Arc 1. Laura.

(Feel free to use your imagination, or see the inspiration behind the characters in this chapter: Laura: https://freeimage.host/i/3NFhMnp Sienna: https://freeimage.host/i/3wPBeZg))

“Holy fuck. That was incredible!” Sienna said as her breathing still hadn’t slowed yet. She rolled onto her back, the bedsheets in disarray.

“You’re right. Damn. That felt good.” Rex replied in between breaths of his own. “So did it work?” He asked as he collapsed next to her on his bed.

“What? Oh.” She laughed as the realization hit her. “Yeah. It fucking worked. Derek who? God what an asshole. But yeah, I don’t even feel bad anymore. His fucking loss. And if this is a taste of what I’ve been missing out on, stuck with him for three years, then damn I cannot wait to enjoy myself without him.”

“Well I’m glad to hear it. You’re so damn sexy Sienna. And flexible,” he winked and she grinned. They showered and continued to enjoy each other’s bodies, making out under the hot water. As they got dressed, Rex stood behind Sienna and wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her neck. She shivered. She could feel his restrained strength and wanted to melt into it. But she found her footing as he moved on to finish getting dressed, a blissful smile stuck on her face. A few minutes later, he opened the front door like a gentleman and the cool Southern California breeze passed over them.

“Look, despite your best efforts you’ll still be in time to meet your girlfriends for brunch,” Rex chided as he looked at his watch.

“Very funny,” she said matching his humorous energy. Then she leaned in for a kiss and her tone shifted, more serious. “Thank you. I really needed this. I was just looking for a meaningless, raunchy one night stand. You gave me that, and didn’t make me feel guilty or trashy or anything like that.”

“Don’t mention it. It was my pleasure. Actually our pleasure, as best as I could tell,” he smirked, mixing her seriousness with his humor.

She walked only a few steps before turning around. Blushing she asked, “Did you think maybe, if I need another… you know…this…I could…”

“You’ve got my number Sienna,” he smiled at her.

Her face beamed a smile in return as she left. Rex walked to the kitchen to make brunch of his own.

“Oh good morning Laura. Lovely day isn’t it?” Rex asked.

“Well I’ll say! Yes, yes it is. And speaking of lovely, wasn’t she stunning? What was her name again?”

Rex blushed. “Sienna. Sorry were we too loud?”

“Well after last night, I don’t know how you both had the energy to somehow be even louder this morning. I left for my run when you two were getting started and when I got back you were still going at it. Kudos Rex. Color me impressed. But to answer your question no. So loud, yes. Too loud, no. You warned me. You were nothing if not honest when we met all those months ago.”

Rex somehow blushed more. “To be honest I was really nervous I had been too honest, and that you weren’t going to rent me the room because of my… companionships.”

“Oh stop it. Stop using such prudish language around me. I’m barely older than you and I will not have you treat me like some sort of refined snob. Your hookups. I know what it’s called. Your “friends with benefits.” It’s not a new concept you know. Nothing’s really that new. Just a variation of the past.” Rex thought he saw her drift off for a moment. What was that? A flashback she was reliving? How could he know?

“Would you like some eggs?” Rex asked, trying to change the topic. He didn’t know why he got so embarrassed talking about girls and sex in front of his landlady. He was normally pretty unbothered by candid conversations like that, but with her it was sort of extra taboo or something. She obviously had no problem with it. Rex couldn’t tell if part of the reason she was so open about it was because she could tell he was thrown for a loop when she did.

“That would be lovely dear, thank you. I’ll pour you some juice and make you some toast,” she said with such a light, lovely voice. They made breakfast together in the enormous kitchen. Rex was still not used to the opulance of this mansion.

Laura was a 39 year old widow. Her husband had passed away tragically two years ago. For a year she lived mostly alone. Friends would come to visit and stay for a while. While she assured her friends that she had grieved and was doing much much better, she had expressed no interest to pursue another serious relationship. She dated infrequently, and had resumed a bustling social life. Several months ago she began renting out a few rooms in the large estate. She didn’t really need the money, but what she did need was life to fill the place. It was quite a mixed bag, most guests being quiet and to themselves. A few were rude or obnoxious, so she began screening them more intentionally. A few had been gems. Rex here was her clear favorite, by a long shot.

As they ate together, Rex took in the stunning view. Past the pool, the clear blue sky hosted a few wispy clouds over that enormous blue ocean. The miles of beaches down below were likely dotted with locals and tourists alike, though he couldn’t see that from the house high upon this bluff. A row of similarly large, over-the-top residences dominated the ridge line here, as they did most of the SoCal coast.

“Well you certainly weren’t lying in your ad, this place is stunning. Thank you again for having me.”

“I told you to stop thanking me. You pay rent dammit. This isn’t charity.” Rex knew she was right, but he also knew that he was getting a phenomenal deal on this place. For most, living in the same house as your landlord would be a nightmare. But Laura was splendid. She was so kind, generous, and open. She made incredible conversation, and had a great sense of humor. And over the past few weeks, any initial guardedness between the two of them had evaporated. She was an open book, and he had open reign of the estate. He only wished he didn’t work so much and could enjoy it here more. He could tell she really appreciated his company, and the feeling was mutual. At first Rex had felt pity for her situation but that had also disappeared. Laura was not a woman to be pitied. She was strong. She was healing. She was at peace.

“Well you certainly didn’t lie either young man,” Laura snarked. She got a kick out of calling him young. Honestly if you asked a stranger who was older they’d probably say Rex. “You have quite the retinue of lovely young ladies.”

Rex blushed, “Well you know, we’re just having fun. Enjoying ourselves. We’ve all got so much stuff going on in our lives. Dating and relationships are great but not everyone has the time. But why shouldn’t we enjoy ourselves in the meantime? And besides, I’ve got so much stress from the new position at work, it really helps to blow some off.”

“Oh I bet they love blowing you off,” Laura said, causing Rex to just about **** on his orange juice. “And they all seem so eager,” she continued purposefully not letting him comment on her vulgar joke.

Rex blushed again. “Um, thanks I guess? Maybe I have a type, eager,” he laughed, having intended to make a better response but caught off guard and unable to think that quickly. He was still recovering after that morning’s vigorous activities after all, he thought to himself.

“Oh you’ve got a type alright. Gorgeous!” Laura declared. “But I think the eagerness is more about you than about them. You bring that out of them, and you don’t even realize it.” The last sentence Rex felt a shift in Laura. A sort of respect, almost reverence. Was he sure? Yes. But why? He didn’t fully understand. But just as quickly as she dipped into that, she came back out.

“I need to ask you a favor,” Laura said.

“Anything, shoot.”

“I have another renter stopping by tomorrow evening to check out the place, but my friends from the country club insist on meeting then, and I simply cannot cancel on those ladies again. Abigail is apparently acting up again and the rest look to me to make the peace. Would you mind showing him the place and interviewing him to see if he’s a good fit?” She said it so matter of factly, like there was nothing odd about asking him to conduct the interview on who she should let stay at her house. He was just a tenant too. But Rex was a man in authority, he’d been in management roles most of his career. He knew what it was like to have good people around you that you could rely on for things. And while he could give her some lecture about how she shouldn’t trust him so much after only knowing him for a few months, Rex also knew he was reliable. It felt a bit cocky to admit to himself, but he knew he could be trusted, and was honored that Laura felt the same way.

“Of course. Which room, the one next to mine or in the other wing?”

“The other wing of course. These walls muffle sound but they don’t eliminate it. And with your track record, I don’t want to intimidate him too quickly. He has the potential of being a longer term renter like you I think. Let me know how it goes when I get back. That is, if you’re not otherwise pre-occupied…” She shot him a knowing look. Rex feigned ignorance but couldn’t help laugh as they both knew it was a façade. She leaned in to give him a hug before heading off to continue her day. She smelled incredible. Like a rose garden with a hint of cinnamon. As she walked away, Rex certainly appreciated all the views this place had to offer.