Chapter 1: Introduction
The walk home from school was a stale, familiar one that Jenna had taken countless times before, often hardly aware of the worn pavement beneath her feet. But today was different. An early morning sprinkle had glossed the asphalt, like a coat of ebony paint recently brushed by a manicured hand. Even the fresh, April air was saturated with the sharp Bang! of spring thunder in the air, heralding an unexpected downpour.
Jenna quickened her pace, one hand holding her bag tightly, the other pressed firmly against the small of her back.
Her eyes darted left and right, longing for the familiar, welcoming sight of her cul-de-sac nestled in the heart of the sleepy suburban neighborhood. The stirrings of a sudden shower skipped across her shoulders, a shadowy tease, as she turned the corner. Relief flooded her chest. Their house was just a few dozen paces away.
But then, a bump.
It was like something out of a teenage fairytale.
There he was: Robin, their handsome, well-built, bald-headed neighbor struck with a charm that was evident the moment he opened his mouth to exchange pleasantries. In a heartbeat, Jenna was speechless, rendered almost immobile by the novel universality of finding herself mere inches away from a living embodiment of her most secret desires.
"Jenna, right?"
Words grasped at her throat, insistently demanding passage through constricted vocal cords.
"Y-yes, Jenna. Hi, Robin."
There was a spark in his eyes, that certain something that set the conversation apart from any other of her young, blossoming relationships. The warmth of his fresh smile sent a ripple through her abdomen. She responded with a smile as genuine as the rain that dampened her hair, her cheeks mere inches away.
"Ah, it's been a while since I bumped into such a charming young lady around here.
How have you been?" Robin asked.
Her mind raced, trying to string together a coherent thought. She managed to blurt out, "Just, um, getting ready for summer, I guess." Her cheeks warmed.
Was she actually standing here, stumbling through innocent exchanges, while her hormones roared like the engines of hot rods on a drag strip? Her thighs tingled. This was surreal, and yet she never wanted it to end.
Robin looked at her and thought she looked beautiful.
Her blond hair was damp from the rain, her striking eyes glimmering like a candle flickering against a darkened window. Those barely noticeable curves beneath her simple hoodie and jeans were enough to drive a man insane with desire. He forced himself to look away; he didn't want to betray his desires to someone so young and innocent.
He had to admit, though, that he was intrigued. There was an inexplicable draw that pulled him into Jenna's orbit. She had the kind of allure that tugged at his deepest desires, so innocent, yet sensual.
He shifted his weight, fighting the urge to brush her damp hair away from her eyes, or let his fingers graze her cheek. The conversation had to be safeguarded, to avoid taking a steamy detour.
Back in his secluded house, Robin's thoughts meandered, sculpting fantasies from the fleeting moments with Jenna. The memory of her dampened hair, shy smile, and whispered words were terrifyingly tempting, chipping away at weak points in his once steadfast defenses. She was so young, so undeniably alluring, and she seemed to be growing more comfortable around him.
That simple encounter had tethered him to this forbidden craving, a moth to a flame. He was helpless to resist the pull, but he knew he couldn't cross the line. Respect and self-control demanded he bury his longing and remain a perfectly unremarkable neighbor to Jenna.