I felt his lips turn upwards in a smile and he kissed me.
I slid off him, wincing slightly. I’d enjoyed his aggressive love-making, more than enjoyed, but I was feeling a little sore. I didn’t care: it was a small price to pay.
We both had to scrabble around in the dark to find our clothes. I couldn’t help laughing to myself: there certainly wasn’t much dignity in it, but damn, it was hot!
We listened carefully at the door but at that time of the day the locker room was still empty. I don’t know what we’d have done if it had been busy: we could have been stuck there for hours! Hmm, that didn’t sound so bad.
Sebastian quickly pressed his lips to mine then snuck out first. He looked his usual, handsome self, although perhaps a little more flushed than usual.
I, on the other hand, looked as if I’d just had rough sex up against a cupboard door in the dark. I stared in the mirror at my reddened face, neck, chest and back, and at my once neat ponytail which was lopsided with half my hair coming loose.
I spent a few minutes splashing myself with cold water, trying to return my skin to its usual olive tones, and combed my hair out with my fingers. Eventually I felt composed enough to leave the locker room. As I walked back to the pool, I imagined that everyone I saw knew exactly what I’d been doing. I felt as if I had a sign pointing at me shouting ‘Locker-room Slut!’.
I slid onto my sun lounger and gratefully took a long drink of my mineral water. I picked up my notebook and pencil and tried to concentrate but my thoughts were well and truly scattered. I couldn’t believe what I’d just done. It had been so intense and exciting and so completely out of character for me. Although I wasn’t entirely sure what my character was anymore. I’d meant it when I’d told Sebastian that it wasn’t David’s fault; that I’d let him take control and allowed him to take away the essence of being me. I’d been a sleepwalker through my marriage: we both deserved better – David as well as me.
I wondered again what David saw in me: had he seen something when I was 19 that was no longer there? Or did he simply prefer a submissive, compliant, bovine wife? And what about Sebastian? Why did he want me? Was it more than just sex for him, or was I being na?ve? He said he loved me but…
“I see you’ve been catching some sun: my, you’re looking a little red, Caroline.”
Donna’s kind face was looking down at me.
“Oh, hi Donna,” I said, my voice sounding a little more high-pitched than usual.
“And this is Shirley.”
“We’ve spoken on the phone – it’s nice to meet you in person.”
I stood up to give Donna a quick hug and to shake hands shyly with Shirley Peters who was short and dark haired, and had mischievous hazel eyes; the resemblance to Ches was obvious.
“It’s good to meet you, too, Caroline. I’ve heard so much about you already. You’ve made quite an impression on the boys. Ches couldn’t wait to show me your article.”
She laughed lightly. “My son is certainly a fan and I have my suspicions about Sebastian.”
My face froze as she winked at Donna. “It’s like having a second son: I swear Sebastian spends more time at our house than he does at his own. Hmm, well, not so much lately: Ches thinks he’s got a girlfriend, although I don’t know why it’s such a secret.” She sighed. “Well, maybe I do: I can’t imagine him wanting to bring a girl home to meet Estelle and Donald.”
Donna nodded sympathetically and settled herself in a deckchair under the large, colorful sun umbrella. Shirley headed for the locker room to change into her swimsuit.
“How was your meeting at City Beat?”
I couldn’t help smiling at Donna: she really was interested in my writing. I showed her the article and watched her face as she read it in detail.