Page 7 of Sugar and the Skeptic
And I can’t wait to use this as an excuse to head back up to the lake for more of those stones…
RAFE
After yet another night of vivid dreams, I give up on sleep and head into the shower, standing under the hot stream as I close my eyes and think lusty thoughts of the woman who won’t get out of my head. My dick throbs with need, and it only takes a few firm-gripped pumps before I’m spilling myself all over the place and groaning out her name.Sugar.
Sugar. She’s as hot as she is sweet. And if it wasn’t for the obsession my family has with this soulwink phenomenon, I’d happily pursue her. But that pressure alone has me wanting to keep my reaction to her as close to my chest as possible. I don’t want something someone else said to influence a decision that could affect me for the rest of my life. When and if I marry, it’ll be because I choose it. Not because my family is shoving me in the back. It’s like my being single is an unchecked box to them.
When I’ve finished beating off and gotten cleaned up, I get out of the shower and pull on a pair of shorts with a view to go out into the lake for a morning swim. The sun has only been up for about an hour, and already the heat of the day is making itself known. As a handyman, I try not to book much work during the summer months, preferring to take that time to rest and relax the way we did when we were kids. Man, how I miss those days.
As adults, it’s so easy to get caught up in the daily grind of work, work, work. But as far as I’m concerned, life is for living. So if I live simply enough, I can save my pennies and enjoy my summer too. Up there for thinking.
Heading into the kitchen for my morning ritual, I put my coffee on to percolate. But before I can pull out my mug, I have a feeling wash over me that’s telling me to look out the window. It’s probably just wishful thinking that I’ll get a do over of the colossal failure that was yesterday’s interaction with Sugar, but when I spot the long-haired beauty crouching at the water’s edge—fully clothed this time—a smile jumps to my lips, and I take a second mug down. I don’t know what the hell I want to come from my attraction to her. But I do at least want to feel it out. And since she seems to like coming up to my lake, it gives us the chance to do that without any other eyes intruding and giving us their two cents’ worth. And this time, I’m at least going to offer her coffee.
With my feet bare, and two full mugs in hand, I wander across my yard and over the rocks and sandy dirt that intermingle at the shoreline. Sugar looks like she’s digging for something, and as I get closer, I realize she’s panning when she holds a little stone up to the light.
“Morning,” I say when I’m a few feet away, wanting to warn her of my approach since she seems so deep in concentration. She turns immediately and smiles.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it? I hope you don’t mind me being up here. I know you said I was welcome any time, but…” She bounces a shoulder, leaving her words unfinished.
“I meant what I said.” I stop next to her and hold out a mug. “Not sure how you take it. But I made you this.”
She glances into the mug and grins. “Black coffee? I’ll take it.”
“I don’t have any milk in the house, sorry. I rarely drink it.”
“Me either,” she says as she sets her pan aside and gets to her feet. “I can’t do dairy, so I use a nut milk or nothing at all.” She takes the mug from me and holds it to her nose, inhaling the aroma. “Mmm. This is honestly perfect. Thank you.” Holding it out to me in cheers, she takes a mouthful before looking out over the water and sighing. “I’m so jealous of you living in a place like this. It’s beautiful.”
“Today especially,” I blurt, looking right at her but averting my gaze when she turns my way. I don’t miss the way she smiles though. “So, um…what are you panning for?”
“Oh, I found these little multicolored stones when I was in the water yesterday,” she says, pulling one from a little pouch at her hip. “They’re so pretty and unique, I thought I’d put some into the candles I’m making for Serenity’s yoga studio.”
“You make candles?” I ask, taking the stone from between her fingers while doing my best not to let our skin connect. It’s not that I don’t want to touch her. It’s just that I have a feeling that if I do, I won’t be able to stop.
“I do lots of things. Sometimes I set up at fairs or markets and read Tarot. Sometimes I house sit, walk dogs, fetch groceries—whatever work is around at the time. I live frugally, so as long as I have enough money for food and gas, I’m a pretty happy lady.”
I hold the little stone up to the light. “Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out.”
“It’s not for everyone. But it works for me.”
Lowering the stone back down, I hold it out then drop it on the palm of her outstretched hand. “We used to collect those when we were kids. I probably have a shoebox full of them somewhere in the house.”
“You’ve lived up here all your life?”
“Yup. Grew up in this exact house right here. I’m the youngest, so when Mom and Dad decided to travel and retire, I offered to buy it from them to keep it in the family.”
“And this is where you stayed?”
“Sure is.”
“Wow. I couldn’t imagine.”
“Staying in one place all your life?”
She turns and crinkles up her nose slightly. “Yeah. I get itchy feet.”
“Hence the van life, huh?”
She shrugs. “Like I said, it’s not for everyone.”
