Flying Too Close to the Sun, George Jehn [freda ebook reader txt] 📗

“Let’s go back to my house instead. After what the owner said, I don’t want to vie with any of the other eight-million people for your attention. Don’t forget, you’re my personal hero.”

“I’ll never forget that,” a smiling Erik told her. They conversed about lots of things while driving and Erik detected a certain street shrewdness in Carol, an unanticipated trait that surprised him. They were so engrossed with each other she had to remind Erik where to exit. Once inside the darkened Rodriguez home, Carol asked, “Go downstairs and turn on the television while I get us something to drink.”

Erik descended into a comfortably furnished basement room, plopping down, a remote control in hand on the end of a large white L-shaped couch, which when combined with the paintings and framed pictures lent a seashore atmosphere to the casual room. Carol came down a moment later.

“I brought you a beer and also made some tea. Which will it be?”

“Beer will be fine.”

They watched TV for a few moments. “You want anything else?” she asked.

Erik didn’t respond but began nervously scanning the channels, bypassing all of the dumb shows the entertainment industry produced for American viewers. He finally laid the remote on the end table. “I doubt if you’d give it to me,” he said, sliding over and placing his arm around her.

Carol could feel her heart hammering against her ribcage. This was a new sensation for her because in the past she could always control herself and it was the guy who had trouble. For reasons unknown, this time was different.

“You probably say the same thing to all your girlfriends.”

“There are no others.”

In response, she put her arm around Erik and kissed him on the lips. Carol’s kiss felt as though it contained alternating current electricity and he quickly became aroused. He kissed her neck, which caused a pleasant shiver to run down her spine. As he moved one hand to her breast, she made no attempt to stop him. Her breathing became labored as he gently fondled her hardened nipple and moved his other hand to the light blue, flowered panties and began to rub her. With their tongues now rolling against each other he attempted to slip his hands inside, but when he touched her she immediately pulled away, blurting out, “We only met.” But Erik felt as though he had known her for his entire life and the chemistry between them rendered those words meaningless. Just then, however, the telltale rattling of the electric garage door opening could be heard.

“My parents! Quick, the bathroom!” she whispered, pushing him in that direction. He felt as though he’d just jumped from a sauna into a snowdrift. Did she have time to straighten her clothing?

“Hi Mom, Hi Dad. Gee, you’re home early. I’m downstairs, c’mon down.”

“Lots of people got tired,” her father replied as Erik heard the thumping of shoes on the steps. I guess that’s the price you pay when you’re older? But it certainly beats the alternative.” “Did Erik leave? I thought I saw his car out front.”

“No. He wanted to wait ‘til you returned. He’s in the bathroom.”

“Did you guys have a nice time?”

“It was fantastic. We went to this French restaurant in the city called Chez Nous. It was great.”

Erik patted his hair down, smoothed out his crotch as best he could and checked for any other telltale signs. Finding none, he flushed the toilet and upon leaving the washroom feigned surprise.

“Hi. Carol said you’d be a while and I thought I’d keep her company ‘til you returned.”

“That was nice of you. All of the old folks started to leave, so we did the same,” Sal said, adding with a wink, “actually I didn’t want to spend any more time with my wife’s family. They’re a bunch of—”

“The true reason was you lost so much money playing poker,” Anita chimed in.

“It wasn’t that much.”

“Well, you’re home, so I can leave now.”

“No, please stay and finish your beer.”

“It’s getting late,” he said, furtively gazing longingly at Carol. “Plus, I have to work tomorrow.”

Good-byes were exchanged and Carol walked Erik to the front door. Wrapping her arms around his neck she imparted a long, sensual kiss. Feeling his hardness against her she sighed, “Call me when you have a few moments.”

“Definitely.”

He drove home swollen but strangely content, thinking about what might happen the next time they were together alone.

CHAPTER TWENTY

After hearing David leave for work, Christina donned her favorite tee and loose-fitting jeans and took out the same pad to put some finishing touches on her brainchild. Erik Preis had to be involved because her project couldn’t get off the ground without him. On account of his monetary situation and difficulties with O’Brien, she counted him in. One other person was also needed and she had decided hopefully, Juni Rosario would be that someone. Soon, the sun was high in the blue sky and Christina went to the old stove-top and put up a pot of coffee. This job would be carried out in the same manner as she flew her jetliner, meaning everything would be planned so as to stack the odds as much as possible in her favor. The rich aroma of the coffee beans, combined with the delight knowing everything was quickly coming together kept her functioning at takeoff power.

While flying the first shuttle later that day, the stimulation of anticipation flowed through her veins as quickly as sound travels through the air and enabled her to take precise mental notes of many topographical features while approaching Logan. On the second Boston flight Christina flipped up the paddle switches, placed the plane on autopilot, turned and casually asked Erik, “Just like we did today, we make most of our takeoffs in Boston on runway 22-Right. Know why?”

“Probably ‘cause during the warm months the prevailing winds are from the south or southwest and we always take off into the wind.” Why is she asking me a basic