TABOO TALES(erotica)

“Don’t be silly. You took it to the brink last time, and I don’t think we could stop it again – and then we could never go back. It would always be between us. Better that we live with the promise of what might have been, than with regret about what did.”

“But -”

The springs of her bed squeaked loudly as she sat up, and I sensed that she was leaning forward, speaking intently into the dark in a fierce whisper. “No! Mum and Dad are right next door? Can you imagine what it would do to them if they heard us fucking? And what about you and me – it would forever change the way that we felt about each other. Is that what you want?”

“There must be others like us. This must happen all the time.”

Her voice turned scornful. “Oh, yes, Ben! How many brothers and sisters do you know who are screwing each other? One? Ten? I’ll tell you how many – none! And if there are any, they are hiding it, like we would have to. Hiding it like dogs slinking in the night! I know how-”

She stopped suddenly, and the silence stretched out, and then she continued, her voice more gentle. “I want you too, Ben. I wanted you on the beach and I want you now. But it just can’t happen that way.”

Her words skewered my heart like a hot blade. I thought it had been hard when I was the only one pursuing a hopeless dream, but the revelation that she still wanted me was infinitely harder.

“I just want to hold you, Chelsea. I love you.”

“Don’t, ” she whispered, “please don’t.” The springs in her bed protested as she turned to face the wall, and I was left with thoughts that were even blacker than our dark, stuffy little room.

*****

When I woke up Chelsea had already gone, her bedclothes flung back, her mattress cold to my touch. The weather changed during the night, bringing a spiteful little wind that promised rain.

Mum was fussing over breakfast. “Chelsea said she was going into town” she said, in answer to my question. “I don’t know what she’ll find to do there at this time in the morning,” She rattled the cutlery with a disapproving expression. “I must say, she seemed a bit out of sorts.” A thought occurred to her. “You haven’t upset her, have you Ben? You two seemed to be getting on so well.”

“No Mum. We’re fine. I heard her being sick this morning, though… and yesterday, come to think of it…” I let my voice tail off, the hook dangling.

She looked at me in horror. “You don’t think -”

“Maybe. Perhaps it was that Greek guy.” Chelsea had brought a guy home a few weeks ago who the entire family had taken an instant dislike to as he was wearing more perfume than she was. “I reckon he’d marry her, though, Mum, so you don’t have to worry.” I looked at her, trying to keep a straight face but couldn’t hold it and I laughed at her expression.

She looked at me reproachfully. “That’s not funny, Ben. You had me worried for a moment.” She sighed. “I do wish she’d find someone to settle down with.”

“She’s only young, Mum. She needs to have some fun first.”

She looked at me, clearly unconvinced. “She’s is quite old enough to settle down. When I was that age -”

“- you had lived a full and rich life and were ready to settle down. Chelsea’s different, Mum. She’s an independent girl and she’s doing OK. Let her alone.”

“Well, you stay close to her Ben. I don’t want her getting pregnant.”

I was struck by the irony of her words. If she hadn’t stopped me on the beach the other day she might well have been pregnant right now, but I suspected that Mum might not want to hear that. “Chelsea’s pretty switched on, Mum, I don’t think she needs me as a chaperone – but I will keep an eye on her.”

“Good.” She picked up my plate and moved to the kitchenette, still talking. “Your father and I are going into the city today. There’s an exhibition on at the National Gallery that we’re keen to see. You are welcome to come with us, if you’d like to.”

“No thanks. You two go and have some fun. Are you driving?”

“We’ll catch the ten-thirty train, if you wouldn’t mind driving us to the station.”

“No problem.”

“We expect to be back by six thirty. Do you fancy eating out tonight?”

“Chelsea and I were thinking of doing that anyway. I’ll ring you and let you know once I’ve had a chance to speak to her.”

She nodded, and wondered off to her room to get herself ready.

I dropped the parents off at the station and drove into town, parking on the main street. The temperature had dropped even further and it had started to rain, a steady drizzle falling from a dark sky. I cruised the cafes that we used but couldn’t find Chelsea, so I dropped into the Video Ezy store and chose a couple of DVDs to watch, then I headed back to the cottage. I was worried about her.

She was huddled on the little verandah to the cottage. Sheets of water were pouring over the eaves and there was little shelter for her. She was soaking wet and shivering in the cold wind. I unlocked the door and she moved into the lounge, looking pale and tired.

I put my hand on her forehead but she was not hot. “Where have you been, Chelsea? I was worried about you.”

“Just walking… thinking.” She gave a little smile. “I was worried about me, too.” She looked around. “Where are Mum and Dad?”

I moved into the kitchen and flicked on the kettle. “They’ve gone into the city to see an art exhibition. Back around six. You look exhausted. Why don’t you slip into bed and have a kip? I don’t think you’re going to miss much today.”

She nodded. “I didn’t sleep much last night. Is that tea you’re making?”

“Absolutely. Do you want anything to eat?”

She shook her head. “No thanks, just a cuppa. I’ll just dry off first. I won’t be long.”

“I’ll bring it through to the bedroom.”

She was snug in my bed when I went through with the tray, lying on her side looking at the rain streams on the window. The room was filled with the sound of water drumming on the metal roof.

“I hope you don’t mind if I borrow your bed… I don’t think my back could stand another minute in mine.”

I smiled and shook my head. “Here’s your tea.” I sat down on the edge of the mattress and smoothed back her damp hair with my fingers. “I was worried about you,” I repeated. “How do you feel?”

She shrugged. “Just tired – and a little confused.”

“Anything you want to tell me about? I can help, you know.”

“I doubt it.” She smiled to rob her words of any offence. “You’re the problem in this one, Ben, not the solution.”

“I don’t mean to be a problem.”

“I know.” She reached up and held my fingers. “Would you mind very much if we don’t talk about it now – I’m… really not sure I’ve resolved anything – you know how it is when things just go round and round in your mind and you get nowhere?”From NôvelDrama.Org.

“I guess. I’m here if you want me.”

She looked at me, her eyes huge in her face. “I know that. What time is it?”

I glanced at my watch. “Nearly twelve.”

“Could you wake me at two, please, if I’m not up by then?”

“Sure. Don’t forget your tea.” I touched her lightly on the side of her face and walked out of the bedroom, closing the door softly behind me.

*****

At two o’clock I slipped quietly into her room. Despite the sound of the rain she was asleep, lying on her left side with one hand near her face. The dark rings had faded from beneath her eyes and she was breathing lightly, her lips slightly parted. I sat and watched her for a while and then I moved around to the other side of the bed and quickly shed my jeans and top, before sliding in beside her.

She stirred slightly as I spooned up against her, but she did not wake up. I carefully put my arm over her and held her close, hearing her murmuring softly in contentment, aware of her pushing back gently against me so that we were moulded together. One of my hands rested lightly against the warm skin of her throat, and I could feel the pulse of her heartbeat under my fingertips and I could smell the warm puppy aroma of her skin against mine.

I don’t know how long we lay together like that, spooned together in the warmth of my bed, her asleep and me listening to the roar of the rain against the metal roof above our heads. The room was quite dark, with only a small square of grey diffused light stealing in through the rain-splattered window. The noise and the darkness conspired to shut out the rest of the world, so that my horizon shrank to only the confines of that room and the bed in it, and the girl in my arms. And as I lay there the uncertainty and problems of the past few days lifted, and I knew for certain that I wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with her.

Chelsea stirred in my arms, and I could sense her rising consciousness as she emerged from sleep. Although I could not see her face I knew that she had opened her eyes and that she was awake. At length she spoke.

“What time is it?”

“About three.”

“What are you doing?”

“I’m lying here with you.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s my bed, and I was cold.”

She digested this information, and then after a few moments rolled over on her right side so that she was facing me. Her hair fell like a curtain across her face and I gently pushed it aside, tucking it behind her ear, my fingers light on her face. She regarded me with her grey eyes, still unfocussed from sleep.