The Beach

The storm came up suddenly, it caught her by surprise. She was on the
beach, and it seemed as if was if she was alone on the island. It was
late summer, the week after Labor Day and most of the summer crowd had
gone home. Back to work, school, back to their real lives in the city.

It was just Susan here, left behind, like the plates and faded lawn
chairs, left behind by Jack.

Her husband had told her that last weekend together that he needed
time to think, and was going back to New York alone.

She had come to the beach almost every afternoon since that day. It's
not like it was unexpected, they had always had a rocky, tumultuous
relationship, but this time it sounded final. He had taken off his
wedding ring and left it on the counter, the bastard.

When the lightning suddenly came upon the beach, at first she thought,
oh, what the hell, let it hit me, who cares? But sheer animal survival
forced her to take shelter at a house down the beach. An old friend of
the family's, a divorced accountant who had an office in the back of
his house. She knew he would be home, and they always got along at the
summer parties and events they'd been at together.

Bob opened the door and let her in, gave her some dry towels and hot
coffee, and asked her if she wanted something in the coffee. It was
almost the end of his work day and he often had a scotch. She said,
"That would be great, sure."

They talked quietly and got caught up while he sipped his scotch and
she had her scotched-laced coffee. When she had finished the drink,
she found herself crying suddenly. She told him Jack had left. He said
he understood, and held her gently. When he kissed her again, more
softly, she held him and kissed him back, and her body responded to
his warm touch.

"I haven't been with anyone since the divorce either. I just wouldn't
know how to go about dating again, so I just work all the time, and
then try to relax," Bob said.

He asked her if she wanted another drink, and she said no, she'd
better get going back. He offered to drop her off, and although the
rain had stopped, she said, "Sure, a ride would be nice."

When he dropped her off, he asked if he could call her for dinner
sometime.

"I make a mean spaghetti," he said.

"That would be nice." She kissed him goodbye and went back inside the
cottage. It didn't seem quite so lonely on the island anymore, there
were some of us who stayed on after summer, she thought.

The next weekend he made her a delicious dinner, salad, spaghetti,
wine and she made a cheesecake for dessert. They talked easily, he was
a warm, friendly man, although still sad about the divorce. He
mentioned that he had used Viagra with his ex a few times, he was in
his 50's after all. Would that be problem? She said no, of course not.
She wondered if it would be. They went out a few more times and got to
know each other well. Then she said she was ready one Sunday afternoon
when it was rainy and windy. He made a fire and they went to his
bedroom. It was stacked with magazines and papers, but otherwise neat.

He said he was going to take a pill now and she said O.K. He said,
"You are supposed to wait an hour for it to kick in." They hugged and
talked some more, and then he made very gentle, sweet love to her. He
took his time, touching and exploring each part of her body. He
touched and kissed her lips, her breasts. Then finally when he got
around to her pussy, he just looked at her, naked on his bed in the
soft afternoon light. She felt desirable again, sexy, and very turned
on. Though she wasn't young anymore, there was no point thinking her
life was over just because she was getting divorced. He kissed her
there between her legs, and licked her and stroked her gently. He
murmured how beautiful her body was. She thought she would die of
anticipation, but when he finally entered her, it was sweet and
powerful, and her body responded strongly to his loving attention.
With Jack it had been so feverish, so difficult sometimes even to
reliably have an orgasm.

She held Bob afterwards, told him how nice it was for her. He stroked
her hair and said it was for him too.

They started to go out regularly, just to the movies or one of them
would cook dinner. They took long walks on the beach at sunset, or in
the afternoons when he was done working. Sometimes they went off the
island on the ferry to the mainland. She was relaxed with him, felt
she didn't have to prove anything. He seemed to just be grateful for
her company, for her touch, her warmth. They didn't make love every
time they were together, but when they did, it was sweet and powerful
for both of them. It was a very different relationship than with Jack,
so calm and gentle. It was good, very good, and she started to be glad
that Jack was no longer a big part of her life.

Jack called a few weeks later, and they talked. She told him she was
seeing Bob.

"Who?" Jack said.

"Bob, the accountant on the island."

"Oh, that old weasel. Well, I guess you have every right, we're
separated."

"Yes, we are. And I think I want to stay that way."

"Yes, I guess so. I do miss you though."

"Yeah, but really, Jack, we were having so many problems."

"Yeah."

The line went dead for a while, and then Jack said he had to go, and
just to call him if she needed him. She said she would and said
goodbye. She thought she heard a crack in his voice, but perhaps she
was just imagining it.

The next afternoon, Susan and Bob went for a long walk on the beach.
It was an oddly warm day, the seagulls were crying overhead and the
ocean smelled fresh and crisp. They had a blanket, some wine and
plastic cups, and a bag of cookies. They settled down on the blanket,
in the dunes out of the wind. They had the cookies and wine, and then
his kissed her. She settled comfortably under him, and he started to
undress her. There was no one around and it was so warm. She was soon
naked on the blanket, and he unzipped his pants. He entered her
easily, she was wet and ready and it felt very good and easy. They
made love with the sun on their skin, and the ocean waves crashing in
the background. Her orgasm felt like a wave going through her, his cum
salty and strong like the ocean. They fell asleep on the beach
afterwards, holding onto each other tight.