Confined Four Years

Sandy Beaches

~~~~~Julia~~~~~

After traveling all the way to Hawaii to escape the press, who were after a story, Julia found herself face to face with the half-dressed Zachariah. Even as she thought that, though, she knew it was just her and had nothing to do with him. They locked their eyes on each other as he approached the spot they picked before changing clothes, and she felt as though she were in the same boat as him. Her eyes automatically followed the sharp lines of his body down from his firm jaw to the bare chest and abs he usually kept hidden. Even the muscled calves he hid under blue jeans were visible today.

Julia remembered him mentioning he often exercised when he went to the campus of his college for tests, but this was the first time she was seeing the result of that. His fine form proved it, after all. Another squeal of laughter drew her gaze to the twins, who were currently tossing sand at each other. She could still feel his eyes on her, almost like hands caressing her body, before she could sense him coming closer. For the first time in years, she felt like a woman, one that men desired and wanted, and it was all thanks to the man now sitting next to her.

“Maddy, Mason, don’t do that. If you get sand in your eyes, it will really hurt and we’ll have to take you to the hospital.” His voice sounded lower than normal, causing goosebumps to rise on her skin. “You don’t want your mommy to cry, do you?”

“Okay!!!” they yelled at the same time before going back to build a sand castle.

“That bikini looks amazing on you.” Zach’s voice felt like a whisper against her skin, and her shoulders shrugged involuntarily. “Seriously, your skin is practically flawless.”

“Thank you…” she replied before looking away, unwilling to see the sand kissing his arms as he leaned back against it. “You look pretty amazing, too.”

~~~~~Zachariah~~~~~

A stringy green bikini barely covering the flesh of her ample breasts and hips. It became clear in that moment Zachariah could not stand up for a while. His mind and body would need a little time to process just how amazing she looked in that suit. Her skin had always been a beautiful porcelain color, but seeing so much of it felt like an overload. When she turned her back to him and lifted her hair, his brain crashed to a stop when he noticed the bottle of sunscreen in her hand. He did not think he would want to stop touching her, but… if he did not, she would get burned…

“I did the front already, but I couldn’t cover my back well. I didn’t want the kids to do it because it would not be even and my skin is rather sensitive.” Julia said, her smooth voice easing his mind. “Lucky we got the umbrella, otherwise, my back would’ve already burned.”

Zachariah grabbed the bottle from her before popping the cap on it and squeezing some into his hand. Dragging his eyes up her back to her shoulders, he wondered where to start first before just going with it. Slowly, he reached out before his hands contacted her flesh and he gently rubbed on the lotion. Her skin was just as smooth as it looked, he thought, scooting closer to touch more of her. This would probably be the most he ever got to touch her, so he wanted to savor it. Her shoulders shrugged as he moved further down her back and a soft sigh parted her lips before the smell of sunscreen reached his nose.

“Thanks…” she mumbled, releasing her hair, the soft strawberry-blonde tips brushing against his hands when he pulled them away. “Do you need some?”

“Yeah…”

He did not even realize what she said because he felt so satisfied with just the touch of her back on his fingers. When she stood, the sand fell from her body before Zachariah felt her presence near his back. Confusion curled through him before the chilly soft feeling of hands touched his back, causing him to jump a little. No, it was not her hands that were cold; it was the lotion. Her hands actually felt feverish against his flesh, or was it his flesh that was burning up? He looked over his shoulder at her and gave her a grin, causing her to focus harder on his back.

“Maybe I am just a selfish man, but I’m glad we’re alone together.” He said before turning to the twins. “I’m glad the five of us are all here together.”

“That’s not selfish, Uncle.” Madison answered with a bright smile. “Mommy doesn’t look tired anymore. Is it because of the Blackmail situation with Grandma and Grandpa?”

“Sweetie, your father and I don’t want you to worry about that right now.” Julia replied from behind him. “Right now, we just want you two to have fun.”

“If only I could tell Jewels the truth…” he mumbled, unaware that Julia heard him when Sophia let out a cry.

Playing at a beach in Hawaii while Marcus cleans up the mess left over from their family’s arrest and the press, thinking Zachariah is having an affair with his wife must be difficult for him. On the trip here, his mind kept thinking about confessing to her, but under the circumstances, he does not want to cause her more unnecessary trouble. Regardless of how she feels about him, that would not be fair to her, Marcus, or the children. He watched as she lifted the now four-month-old into her arms and held a bottle up to her tiny lips. No matter how he feels about her, he cannot tell her he loves her. A soft sigh parted his lips, but there is nothing he can do. Zachariah will never be with her, at least, not like he wants to.

“Maddy, Mason, that is a beautiful sandcastle. Let me take a picture to show your father.” Her voice is much like a gentle breeze, comforting and loving as she speaks with the children. “He’ll be so proud of his kids. Plus, I want to show this to your uncles and aunts when we go back.”

“Uncle! Come play with us!” the twins shouted in unison. “The water feels great!”

He wanted to, but knew that it would not be a good idea to even move. If they see the state his body is in, they will have some questions to ask, and he doubted Julia wants to answer those right now. Instead, he reached inside the beach bag he brought along and picked up a water gun he filled with water before they left the house. Water-tag may be fun to play and he did not have to move to hit them. Zachariah waited for the right time before aiming it at the twins and watching the stream of water hit Madison in the side. A giggle released from her lips before she stood and kicked up some sand as she tried to run from the stream.

“No fair, Uncle!!!” Mason shouted as water hit his back. “That’s not fair!”

“It’s plenty fair!” Zachariah shouted back, watching as they zig-zagged across the beach, staying close enough to Julia but just out of range of his water gun. “I’m too old to be chasing you two around!”

~~~~~Julia~~~~~

That evening, after the children went to bed, Julia found herself watching the news in the living room. She could not help but feel concerned for Marcus because of the weight of what they left behind when they came to Hawaii. She wanted to understand, to help but all she could do is stay away until the press stops asking questions about her relationship with Zach. Finally, the man himself walked back into the living room and turned his attention on the television, a report about the two of them currently the passionate debate. Even running from it makes it seem like they were guilty when Marcus was the one to send them away.

“You must have fallen for him at some point.” Zach laughed wryly before taking a seat next to her. “You’re so worried about him. Marcus will be alright.”

“How is my ‘love’ for him even a debate, right now?” She replied, crossing her arms under her breasts. “I’m worried about him because it is a mess we made he has to clean up. Since the blackmail case is being investigated, we can’t divorce until all of those details come to light. It has nothing to do with love.”

“Are you sure?” He questioned, his dark eyebrow raising like he did not believe her. “From where I’m sitting, it looks like you’re in love.”

She is, but could she tell him that? The only problem was his age, though honestly, Julia felt like she was slowly coming to accept the fact that he was so much younger. To be honest, he does not really seem like an eighteen-year-old. As her mind presented these things, she could feel him watching, like he needed to say something as well. Today was the most fun she has had since before she married Marcus, though she did not know how to tell him that. Julia always left their interactions wanting more, and usually made an excuse just to spend time with him. He has a direction in life now, maybe wants to get married someday, but would he want an old woman with used up goods?

Julia desperately wanted to ask, but she did not want to know. Her heart throbbed in her chest, making her more aware of her feelings. What would people say, how will they react, what will they think? These questions faded from her mind as she looked into his eyes. When she finally noticed it, his eyes closed, and he turned his face away. She felt like her heart was not acceptable, but she knew he must think the same thing. Julia looked down at her left hand where the mark of her marriage rested. With the fingertips of her right hand, she grabbed the warm metal of the band and pulled it off, sitting it gently on the table next to them.

“Tonight, I am just a woman.” She mumbled, drawing his gaze. “And you are just a man.”

What she planned to do was part of her agreement with Marcus years ago, when this farce began. ‘I propose we keep our relationship open. If you find someone to love, I won’t stand in your way.’ That was the other reason Marcus sent Julia and Zachariah away. Her mind just caught up with his planning before she grabbed Zach’s hand boldly and pulled him into the bedroom she used while they were here. She did not want the children to overhear them and they definitely would if they remained in the living room. What she wanted to say to him should be done in private. That way, if he plans to reject her, the kids do not have to worry about their mom being upset. Once they arrived, she turned to look at him.