Robin Alexander - Murky Waters

Claire lay her head back on Tristan’s shoulder as her body shuddered in Tristan’s hands. “Yes, the answer is yes. You can do anything you want with me, Tristan. I trust you completely.”

Tristan turned Claire around and looked in her eyes, seeing the truth revealed in their depths. “I will never make you do anything you’re not comfortable with, my love.”

Tristan continued kissing and nibbling Claire’s neck, igniting a fire in Claire that the now cool water could not suppress. They kissed passionately as Tristan lightly ran her fingertips down Claire’s body, teasing her, barely brushing against all the places Claire pleaded with her to caress.

Claire responded by weaving her hands through Tristan’s wet hair and pulling her closer. Tristan slid two fingers into Claire; the strokes were fast and hard. Claire dug her nails into Tristan’s back, encouraging her to continue. When she knew Claire was close to orgasm, Tristan stopped and pulled away.

Claire wrapped her arms around Tristan, pleading for her to continue. Untangling herself, Tristan pulled away and grinned.

“Sweetie, I’m not finished with you, but I do plan to make you beg.”

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Tristan turned the water off and stepped out of the shower. She smiled at Claire as she toweled off, then Tristan did the same.

Tristan took her lover by the hand and led her to the bedroom. She stood behind Claire, kissing her neck and fondling her breasts.

Claire nearly went to her knees when Tristan pinched her nipples and whispered in her ear all the things she planned to do to her.

Fortunately, the condo next to them was unoccupied, or its residents would have heard Tristan’s name screamed repeatedly.

Claire had drifted off into the most peaceful slumber and was sleeping soundly when she heard a noise in the room that jolted her into consciousness. She opened her eyes and wondered if she had been dreaming or if there had been a noise. Tristan, who was snuggled beside her, was breathing heavily and whimpering softly.

Claire realized that it was the same noise that had woken her.

She lay beside Tristan, debating whether to wake her from the obvious nightmare. Tristan stirred and mumbled something in her sleep that Claire could not distinguish. Seconds later, Tristan began to thrash and moan Claire’s name in a pleading tone.

“Please, no, Claire.”

As Claire reached over to soothe her lover, Tristan bolted upright in bed. “Tris, honey, it’s okay. You were having a bad dream.”

Even in the darkened room, she could see Tristan’s eyes opened wide in terror.

“You were dreaming, baby. It’s okay,” Claire said as Tristan looked around confused for a moment before relaxing. Claire pulled her into her arms and could feel Tristan’s heart beating erratically against her own skin.

“What was the dream about?” Claire asked as she held her trembling lover. She heard Tristan swallow hard, but she said nothing in response.

“Tristan? Talk to me, sweetie,” Claire said, stroking Tristan’s dampened hair from her brow.

“You died, and there was nothing I could do to stop it,” Tristan said as hot tears rolled down her cheeks onto Claire’s shoulder.

“Baby, it was a nightmare. I’m here safe and sound. There is nothing to worry about.” Claire soothed Tristan until she was sure she had fallen back to sleep. Claire lay there in the darkness, 146

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waiting to drift off again, enjoying the feel of Tristan in her arms.

She had not stopped to think how the stalker business might be affecting her lover. She knew that Tristan was not one to open up and discuss the things that troubled her, but the dream confirmed to Claire that she was equally scared.

“Oh, Tristan, look what you did to this room!” Claire said as daylight filled the space. The bed was torn apart, and the blankets and linens were on the floor. The bedside table had been knocked over, and the alarm clock and phone were nowhere to be seen.

“I think I may have swallowed one of your earrings,” Tristan replied in a raspy voice. “Besides, it’s not like I was alone, Miss Innocent. You had your tongue in my ...” Tristan was interrupted by a pillow hitting her face.

Claire lay back down and burrowed against Tristan, her face coloring as she remembered what had taken place in that room the night before. No stranger to sex, she still blushed remembering how Tristan had pushed her beyond her limits and how she reacted. She was certain that Tristan’s back would be covered with scratches.

“I wish this place had room service,” Tristan sighed. “I’m too lazy to go downstairs for food. We could spend the whole day in this bed, and that would be fine with me. Of course, we wouldn’t get any sun, and we would have to explain why we don’t have tans.”

Claire’s stomach growled at the mention of food. “Let’s go grab breakfast somewhere quick and go to the beach. Then, we can explore Gulf Shores and have lunch at one of the places on the coastline.”

Tristan smirked. “When you say ‘explore,’ I’m sure you mean shopping. I bet you will drag me to every one of those shell shops you pointed out on the way in.”

Claire laughed. “You know me so well, baby. Get up and get dressed. I’m starving!”

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CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Tristan and Claire decided to eat breakfast at a place called Hazel’s Nook. The restaurant was bustling with locals and tourists.

Tristan loaded her plate up at the buffet, and Claire opted for an omelet prepared with all her favorites. They enjoyed their breakfast in the relaxed Southern home-style atmosphere.

Tristan ate oblivious to her all surroundings but Claire. Several of the patrons openly appraised Claire’s beautiful partner, and she smiled to herself, thinking that she was with one of the most beautiful women she had ever seen. The attention paid to Tristan only confirmed what she believed.

Afterward, Tristan took Claire on a tour of the Gulf State Park where Tristan had camped at the campground for years. They drove through the scenic park that stretched for a few miles down the Gulf when Claire noticed a warning sign that read, “Do not feed or molest the alligators.”

“Who the hell would want to feed an alligator, much less molest one? Although, I suppose they had to put up the sign because someone was foolish enough to try it.”

Tristan laughed. “Claire, don’t you find them sexy? I often fantasize about taking one to dinner. Looking across the table at those big eyes and stroking that green skin, it just makes me hot thinking about it.”

Claire shook her head. “Tristan, I love you very much, but, honey, you have one sick sense of humor. Guess that’s why I love you so.”

After finding a parking spot, Tristan and Claire trekked down one of the public piers to the beach. They picked a spot close to the water’s edge away from the rest of the sunbathers. Once they got everything set the way they wanted, both women were sweating 148

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profusely. Tristan was the first to jump into the emerald-colored water with Claire close on her heels.

Feeling refreshed, they returned to their spot on the sand and relaxed in the chairs they brought with them. They watched as children splashed in the surf and dug in the sand along the beach.

One child in particular caught their attention. He looked to be only four or five, and his head was full of light blond hair. He sat shirtless in a little hole he had dug with his plastic shovel.

A wave washed up on the shore and filled his spot with water. He giggled and laughed and splashed, then jumped up excitedly and proclaimed, “Mom, I farted in the water hole, and it made bubbles.” He ran toward his embarrassed mother, singing his discovery at the top of his lungs.