Author's Notes: Readers be warned. This story takes time to develop and so don't expect immediate and raunchy sex. Yet, if you hang in there, you will enjoy the romance of Loryn and her older (but not too much older) lover, Pete. Kick back and enjoy the telling.
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As I entered the pool and made my way towards the deep end, I chirped to my assigned Physical Therapist co-op (cooperative education) student, "Hey, there young and good-looking! How was your weekend? Did you party-hardy with the fellas in Waikiki?"
I had expected a chipper, if not bawdy, retort from Loryn at my shameless and all-too intimate prying into her personal life. Yet, what I got from the interest of my inquiry was just a brief glance from the poolside before she looked down, absorbed in her thoughts.
Before I go any further, I am Pete Kamahele, a part-Hawaiian former Honolulu police officer who a few years ago sustained life-threatening injuries while protecting my fellow officers during an ambush/shoot-out. After extensive spinal surgery and rehabilitation, it became readily apparent that my duty-related injuries were such that my return to service at "full capacity" was highly unlikely, and I was medically retired."
I was thrown for a loop by this unwanted administrative decision. All I had known or wanted to be was a cop. I had joined the police force right after getting my associate degree in criminal justice and had just made fifteen of devoted service. While the disability payment and lifelong pension and benefits offered to me were enough to keep me comfortable, the dilemma facing me was what was I going to do with myself?
At thirty-five, I was single with no one special since my parents and only brother had passed away years ago. The police force had been my passion...my life...and my career kaser-focus often prevented any serious female invvolvement. Now I had nothing to look forward to and didn't know how to handle the tremendous emptiness within me. What was I going to do with my so-called "new" life?
An unexpected perk that came with a service-related disability retirement was extended worker's compensation rehabilitation that involved a unique aqua-therapy regime. Being in the pool relieved the pressure on my lower back while allowing me to strengthen my core muscles, regained my balance, and work on improving my overall physical coordination.
In the two years that followed, I had improved physically to a "near normal" state which sadly wasn't good enough to rejoin the HPD. Opting to continue exercising at the pool with the physical therapy (PT) staff whom I had come to know, I joined as a paid affiliate (or former patient). I quickly became a 'constant' factor (always there) to the numerous PTs and their co-op students who help me along the way.
Loryn Wilson was the co-op student currently assigned to me to ensure that I didn't slack with my rehabilitation exercises. She was a comely twenty-four-year-old young woman with light brown hair, sparkling grey eyes, and a whimsical smile. Standing at about five feet four, Loryn wasn't your typical female co-op who tended to be lean (like in borderline skinny) with small breasts, narrow hips, and small buns.
Eschewing the "my body is a temple" mantra of her fellow co-ops, Loryn was known to hoist a mug or two, wolf down pizza, and have a good old-time partying. She had a "fuller" (but definitely not fatter or chunkier) figure marked by a great pair of tits, curvy hips, and nice buns that were meant to be grabbed and squeezed to her squeals of delight. In the two months that I had known her, I had come to look forward to Loryn's recounting her lewd but somewhat dubious adventures in paradise. That's why when I got the response I got, I knew something was definitely wrong.
"Hey, Loryn, join me at the deep end of the pool where we can have a bit more privacy. Come on. Don't be a stick in the mud. Humor me...please?"
Begrudgingly, Loryn dragged herself to the other end of the pool and sitting at the edge dangled her feet in the water as I began my exercise routine. "Okay, what happened? I mean you look like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. Come on. Give."
Loryn hemmed and hawed, and tried not to look into my eyes. "Loryn -- it's not nice to lie or withhold information from your elders..."
'You're only thirteen years older than me," flared a defiant Loryn as she normally would have. "You act like you're some old decrepit man."
"Okay, I may not be a dirty old man but I sure am decrepit...and I am your elder...so stop stalling." When Loryn still hesitated, I slyly slipped in, "Well, I was going to ask you if you'd like to have dinner with me tonight at my place." When I saw a look of surprise flash on her face followed immediately by a tinge of suspicion, I hastily inserted, "Hey, get real, you silly girl. If I pulled anything funny or impropriate, you know my name, place of residence, and all the things needed to put me away for sexual assault. Hmmph!
"As it stands, I was at Costco yesterday and saw this beautiful rack of lamb that I couldn't resist buying. But when I got home, I realized 'how the hell is a single guy going to eat eight to nine lamb chops?' It was then that I thought of my favorite PT co-op who might enjoy sharing a lamb chop dinner with mint jelly, roasted fingerling potatoes, and steamed corn on the cob. Of course, if you rather not tell me what's happening with you and pass on my dinner invitation...that has no strings attached to it...I'll understand."
"God, Pete, you are truly twisted, you mean son-of-a-bitch. Okay, I give in." Then taking in a deep breath and letting it out, Loryn whispered, "Crissy, my housemate and fellow co-op student, dropped a bomb on me saying that she was dropping out of school and the co-op program to return home immediately. It seems that her rather jealous boyfriend threw a fit when he discovered that we had been partying rather hardy in Waikiki and demanded that she fly back immediately.
"This has left me with having to cover our cottage's rent all by myself. You know that I am an orphan who has eked my way through college and into this graduate PT program. I am up to my eyeball in debt and barely making it. With Crissy gone, my entire co-op stipend...what I make working at the pool for twelve dollars an hour...goes to my monthly rent. I've been living on instant ramen and peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches. Oh, Pete, I don't know if I can hang in there for another four months until my co-op contract is up and I graduate."
As tears welled up in Loryn's lovely eyes, I said, "Hey, one step at a time. Let's have dinner tonight when we can leisurely explore your options. If a certain sass-butt girl is up to it, come early and show me your worth by helping prepare and cook dinner. Remember there's no free lunch in life.
"Do you have your cellphone on you? Okay, here's my address and mobile phone number. Text me so that I'll have your cell number and won't block you as possible spam. Cheer up, my friend. I have a hunch that your luck and life are about to change in ways you never expected."
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When Loryn's moped pulled up into my carport, she was her old friendly self. Freely hugging and kissing me on the cheek, she quickly said, "Thanks for being there for me. I have been getting down on myself...and wallowing in my self-pity. But your timely invitation gave me what I needed...hope...and a boost of confidence as to the possibilities...as well as a free meal. Hey, this girl can't afford to pass up a free dinner...with maybe some leftovers to take home."
While I sliced the roast into individual chops for seasoning and frying, I encouraged Loryn to freely explore the house that I had inherited. The left side of my home consisted of a master bedroom in the corner with an adjoining bathroom; a middle bedroom that I used as my study and storeroom; and a rear bedroom at the end of a short hallway that was supposedly a "guest" room (although I never had a guest over). The main bathroom was across the hallway from the two bedrooms. The right side of my house consisted of a spacious living/dining room, a modern kitchen, and a wash/mudroom. A wrap-around yard and garden completed my house.
"Your house...home...is unbelievable! It's so spacious...so inviting...with so many possibilities. Thank you, oh thank you for sharing it with me." And with that, Loryn hauled off and kissed me on the lips which left me breathless.
"Ahhh, enough of that you shameless hussy. Get to work by slicing the fingerling potatoes and seasoning them before popping them in the oven to bake. The corn is teaming, and I'll wait to the last minute to pan-sear the lamb chops in my cast-iron skillet. Do you think you're up to making a simple tossed salad? You are? Okay, the lettuce is in the refrig as well as the boiled eggs, salad dressing, cheese, and croutons...have at it.
"Ohhh, by the way, what do you want to drink? I have some cans of Kona Brew beer; some chilled white wine...and...? What? What am I drinking? Well, I am having Ketel One Vodka on the rocks...it is clean and neat...with a lemon twist. It gives me the buzz that I like. What? You want to try what I am drinking? Are you sure? Okay. Here."
"Oh, my fucking lord! My lips have gone numb...as well as parts of my brain. I am finally able to shut off thinking about how screwed I am. Damn it, Pete, pour me what you're drinking so that I can stop this constant fretting and begin to relax."
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