Destroyed Dreams (8 page)

Melissa couldn’t believe how turned on she was. She held his head to her chest as he kissed his way down her torso. A sense of urgency overtook them both as they pushed and pulled at each other’s clothing. Robert removed Melissa’s shirt and bra, leaving her in nothing but the skirt she had donned that morning.

She reached for his waist, grabbing his t-shirt on both sides and pushed it up. Growing impatient to have her hands on him, Robert dropped his hands for a moment and helped pull his shirt over his head. Immediately, his hands found her breasts again as did his mouth.

Melissa reveled in the feeling of his muscled chest and shoulders, running her hands up and down his exposed flesh. As Robert continued to pay attention to her breasts, Melissa’s need for more grew and she let her hands travel south. When they encountered the waistband she dipped her fingertips just below the waistband and hesitantly played there for several minutes.

Robert continued to worship her breasts with his mouth, and let his hands wander up and down her back. As they reached the band of her skirt, he deftly undid the zipper in the back and pushed the fabric down, allowing his hands access to the top portion of her backside.

Needing more contact, Melissa shifted on his lap. Tipping her sideways on the couch, Robert divested her of her remaining clothing and then stood up and removed his pants. Melissa was pleasantly surprised as she watched him and reached a hand out to him as his finished undressing.

Finally free of their clothing, Robert let his eyes travel her length as she lay on the couch. When she reached for him, he couldn’t resist her silent plea and joined her again, aligning his body over the top of hers. Melissa held him close to her as he began to kiss his way down her body again. Melissa writhed, moaned, and grabbed his arms, forcing him to completely cover her body with his. Wrapping one leg around his hip, she brought him into direct contact with her core and urged him to make them one.

Robert was more than happy to accommodate her and spent the next several minutes making sure she was ready for him. Looking around for his wallet, his spied it on the coffee table and grabbed a condom from it. After ensuring her protection, he covered her body with his once again and slowly pushed home.

Once he was fully seated inside her, he paused to make sure she was with him. Melissa’s response was to nod her head and moan her approval. Lifting her head up, she took his lips again as he began to move. As much as he would have liked to be slow and gentle with her that would have to wait for the next time. There joining was rushed, hurried, and fantastic. Their hands were everywhere and they feasted upon one another’s lips as their bodies engaged in a dance as old as time.

As Melissa’s movements grew more frantic, Robert too increased his tempo and soon they were both tumbling over the edge. Melissa gasped as Robert pushed himself into her one last time and then held her tight. She could feel their bodies shaking but wasn’t sure if it was from her reaction, or Robert’s. Sighing, she decided it didn’t really matter, and hugged him closer for a long moment.

After Robert’s vision returned, he rolled to his side and dealt with the condom, dropping it in the trashcan next to the couch. Melissa tried to slow her breathing down and think about what had just happened. She had never been one for quick sex, but if this were what it was like, she would need to rethink her stance on it. She had known he would be hot; but had never imagined he could be that hot. She was still burning up.

Robert felt bad that he had taken her so quickly, but the day was young and he had a bedroom just down the hallway. He was also startled to realize that he was ready to go again. That didn’t usually happen, but he was more than willing to go another round.

Kissing Melissa on the nose to gain her attention, he smoothed her hair off her forehead and said, “That was even better than I had imagined.”

Melissa blushed and just looked at him.

“How about we take this into the bedroom? I have a desire to see and taste the rest of you, and frankly this couch is not real comfortable?” Robert raised an eyebrow at her, waiting for her response.

Melissa wasn’t ready for their interlude to end just yet so she just nodded her acceptance. She was living for the moment, and spending some more time with Robert was the only thing on her mind. Pulling her up off the couch, he hugged her to him and then picking her up, carried her down the hallway and into his room.

Robert looked at Melissa as she climbed out of her vehicle. After spending several hours discovering one another, they had thrown together a quick lunch and agreed to meet back at the cabin.  Robert had come up with some additional suggestions for the patio, and wanted to get some measurements taken so he could put them down on paper later that day.

As he walked behind her up the steps, he couldn’t help but admire the way she filled out her shorts. Having just recently been intimately acquainted with what was underneath them, he didn’t feel bad about ogling her.

As they reached the landing, Melissa stopped short and Robert grabbed her around the waist to prevent himself from falling back down the stairs. Looking over her shoulder to see what had caused her abrupt stop, he saw her uncle sitting at the deck table calmly watching them.

Robert tightened his arm around her waist when she went to move, but she wasn’t having it and pulled his arm away. He could see that Melissa was blushing and grinned at her.

After giving her uncle a quick greeting, Melissa escaped into the cabin and locked herself in the bedroom. She took a leisurely bath while she thought about the events of the day. She had engaged in sex with Robert. She didn’t sleep around. She didn’t mind flirting with a guy, or even engaging in some light kissing. But she didn’t sleep with them. Sex meant something to her and she was really confused about where to go from here.

She was leaving to return to work, but Robert lived here. A relationship between them would never work. Besides the fact that she didn’t do relationships and neither did he. So, were they to become friends with benefits for the remainder of her stay? She didn’t know if she could handle that.

She thought about how much she enjoyed spending time with him, and how he made her laugh. The sex was hotter than anything she had ever known. So where did that leave them? Could she handle a vacation fling and then walk away? It was a totally foreign concept to her and one she had never before contemplated.

After finishing her bath, she dressed in pants and a pullover shirt, determined to make herself as inaccessible as possible. She had decided that she probably couldn’t handle a vacation fling and things between her and Robert should end now.

To assist her in holding firm to that decision, she called Mr. Forster and let him know that she would be returning to work at the end of the week. It was Tuesday, and she planned to drive back to her apartment the next day. She wasn’t sure where she was going to stay, but she would call Tammy when she got home from work and see what her options were.

                                                                      *****

While Melissa hid in the cabin, Robert quickly sketched his new ideas for the patio and went over them with Charlie. They discussed the new changes and agreed on the additional costs.

After talking for a few more minutes, Charlie took off, telling Robert to tell Melissa goodbye for him. Robert agreed to do that and went in search of Melissa.

He hadn’t seen her come out of the bedroom and headed in that direction. He noticed the bedroom door was opened a little bit, but wasn’t sure if she was dressing or what so he hesitated outside the door.  Just as he was getting ready to knock and announce his presence, he overheard her on the phone.

“That would be fine. Go ahead and have my secretary send the files over to me and I’ll take a look at them this evening and try to come up to speed on things.”

Robert listened as she paused to hear whatever was being said on the other end of the line. His heart dropped at her next words. “Sure, Thursday is fine. I’ll be by my usual time. Thanks Mr. Forster. Goodbye.”

Robert heard Melissa hang up the phone and slowly pushed the door open.

“You’re going back to work this week?” Robert knew he sounded hurt, but what did she expect. They had just spent the better part of the day in bed together and now she was cutting and running.

Melissa turned to face Robert and took a deep breath before she said, “I think its best, don’t you? Today was wonderful, but we both know it has nowhere to go.”  Melissa can see the hurt on his face, turns back around, and heads towards the closet. Getting out her suitcase, she decides to start packing.

Robert watches as she starts to pack. He can’t believe she’s just going to leave. “So that’s it, you’re leaving today?”

Melissa glanced back at him, and replied, “No, I think I‘ll wait until tomorrow. My boss is sending over some of my case files so I can get caught back up to speed.” Melissa can’t stand seeing the expression on his face and asks, “Are you going to work any more on the deck today?”

Robert takes a deep breath, striving for some self-control. He understands her career is important to her, but he was hoping they might spend another few days together. “I’m not sure.
I thought we would be spending the rest of the day together.”

Melissa swallowed, she had thought so as well. Looking at him, she said, “I don’t know if that’s a good idea. Neither one of us is looking for a relationship, so why don’t we just end things here. That way nobody get’s hurt.” Melissa was proud of herself for hiding the fact that leaving here was already going to hurt. Robert had taken up residence in her heart and it would be a long time before she as able to forget him.

Melissa’s comments about him not wanting a relationship grabbed his attention. Before meeting her, he hadn’t even considered working at a relationship beyond one night. Now, the idea of never seeing her again stung. He could actually see himself building a relationship with her, settling down, maybe raising a family. But, her career came first and she was letting him know that be leaving.

He couldn’t blame her really. He wondered where he would be if he had made the same decision right out of college. Where might his career have taken him if Kathryn hadn’t dumped him and destroyed his world? He’d give Melissa her space; he didn’t want to be the one who stole her dreams from her.

Taking a breath, he looked her in the eyes and said, “Well, I guess I’ll get out of here and let you pack. See ya around.” Robert turned on his heel and quietly left the cabin.

Melissa watched him leave, holding her hand over her mouth so that she wouldn’t call him back. It was for the best anyway. If they spent any more time together, it would just make leaving that much harder.

Melissa spent the rest of the day packing her stuff and looking over the many case files her secretary sent over. As she went through the files and caught up on the divorce proceedings that would be facing her upon her return, she felt herself start to slip back into the same mindset that had landed her on sabbatical.

After spending several hours reading one complaint after another and one party accusing another party of infidelity, she closed her laptop in disgust. Finally facing facts, she admitted to herself that she hated her job.

She couldn’t stand the thought of spending the next several days meeting with clients who were intent on making their spouses look as bad as possible in hopes of winning a larger settlement.

What happened to the concept of “till death do us part, in sickness, in health, for richer, for poorer..”?  These people hated each other. She used to believe in the whole “happily ever after” thing. Her practice of family law had stolen that from her.

Meeting Robert had helped her see what was missing from her life. But Robert didn’t believe in love and marriage either. Wasn’t it ironic that when she finally found someone she could see herself building a relationship with, he doesn’t believe in love or marriage.

Or did he? He had looked very hurt when he found out she was going back to work. Maybe Robert was having the same change of heart that she was. Looking at the clock, Melissa hurried into the bedroom and freshened up.  She needed to find Robert and let him know how she was feeling. Just maybe, he was feeling the same way.

             
                                                                      *****

Melissa pulled into the driveway of Robert’s house and was disappointed to see his truck was missing. Thinking for a minute, she decided he was probably at TJ’s drinking the night away. He had been hurt when he left her house. Backing out of the driveway, she headed back into town and looked for his truck.

She drove all around the bar but couldn’t find his truck anywhere. After driving around for another ten minutes, she finally decided to head back up to the cabin.  As she neared the turn off to the cabin, she decided to drive down to the lake and take one last look. She would miss this place once she went back to the city.

Parking the car, she got out and walked down to the shore. Wandering along, she found herself headed towards the grassy spot where she and Robert had shared several lunches.  As she got nearer, she could see that the spot was already occupied.

Looking closer, she realized that the backpack belonged to Robert. Glancing out onto the lake, she saw him steadily swimming towards the buoy. She had found him.

While trying to decide if she should join him, or just wait for his return, he reached the buoy and turned back towards the shore. Seeing him looking at her, she gave him a small wave and a big smile.

Robert couldn’t believe Melissa was standing on the shore. He had been trying to get her out of his head. He had thought about getting drunk to accomplish that task; but knew he’d regret it in the morning. Deciding that exercise might help him, he had ended up at the lake, taking a swim.

Melissa waited for him to start swimming back, but he just stayed by the buoy watching her. Deciding that she was going to take her future into her own hands, she quickly stripped down to her underwear and entered the water. Adjusting to the cold, she set a pace for the buoy and Robert.

Robert watched her in shock as she stripped out of her clothes. He gave a quick look around to see if there were others who might see her, and was relieved to see they were the only ones on this stretch of the lake. As she neared him, he grew more anxious to hear what she had come to tell him.

As Melissa reached the buoy, she grabbed hold and faced Robert, wiping the water from her eyes so that she could clearly see him. “I found you.”

Robert rose on eyebrow up and said, “I didn’t know I was lost. Did you forget to tell me something earlier?”

Melissa slowly nodded her head. “I did. I was sitting in the cabin, going over some of the case files my boss wants me to handle when I get back to work, and I realized that I hate my job.”

Robert watched her face as she spoke. She was serious. “Go on.”

Melissa was hoping he would help her out, but forged on anyway. “I don’t want to practice family law anymore.”

“You don’t?”

Melissa shook her head. The motion caused her to lose her grip on the buoy and Robert reached out and grabbed her before she could sink beneath the surface of the water. Pulling her to him, he supported her and she reached out and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

“I don’t want to leave you either. I know you don’t think you believe in all that love and marriage stuff…”

Robert stopped her by leaning in and kissing her. Pulling away, he told her, “I didn’t use to believe in all the love and marriage stuff.”

Melissa looked at Robert, grinned, and asked, “Do you believe in it now?”

Robert nodded his head and took her lips in another kiss. Breaking away, he told her, “You make me want to believe in it again. I would really like to kiss you for real, but if we do that out here, we’re liable to drown. Let’s head back to shore so I can show you how I really feel.”

Robert took her arm and guided her towards the shoreline. As they swam back, Melissa couldn’t believe how her life had changed in such a short time. Robert helped her up the bank and pulled in for a hug. Rubbing his hands up and down her arms to ease her shivers, her pulled back and gave her the kiss he had been denied earlier. After dressing, they quickly returned to the cabin and spent several hours discussing the future and reaffirming their feelings for one another.