It took me two more weeks with David before I finally snapped.

Sadness overcame me as I sat in my hot vehicle in the Lowe driveway. When our friendship ended, I felt a deep sense of loss. I yearned for the return of the man I'd loved, but I knew it would never happen.

The funeral for my grandmother, who died last week, was last week, but David did not go. He claimed to have had to work, which was great by him. But he also didn't show up for the visitation. Although I had been crying and looking at the coffin, he did not comfort me. He abandoned me to answer the never-ending "Where's David?" from my relatives.

I fabricated a "sick" excuse.

Our common acquaintances informed me that he had forgotten and gone to see a movie. Because of it, it was crystal clear to me how unimportant I really was.

I heaved a sigh of exasperation as I reached across the bench and grabbed my bag. In preparation for the inevitable moment of telling him I was done with him, I had brought a swimsuit and towel over. That was the first time I ever ended a relationship.

Not me; I didn't ring the bell. Confident in my ability to enter the Lowe home unannounced, I up the porch steps and pulled open the door. Should I consider this my last attempt?

The door slammed shut behind me as the wind pulled it tight, and I heard his father's heavy boots pounding on the wooden floor.

"Jessica?" The look of bewilderment that had crossed his attractive face faded into a casual grin.

My body just stopped moving. Hey, Dr. Johnson. Is it possible he didn't inform you I was coming over?

In an offhand way, he shook his head. I believe he is now submerged in the water.

"Oh. Okay." I took a few steps toward the basement door before my sandal's toe snagged on the fringe of the foyer carpet. "Ah!"

I took a few wobbly steps forward while trying to keep my balance and ended up colliding into Dr. Johnson.

As I slammed into his solid chest, he let out a low moan. I was able to push him back halfway before his strong hands gripped onto my waist and wouldn't let go. I felt a flash of embarrassment, but as I looked up sheepishly into his eyes, the feeling quickly dissipated.

My chest tightened at the feeling of his hands on me.

His air of worry for my near-fall vanished as his grip tightened on me. His dark eyes collected what looked suspiciously like fire. His jaw tensed and the muscles that ran down it flexed.

I couldn't possibly be having these thoughts. No way was he gazing at me like he was contemplating putting his hands behind my back and pulling me to him. My whole being buzzed from the touch, and the more still we were, the louder and more frenzied the hum became.

Surprisingly, his hug threw me off more than the rug had.

There was a problem with our proximity, yet he had a magnetic presence. Even though I knew I should resist it, I found it difficult to shake my attraction to him.

Strange and shaky was the way his voice came out. What's up?

Yes, I sucked in a deep breath and said. I don't know why, but I never noticed how stunningly deep and blue his eyes were.

His grip suddenly loosened, and he dropped me as if I were a hot burner. His face suddenly blanked out as a wave of embarrassment swept over him. "Sorry."

He walked away from me, turning around so that I could only see his hulking back. Exactly what did he have to apologize for? Preventing my free fall, if you will? A hand on me? Or his lustful, hypnotic look that reminded me of David's.

Before, I'd thought some unsavory things about Dr.Jonson. I tried not to feel bad about them, but I just couldn't stop myself. I told myself that these dreams didn't pose any danger since they were just mine. No longer did I have to feel bad about brooding about my boyfriend's dad.

A vivid blue pool was enclosed by a stylish black wrought-iron fence on the outside stone patio yard. The pool wasn't huge, but it was the perfect size for the large property. David was apparently swimming laps in it, and any of the Lowe men could do so if they so desired.

Apparently he felt my approach because he paused mid-stroke to wipe the water from his eyes, brush his wet, black hair back out of his eyes, and flick it aside with his fingers. He cocked an eyebrow at me in intense scrutiny.

You're not wearing a suit, are you? Without a hello. Simply his tone of annoyance.

I may say, "I have it with me." Seeing the vacant lounger by the pool, I cast my gaze in its direction. If I didn't feel like swimming, I could always just sit down and start the talk we needed to have with him.

His arms were pushed up on the stone ledge as he swam to it. "Then you need to modify your lovely behind. It's boiling outside, and the water feels wonderful

It came across as a command. The thought of saying "no" had me bite my bottom lip.

I, however, was a dismal failure. I retreated back inside the home to delay things. I slogged my way past Dr. Johnson's massive media room and into the bedroom he converted into a gym. The only other rooms on the ground floor were the bathroom and the bedroom David used when he was home from college. A lot of his clothing were strewn over the place, but he was able to quickly change into something else because of this.

To call this space a "home gym" would be overstating its purpose. There was a treadmill as well as a multi-gym. I sighed as I tossed my stuff on David's college futon sofa, which had been moved to one corner.

As I was getting dressed, I thought about my objective. Unfortunately, my dissatisfaction with my lover did not translate into a desire to harm him. I wanted to end things with him as gently as possible for both of us.

Eventually, I gathered the strength to drag myself back outside, where I piled my clothing on the sofa and grabbed a beach towel from the hall closet.

He looked at me and blinked once. Then, his vision blurred as he surveyed my figure in a skimpy black string bikini. The question, "Is that fresh," was posed.

A dryness in my mouth developed. What was I thinking when I packed my swimsuit? I wasn't there at all. I'd just thrown anything I could get my hands on into my luggage and hoped for the best. It was a mistake to dress for the beach in a bikini.

To which she replied, "It was on sale at Target," which I crooned.

The passion in his eyes was palpable as he leaned over the edge. "That's what I call good!" He drew nearer to me and the shallow end of the pool by bringing his hands together and swirling them under the surface. Come on in.

David's motivations were blatantly transparent. He was in the mood to fuck. Do you think that was the only reason he invited me over? As I threw the towel onto the lounge chair, I coiled my dark brown hair into a bun. A wet one would take long to dry, and I may have to escape if things became too intense.

At the last minute, I had the courage to go to the pool's entrance steps and take the plunge. Before I knew it, his chilly, wet arms were around my torso, and he was taking me deep into the middle of the pool.

I resisted his grasp and muttered, "Wait," trying to seem nonchalant. Getting in on my own terms was important to me, and I didn't want him hovering around. I needed some space to accomplish what I had to do.

It felt like the chasm between us widened with each encounter, and David continued to disregard my protests, no matter how strong they were. His lips planted themselves passionately on the side of my neck. It used to be the one thing that would constantly get under my skin, but now that our relationship has evolved, I find that I no longer find that action particularly attractive.

David, I muttered, releasing myself from his grip.

He swiveled around to stare at the soaring arched windows at the house's rear, then straight at me. "What? I was wondering whether you were concerned about my dad. What we do is of no concern to him.

Oh, God. My body shivered, but I doubted my partner could tell since I was submerged for the most part.

My first weekend back at home after university, I foolishly sought to win David back to me using the only means available to me at the time: sex. We went skinny diving in the middle of the day since the backyard was hidden by trees and no one could see us from the street. No one was there to see him put me down on the lounger's plush cushion, kneel between my legs, and shove within me.

Unfortunately, I had let him fuck me while I thought no one was looking. When David's speed picked up, I turned my head and saw a person standing by the window.

As soon as our eyes met, DR.JONSON was no longer visible, and David, caught up in the moment, misunderstood my cry of surprise for one of delight. Not only did I not inform Dr. Johnson about my experience, but he also said nothing. No, and I doubt he'd tell his kid. He was quite good at acting like nothing had transpired.

How long, however, had he been staring out the window?

When I was writhing about on the deck chair, how much of my bare body did he see? Why didn't I feel uneasy? Disgust? Not me! I just felt weird and tense, like I'd been placed under a heat lamp for too long. Thinking about it made my skin feel heated and tight.

I said, "I just got in the water; give me a second." to buy myself some more time.

David gave me an expression of helplessness. "Sorry." Despite the fact that his tone indicated otherwise, he seemed to be serious. I saw a bikini on you. When will I learn to control myself?

I would have considered his remark endearing and humorous six months ago. To be honest, I couldn't stand it today.

To my right, he floated lazily in the water, leaning back so that the water reflected in his brown eyes, making them appear even darker and more intense. When we initially began dating, he was adorable, but he'd since matured and put on weight, making him seem more like a man. He inherited his good looks from his daddy. David's hair, which was shorter on the sides and longer on top, was also lighter in color than his father's.

As I watched him swim blissfully, my gut cramped with fear. He had no clue I was going to reveal something shocking.

Hello, I said, my voice beginning to crack. "Let's have a chat."

The sliding patio door made a loud noise, catching our attention. Dr. Johnson went outdoors, holding a pitcher and two disposable cups.

David beamed and questioned his father, "What's that?" in a playful tone, as if it were a joke I hadn't gotten.

Dr. Johnson responded swiftly, "Fresh orange juicy." A little too rapidly.

In this case, David chuckled. Perhaps I should walk over and inform her that you find orange to be a particularly unpleasant flavor. Those cookies would be easy enough for her to bake again. The brownies, perhaps? The acclaim they received was well-deserved.

My brow furrowed in bewilderment. Swimming beside me, David encircled me with his arms.

Our next-door neighbor just went through a divorce and is now romantically interested in my father. To this day, she has been attempting to woo him with sweet treats. Constriction set in as he tightened his grip. "Hey. Why have you stopped making baked goods for me to enjoy?

It's probably because I'm so busy and we seldom get to hang together. My intended tone wasn't as sharp as it came out.

Dr. Johnson carried the pitcher and glasses over to the glass table situated beneath the umbrella. In any case, take it easy and have fun.

Do you believe she threw a roofie? Even if it was mentioned in jest, Dr.suspicions Jonson's about the pitcher were piqued by his son's remark.

I think it's safe to go back in there," he replied.

What a ringing recommendation," David said jokingly.

His hands started to fiddle with the cords around my hips while we were submerged. I tried to move away from him, but he didn't understand, and my annoyance level quickly rose to a boiling point.

I came over here not to have sexual relations with you.

He gave me a befuddled expression. Which begs the question, "Then why did you?"

What the heck.

The remainder of my heart was shattered by his one inquiry. He couldn't fathom why I'd be interested in being here for any other purpose. After that, he no longer considered me a buddy but just a convenient object for rubbing his dick against. Truth hit me like a ton of bricks, and I felt tears well up in my eyes. My tone became weak. David, I've reached my breaking point. "That was a waste of time; now it's finished."

"What?" His shoulders jerked and he turned into a block of wood. However, he obviously heard me, as shown by his response.

A new you has emerged. Now that time has passed, we've changed.

His face froze in a permanent look of astonishment. The only sound was the soft slap of water against the pool's edge, and the tension was palpable. Until the second time the sliding patio door bell chimed.

No, he barked at his dad.

Dr.productivity Jonson's was unaffected by this setback. There was a cordless phone in his hand. It's the boss calling. According to him, you're not picking up your phone.

David swam to the edge of the pool and whispered, "Fuck." "My power supply gave out." He extended a hand and snatched the phone from the operator. "Hello?"

He stopped to hear the other side, his face crunching up in an irritated expression.

In other words, I won't be in today. I have till Wednesday off.

My eyes met Dr. Johnson's, and the realization seemed to strike both of us simultaneously. This day was Wednesday.

David screamed "shit" into the phone and hurried for the stairs. Indeed, of course. I really apologize. It will take me around fifteen minutes to get there.

He quickly climbed out of the pool, leaving the phone on the seat cushion, and reached for the towel lying nearby. Given that he failed to provide a towel, I offered him mine.

Scrubbing the water from his body, he murmured, "I have go." Maybe he was talking to his dad and I didn't get it. I've already been running behind schedule.

David saw Dr. Johnson's displeasure, shown by the way he crossed his arms over his large chest.

He responded, "Yeah, I know," before wrapping the towel around his hips and dashing out the patio door. I made a boo-boo. Sorry."

Another mystery unsolved: who these apologies was meant for. When my blood started to boil, I was relieved to be in the refreshing water. He hadn't considered sticking around to chat. Without even a farewell, he avoided any verbal contact with me. Physically and emotionally, I was left to float as he disappeared inside the home.

I lost my cool out of sheer exasperation. I can't believe he didn't realize it was Wednesday.

He'd messed up for the summer, but he had to get things done. David behaved as if having spending money for his approaching sophomore year was a matter of life and death, despite the fact that he knew that waiting tables wasn't.

Dr. Johnson let out a deep sigh. I'm very sad for his loss. You may remain as long as you like.

Maybe not... "Thanks."

There was a pause in his actions. Also, "we have homemade lemonade."

I responded, "I see what you're up to." "I know you want to dump it on me," he said.

With a grin and a nod that suggested he knew he was in trouble, he seemed to admit his guilt. I feel terrible letting all this out. Assuming your taste runs toward lemons, I can assure you it will be delicious and safe from any illegal drugs.