turn on their Blu-ray player.

The trumpet fanfare blasts through the living room so loud, I jump in my seat and let out a little squeak.

Text blasts across the screen.

STAR WARS
, it reads.

I crane forward to read the crawling words. Jason rests his hand on my back and says nothing. A spaceship appears on the screen, and I jump back from the noise. My mouth falls open a little and I lean back against him, watching, rapt.

When I whisper questions to Jason, he softly says, "Just watch," and sticks another cheese curl in my mouth. I pluck chips from the bowl in front of me and offer them to him in return, amused when nips at my fingers.

I've never watched anything like this. I feel carried away. Only Jason is holding me down, with his arm resting lazily around my waist. My head pillows naturally against his shoulder, and I pull my legs up and curl up on the couch.

The brothers turn on the lights when the first movie ends, and the guests mill around. I speak to a few of them, reserved at first.