Please read the preceding chapters prior to diving into this one. It'll add, I promise. Please don't forget to rate and comment. Merci, Petitmort
Paul stood on a bluff overlooking the ocean, the morning fog giving way to the sunshine like the wispy memory of a previous night's bad dream.
He was thinking about the turn his life had taken. Twenty-four hours earlier, every aspect of his life seemed to be completely falling apart.
He'd learned his dear friend Ally was dealing with a serious medical issue and was getting the run-around from her insurance company.
He bought her car to help her out financially, but emptied out his savings account in the process. Now, he had his tuition, books, and a bunch of other expenses coming due in a week.
If he couldn't pay his tuition, he'd have to drop out of school for the quarter. Then he'd lose the summer internship he'd worked so hard for.
He was about to tell Briana he couldn't be her on-call "handyman" anymore -- and God knows how she'd react to that bit of news.
And, on top of all that, he and Meredith were fighting, largely because she feared he was just another immature and irresponsible surf bum who couldn't manage money to save his life.
Gee, I wonder what gave her that idea, he thought.
And then, as fate would have it, everything totally changed.
Bri was delayed by some crisis at work.
He spent the evening at her neighbor Jessica's house.
They talked at length, did yoga together, and then did naked yoga together.
By the time the night was over, they'd had incredible sex overlooking the sea.
And, she came up with a plan that'd completely change the dynamic with Bri and maybe even solve his money problems.
On top of all that, when he checked his phone this morning, he discovered Jessica had deposited several hundred shares of Alphabet stock in his equity account.
Now, he was getting ready to climb the eight-foot stone wall that separated Jessica's property from Bri's.
He felt like someone who'd just escaped from prison who was now trying to break back into the prison that once held him.
A part of him wished he could forget Bri and just spend the day with Jessica.
But he knew he couldn't do that.
He'd renegotiated his arrangement with Bri and he had to follow through. Otherwise, there'd be hell to pay.
He mulled over the details he'd discussed with her.
He had other clients now, so his time with her was limited. Instead of spending "the month" with her, or even "the weekend", he could give her "Saturday".
It was a simple matter of resource allocation.
Plus, his rate would be going up. That's what happens when demand exceeds availability for a limited resource.
It was all part of his strategy to reduce his single stock risk.
He shook his head. Two days ago, he'd never even heard of "single stock risk".
Now, he was thinking about a strategy to diversify his stock portfolio.
Jessica was amazing. Brilliant. Beautiful. And willing to teach him.
Just then, he heard a voice.
"Paul?"
It was Bri, calling him from the other side of the wall.
He took a deep breath.
"Yeah, I'm coming."
He jumped up and grabbed a large tree limb, lifted himself up to wrap his legs around it, and crawled atop the stone wall.
He turned, gripping the top edge of the wall with his fingers, and jumped down on the other side.
He landed in an athletic crouch.
She stepped backwards, startled, her eyes wide.
"Hey," he said, with a husky voice.
"Hi," she said.
She had a look of someone unsure of herself. Almost frightened.
It wasn't a side she showed much. He figured he'd startled her and he was okay with that.
Knocking her down a notch might not be a bad thing,
"Wanna show me the way in?" he asked.
"Sure. This way."
She led him down a side yard to a nondescript door. She opened it, and led him inside.
It led to a laundry room with high-end washer and dryer.
"There are security cameras in the front yard, the front door, the back door, pool, and hot tub. But no cameras in the side yard."
Paul nodded.
"Inside, there are cameras in the foyer, the living room, and the kitchen. No cameras in the bedrooms or bathrooms."
She opened a door that led to a long hallway.
"If you go that way," she said, nodding, "you'll be picked up by the living room camera."
"So, let's go this way," he said, gesturing to her bedroom.
"That's what I had in mind," she said, slyly.
She led him down the hall, pausing at her bedroom door.
"There's no audio. Only video. So we can make as much noise as we want."
She opened the door to her bedroom. Her bed, a California King was freshly made with a white coverlet.
He followed her in.
"So this is where we'll make the noise, is that it?"
"Yes, she gasped. "This is where you can make me scream."
He turned to her, his hand finding her pussy.
"Is that what you want? A screaming orgasm?"
"You know I do," she said, pressing herself against him.
He pulled her tightly to him.
"We'll have to make sure you get that then."
He looked out the picture window and sliding glass door facing the sea.
"Can we go outside?"
"No, he has cameras in the back. You have other use the laundry room door. Go out through Jessica's yard."
Paul registered this. He didn't mind coming and going through Jessica's place. He looked forward to seeing her.
"And no use of the kitchen."
"I can go out and get anything you need. Food, drinks."
"I'm fine for now."
"What should we do first?" she asked, breathily. "You said you had some ideas."
"I did. But I actually got another idea just now. I think you might like it."
"Yeah? Tell me."
He sat down on the bed next to her. She pressed her breast against his arm.
"It occurred to me, this would be an easy place to sneak into. Get in through the side door. Come down the hall to your bedroom."
"If the side door's unlocked, anyone could get in."
"A complete stranger. Maybe a burglar. A cat burglar."
Her eyes lit up.
"A stealthy cat burglar. Like Cary Grant."
He looked at her and smiled.
"Yeah, I'm not sure who that is. But if I was that cat burglar, and I snuck in late at night, so quiet you couldn't even hear me, and I snuck into your bedroom..."
"I might be in bed... asleep."
"I may have come intending to rob you, but when I see you in bed, how beautiful you are, how helpless, my intentions change. I don't want to take your valuables. I want to take... you."
She gasped.
"I'm afraid at first. But then I see you. In the candlelight. How beautiful you are. Then I want you to take me."
"Does that sound like something you'd enjoy?"
"Hell, yes."
"Tough or tender?"
"Excuse me?"
"Do you want me to be tough or tender?"
