Page 20 of King of Jokers

“Hey, Guys.”

“Jack, how are you?” Mike greeted, the phone obscenely close to his face providing an unnecessary shot up his nose.

“Can’t complain over here, mate. How’s the bike?” I asked and was thanked with a suspicious elbow to the ribs, coincidentally out of range of the camera.

Winter moved out of shot and threw her hand in the air, clearly annoyed I’d initiated what I found out was at least a twenty minute monologue on how their tandem bicycle was travelling, but I wasn’t mad. It was an easy topic of conversation and meant I could prolong having to decipher where we were this morning after the intimacy of the night before.

There was no doubt the liqueur aided in my gusto to role play in the pool the previous evening but it wasn’t what pushed the accelerator through the floor. It was the taste of citrus lingering on her tongue, the feel of those lush thighs under my grip, the way my cock responded when our bodies met. Those were the reasons I hadn’t been able to stop after only a kiss.

In the sunshine of the morning though, the intimacy of our actions was exposed and while one of her rules included nothing happening throughout the day, it didn’t mean my mind wasn’t awash with images of what she would like in the same scenario, but with the sunlight casing her skin.

Deb’s voice pierced through my rumination asking about our plans for today. Apparently Mike’s part was over and I’d zoned out and missed it entirely.

“We aren’t sure yet,” Win answered, looking towards me for insight.

“My folks invited us over for dinner actually,” I said remembering the message I’d read after waking.

“Oh, how are Dean and Shaz?”

“They’re really good. Elbow deep in renovations. It’s a minefield over there.” I shook my head with a smile. Our parents had been best-friends longer than we had been alive and it was their inseparability which made Win and I as close as we were now, but it wasn’t what kept us.

“You’re on holidays now, love?” Deb asked Win who nodded.

“Sure am, thank goodness. Three whole weeks of relaxation with this guy.” She answered, laying her head on my shoulder like she’d done thousands of times before.

“Jack, take her into town would you, she doesn’t get out enough.” I felt Win tense next to me but her face remained impassive, her mum none the wiser to the social pressure she placed on her.

“Now she is on holidays I have plenty of things planned, don’t you worry, Deb.” I winked and as expected she grinned, satisfied.

“Okay you two, we better let you go. Enjoy the heat, Dad said it’s meant to be a scorcher there today, make good use of that pool.”

“Oh, we are.” I answered matter of factly as Win waved at the phone before hanging up and swatting my arm. Flashes of cascading water, heavy panting and puffy lips flaring through my memories.

“You did not just say that.” She said, her cheeks a bright shade of red. A cute little tendency we both shared.

“Say what?” She didn’t buy my innocence for a second but the shake of her shoulders was enough to know we were good.

“I love my mother but can’t she just accept I prefer to stay home. She thinks it means there is something wrong with me.” She stated, the sudden pivot in conversation enough to distract my thoughts from wandering into dangerous territory again.

“Are they really your parents if they don’t piss you off at least once every time you speak?” I asked in an attempt to lighten her mood. Her mother’s lack of understanding of her social needs had always been a bit of a sore point and it seemed distance did nothing to curb that.

“I just wish they understood me better. Anyway, what time is dinner?”

“They said anytime after four is fine,” I answered with a shrug. “We should go down to the beach after, it’s been a few years since I’ve been down there at night.”

“Sounds like a plan. Want to come with me to my place this morning then, I need to grab the mail.”

“How’s the writing, sweet pea?” Mum asked Win and I buried my face in the paper I was reading, knowing if anyone noticed the way my cheeks flamed, I would have aplease explain thrown at me before I could blink. While I’d tossed and turned after our tryst in the water, it didn’t seem my pool partner was having the same issues. The auditory embodiment of ideas broke the otherwise silent house late into the night, her sudden burst of authorial energy evident. Everytime I thought she had to be done, the sharp chime signalling the end of the line would erupt before the clickety clack of the keys again radiated through the wall. It seemed she was gaining the inspiration she desperately needed and while I was loving playing as her muse, it didn’t come without a little over-thinking on my part.

“Much better actually.” I avoided looking at her, knowing I would either laugh or give away the flush I could feel against my cheeks.

“Jack, come out here would you?” Dad called, taking my attention away from the kitchen where Win was now providing Mum with a synopsis of her current story.

I put the paper down, joining Dad out the back at the barbeque where he was grilling the meat for dinner.

“You been training still?” He asked, understanding while it was my downtime, I wouldn’t sacrifice my fitness for anything.

“I’ve been getting a session in most days, plus a jog into town and back which will help with the time trial when I return.” I answered, recounting the odd jobs Linda had been having me work on each time she caught me anywhere near the store.

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