Kate and Tyler

"Hey," she gave him a small smile.

She was beginning to get used to his little "visits". 4 times out of 5, he was at the gym when she was.

"Don't usually see you here on Fridays," he returned her smile.

Kate tried to hide her growing smile from him noticing.

"You keeping tabs on me?" she joked.

Tyler shrugged.

"Not on purpose...at first," he didn't look at her as he mentioned this.

"My ex picked up the kids early," Kate saved him from himself. "Needed to burn off some pent-up frustration."

Tyler seemed to ponder this for a second.

"Not go well?"

Kate sighed heavily. Not because he asked, but because the memory was still fresh.

"His little twerp of a wife came with him," Kate rolled her eyes. "Tried to pretend like she was so excited to see the kids and how happy she was they were coming over. Just seemed a little forced, a little too sweet."

"Has she not always been nice to them?"

"Meh," she shrugged. "I don't know. I don't think she's ever been mean to them, per se. But she wasn't exactly crazy about them hanging around at all at first. I mean, she was only 19 when they got married, for shit's sake. I have my suspicions that maybe now she wants her own baby with Dan," she laughed derisively.

"Good luck with that. We didn't even mean to have Jasmine. That's my 5-year-old you've seen me with at the store. I have no idea why I'm telling you all this," Kate finally finished prattling, shaking her head.

Fortunately, Tyler laughed.

"It's alright. Sounds like you needed to vent. Besides, I've been told I'm a good listener," he gave her a half-smile. Though she still didn't know him well by any means, she could see that about him. 

"So, what are you going to do with all your free time this weekend?"

"Well, that's the second reason I'm here on a Friday. I plan on drinking as much wine as possible when I get home and nurse a hangover tomorrow," she chuckled. "You know. Middle-aged people stuff," she was careful to not call herself old. She knew Tyler would just argue with her. 

"Drink alone. Binge-watch TV. Sleep in. What about you? I'm sure your plans are a lot more exciting than mine."

"I'd keep you company if you'd let me," he blurted, not answering her question. Kate failed miserably at keeping the surprise off her face. She could feel her eyes bulging out of her head. Had he really just said that out loud? Or had she imagined it?

"Excuse me?" was all she could think to say.

"You heard me", Tyler smirked, but faced forward.

Kate's face started burning, getting flustered. Why did he always seem to have that effect on her? 

"And do what, Tyler? Because that wouldn't be weird at all, hanging out with someone twice your age. You're, like, barely legal," she wished she hadn't said it, but it was too late.

"But I AM legal. Jesus, Kate, do you want me to show you my fucking driver's license?!" Tyler started fishing his wallet from his shorts pocket.

"Tyler, stop it," she warned, her voice low. She couldn't help but notice it was almost the same tone she used to warn her kids when they were pushing their limits. Just like them, most of the time, he didn't listen. Tyler opened his wallet up in her face like an FBI badge and pointed to the birthdate. She didn't need to do the math. He was born the same year she graduated high school. The year she had been the same age as he was now. Kate knew it wasn't his goal, but his little outburst had the opposite effect of what he had intended. It just made her feel older and their relationship, whatever the fuck it was, even more inappropriate. Just as she was about to admonish him for what she felt was causing a scene, something on his license caught her eye. She let out a burst of laughter before covering her mouth.

"What?" he asked angrily, shoving his wallet back into his pocket. 

"Laughing at my picture now?" Tyler's brows were furrowed and his face had turned a shade of pink she'd never seen. She also noticed the twang in his voice had become more pronounced when he was angry. As frustrated as she was, she couldn't help but think how cute it was.

Kate shook her head and tried to stop another laugh from escaping. She was secretly glad for the comedic relief, though she was afraid what she was about to say would piss her young friend off even more.

"Then what is it?"

"Your name. Your name is Tyler Durden?"

"Yah," he drew out, his eyebrows knitting in confusion.

"Seriously?"

"Yes. Why is that so funny?" he finally made eye contact with her.

It made her feel her years on him even more, but she couldn't help but think it was funny. And God knew she needed a laugh at that moment in time.

"I know it came out before you were born, but you've never seen Fight Club?"

He shook his head, still looking confused, but at least the fury in his eyes was dying down.

"Tyler Durden is the name of the main character," Kate couldn't help but laugh again at the coincidence. "It's a good movie, one of my favorites. You should watch it sometime."

"Do you have it?"

"Yes."

"Well, if you'd stop being so uptight about age differences, we could watch it this weekend," redness was creeping up his neck again.

"Or, I could let you borrow it like a normal person," Kate retorted, her own face flushing with irritation. The moment of humor was gone. Tyler swiped his hand in the air and sped off ahead of her, not looking back. 

Kate immediately felt bad for pissing him off as she watched him practically run away from her. Why did she seem hell-bent on doing that to him, anyway? He'd never been anything but nice to her. Better question, why did he keep putting up with her shit? She already knew the reason why, but she didn't like to think about it. It scared her. But was it because of the age difference or just the shitty luck her love life had dealt her so far? Not that she loved Tyler, but she couldn't deny there was a certain fondness for him growing deep within her. She just wasn't sure what kind of fondness that was...Or she did and was too afraid to admit it. 

Kate circled the indoor track once more, stealing glances at Tyler as she made her way back around. He disappeared before she got her chance to apologize and she silently cursed herself. She grabbed her water and jacket and decided to head home. That bottle of wine was calling her name loud and clear now.

Kate was vaguely aware of someone walking to their car behind her as she walked briskly to her own. She caught someone out of the corner of her eye, only a few feet away, just as she was about to close the door to her SUV. 

"Tyler! You scared the shit out of me! I-" Before she knew what was happening and could do anything about it, he was leaning through her door, one hand behind her head, and kissing her passionately with tender lips. Kate froze in place. By the time she could come to her senses, which was longer than she cared to admit, he was already pulling away. 

"There. Now what are you so afraid of?" he asked, arms raised at his sides, backing away.

Her mind was blank. She couldn't think of a single thought to say out loud. All Kate could focus on was the heat in her cheeks and the secret longing for the feel of Tyler's lips on hers again. She saw him turn around finally and disappear behind the end of her SUV. 

Despite the roller coaster that had occurred at the gym, Kate found herself hot and bothered when she got home. She immediately went upstairs and started running a bath, adding twice the amount of bath salts she normally used. Thoughts of Tyler's lips on hers lingered as she undressed. At that point in time, Kate didn't care to sort through her feelings on the whole thing or whether any of it was right or wrong. She just wanted to get her jollies off.

Sinking into the hot water, she closed her eyes. She ran her hands up her abdomen, finally coming to rest on her nipples. Despite the warmth surrounding her, they immediately responded to her touch. Kate let out a soft moan as she tweaked her bright pink nipples to hard points. Several minutes of this was all it took before she was ready to slide a hand down to her anxious pink folds. Two of her fingers easily slid inside of her as worked up as she was, but Kate still suddenly wished she had opted for the 8-inch dildo and vibrator on her bed instead. But that would take more preparation. Not much, but still. She needed to take care of her arousal NOW. The more she thought about something with girth filling her empty snatch, the better it sounded. Later, she promised herself.

The more she fingered herself, the more distracted Kate got. She hated when that happened. It wasn't that she wasn't enjoying herself. Her mind just tended to wander when she was left to her own devices. She decided to pretend it was someone else fingering her hole and rubbing circles around her clit. That always did the trick. Normally, Kate thought of some cute stranger at the store or some handsome actor she'd recently watched in a movie. Someone's lips kept haunting her, though, so she thought of him. 

Her breath quickened as she rubbed her nub more vigorously. It didn't take long to work herself into a frenzy, whimpers of pleasure filling the large space of her master bathroom. 

"Oh God, oh God, OH GOD, TYLER!" Kate cried out as she peaked. 

Her grip on the edge of the tub relaxed as the heaving of her chest slowed. She felt infinitely more relaxed than before, but still looked forward to using Mr.Purple on herself later. 

Part 5 

Kate woke up the next morning thinking about Tyler again, but not in a sexual way like the night before. She had thought of him again as she plunged the thick dildo inside of herself before bed, climaxing in an explosive orgasm with the help of the vibrator. She had slept like the dead. 

Those thoughts were gone now. Instead, she couldn't stop replaying their angry conversation at the gym and the fire in Tyler's eyes as he had walked away after his kiss in the parking lot. Not having anything better to do with the kids gone, she decided to look him up on Facebook late that afternoon. Now Kate was glad he had shown her his driver's license. With his last name, it made finding him a hell of a lot easier. She clicked on his smiling face and then hit the "Message" button, hoping he would even see her note since they weren't friends on there. 

Hey, 

You've kinda been stalking me, so I figured it was only fair if I stalked you a little. ;) 

I don't even know if you'll see this since it will probably be in your "others" box, or whatever it's called, but I couldn't wait until I see you next to apologize for yesterday. It's been gnawing at me all day. I'm sorry I pissed you off and I'm sorry I've been mean to you from the get-go. I don't know what my deal is. I didn't use to be so...grouchy. And, not that it's any excuse, but I thought you were just messing with me at first. Hence the grumpiness. I'm still having a hard time convincing myself otherwise. Sorry for that too. 

Anyway, I hope you're not still mad at me. Sorry again. See you sometime next week.

Kate was surprised when her message notification dinged a half hour later while she was in the middle of making herself a salad. 

Hey Kate! Sorry this is short. I'm at work and my break is almost over. I'm sorry I got mad too. No need to apologize for being grouchy. I get it. But I promise I'm not messing with you. I thought you were hot before (not sorry-take a damn compliment!), but I like talking to you now too. 

I don't have anything going on after work. Would it be OK if I swung by and borrowed that movie you were talking about? I get off at 10.

Kate sat down at the kitchen island with her dinner and replied. And, for the next 5 hours, she debated whether her answer to his question had been wise. 

A light knock on her door came 5 minutes after 10. Kate found it funny that he knocked so quietly, as if he were afraid of disturbing someone. She was the only one there. The humor at least helped ease some of the apprehension that had been growing in her for the past half hour. Thoughts of his soft lips on hers had started intruding again.

"Hey," she opened the door, suddenly feeling shy. She tried her damnedest to hide it, act like nothing had happened the afternoon before.

"Hey. Thanks for letting me come by so late."

Kate laughed.

"It's only 10. Are you a morning person or something? Or assume my old ass should be in bed by now?" she smirked. Tyler rolled his eyes and smiled, but didn't try to argue with her for once.

"You can come in for a minute, if you want," she moved to the side.

"I don't want to bother you." 

Why is he being so weird? Is the fact that he kissed me freaking him out too? 

"You're not. I'm just watching a movie. Now shut up and get in here," Kate chuckled. It felt awkward having him stand in her doorway. Plus, if she were being honest, she didn't want to give the neighbors anything to talk about either.

Tyler finally did as she asked, but stood just to the left of the door. He was being polite, she realized. It was cute and not exactly common among teenagers. His mother and aunt had raised him well. 

Kate's breath caught when she got a good look at him in the light. She had never seen him in jeans before. He didn't have much of a butt, but the definition of his upper body muscles showing through the fitting grey t-shirt made up for it. Fuck, he's ripped. Kate frequently saw him in sleeveless shirts at the gym, plenty of peeks at his arm and shoulder muscles. But something about the way he looked in the t-shirt did it for her. 

She finally realized she was standing there, doing nothing but staring like an idiot, when she felt Tyler's eyes on her.

"Sorry," she shook her head. "Movie," she held up a finger to let him know she'd be right back. Kate quickly crossed the living room to the entertainment center, grabbed the DVD, and returned, handing it over. 

"Thanks," he said, holding it up. "Nice house by the way," his eyes wandered over the premises.

"Thanks. I couldn't bring myself to move the kids after Dan left. I could care less if we stayed here, but I figured they didn't need any more upheaval in their lives. I love my giant bathroom too," Kate admitted with a laugh. 

"Probably a good idea," Tyler agreed. "Cute kids," he pointed to a family photo hanging near the staircase. 

"Holy shit, your oldest daughter looks just like you!"

"Yah, poor thing," she chuckled. "She's closer to your age than you are mine. So she's all yours in 9 years." Kate immediately regretted saying it as soon as the words left her mouth. Now SHE was getting nervous. Tyler turned to face her again.

"One, you've already told me that. Two, ew. She's 9. That's just weird to think about. Three..."

"Ah!" Kate pointed at him, interrupting. "Now you know how I feel!"

He seemed to ponder this for a moment. 

"Fair enough. But at least I'm already an adult."

He had her there.

"Three," Tyler continued, holding up a matching amount of fingers, "she's not the one I want."

An awkward silence hung thick in the air for an unbearable amount of time as they stared at one another yet again. 

"I guess I'd better go," he finally said quietly when Kate continued to be at a loss for words. Tyler turned towards the door, but spun back toward her a second later.

"Listen...I'm not sorry I kissed you yesterday. I am sorry for the way I did it. I just wanted you to know that," he went for the door again.

"Then try it again," she finally found her voice. Kate grabbed his shoulders, spinning him around before he could get any further. She ignored the look of surprise on his face as she grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him toward her, kissing him deeply. Her arms resting against his strong chest, hands on either side of his face, she felt the tension slowly leave his body. Hands rested gently on her slim waist. 

Tyler kissed her back more gently than he had the day before. He was a surprisingly good kisser for his age. Soft. Deliberate. Patient. At least at first for the latter. 

Kate ran her fingers through the wavy mass on top of his head and got lost in the feel of his lips on hers, the heat of his closeness, the increasing thump of his pulse against her palm.

His hands on her waist began kneading gently, yet she felt the longing in the action, the need. It had been a very long time since anyone had wanted her. Well, that might not be true. But it had been a long time since she had let anyone want her.

Timid fingers snaked under her loose t-shirt, slowly caressing the skin beneath. Kate's breath caught as they trailed upward, taking their time, seeming to want to touch every square inch of her skin between her belly button and chest. Tyler paused as he reached the hem of her bra. He slowly pulled away from her mouth.

"Why the hell do you have a bra on?" he implied the time of night it currently was and the fact that she had on comfy clothes that he assumed she would be wearing to bed.

"Because I hadn't planned this," she answered quietly, looking into his eyes. "Not consciously, anyway."

"Don't change your mind now." It was more of a hope than a demand. His lips met hers again, gently pressing his tongue against her bottom lip, asking permission. Kate gladly accepted, parting her lips to grant him access. Still, he wasn't rough, their tongues dancing like butterflies in the wind, as Tyler took his time unhooking her bra. She did the magic trick all women over a certain age know and pulled the evil contraption out of her sleeve without removing her shirt. He wasted no time now that the mounds he was after were free and cupped both breasts, his thumbs playing over her fast-hardening nipples. Kate whimpered into his mouth, letting him play a bit longer. She probed his mouth deeper with her tongue, kissed him fully, the need in her rising quickly. More whimpers escaped her throat before she nibbled lightly on his bottom lip.

"Couch," she whispered. Tyler slowly withdrew and let her take him by the hand and lead him to the couch. Kate placed her hands on his firm shoulders, guiding him to sitting, and straddled his lap. She wanted to see that rock-hard body of his in all its glory and gently tugged at the shirt above his jeans to give him the hint. She watched in appreciation as he pulled the shirt out of his pants and over his head, mesmerized by the rippling muscles in his arms. After staring a few seconds and running her hands lightly over his strong chest and shoulders, Kate pulled her own shirt over her head, exposing her breasts. They gazed into each other's eyes a moment before leaning in simultaneously to kiss, a minute's time being far too long without the other's mouth on theirs. 

"I have a confession to make," she spoke between kisses. Tyler kissed her neck as she spoke.

"I used to find reasons to come into Waldo's if I didn't see you at the gym, just to see if you were there," she admitted. 

It had become an embarrassing habit. Kate hated going to the store. Some days, she just wanted a glimpse of his face, something to hold onto when she fell asleep at night. The truth was, she had been harboring secret desires for the little punk for a while, longer than she cared to admit. That was one of the biggest reasons she had freaked out when he had first approached her. She was afraid she would make an ass of herself when in all actuality he probably had innocent intentions. After all, what would an 18-year-old boy want with a woman twice his age? She still had a hard time wrapping her head around that one, even as they made out topless on her couch.

"I have one too." Kate kissed up Tyler's jaw, nibbling on his earlobe.

"Mmm," the electricity she was sending through his body made it hard to focus.

"I check you out when you're stretching. Have for a while. I'm always disappointed when your ass is facing away from me," he paused.