Halcyon Days: Chapter 42 (Patreon)

I don’t even remember getting home. The next thing I knew I was laying in my bed still in my clothes and with the lights on staring up at the ceiling with smile as wide as the Dakotas across my freckled face. Physically I might have been located inside the old motel room but mentally I was GONE, still back in the middle of that field. Again and again I relive the evening. Seeming to float within the stars, the cool breeze on my back, the coyotes’ yipping wails, the aroma of perfume and French fries, and that salty spunk taste coating my tongue, all of it is replayed again and again.

I laugh as I think about how Mei had denied me release, leaving me as a live grenade with the pin pulled, and I sigh as I bask in the memory of her holding me and caressing me and soothing my every worry. Tonight she’d been a study in contrasts. The confidence, the dominance, the unapologetic weirdness and that rock solid sense of who she really was lived alongside her embarrassment at running into her grandpa, and those moments of fragility, vulnerability, inexperience and pure feminine softness. I remember the lusty sighs and the firm orders and the laughter.

Last night I had been bursting at the seams, needing to call Mom to share the crazy, scary, WONDERFUL new feelings I was experiencing. Tonight however I wanted to greedily hold these precious memories close to my chest. What happened this evening was for Mei and I alone, and that made it all the more special. I’d talk to Mom eventually and, as always, she’d see through me and hear the joy in my voice. Mei wasn’t the only one to wear masks, mine just happened to be more extroverted than hers. I would inevitably gush, this thing inside of me could not be contained for long, but for now it was all mine.

To say I was horny would be the understatement of the year and I thought about rubbing out a quickie before nodding off but that thought finds no purchase on me despite my unquenched lust. The thought of bringing up any kind of porn made my skin crawl. There was no other woman in the world I wanted to see in that way right now other than Mei, not even hot young Barb out in the shed. And I could have jerked it while imagining Mei but…but…no. I couldn’t. As I tried all I could think about was that she had purposely denied me and orgasm tonight because she wanted me ‘aching’ to see her again. If she wanted me to ache I was gonna ache! Fuck…I already was!

***

Somehow, some way, I manage to grab a bit of shuteye. Though it was no more than three or four hours sleep I woke the next day feeling rejuvenated and ready to conquer the day. I was FLYING!

By the time Barb had opened the office for breakfast I’d already swept the front lot, though it didn’t need it, and been up the ladder to change the bulbs along the top of the sign which probably hadn’t been lit for at least a couple years judging by the dust on the old incandescent bulbs I removed.

When Barb does shuffle out in her bright muumuu and fuzzy slippers to look at me with bewilderment at my bright mood I laugh and give her a hug.

“Good morning, sexy!” I say, turning her around while keeping one arm around her shoulders. Nodding up at the sign I say. “I’m gonna give that whole sign a repaint. Something bright that catches the eye. I found some paint cans out back but we don’t the sign to blend in with the rest of the place, do we? We got anything in the budget for new paint? I’m happy to chip in if I have to.” Waving a hand across the sign I say. “Imagine a black background with vibrant yellow letters, that’d grab some eyes. And black and yellow like the Halcyon Honeybees. Ooo! And we could give the Motel a name too. I mean just ‘Motel’ might be accurate but it’s hardly a triumph in marketing, is it.”

Barb looks up at me, flummoxed, for ten full seconds. “I haven’t had nearly enough coffee for all this.”

“Ha ha ha!” I kiss her cheek. “The sun is shining on another day in paradise, Barb. Wake up or it’ll pass you by!”

This finally brings a smile to her face. Shaking her head she says. “Fool kid.” Shuffling back to the office she waves me to follow. “Come on and get your breakfast. I’ll see what’s in the petty cash tin.”

***

The good news was that Barb makes some funds available and even agrees that we could finally give the old place a proper name, the bad being that I couldn’t put brush to timber until we gave some thought on a good moniker and we, meaning me, found out what the regulations around signage and changing business names were in Halcyon. One benefit of the sign issue was that it gave my whirring mind something to distract me from my near constant thoughts of Mei. It didn’t help much, but it helped. As much as I loved thinking about her my engine could only rev at those rpm’s for so long before I would inevitably burn out.

By 11 am, just after helping a traveler check out then cleaning his room, I was thinking about shooting Mei a text to check in but before I did I wanted to surprise her with some good news. That morning as I swept the lot I kept looking down at The Hitching Post and thinking about how it was the only place in town for a proper date AND the only eating establishment that wasn’t associated with either Mei’s parents or her grandpa. If I was going to stay here I was simply going to have to make peace with The Post. And so, with Barb’s leave, I stroll down to the town pub and pizza joint.

I’d been hoping to slip in unnoticed but those hopes evaporate as the moment I enter and my eyes adapt after stepping in from the midday sun into the dimly lit pub I find that I was the center of attention of the half dozen customers and handful of staff that were here.

“Hey!” Says the bouncer from the other night who, by the looks of it, wasn’t on duty as he ate his breakfast at the bar. “You’re banned here, Red. Get outta here.”

Holding my hands up in a gesture of peace I approach him. “Yeah, about that.” I say. “I wanted to come and apologize. I’m not usually like that. Is the owner around?”

Before he can answer a familiar voice says. “Take it easy on him, Gunnar. D here is new to town. He’s still finding his feet.”

Slowly I turn around to see Cassidy approaching from the short hallway that lead to the washrooms. Her little braless tits bounce beneath her tight t shirt and her blonde curls sway in time with her hips as her cowboy boots clomp across the wooden floor toward me.

“Cas.” I nod politely.

“Hey, D.” She smiles then walks straight up to me to give a friendly hug and peck on my cheek.

The instant the kiss was given I step back to put some space between us. Her blue eyes flash with recognition of the unspoken signal and a little smirk curls at the side of her lip. Moving to the side to cut off any retreat she then steps forward once more, cornering me between the bar and Gunnar who was now at my back.

“What’s the matter, D?” She croons playfully as she runs her hands up my chest. “Aren’t ya glad to see me?”

I wanted to slap her hands away but, given our history, she hadn’t done anything wrong just yet and I was here to make peace so making a scene was the last thing I wanted to do right now. Placing my hands on her hips, which just a couple nights ago I’d done in a very different context, I hold her at bay as she continues rub my chest.

“Hey.” I say, trying to push her away without being rude about it. “Just chill a sec, Cas.”

“What’s this?” She pushes forward, refusing to acknowledge my signals. “I’m not good enough for you anymore?” Running her fingers through my hair she leans in cheek to cheek and whispers. “Got a case of yellow fever, hm?”

Behind me are Gunnar’s deep chuckles.

“Cas!” I hiss and pull her hand from my head. Without both of my hands on her hips she is able to press her body to mine as my other hand slips around her back.

Just then a ray of blinding outdoor light slices through the room as stepping through the door comes a lanky woman in a helmet and goggles.

“Dusty! Where are you, you son of a gun?” Marigold calls out. “Barb told me that you were…” Her gaze quickly finds me at the bar and the grin that had been brightening her face begins to fade. “Oh.”

“Marigold.” Suddenly aware of how bad the situation looked I shove Cas back.

“I-I…” She thumbs behind her, already backpedaling. “I should…” Without finishing her sentence she spins on her heel and bolts back out the door!

“Marigold, wait!”