Two Weeks of Sin

“Yeah, about that – ” I started to say, but she kissed me really quickly, pressing her sweet lips to mine, and by the time she pulled away, my kid's footsteps were coming too close for me continue what I was saying.

“Emma, wanna play a game with us?” Zoey asked.

“Sure! I'd love to,” Emma said, smiling brightly. “What do you want to play?”

I heard the kids discussing Candy Land versus Chutes and Ladders as they walked into the living room. I stayed in the kitchen, my lips tingling from that kiss. I had to talk to Emma, to tell her we couldn't be together. There wasn't any easy way to say it and I hoped she wouldn't take it hard, but sleeping with her, taking her virginity, it just wasn't right. It had the potential to do a lot of damage to the both of us.

I had to talk to

her and make her understand. I just had no idea what the fuck I was going to say.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Saturday came before I knew it and I'd had no time to talk to Emma in private. My kids were always around. There were no more secret kisses, no more flirtations, but I saw the way she looked at me and I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that she was not changing her mind about our little agreement. That meant I had to change her mind for her.

I took the kids to the beach for their lesson, ready to sit on the sidelines and watch again, lost in my thoughts, when Emma pulled on my arm.

“You said you'd join in this time,” she reminded me.

“I changed my mind,” I said. “I don't feel like it.”

She cocked her head to the side and shot me an incredulous look. “No, you promised the kids, and I'm not going to let you get out of it this time.”

“You promised, daddy,” Zack piped in.

“Yeah, you promised,” Zoey added.

Geez. All three of them were ganging up on me, all pulling on me to join them.

“Fine,” I said. “Let me change.”

The kids cheered as Emma smiled, obviously pleased with herself. She could be convincing, that was for sure. The idea of wearing a wetsuit around her made me nervous, as did my potential failings at surfing. But I'd promised my kids, and there was no way they were going to let me wiggle my way out of it again.

I changed and came out of the bathroom, dragging my feet the entire time. Emma was smiling wide as she looked me up and down, a look of raw hunger in her eyes. She obviously approved.

“Alright,” she said, clapping her hands together. “Let's get started. Last week, we did some body boarding in the water, just to get a feel for the waves. Today, we're going to practice standing up on your board.”

I suddenly felt very nervous. Emma put the surfboard down on the ground and instructed us to all do the same thing. Then, she laid down and we followed suit.

“Now, we are going to practice here on land first,” she said. “Let's get the hang of this before we go out on the water, okay? Watch me.”

She placed her hands on either side of her, with her fingers curling over the side of the board. Then in one quick movement, she pushed her body up with her arms, almost in a yoga pose, and then tucked her feet. She moved her body in one swift movement and was on her feet in a flash. She made it look all too easy, which I knew was a lie. And it wouldn't be easy on the water, for sure.

Why did I think this was a good idea again?

“You may find it easier to get on your knees first,” she said. “Then from there, bring one foot up at a time until you're standing. Now let's try it.”

She went over to Zoey first and they worked on technique one-on-one.

“Good job, Zoey,” she said after spending a little time with her. “Now here's how you stand, with your feet like this. Keep practicing while I help Zack.”

She looked over at me and smiled. “Why aren't you practicing, Marcus?”

She sounded like a teacher with that tone in her voice.

“I'm watching the kids,” I said.

“You need to practice too,” she said. “Because we're going to get you out on the water.”