Chapter 5. In the Care of Kari
Kari showers some affection on Jake.
Jake was sitting at the kitchen bar, staring out the sliding glass doors to the manicured, postage stamp backyard, sipping a Perrier and trying unsuccessfully to make some sense of the day's events. First, the whole thing with Jenny on the plane, and then her goodbye kiss that was a lot more than friendly. And she was so beautiful and smart and really sexy ...
did she really mean that whole bit about not knowing any men like me, and wanting to know me better? How could that be?
But even that paled in comparison to what happened with Kari in the car. Why him? In her own way, Kari was just as attractive as Jenny, and at least in Jenny's case, he understood she was just rebounding from her last relationship. And then there was Theresa and Sara -- what was going on with all these women? He was so lost in thought that he didn't hear the front door open and close, and Kari watched him for a moment from the kitchen doorway.
"A penny for your thoughts," she said, breaking the silence.
Jake jumped a bit, and then looked at her thoughtfully. "That's kinda funny ... I was just thinking how much I wish I knew what you were thinking ... I mean, I just don't understand why ... well, you see ... why someone as pretty as you would ... you know, want to just have sex with
me
like that. And then there's Jenny, and that doesn't make sense either. Did the world change while I was away?"
Kari smiled at him, "Those are definitely more than penny thoughts." She paused and thought for a few seconds. "You know, what I'm thinking is ... that maybe the world didn't change but you did." Jake looked puzzled.
"You know, when Jim told me to pick you up, I asked him what you looked like. He said he didn't really know, but ten years ago when you moved away, you were pudgy and wore thick glasses. So, naturally, that was what I was looking for. Maria was supposed to be helping me look, but, as usual for her, she was mostly looking for hot guys. So, she spotted you walking with Jenny, and we both watched you for, well, for a while. It just never crossed my mind that the great-looking guy with the gorgeous blonde could be the cousin Jake I was there to meet." She paused and walked over to sit across the bar from him.
"Imagine my surprise when that great-looking guy turned out to be you. Now, I didn't actually see you kiss Jenny goodbye -- at the time, I was searching the crowd for the pudgy guy I was supposed to meet -- but Maria did, and she was ... ummm, kind of graphic when she described it to me while you were getting the bags. So, you see ... well, I was getting turned on quite a bit by this whole thing: a step-cousin whom I've never met and who is really not a relative of mine by blood but who will be staying in my house, well, he turns out to be an Adonis and has a gorgeous blonde he just met practically melting in his arms. I mean -- that is really hot." Jake just looked at her in bewilderment.
"And then the ... coup de grace," she continued, "was sitting on your lap, with that short skirt priming my exhibitionist streak like crazy, and ... well, let's just say I felt something pressing against my leg that
really
caught my attention." Jake blushed a little as he understood her reference. "I tell you the truth, Jake: I've never done something like that before. Hell, I never even imagined it, but I don't regret it for one second. I truly thank you for an amazing experience that I will never forget as long as I live."
After a pause, she went on, "What I don't get is why you are so surprised by the attention you get from women. I know Jim said you were in the Mideast on a scientific expedition for the last few years, but it seems more like you were ... I dunno, in a monastery or something."
Jake laughed ruefully, "Not too different actually. It was an all-male crew, and when we mixed with the locals, well, it was a traditional muslim area, you know, women covered head to toe and no socializing with the white devils, you know. OK, I'm having a hard time believing that women find me ... attractive, but if what you say is true, I don't know what to do."
Kari laughed gently at that, "Oh, I'd say you know "what to do" alright ... I felt you were playing me like a violin in the car. You're a natural!"
Jake shook his head, "No, that's not what I meant."
Kari quickly said, "I know that, I was just being playful. Look, from what I can tell so far, you seem like a genuinely nice guy who won't take advantage of women, and all you have to do is be yourself." Jake still looked troubled. "Hey Jake, it's gonna be just fine. We can talk more about it later -- I'm thinking you must be exhausted from the traveling, and I'm a little distracted because ... well, something wet and sticky is running down my thighs." She flashed a big smile at Jake. "I've got an idea -- let's take a shower together ... there's a wonderful shower in the master bath."
"What about your parents coming home?" Jake asked.
"Oh ... I forgot to tell you all the news. Jim called me to say that he has to stay with his crew at the wildfires tonight. And my mom is visiting my grandparents in Phoenix and won't be back until Tuesday night." She gave him a deliberately goofy leer and said with a terrible Mae West accent "So it's just you n' me, big boy." After a giggle, she added "Come on, let's go upstairs - I promise I won't bite ... much." And she walked around the bar and took his hand in hers.
He grabbed his overnight bag and followed her up the stairs, enjoying the view of her swaying ass right in front of him. She grabbed a couple of towels and led him into the master bath off of her parents bedroom. "See" she said, pointing to the shower stall, "plenty of room for two."
