A Mermaid's Kiss

by Katie Holland

  Kayleigh: Goodnight

  Me: One last thing … do you sleep naked?

  Kayleigh: Maybe … maybe not

  I knew she was done for the night. I’d never had that much fun texting before. Not knowing what else to do with myself, I turned the TV on and searched for Thor on Netflix. It had been a while since I’d seen it, and if it was good enough for Kayleigh it was good enough for me.

  Chapter 15

  Kayleigh

  As I made our smoothies the next morning, I replayed the events from last night. It made me smile, but also confused. Why did Major have such a sudden change of heart? And, what had been stuck up his ass in the first place? As I was pondering these questions, Karma emerged from her room looking like she’d had a day’s worth of sleep.

  “How do you do that?” I asked her.

  “Do what?”

  “Look so refreshed? I don’t imagine you got that much sleep.”

  “You’d be amazed what good sex can do for you,” she said grinning at me.

  She had me there. My ex and I had sex, but with nothing to compare it to. I’m not sure it was the best in the world. I’m kind of thinking it wasn’t, since I never looked like Karma did in the morning.

  “You need to have more sex,” Karma said to me.

  “Probably,” I said without thinking.

  Karma stopped mid-motion. “Did you really just say, probably?”

  “I guess I did. I was just thinking that the sex I’ve had might not have been that great.”

  “If you have to question it, then it wasn’t,” Karma said. “So, now we have to work on finding someone to rock your world.”

  “Yeah, I’ll just stop the next guy I see and ask him to have sex with me.”

  Karma rolled her eyes at me. “Kayleigh, you make everything complicated.”

  “You know I’ve only had one boyfriend. I don’t date, so how would I even try? It’s too much for me to think about, forget I said anything.”

  “Nope, not going to forget this. But, I have an idea. After practice, I’m going to take you somewhere and you can’t say no.”

  “God, you’re bossy.”

  “I know, but you love me anyway.”

  “Whatever,” I said smiling. “Let’s get going or we’re going to be late.”

  * * *

  When practice was over, we grabbed a bite to eat then it was off to the mystery location. We got in Karma’s car and she started driving. She had the GPS on her phone directing her. I tried to get a look at where we were going, but she wouldn’t let me near her phone. When we finally pulled up in front of our destination, my mouth fell open.

  “No way. I’m not going in there,” I told her.

  “Don’t be such a prude. Yes, you are. Come on.”

  Karma got out of the car, but I was firmly rooted to my seat. I looked up at the sign again. Natasha’s Naughty n’ Nice Adult Emporium. She’d brought me to a sex shop.

  “Get out of the car Kayleigh,” Karma said, knocking on my window. “I’ll start making a scene if you don’t.”

  I knew she would do it, so I got out of the car and reluctantly followed her into the store. I’m sure my face was bright red as I cautiously looked around.

  “What are we doing here?” I whispered furiously to her.

  “We are here to help get you started on the road to great sex.”

  I was confused by her statement. “How is this place going to help me?”

  “First, you are going to learn to give yourself the pleasure you want, so you’ll know what to expect from sex.”

  My mouth just hung open. I had no words for her. Karma had always been very open about sex; me, not so much. It’s not like I cared if other people had sex, it just was something I was never really that comfortable talking about, especially face-to-face. Texting with Major last night was different, no one could see me.

  Karma wandered through the store touching various things as she went. “Ah, here’s what we need,” she said.

  I looked up and the whole wall was full of vibrators. Pink, blue, purple, soft, hard, big and small. I had no idea there were so many different kinds. Karma knew my curiosity would get the better of me and she was right. I started taking different ones off the wall and reading the packages. I must have stood there for a good fifteen minutes just trying to figure out what the differences were.

  “This is the one you need,” Karma announced, and handed me something.

  It looked like an alien lifeform rather than a sex toy.

  “It’s called a rabbit,” she said. “It stimulates the-”

  “Stop, I can read,” I said interrupting her.

  She laughed at me. “This is the one and it’s even in your favorite color.”

  That much was true. It was a light purple, but it still looked intimidating. Then, I looked at the price. “No way, it’s too expensive. I can’t afford it.”

  “Good thing it’s my treat then.”

  “Karma,” I started to say, but she cut me off.

  “I’m not taking no for an answer. I love you Kayleigh, and I want to help you. I know there’s a sex fiend in there somewhere, and I’m going to help her come to life.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “I don’t know about a sex fiend, Karma.”

  “Oh, she’s in there alright,” Karma said with confidence. “You’ll see.”

  We went to the counter and paid. I was embarrassed the whole time, but Karma acted like she was buying a t-shirt. I wasn’t ashamed to admit that I could use a little of her confidence.

  We left the store and found a coffee shop. We ordered lattes and sat outside in the warm, afternoon sun.

  “Do you have plans tonight?” I asked her, as we sipped on our coffees.

  “Travis is taking me out to a movie.”

  “So, is this getting serious?”

  “I’m not sure. He hasn’t done anything to piss me off yet, so we’re off to a good start.”

  I grinned at her. I think her longest relationship had lasted a month.

  “You ready to go surfing tomorrow?” I asked.

  “I figured with you and Major not talking, our surfing lessons were done.”

  “We kinda made up last night.”

  “What? Why didn’t I know this? Tell me what happened.”

  I told her everything from last night. I even let her read our text exchange.

  “Huh,” was all she said.

  It wasn’t often Karma was speechless.

  “That’s it? Nothing else to say?”

  “Nope. It sounds like he’s trying to be less of an asshat. That’s a good thing, right?”

  “Yes, it is. Do you think it’s weird that my shyness is kind of gone when he’s around?”

  “No. I think that he gets you all riled up and the Kayleigh I know shows herself. You can be a little spitfire when you want to be.”

  She was right about that. We finished our coffees and headed back to the dorm. Travis called her and asked to take her for dinner first, so she was in a bit of a panic to get ready. Karma always looked good, but she mentioned she had to shave her lady bits in preparation for the night.

  An hour after we got home, she was ready for her date. Travis was a lucky guy.

  “Gorgeous as always,” I told her.

  “What are you going to do tonight?” she asked me.

  “Hanging out in my PJ’s. Maybe watch a movie or read. I’m sure I have homework to do, but I don’t think I can bring myself to do that on a Saturday night.”

  “And, you’re going to try out your new friend, right?” she said with a smirk.

  “Maybe, we’ll see.”

  “I think you’ll be surprised with the result.” Her phone dinged and she checked it. “Gotta go. See you later.”

  “Have fun.”

  I was deciding what to have for dinner, when there was a knock on the door. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out who it might be. I opened the door to find Wes standing there with a pizza.

&nbs
p; “Uh, hi,” I said.

  “Have you eaten dinner yet?”

  “No.”

  “Can I interest you in some pizza?”

  “Sure, come in.”

  We’d had lunch three times this week, and run into each other a couple of times since we lived in the same dorm.

  “Want to watch a movie?” I asked, as I grabbed us each a paper plate.

  “Yeah, whatcha got?”

  “Netflix, so it’s your choice.”

  “Cool.” He grabbed the remote for the TV.

  “Oh wait, we’ll have to use my laptop.”

  “That’s a smart TV, so we can hook up your account to it.”

  “Oh. I’m not very good with electronics.”

  “No problem. I’ll set it up for you.”

  Wes pressed a few buttons and there was Netflix on the TV.

  “This is much better than having to watch everything on my laptop.”

  “Glad to be of service,” he said smiling.

  It turned out to be a very comfortable evening. Wes had picked one of the Mission Impossible movies and he finished off most of the pizza. When the movie was done, he left. I decided to have a relaxing bubble bath. I was super grateful that these dorm rooms each had their own bathroom, and we weren’t sharing with thirty other women.

  I ran the water and sank into the bubbles. I opened my newest playlist on my phone, and leaned my head back to relax. I was three songs in, when I heard my text alert. I’d left my phone close for my music, but my hands were wet. The only thing I could reach was a washcloth, so I dried my hands on that and checked my phone.

  I was expecting it to be Nana or Karma, and was surprised when I saw it was Major.

  Major: What are you doing?

  Me: Having a bath

  Major: Are you telling me you’re in the bath right now?

  Me: Yes

  I giggled to myself. It probably wasn’t fair to tell him I was naked and texting him.

  Major: Stay right where you are. I’ll be right over to help.

  That made me laugh.

  Me: I think I can manage

  Major: Are you sure?

  Me: Positive

  Major: Your loss

  Major: What are you doing after your bath?

  Me: I was going to put on my PJ’s and read

  Major: Change of plans. Get dressed. I’ll be out front in 30 minutes.

  Me: And if I refuse?

  Major: I’ll find my way into the building and figure out which is your room

  Me: Stalker much?

  Major: Nah, I’m just bored

  Me: Fine

  I finished my bath and shaved my legs and underarms. No one was going to be looking at my lady bits, so I didn’t worry about that tonight. I put my hair in a messy bun, threw on some yoga pants, and a t-shirt. I found my flip flops and grabbed a hoodie. This was as ready as I was going to get.

  He was waiting outside when I finally got downstairs.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  “I guess.”

  “Then let’s go,” Major said with a grin.

  Chapter 16

  Major

  I liked the fact that Kayleigh hadn’t dressed up. I wasn’t kidding when I said I liked her ass in her yoga pants. We walked to my truck in silence. I wondered what she was thinking and why she agreed to come with me. We got in and I started driving.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “Somewhere cool,” I told her.

  “That doesn’t tell me much.”

  “It’s not supposed to,” I said smiling.

  “Whatever. So, why aren’t you out with your friends tonight?” she asked me.

  “I was with them at a party earlier, but I got bored and left,” I told her honestly.

  “I would think that for someone like you, college would be a non-stop party.”

  “What do you mean, someone like me?”

  “You know; outgoing, good looking, that kind of thing.”

  “You think I’m good looking, huh.”

  “Don’t try to be modest now. You know you are, and I think you use it to your advantage when you can.”

  “Okay, you got me. But truthfully, I usually only use it to get girls.”

  Kayleigh let out a laugh at that statement. “I bet you’re only alone if you want to be, huh.”

  “Yes, my face is a curse.”

  “Oh please.”

  Kayleigh started laughing and I couldn’t help but join her. I liked her laugh, and found it funny when she snorted a little.

  “We’re here,” I announced, a few minutes later and got out of the truck.

  Kayleigh got out of her side and joined me on the sidewalk. She looked around at where we were, and a smile formed on her lips.

  “This is beautiful. I’ve never seen the ocean at night before.”

  “That’s what I thought,” I said. “Let’s go for a walk.”

  We took off our shoes and started walking toward the water. Kayleigh stopped to roll up her yoga pants so they didn’t get wet, and we let the waves lap over our feet.

  “It’s so peaceful out here,” Kayleigh said, a minute or so later.

  “Yes, I’ve always loved being at the ocean at night.”

  “So, did you grow up close to here?”

  “Yes. My parent’s house is less than thirty minutes from here. That’s where I learned to surf.”

  “So, you lived right on the beach?”

  “Yep.”

  “Wow, I can’t even imagine what that would be like. Lucky you.”

  “I can’t argue with that. Now, you tell me something about where you’re from.”

  “When I was little I lived on a small farm with my parents. My mom taught me to swim in a pond on the property. After that, I lived with my Nana in Tulsa. She made sure I was always able to take swimming lessons. She always called me her little mermaid.”

  “What happened to your parents?” I asked, not sure if she was going to answer.

  Kayleigh was quiet for a moment before speaking. “They’d gone to the city to celebrate their anniversary. They were killed by a drunk driver on their way home. I was five.”

  I didn’t know what to say. I hadn’t had to deal with death yet. Everyone I ever knew was still alive. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay, it was a long time ago and my Nana has taken really good care of me. I’m lucky to have her.”

  “How long have you and Karma been friends?” I asked changing the subject.

  “Since first grade. We met on day one, and were instant friends and have been ever since.”

  “You two seem really different.”

  “We are,” she said smiling. “I think it’s why we’ve been able to stay friends for so long. My turn. Do you have any brothers or sisters?

  “Nope, I’m an only child.”

  “Wow, finally something we have in common.”

  I laughed. It’s true that we were extremely different people.

  “Any pets?” she asked.

  “We have an aquarium in the house, does that count?”

  “No. You can’t cuddle a fish.”

  “Okay, then no pets. You?”

  “Yes, I had to leave behind my cat. She’s all black and her name is Maisy. I’ve had her since I was in elementary school.”

  “I can see you as a cat person.”

  “Nana is allergic to dogs or I would have had a dog too. I love animals. Have you ever been horseback riding?”

  “Um, no. I’m more of a city boy.”

  Kayleigh laughed. “I’d love to see you get on a horse.”

  “They kind of scare me. They’re so big.”

  She let out a loud belly laugh. “If you can ride a big wave, you can ride a horse. When I find somewhere here that has horseback riding, I’m going to get you on the back of one.”

  I gave her a funny look. I wasn’t sure about that.

  “Mark my words, Major, I may be shy, but when I get stubborn about somethin
g I usually get my way.”

  I didn’t doubt that for a second.

  The wind picked up and I noticed Kayleigh pull her hoodie around her tighter.

  “Are you cold?”

  “A little.”

  “It can get pretty cold out here at night. Whenever I surf at night, I have to wear a wet suit.”

  “You surf at night? But how do you see anything out there?”

  “Moonlight. Or, if it’s really dark you just go by the feel of the waves.”

  “That sounds like fun. I love everything about the water. I always have.”

  “So do I.”

  “Wow, we have two things in common,” Kayleigh said with a grin.

  I smiled back. I’d never spent this much time talking to a girl before, but I actually enjoyed talking to Kayleigh. She was interesting.

  “Come on, let’s get back to the truck and warm you up.”

  We got back to the parking lot and did our best to get the sand off our feet before getting back in the truck. I was surprised when I realized I wanted to keep talking to her, so I drove us to a local coffee shop.

  We ordered our coffees and found a table to sit down at. Kayleigh had just taken her first sip, when I heard her phone go off. I saw her look at it and watched as her cheeks turned red. Whatever she’d read had embarrassed her. I was immediately intrigued.

  “So,” I said, trying to sound casual, “is everything okay?” I was trying to contain my smile, but I couldn’t hold it back anymore.

  “Yep,” she said, not looking at me.

  “Really?” I raised my eyebrows at her. “Somehow I don’t believe you. Something is making you blush. Did someone send you a naked pic?”

  “Oh my God, no.”

  “So no dicks or tits or asses?”

  I loved her reaction. Her face was getting even redder.

  “Major, stop it.”

  “But I’m having so much fun. Come on, tell me.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Can’t or won’t?

  “Won’t,” she said, her face still burning.

  “You know you’re making this seem way worse than it probably is. I have a very good imagination.”

  “It’s just a text from Karma, no big deal.”

  “You’re lying Kayleigh. That’s not a very good way to start a friendship,” I teased her.