The One That Got Away

Her mouth tasted like cinnamon and whiskey and she rubbed my growing bulge and said, “Oh, yeah I do!” We were out the door, she grabbed her jacket and purse, waved to her friends and we were in my truck headed back up the mountain to my house. She sat on her side of the cab, chatting about this and that, nonsensical BS. Her name was Claire, she was 24 and had just moved from Seattle to get away from everyone who knew her in her old life and find a new place to explore.

As we turned down my road she joked about being abducted, as out my way street lamps, curbs and sidewalks are nonexistent. We went down my drive and into the garage, the door sliding down as I opened her door and guided her up to the stairs to the apartment over the two car car, my playroom. As she walked up the stairs I admired the sway of her hips and she looked back to be sure I was.

Upstairs I took her coat and hung it with mine on the pegs at the top of the stairs. I pointed to the couch and she sat, curling her legs under her as she slid off her flats. I offered her a drink and she took whiskey, water back and I gave her a rocks glass of Bulleit and a pint of cold water. I busied myself with making a fire in the corner fireplace. Once it was going well, oak and hickory logs, I turned off the lights and opened the shades. She got up to look at the view of the lake in the half moon lit night, the fire lighting her profile. I got myself a whiskey, too.

When I got back she was on the couch again. I’d brought the bottle and gave her a refill. We sat drinking and staring at each other. Her eyes were a pale blue, her cheeks smooth and lightly powdered. She looked every inch a woman and sounded it, too. I was relaxed with all the drinks and a full belly. She had a lot of poise and control. “Strip for me, “She said. I figured what the Hell and set my whiskey down and pulled my boots off.

I got up and pulled my tee shirt off and over my head, throwing it on the floor. I’m not huge, or cut, but I’m a blue-collar guy and my hairy chest is muscular as are my arms.