The Australian Summer

The Australian Summer - Chapter 7

Welcome back! The last time we saw our characters, Ankit was away in Melbourne for the semi-finals of his gaming tournament. Isha and Cooper had spent a whole day at the beach. Circumstances brought them together emotionally and physically. The truth or dare game in the car, Cooper putting sunscreen on Isha's back, the almost-kiss in the ocean, him claiming her in front of the drunk, and the drive back - they all had an effect on Isha. So much so that her self-control crumbled and she almost walked into Cooper's room in the middle of the night. The only thing that stopped her...Ankit's phone call at the right (or wrong) time. Let's see what happens next.

~BhagiRath

THE NEXT DAY

Isha woke up with her hand between her legs. She lay there, staring at the ceiling, breathing hard. The dream was already fading...she wanted it to stay longer, feel that feeling a bit longer. Feelhiminside her a bit longer.

But it was gone. Leaving her with an ache low in her belly.

Isha thought about yesterday night.

She'd almost done it. She'd almost walked into Cooper's room.

Almost.

She sat up, rubbed her eyes and looked at her phone.

2 unread messages. One from Dhriti and the other from Ankit.

She opened the one from Dhriti first.

[WHY AREN'T YOU ANSWERING MY CALLS? MOM SAID YOU DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT FINALIZING CATERER. WHAT'S GOING ON?? CALL ME!]

Dhriti's message brought a frown on Isha's face. The last time she spoke to Dhriti, she didn't like her tone. It was almost accusatory. As if Dhriti was making real, what Isha was already thinking in the corner of her head. The corner she didn't want to pay attention to right now.

She didn't need that, Isha decided. She closed Dhriti's message.

Isha opened the next message, from Ankit.

[HEADED TO GAMING VENUE NOW. SEMI-FINALS, CAN YOU BELIEVE IT, BABE? WISH ME LUCK! HEADING TO AIRPORT RIGHT AFTER WE FINISH THE GAME.]

She looked at the time and did some mental math...five hours until Ankit arrives.

Five hours with Cooper. Alone.

Isha took a quick shower, put on her workout clothes. Looked at herself in the mirror.

A tight navy blue sports bra, a bold neckline, low enough to show cleavage which she'd never displayed before. And the shorts...small and tight. They'd either shrunk in the wash, or her ass had grown. Either way, they rode higher and hugged every curve as she walked.

Her abs were starting to show, her arms had definition. Her legs toned and thanks to yesterday....freshly tanned.

For the first time in her life, she liked what she saw in the mirror. She was proud of the body she was building.The one Coop was helping her build.

The best part was her ass. She turned around and looked over her shoulder. She finally had something worthy of being called a 'bunda'. The shorts struggled to contain it. And she knew she wasn't done yet.

She ran her fingers through her curls. Big and wild.

She remembered Coop's answer to the question from yesterday.

What is Isha's most attractive feature?

Her hair.

I like the way it does whatever it wants.

The memory brought a smile to her face. She gave herself one more look and stepped out the door.

---

She expected, as always, for Cooper to be standing in the kitchen, ready for her.

He wasn't.

For a second she got worried that he left to the gym without her.

But then she turned and walked towards Cooper's room. The door was open.

It was strange for her to be walking towards his room...just yesterday she was walking towards it with a very different intention. She'd stopped herself then, or rather Ankit's phone call did.

She should've felt relieved about that.

Isha saw Cooper through the gap. He was in front of his closet, reaching for something on a high shelf. He was completely naked.

Isha stopped.

She looked at him, all of him. His broad, muscular back was turned to her, muscles shifting as he moved. His firm ass, the muscles in his thighs, his defined calf muscles...

He looked so...

"Morning, Isha"

Cooper turned. Not suddenly...just normally, as if he'd known she was there the whole time.

Isha froze. She was caught...with her eyes still somewhere they shouldn't be.

Cooper smiled. "Sleep well?"

"I...yes. Morning. Sorry, I didn't mean to..." Isha gestured vaguely at the door. "I can come back."

"It's fine," Cooper said, turning back to his closet, completely unbothered. "Come inside."

"No...I...uh," Isha struggled. "I'll give you some privacy."

"Oh, come on Isha," Cooper said, not turning back. "It's not like you haven't pretty much seen everything."

He's right about that. But then why am I so nervous?

Because...it's not the same. That was the sauna. This...this is...different.

Cooper looked at her, one eyebrow raised.

Isha walked into his room, her heart starting to beat faster.

She came and sat on the edge of Cooper's bed. The sheets were rumpled, and still warm.

Does he sleep naked? Of course he does.

Cooper pulled a t-shirt from the closet and threw it on the bed behind him. Then shorts.

Isha realized she'd never actually 'been' to his room...just passed through it to reach the sauna. She was taking it in.

She looked at his nightstand, a phone charger, his watch. And a small photo in a simple wooden frame - it looked a bit faded, four boys, grinning at the camera, standing in front of a creek.

"Are those your..." Isha asked.

Cooper turned back, and saw what she was looking at.

"The Hayes brothers," Cooper said, walking towards the night stand. "I was twelve or thirteen, I reckon."

He picked up the frame, looked at it for a second and walked over to Isha.

Cooper handed her the frame. "Guess which one am I?"

Isha looked at the photo, hyper aware that Cooper was standing less than a foot away from her, his cock out in the open.

God, he's standing so close.

She looked at the photo closely. The four boys looked to be of different ages. All of them sunburned, and all of them happy.

"The water behind us," Cooper said, pointing to the picture, leaning closer in the process. "That's Cooper creek...the one I was named after."

Isha smiled, and looked back at the photo. She tried to focus on their faces, tried to match the features to the face of the man standing in front of her. But her eyes kept wanting to slide down.

Focus. Focus on the photo.

She forced her gaze back to the photo. The second boy from the left. The same jaw. The same eyes, but younger.

"This one," she said, her voice sounding a bit breathless, forcing herself to only look at his eyes.

"Got it one try," Cooper said, his voice deep. "Well done."

The room was silent for a few moments. Her sitting on the edge of his bed in her workout clothes. Him standing in front of her, nude, less than two feet away, his cock at the same height as her face.

Oh god. Oh god.

"You should get dressed," Isha said abruptly. "We're going to be late."

Cooper flashed a smile at her and walked over to a pull-out drawer on the other side of the room.

Isha willed herself to look into his eyes and nowhere else. Cooper took out underwear and pulled them on. And then wore the shorts.

"You're late today," Isha said, trying to change the subject. "You're always waiting for me in the kitchen, but today...I beat you to it."

"Late?" Cooper asked. "I'm not late...you're needlessly early."

"Maybe I am more motivated."

"Motivated for what?" he asked, putting on his t-shirt.

"To work out, obviously."

"Right," Cooper said, stepping out the door. "Ready?"

"Ready."

---

When they got down to the car in the garage, Isha sat on the passenger side like she always does.

"Oh, you're sitting there?" Cooper said.

She looked up at him. Cooper stood there with a half-smile on his face, gym bag on his shoulder.

"Yes? Where else would I sit?"

Cooper tossed his bag in the back. "I don't know. I thought after yesterday..." He didn't continue.

"After yesterday, what?" Isha slid into the passenger seat.

"I thought you might want to sit closer, yeah?" He sat down in the driver's seat. "You seemed pretty comfortable yesterday."

Isha narrowed her eyes at him.

"I wasdaredto sit on your lap. I didn't do it because..."

"I rather liked having you on my lap, I reckon."

"Coop..."

"What? Just being honest." Cooper pulled the car out of the garage, a smile spreading across his face.

"We're not talking about this."

"Why not?"

"Because it was just a dare," she said. "Because it doesn't mean anything. Because..."

"Because you liked it?"

Isha gave him a look. She paused for a second, and then replied. "I thinkyouliked it more than I did."

"Oh yeah?" Cooper laughed, his eyebrows raised in surprise. "How do you know that?"

Isha laughed too. "I have my ways." She looked out the window, at the emerging view of the water.

She could feel his hand on the gear, mere inches away from her thigh.

Neither of them spoke until they reached the gym.

FOUR HOURS TO ANKIT'S ARRIVAL

Isha and Cooper had been at it for over an hour. Isha's glutes were already burning from the deadlifts and the hip thrusts. Her legs were shaky from the split squats. She thought she was done for today, but Cooper had other ideas.

"Let's finish with kickbacks, I'll bring the bands." He started walking over to the band hook.

"Agghhh," Isha groaned. "What did I ever do to you?"

Cooper turned back and smiled. "Come on, you'll thank me later. Trust."

Isha saw him pick up the thickest one and her heart sank.

"The green ones?" she said. "Coop, I won't be able to walk after that."

"I'll carry you out if I have to. No stress."

"Very chivalrous."

"I'm a gentleman."

She gave him a half-angry look, as he came next to her with the resistance bands in his hand.

"You know the drill," Cooper said. "Get on your hands and knees."

Isha groaned again and got into the position. The band went around her thighs, just above her knees. The elastic was thick, pushing her legs together before she even got started.

"Left leg, ten reps," Cooper said.

Isha raised her left leg behind her, the band immediately trying to stop her. Isha could feel the burn in her muscles, especially her glutes.

She was on her fifth rep when she felt Cooper's hand on her thigh. He'd done that a million times before, but this time...it felt different.

Perhaps it was because of what happened the previous day, or even this morning.

Or maybe it was his thumb...which was three inches from Isha's...

"Feel where this engages," he said, like it was nothing.

Isha nodded. She focused on the movement, raised her leg again. Cooper's hand was still on her thigh, his thumb slightly shifted because of the movement, inching closer to...her.

Isha finished the remaining reps, his hand was on her thigh throughout - warm and heavy. His thumb resting on that damn place, driving her crazy. She could feel herself getting wet.

"Good. Switch sides."

Isha shifted her weight to her right knee and began. Cooper came to the other side and put his hand in the exact same way, but on the other leg now. His thumb on her inner thigh, still dangerously close. Isha could feel her nipples harden against the sports bra.

Three. Four. Five.

Isha continued the reps, but her focus was entirely on his thumb. She could feel herself getting wet down there.

Focus Isha, focus.

Six. Seven. Eight.

Her thighs were trembling, and she suspected it wasn't just because of the exercise.

On the ninth rep, Cooper's thumb moved again. But this time it moved inward, inching even closer than before. She couldn't handle it any longer.

"Coop."

"Hmm?"

"Your hand."

"What about it?"

"I've done this exercise fifty times," Isha said. "I know how to do it. Do you really need to adjust my form?"

"Form matters."

"Yes, but your hand on my..." she paused. "It's distracting me."

"Distracting you? How?"

"I...you know...distracting."

Coop took his hand off her thigh. Isha immediately felt the loss.

He was silent for a second.

"Turnin' you on, roomie?" Cooper asked with a smile. "That's it, isn't it?"

"What?" Isha couldn't believe he said that out loud. "No, that's not what I..."

"Hey, I can't help it if you keep getting turned on by me." Coop started laughing.

Isha sat back on her heels and gave him a dirty look.

"Shut up, Coop." she said, getting up. "You're such an ass."

"Oh, come on..." Cooper was still laughing, still on his knees. "I was just playing."

Isha started walking away from him, but she was smiling. She looked back at him over her shoulder.

"I'm done for today." she said. "Now take me home."

"Gladly."

THREE HOURS TO ANKIT'S ARRIVAL

Isha and Cooper had come home a while back. The car ride back was charged, tension building...to what end, Isha didn't know. She didn't want to know.

But she was enjoying this...the thrill of being mere feet away from Cooper...the forbidden-ness of it all.

They were silent when they entered the apartment.

"Sauna?" he asked, as they stood in the quiet living room.

"Yes," she said. "Give me a few minutes. I want to hit the shower first."

---

After her shower, Isha wrapped a towel around her and walked into the sauna.

Cooper was already there, stretched out on the wooden bench, sweaty and completely naked. His cock was resting on his thigh, flaccid and relaxed.

Isha closed the sauna's door behind her, and stood there, looking into Cooper's eyes.

He looked at her, puzzled. She looked like she was about to say something.

She didn't say anything. She simply unwrapped the towel. Let it fall from her body and drop on the bench next to her.

Cooper's eyes widened. Just for a second.

"You've already seen pretty much everything," she said.

They both knew that wasn't true.

Isha walked across the small space and sat down on the bench across from Cooper. The wood was warm against her bare skin.

She kept her eyes on his face. Watching.

Cooper's gaze moved over her body. Slowly. Taking in every part of her, especially the parts he hadn't seen before...the curve of her hips, her soft skin, and the strip of dark hair between her legs.

Isha felt exposed. Vulnerable. But yet, she felt a sense of power over him.

All morning, Cooper had teased her. This was her chance to take back control. Now, he was the one looking. She had him.

Isha decided to take it up a notch.

With a small smile on her face, Isha uncrossed her legs. Spread them just wide enough to give him a full look and then crossed them again.

Isha watched his expression change. The calm, confident Cooper...was gone. In his place was a man who was trying very hard not to lose composure.

Then she saw it happen. Right in front of her.

His cock, which had been resting against his thigh till now, woke up.

It thickened and started rising.

Isha didn't look away. She'd never seen Cooper's cock hard before. This was...

Oh god.

It was substantial. Thick and long. That vein running along the right side...she'd seen it before, but not when his cock was hard. The circumcised head looked pink and prominent. She'd never seen a cock that large.

And then, a curious thought came to her mind.

I did that. He's hard because of me.

She forced her eyes back up to his face. He was watching her watch him. His jaw was tight.

Isha smiled at him. "Am I turning you on a bit too much, roomie?"

Cooper let out a half-laugh, looking at his own hardened cock. He ran his hand through his hair, and for the very first time Isha saw him look genuinely flustered.

"Fair enough," he said and started laughing. Isha joined him.

After a few moments, the laughter died down. They sat in the heat, looking at each other. Neither trying to hide. Her nipples hard, despite the heat...sweat trickling down between her breasts and pooling at her belly button. Cooper's erection was at its peak, his cock hard, his veins clearly visible.

Neither one pretending this was about post-workout recovery.

Cooper finally spoke. "You've had an active day at the gym," Cooper said. "Maybe I should give you a massage."

Isha considered it. A massage. Like the time he applied sunscreen on her, when his hands had been all over her body.

Only this time, she didn't have a shred of clothing on her.

"That sounds tempting," Isha said. "But I don't think we should."

"Afraid you'll lose control?"

Isha laughed. She flicked her eyes towards his erection. "I think it's obvious who's closer to losing control, Coop."

His eyes dropped to his own lap. Then back up to her.

"Touché."

Isha stood up. Reached for her towel. Wrapped it around herself, tucking the edge above her breasts.

"I'll leave you to it," she said, grinning and turned to leave.

"Come on," Cooper called after her. "At least shower with me."

"Bye, Cooper."

She said it with a smile, and walked out of the sauna, and towards her room.

TWO HOURS TO ANKIT'S ARRIVAL

Isha stood in front of her closet looking for what to wear.

She was feeling pleased with herself. If this were a game, she had technically won this round. All morning Coop was driving her crazy with his touching and teasing. But this time, she'd made him aroused, and then left him hanging.

But she couldn't deny the fact that she was horny too. His erection, she hadn't expected it to be that...raw. And that large.

Isha forced herself to stop thinking about that. She looked at her options again.

There was the proper pick...t-shirt and pajama pants. Maybe even that cute skirt she got the other day. Her hand went to the t-shirt, but then she paused.

She changed her mind. Her hand went into the back of the closet and brought out the white sundress.

That one.The one she'd never worn, because it was too short. A slight breeze or even her just bending over would expose more than she ever wanted to.

Isha put it on, over her tiny thong bottoms and a matching lacy bra. And looked at herself in the mirror.

Tiny yellow flowers on a white thin sundress, thin strips at the shoulders, ending mid thigh. The cleavage was lower than what she'd wear normally. Today she was feeling anything but normal.

Isha reached inside and unclasped her bra, loosened it and pulled it out. She threw the bra on the bed and looked at herself again. She could see the outline of her nipples.

Yes.She felt ready for him to see her now.

---

When Cooper walked into the kitchen, it was filled with the smell of roasted onions, ginger and garlic. The sound of the sizzling ingredients in the pan was adding to the ambience.

Isha was at the counter, making small dumplings out of minced lamb meat.

"Smells amazing," Cooper said. "What're you making?"

He took a seat at the kitchen island, shirtless as always, freshly showered. He looked at Isha up and down. She looked gorgeous in that small sundress...and sexy.

"Lamb koftas," Isha said, not turning back. "Those meat dumplings in curry sauce you liked so much that day."

"Oh, I LOVE them!"

"I know," Isha said, smiling to herself. She enjoyed cooking for Cooper.

Cooper looked at her. The sundress was thin, the back low enough to show the curve of her lower back. She didn't seem to be wearing a bra, her nipples pressed against the white fabric, visible when she faced him. When she turned away, the dress clung to the curve of her ass, the thin strip of thong barely hiding anything.