Free West Wind by Madeline Sloane

thoughts and she began to panic. She could
blame it on alcohol, although she'd only had two beers at the most.
No, it wasn't alcohol. It was the sunset sail and his carefree,
lazy smile.
    "Uh oh, Grandmother. Now I know what happened
to you," she whispered, her eyes tender as she watched him
sleep.
    Sabrina gritted her teeth, and then searched
the shadowy floor for her scattered clothes. She tiptoed into the
living room where she hurriedly dressed, pulling her wrinkled shirt
from between the couch cushions. She laced her shoes and wiggled
into her coat. She knew her makeup and hair were a mess, but she
had to get out of here now, before he woke and she had to look into
his eyes.
    Six years of Catholic school training was not
wasted on her and shame flushed her cheeks. She opened the door as
quietly as possible and let herself out into the night. It closed
with an audible click, but Jay was sound asleep. Sabrina raced down
the steps, cringing when her footsteps alerted a seal and it barked
hoarsely.
    She sprinted to the middle of the dark street
and after looking both ways saw the illuminated hotel sign in the
distance. As she walked hurriedly towards the light, she opened her
purse and withdrew a brush. With wild, frantic yanks, she smoothed
her hair. She tucked her shirt into her jeans and buttoned her
jacket. She frantically searched her purse for the hotel key card,
then, with a sigh of relief, found it in her back pocket. The last
thing she wanted to do was ask the hotel clerk for another key;
especially at, what time was it? She pulled out her cell phone and
pushed a button. The screen lit up: 2:48 a.m.
    With her head averted, she let herself into
the hotel lobby and walked towards the stairs to her second-floor
suite. The clerk looked up from his magazine briefly and then
ignored her.
    In her room at last, Sabrina leaned against
the door and giggled. She stepped into the bathroom, the light and
fan driving away the quiet. She turned on the shower and began to
strip. She yelped softly when she saw the red marks on her breasts
and belly, and licked her swollen, aching lips.
    "Mmmmm!" She wrapped her arms around her
shoulders and giggled again. Then, hefting her tender breasts in
each hand, she examined them for small hickeys. She raised an
eyebrow at her reflection. "You should see the other guy," she
quipped.
    Soon, the steaming shower, fragrant soap and
soothing body lotion dispelled her aches, leaving her skin glowing
and soft. Later, lying naked in her bed, she ran her hands over her
belly and between her thighs. She squeezed her eyes and regretted
leaving him, yearning again for his touch, his kiss, his powerful
body against hers.
    She slept fitfully, hugging her pillow.
     
    * * *
     
    In the morning, the town once again seemed
normal. Sabrina shook her head at the memory of her late-night race
through the streets. She realized that, although Jay lived
somewhere close, she lost all sense of bearing in the dark. He
could be anywhere of three directions. Not that she wanted to see
him again. Okay, she did. But she didn't think she could face
him.
    He's probably glad he doesn't have to get
rid of me , she thought. I've got the morals of a cat in
heat . A vision of Sister Carolyn, her seventh grade health
education teacher, floated before her. She cringed at the memory of
sex education and the Catholic stance on reproduction and birth
control. That's where she and the religion parted ways. In most
other areas, the doctrine had its hooks in her and kept her on the
"right path."
    Even so, Sabrina had limited experience with
sex. She dated during high school, but never had a serious
relationship.
    She'd only made love with two other men: one
she almost convinced herself to marry, despite Grandmother Rose's
advice, and the other a rebound from her broken engagement. She
dated Jeremy Rice for three years in college. He took it for
granted they would marry and she would work while he finished
medical school. Finding him in bed