Richard's Education Ch. 02

Special thanks to darkniciad for competent, helpful editing.

*

Louisa blinked at the steps leading up to her house. They didn’t wobble under her feet, nor did they squeak.

Inside, a wonderful aroma wafted from the kitchen. She stood for a moment, eyes closed, inhaling the smell of fresh bread. Was this some kind of dream? If so, let it continue!

Richard appeared in the doorway, wiping his hands on a dish cloth. His bear hug and passionate kiss made her senses swim. It was no dream. He really did live here, and he really was good with his hands … in more ways than one.

“Hmmmmmmm.” He released her from his kiss, but kept one arm securely locked around her waist. She looked up at him. “Are you a mirage?”

“No.” His voice was soft as he smoothed her hair. “How was the library today?”

“Class of first-graders came to visit.” She watched his yummy ass as he turned back toward the kitchen. “You fixed the front steps.”

“Yeah.” He sent her a quick grin before returning his attention to the stove. “I got good news today.”

“Well don’t make me wait, what is it?” She thought she might know. It wasn’t the money, money was not an issue. But Louisa did care very much about Richard’s self-esteem. The young man was no slacker. Since moving in with her recently, he’d been diligent about trying to find a job. The way he was smiling, it looked as if he’d had some success.

He turned off the burner and put his hands on her hips. A big smile filled his youthful face. “I got the job.”

“Congratulations!” Her face lit up like a fourth-of-July sky. She squeezed him tight. “Oh, I’m so happy for you!”

“Me, too. Now prepare yourself for a tasty dinner and I’ll tell you all about it.” He twirled her around, delighting in making her laugh, and landed her in a dining room chair.

True to his word, dinner was terrific. Richard told her what he knew so far about the construction job he’d be starting in the morning. Then his face turned thoughtful.

“There’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you.”

“Sure.”

“You told me you were fired from your first job, but how did you decide to become a librarian?”

Louisa drew in a thoughtful breath. “Actually the seed for that dream was planted while I was still in undergrad. Right at the beginning of my freshman year I was riding the campus bus and I heard two men talking.”

He couldn’t figure out how this had anything to do with the point but he kept listening. He could see the memory was a happy one.

“I realized, very slowly, that they weren’t speaking French — or Spanish — or German or even Russian. It was a language I had literally never heard before. And all at once I was overwhelmed with just how much stuff there is in the world — great stuff, like languages, places, animals, whole fields of knowledge, subcultures. And I wanted very much to hold that door open, so to speak, so others could…” She made a gesture with her hand. “I knew I wanted to be a keeper of knowledge, not as in keeping it for myself, but as in, tending it so it would be available for anyone who was trying to find something. This was before the internet.” She laughed with her eyes.

“So what happened?”

“I made the silly mistake of taking a job just for the sake of paying the rent.”

“Silly, right,” interjected Richard.

“And you know what happened after that. I got the sack, went back for my MLS, and started living the life I wanted to. Professionally, anyway,” she added.

He wondered what an MLS was, and she explained it to him. He had never surmised that a particular degree was necessary to work in a library. “Oh, yes,” she quirked a brow and nodded solemnly, “it’s very competitive.”

It was nice to have someone to talk to over dinner. Furthermore, Louisa could not remember the last time a man cooked dinner for her, much less fixed things around the house. Certainly her son Jerrod had pitched in his fair share of the work. But he had not been around that much: after high school, he’d taken one semester in college and then joined the military. And in any case, having a helpful son was by no means the same as having a live-in lover.

The only possible complication was that Richard was Jerrod’s best friend. Well, and he was half her age. Oh, and up until a short time ago, Louisa had been something of a maternal figure in Richard’s life. Okay, so things were kind of complicated.

* * *

However much he might have detested the notion of going back home after his dismal try at college, Richard had been raised well. He was determined not to take advantage of Louisa’s goodwill in offering him a place to stay. To that end, he began looking for work immediately; he took on a considerable load of chores around the house; and in general he did what he could to pull his weight while living under her roof.

Even if she hadn’t relieved him of his virginity, he would have done these things.

The construction job was a blessing in many ways. Certainly the cash flow made a difference. The pay was sufficient to make divots in his student loan as well as chip in for groceries and put gas in the car. The hours were flexible to a certain extent, although there was an expectation that he be available if extra hands were needed. And the work was interesting; Richard’s boss gave him a variety of odd jobs around the site, so it was never the same thing day after day.

The biggest benefit, however, was to his sense of self. The young man was simply not a mooch. It would have appalled him to even remotely consider loafing on the couch, eating food that someone else paid for, and basically doing nothing to earn his way.

Now as he put the last paver block in place, his nod was satisfied and confident. “I can take it from here, guys. Thanks again for your help.”

Bill and Ed looked at each other. “Don’t you want to get those plants in the ground?” asked Bill.

“Well, yeah, but that’s not heavy lifting.”

Ed flapped a hand and grabbed a spade. “Don’t be silly. With three of us, this will only take a few minutes. Where do you want these flowers?”

Richard grinned. “Under the tree, over there.” The other nice thing about his job was that the guys helped each other out from time to time. It felt good to be building a network of friends.

The job was complete a good thirty minutes before Louisa got home. From the front window he had the pleasure of seeing the look on her face.

Louisa gawped. Gone was the steep front hill that eroded further with every rain. In its place was a terraced garden that would have graced any English country cottage. Ivy made a green waterfall down the side nearest the driveway. Vinca drifted toward impatiens, which brightened the shade under the large old oak. The tree didn’t look so lonely any more. And neither, for that matter, was she.

“Oh, my god!!” Louisa got out of her car and simply stared for a long moment. Amazement pulled her closer to the new landscaping. Then her eyes snapped toward the house. Richard waved from the window. In his happy gesture she saw the boy she had met when he was just fourteen. Emotion tugged at her core.

He disappeared from view and came out the front door, grinning from ear to ear. “So, you like it?”

She swung her arms around his neck. “It’s too fabulous! How on earth did you do it?”

He tilted his head to one side, still grinning. “Some of the guys came over to help out.” The love in his eyes was apparent as he lowered his mouth to hers. Her lips met his soft kisses like flowers drinking in rain. Her body molded to his.

Very soon it became apparent that they ought to move indoors, and they did so. Easily he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom. The mere act of entering this room never failed to cause at least a slight stir in his nerve center. Often the reaction was stronger. It was in this very room where Louisa had become Richard’s first lover.

His mind fired in different directions. Mostly he was in the here and now, kissing this kind woman who was his cherished friend. Yet part of him remembered, would always remember, their first night together.

Naked from head to toe, they nurtured one another even in the dark unconsciousness of sleep. She had fallen asleep with her back pressed against his chest. It hadn’t taken long for him to grow hard a second time. He’d only had one bite to sate his pent-up sexual hunger. He wanted another helping of Louisa.

He reached around to stroke her velvety peaches. Words could not describe what it did to him to cradle her breasts in his hands. Electrical impulses ping-ponged around in his gut and informed his groin. His erection prodded at her backside.

He pushed her hair aside and lipped at her ear. Slowly she woke, wiggling her bottom into his lap. His cock responded accordingly. At his groan she looked over her shoulder, smiling sleepily at him.

“Mmmmmm…” Richard pushed the head of his cock between her legs. Louisa angled her body to draw him closer to her place of warm, wet heat. He was a little more aggressive this time. Lightly he pinched both of her nipples and was rewarded with her startled cry of passion. A rush of wetness greeted the crown of his cock.

He was harder and more sensitive than ever. “OhgodLouisa.” The words surged out of him. He grabbed her around her waist and she bent at knee and hip — their bodies communicated — and then she was on her hands and knees as he knelt behind her.

The probing of his finger made her shudder and cry out. Some of the wetness inside her was his own. The thought of their mingling juices kicked his arousal up another notch. He slid the tip of his cock into her sheath and watched as her back arched. Her long hair fell to one side in the dim light.

Then the lovely screwing began. He inched his way in, and withdrew. Pushed in another inch, and pulled back. Her ass cheeks were cool in his hot grip. They played the lovers’ game of push-me, pull-you, grunting with every stroke. Richard thought he would die, and at the same time, had never felt so alive. He caught glimpses of her breasts as they swayed, bouncing in time to the movements of their bodies. The smell of sex was strong in the room. Her body clamped around his in a 360º hug.