Foreword
These stories are based in Australia and written in the idiom the characters would use. I know from previous comments many readers have enjoyed that very aspect of it. Some issues in language variations I anticipated and built translations into my narrative, others – especially on this site - have caught me by surprise especially in their intensity.
Crutch/crotch has caused an awful lot of hassle. But the Macquarie Dictionary defines a mean of crutch as "the crotch of the human body". "Crutch" is most commonly used in Australia and to our (my) ears, crotch has a harsher (unintended) tone.
For the rest, if your usual meaning doesn't make sense, the intuitive substitute will generally be right.
This particular chapter may not suit those just looking for a quick and dirty read. It focuses more on relationship and character development for the benefit of future stories. Still, it's sexy enough.
Story
On an extended holiday Karen has fallen for a local guy and given him her virginity...
It all went swimmingly until the second Sunday after we'd meet.
Our country friends had come down for breakfast, so I'd arranged to come down and join Greg at his lifesaving duties after they'd gone. As I tromped along the beach to the lifesaver area, I could see Greg and one of his fellow lifeguards standing alongside each other deep in conversation as they kept lookout. Except this was no ordinary lifeguard. It was Kate.
I'd met Kate the previous week and had thought even then that she was a formidable girl. She and Greg had gone to school together and she also was an iron man – or is that iron woman - competitor. Like Greg she was home for the University holidays; she was studying law at ANU. All of which was bad enough, except she was also gorgeous in the most overtly sexual way. She had a booty that left mine to shame and breasts that were an eyeful all built on an abnormally slim frame. Even though women's lifeguard swimwear is normally designed for security not show, Kate somehow managed to wear hers with an impressive display of cleavage and high cut legs that folded into the back of her swimmers neatly along her bum crack. From that and the perpetual camel toe she displayed, I can only guess that it was three sizes too small,
Anyway, as I approached along the beach toward the lifesaver area, I could see Greg and Kate standing side by side keeping watch but also engaged in spirited conversation. Kate of course was in full display mode; how she managed to make those unsupported D cups defy gravity while at the same time maintaining a washboard flat stomach I don't know. As she spoke she wore that knowing smile on her unreasonably pretty face.
If I'm fair I can't hold any of that against her – that's what she was born with (maybe other than the swimwear three sizes too small).
What I was reacting to was a very strongly feeling she was flirting with Greg. As they spoke she was twirling her hair with one of her hands and as they shared a joke, she first put a hand on his shoulder before giving him a gentle nudge with her hips. And I'm sure I saw her give his body a long downward scan.
Greg, to be fair, seemed oblivious to all this as his eyes just scanned the water for potential trouble. What he didn't yet know was that the real potential trouble was walking toward him.
My stomach turned itself in to a knot. Every vulnerability I felt about my relationship with Greg suddenly confronted me. Never before had I even felt the sense of inadequacy about my appearance that seized me as I sized up what I was up against in Kate. Even as the more rational side of me said my best approach was simply to be myself and assume everything would be OK, my mood went uncontrollably black.
When Greg saw me, he gave me a big smile and waved. I saw the look of concern that came over him when I didn't respond. Excusing himself he came bounding over to me
"Hi Karen, are you OK?"
"Yes!", although my tone made sure that came across as an outright lie
"Karen, what's wrong?"
"Nothing!"
"Karen, what's bothering you?"
"You when you keep asking me what's wrong!"
By now we'd reached the place where I usually set up when Greg was on duty, so I threw my bag down, spread a towel and plonked myself unceremoniously on it. Greg sat alongside, stunned in to silence. I was struggling with my emotions. I knew it was silly to punish Greg in this way. Even if I was locked in a life and death battle with Kate, I was hardly helping my case by treating Greg like this. I just hadn't had time to process things and get myself under control.
As I looked up I saw Kate turn around and she gave me one of her unreadable smiles. I didn't know if it was the smile of an intending victor over her vanquished foe, the smile of someone trying to make a friend or the evil smile of a devious conniver wondering who the physio-bitch behind her was. Either way, it just made me more uncertain and angry. Against all my usual instincts, I actually wanted to leap the lifeguard windbreak and scratch her eyes out; but even through my distress I was rational enough to recognise that she was bigger and stronger than me and she'd probably beat me to a pulp.
For a moment I even wondered if that would earn me sympathy points from Greg.
"Karen, I can see something's wrong and I don't know what it is. I've really got to be on duty, so I'll have to leave you for a while. If I've done anything wrong, please just let me know so I can rectify it. I'll try a get a longer break when I can to see what I can do for you"
With that he had to return to his duties, standing once again next to Kate. However, apart from exchanging a few initial words, I could see that my behaviour had put a chill on their previously light-hearted conversation.
My problem was this relationship had all happened so fast. I had just sort of gone with the flow of my emotions and assumed everything would be OK. But I really didn't know for absolutely sure where I stood with Greg. I knew I dominated his free time and I knew he wanted to be with me; but did I own him? Does having sex with someone every day for nearly two weeks give you exclusive rights to him? Greg had networks in this town I knew nothing about. How did he feel about me? How does any guy resist a girl like Kate? I had just wanted to put my arms around him and tell him of my undying love for him, but after this short a period that seemed like a very high risk thing to do – a risk I'd been unwilling to take.
Greg continued to turn around and look at me occasionally; maybe looking for some sign my mood was improving. Now I'd backed myself in to a corner of mistreating him, it was hard to even just give him a reassuring smile.