Starting Over - Chapter Nineteen - The last laugh

Chapter Nineteen - The last laugh!

                “A day off...together!” Jan announced as Ellen came out of the bathroom three days later. They’d settled in to a routine, both working, snatching time together. But today was a mutual day off.  A rarity in their diaries.

                “Can we go shopping this morning? I want to make us a nice dinner tonight.” She sat on the bed and towelled her hair dry.

He nodded, sitting up, “sounds good, and then we can hit the beach later, really relax.”

The market was busy; tourists did descend on it en masse, mainly for souvenirs and fake Gucci sunglasses. The fish stalls were quiet, and as it was still fairly early she managed to buy all that she wanted. Jan scuffed along behind her like a petulant teenager, protesting that he wanted to be at the beach, but she loaded him with fresh fruit, asparagus and beans, the clams and prawns she’d managed to snatch as well as some cava from the local shop.

He was in full on stroppy mode ramping up his mood and enjoying every minute by the time they got back to the apartment.

                “Don’t think you deserve to go if you’re still moody young man!” she chided him struggling to contain her laughter. “I’ll go alone!”

His arms were around her waist before she had chance to open one of the shopping bags. His lips were on her neck and he mumbled, “Bed not beach?”

She laughed, “Nope! We’re going to spend the afternoon at the beach, we’ve planned it, and I want to relax in the sun. Go change, we’ll leave as soon as I’ve unpacked this. “

Once the food was put away, she filled a large straw bag with a couple of towels, sunscreen, and her book. Then finding her sunglasses and a sunhat, she patiently waited for him to appear. He never disappointed, beneath his toned and tanned bare chest, he was wearing a pair of white knee length surf shorts with a feint navy floral pattern, a New York Yankees baseball cap and flip-flops. He carried a t-shirt in his hand.

                “OK?” he asked taking the bag from her.

She nodded, suddenly wondering whether his bed over beach option had been the right choice after all. As they left the apartment he swatted her backside, “I love that ridiculous little dress!”

Purposely wiggling her arse she led him out into the sunshine. Hand in hand they walked to the beach, it was busy, but there were several patches further along the sand that were quiet. So they picked their way between people in various stages of undress, all enjoying the sun, some a little too much.

She gasped at the sunburn on one man’s shins, chuckling Jan dragged her away before it became too obvious. A few minutes later they were stretched out on towels on the warm sand.

                “Beer?” he asked as he dumped his t-shirt and the bag. There was a beach bar kiosk nearby; as she slid out of her sundress she nodded a yes.

He came back a few minutes later with two ice cold bottles of San Miguel and handed her one. They sat next to each other on the sand and looked out to sea.

                “I’ve got an uncle who’s got a yacht somewhere around here,” he offered watching a large cruiser cut across the horizon. “I should see if we can borrow it one weekend!”

She smiled, “I’ve always fancied hobnobbing with the rich and famous on the Med!”

Mock bowing, which in a seated position was anything but easy, he murmured, “your wish is my command.”

Leaning over he dropped a trail of kisses over her shoulder blade, “want a swim? It’s quite....hot on this beach!”

When she looked across at him in surprise, she saw he was leering, “you’re horny?....Already?”

He chuckled, “What effect is that supposed to have on me?” He pointed repeatedly between the two parts of her bikini in earnest.

Laughing she flopped back down onto the towel and closed her eyes, then as an afterthought searched in her bag for some sunscreen.

                “Let me!” he forcefully took the sunscreen from her hand and squirted a large drizzle onto her belly. Jan laughed at her intake of breath - it was cold, then using both hands he slathered the cream all over her first legs, arms and then body.

All Ellen could feel were those hands, all over her. Jan had this ability to feel rather than touch, his fingers were firm, directed, giving just the right amount of pressure to set her body on fire. His fingers strayed too far under the fabric triangles of her bikini and she could hear his breathy chuckle as she squeezed her thighs together, her whole body alert and desperate for more. She glanced around at the busy beach, but no one seemed to notice her predicament.

                “Why don’t you take this off?” he asked, “there are loads of women without tops here, I think it’s sexy.”

                “You like everyone seeing my boobs?” she blushed in what she knew was a prudish manner.

Grinning he continued his assault on her senses and bikini, “they’re beautiful, you’re beautiful, so why not. People may look, but imagine how great I can feel knowing that I’m the only one who can touch them!”

She shook her head, shock and self consciousness overwhelming her. Spotting her blush Jan chuckled.  “Right! You’re done!” finishing up he rolled awkwardly on to his tummy and it was then she realised that he was as turned on by his little display as she was.

                “Do you want me to do your back?” she offered.

                “I don’t think I could cope at this moment. Give me a second!”

Ellen closed her eyes and listened to Jan talking, he was giving her a running commentary on everything happening on the beach. What she loved about Jan was that he was so indiscriminate, he appreciated everyone and everything. One time when they’d been strolling along the beach, they passed several older and rather large women sitting on the beach wearing half their bikini, topless and proud. She could only imagine Richard’s groaning at the ‘offensive’ sight but Jan just chuckled.

                “Good on the old girls! Why should anyone worry about what anyone else thinks?” he eyeballed her knowingly. 

She had lifted her glasses and looked at him, “do you really think that?”

He nodded, “I love happy confident people, who cares what prudish people think. Too many people judge by appearances, looks...but who decides what’s right?” And that seemed to be his philosophy.

She was sleeping on her front when Jan woke next to her, “you awake?” He ran a hand over the sun warmed skin of her spine. “I want to swim, will you join me?”

Ellen stretched sleepily, “in a minute!”

But he was as usual an impatient child pulling on her hand. It was only when she was half up that she realised that when he’d lotioned her back he’d untied her bikini top.

                “Shit!” she blushed, mortified at her near nakedness, as small as the scant top was, it made her feel comfortable. Now she was vulnerable and embarrassed. “My top...”

She reached out for it, but Jan was pulling too hard, “you’re too beautiful to cover up Ellen, come on!”

Nausea and fear were fighting in her stomach, but she allowed him to pull her down to the water at a running pace. She dived under the first wave and swam for several metres before she finally surfaced. Jan was crawling along behind her.

                “You did that on purpose didn’t you?”

He laughed, “Not quite as scurrilously as you seem to think. It was just one of those things.” He pulled her into his arms, “but doesn’t it feel liberating?”

All she knew was the surge of adrenaline was causing her body to still surge, butterflies still raged in her stomach, “I think I just feel sick.”

                “Do you see anyone else watching?” His mouth was on her neck as he spoke. “Just relax! You need to lose those inhibitions young lady!”

They swam for a while, a rather amorous Jan wanted more, but Ellen had had enough ‘firsts’ for one day, she wasn’t above to make love in the sea!

Sitting on the balcony that night they shared a romantic meal, loving their time together.

                “I wish you didn’t have to go back tomorrow morning,” Ellen offered. “I do like having you around.”

He was silent in contemplation for a little while, until he eventually offered, “I could move here properly, give up my room at the hotel.”

She dropped her knife and fork, “you’d do that?” Ellen still had all her reference points for their relationship set by Richard, he’d never once as much as stayed the full night at hers, she’d rarely been to his, and even after they were married he’d intended to keep his flat so she could have time away from her. Now Jan was offering to come and live with her, because she wanted him to, regardless of the amount of travelling he’d have to do.

                “It’s not a completely selfless move!” His face was the picture of contentment as he sat back and laid his hands over his full stomach, “and if you cook like that for me every night I’ll be over the moon!”

                “I don’t like you riding back and forth the hotel on that moped, those roads are treacherous, there are no street lights, cars bomb around them as though they’re in some sort of race. You wouldn’t be found for days if you got hit....” She turned to him, “no, if you’re going to be doing that trip more often then I want you to drive a car. I’ve got money I’m sure we can find one.”

Jan laughed, “I suppose that means you’ll want to be driving my moped?”

Her eyes lit up in surprise, “I hadn’t even thought of that! Wow!”

                “I take it that’s a yes, I can move in?”

Ellen was giggling uncontrollably, “it’s your apartment, YOU are the one letting ME live here for a pittance!”

A few days later she was Ellen met Jan after work, he was coming straight from the hotel with Cisco, Ernie and a couple of the girls. There was a new club opening in town, and as was typical with openings, only locals and workers were invited, no tourists.

Ellen couldn’t be bothered to dress up that much, it was hot. So she opted for flat sandals, a pair of short white shorts and a strappy top, comfortable as she couldn’t be bothered. They’d arranged to meet at a bar across town, but now Ellen knew some faces, and she was talking to a Finnish girl Sanna when she spotted Jan enter the bar. Within moments he’d located her and wrapped her in his arms, kissing her as though they’d been apart for months. At these moments Ellen allowed a future to flash into her head, she saw the two of them together, forever. But then she’d open her eyes and remind herself that this is what it is, a prolonged holiday fling.

Neither of them were really interested in being there, both could think of a dozen places they’d rather be....together, but they socialised. Ellen was talking to Cisco who was amazed that she’d persuaded Jan to move out of the hotel.

                “Only if he drives a car though Cisco, the roads are too dangerous.”

His ears pricked up, “really, you need a car? My sister...she had a job on the mainland, she needs to sell her car.”

Ellen quizzed him about the vehicle, then grinned; it was like a gift, perfect for them, small and cheap.

The next morning Jan was at work, so Ellen met Cisco who drove her to his sister’s house. The car was a two door tiny European model, bright red. But at only four years old, it ran well, and the price was exactly right.  After shaking hands she drove home, smiling. They’d just needed to sort out insurance for it. For now she’d use her home insurance, she presumed Jan would do better with the language than her.

She was already in bed that night when Jan slipped under the duvet next to her, “Hi beautiful!” She sighed, half asleep, but awake enough to wriggle her body back into his. She laughed, he was both naked, and excited....it was going to be a long night...Oh torture!

She’d enjoy tonight, because she knew he’d flip when he saw the hairdryer on wheels she’d purchased for him to cruise around the island in.