An impish smile flickered across the blonde’s features and she said, "I know I prefer to be coming …"
"When I’m through with you, you won’t know whether you’re coming or going," Ryan said, waggling eyebrows punctuating her point.
"Sit up and eat your snack," Jamie said. "You’re gonna need your strength."
Ryan propped up her chair and took a big cube of chicken into her mouth. "Boy, this is good!" she said, munching happily. "Can we move here? I think this place suits my personality perfectly."
"Try the drink I brought you," Jamie said. "It’s the local specialty."
Ryan shrugged and took a big sip, pausing reflectively while she let the liquid roll around in her mouth for a moment. "It’s like coconut, but it also tastes like milk. A lot of sweetness, but the gin cuts that pretty effectively." She smacked her lips together a few times and said, "I like it. A lot!"
"Then I guess we can move here," she said. "I got a soft drink called Switcher … It’s made locally, I think." She took a sip and smiled broadly as she said, "This is good, too. Try it."
Ryan did so, and decided that she liked it as well. She finished off her skewers quickly, and her coconut milk drink, then lowered her chair again and said, "I’m fed and watered. Time for my nap."
"You do have simple needs, don’t ya?"
"Yep. I just have four. I’m either hungry, horny, thirsty or sleepy. Cover those and you’ve solved the riddle of Ryan."
"You’re really not very complex," Jamie said, "but I think you’re a little more complex than that."
"Maybe just a little," Ryan said, "but it is time for my nap."
"Let me put some extra sun block on your paler parts," Jamie said. "I refuse to have those pink cheeks burned."
"But I’m lying on my tummy."
"Those aren’t the cheeks I meant," Jamie said. "You’re not used to having this pair of cheeks exposed."
"No, but I kinda like it," Ryan said. "One step closer to nudity … my ultimate goal."
Jamie sat on the edge of her chair, and started to rub the SPF 45 into Ryan’s soft skin. She performed the job rather clinically, but Ryan’s motor was running and she murmured, " ‘I’m horny’ is just about to overtake ‘I’m sleepy’."
"Behave!" Slathering some of the lotion on the small of her back and down her thighs, Jamie said, "We really will be up late. You need a good long nap."
"Okay," the dark woman grumbled, a tiny smile threatening to overtake her fake frown. "You know what?"
"What?"
"I couldn’t be happier. Lying under a nice palm tree on a pink sand beach, with clear blue water lapping against the shore, my best girl by my side, our best friends … somewhere around here, my tummy full." She sighed and let out a satisfied purr. "Thanks so much for arranging for this." She sat up a little and said, "I’m not sure why, but I really feel like I’m on vacation."
"We are on vacation, silly," Jamie said.
"No, no," Ryan said. "I feel like I’m on vacation up here, too. I feel like I can turn off my movie for the first time since Thursday."
"Best news I’ve heard in days. Now close those baby blues and sleep for a good, long time. I’ll be right here beside you when you wake up."
" ‘Kay," she said, her voice already sleepy. Jamie lightly rubbed her back, watching her eyes as they stilled momentarily, and then began to dart about behind her lids.
That was quick, she said. Her tank was just about empty. Thank God we could get away for a few days. She needed this even more than she admits.
Ryan stretched and twitched for a few minutes, trying to wake up slowly. Turning her head to the side she saw her partner, sound asleep, lying on her side. Oh, my, that’s a nice sight to wake to. The tiny top that barely covered Jamie’s breasts while she was sitting up did not do the trick when her partner lay on her side, and the dark pink edge of one adorable little nipple peeked out at Ryan. A nice woman would just lie here and wait for her to wake up, she said. Yeah, and who ever said you were a nice woman? Good point, she answered herself. Hmm … how best to wake her? There’s no ice left in her glass so that’s out … nothing around here but sand … Oh! What do we have here? A bamboo skewer … with a nice, sharp point. I can do all kinds of tricks with this.
She knew that Jamie was a tough one to wake in almost all circumstances, so she decided to indulge her desires and give that cute little nipple a poke to make it stand up and take notice. With a fiendish look on her face, she reached across the chair to take her first tentative tickle, not sure how much pressure she could apply while she entertained herself.
With reflexes faster than a cat, Jamie ripped the stick from her hand and broke it in half, all without the green eyes even blinking.
"What if that had been my finger?" Ryan gaped. "That crack would have been my bone!"
"That’s the risk you take when you mess me with, cowboy."
She couldn’t stop the grin from showing, and Ryan asked, "How long have you been awake, you little faker?"
"Just a few minutes. You still looked like you were out, so I closed my eyes again. You caught me in a rare moment of lucidity."
"Just my luck. I was all excited about torturing you for a good long while."
"You are such an adolescent boy some times," Jamie said, shaking her head at the silly grin her partner wore.
"You like my inner adolescent boy, and you know it," Ryan said. "Remember, behind every adolescent boy is a furious libido just waiting to get out."
"That randy libido can come out and play any old time it wants," Jamie said, meaning every word.
"Great name!" Ryan said. "I think I’ll keep that one."
"Okay," Jamie said. "If you ever become a porn star, your name will be Randy Libido." She cocked her head and said, "It fits!"
When they returned to the room, their roommates had emerged from their bedroom. Now they were ensconced in the spa, their mouths still attached to one another, their bodies completely bare. Glancing outside to the hot tub, Ryan commented dryly, "I don’t think we’re gonna see much of those two."
"I’m actually seeing a little more of them than I wish to see," Jamie said, rolling her eyes a bit.
Ryan shot her a look and said, "I’ll speak to them if it bothers you."
Jamie shook her head and said, "No, I’m joking. If they want to make love on the deck, it’s okay with me. I wanted them to come because I really think they need some time alone." She came over and pushed Ryan into a chair, climbing onto her lap and snuggling in. "Besides, when they’re busy, I don’t have to share you."
"Oh … feeling jealous?" Ryan rubbed her face into Jamie’s neck, delighting in the scent of her tanning lotion mixed with the tang of salt.
"Always. I want to hoard you like a precious metal." They kissed, softly and slowly, taking their time with each other … letting the emotion build at a glacial pace. The tender kisses went on and on, and soon Ryan lost track of where they were and the fact that their friends were just outside. She reached down and took Jamie’s hand, then placed it on her own breast and squeezed firmly, letting out a little grunt.
Vaguely becoming aware of a rustling sound and a flurry of motion in her peripheral vision, Ryan slowly came to her senses. "Do you two ever give it a rest?" Mia asked, her pink body wrapped in a towel.
Lifting her head just long enough to utter the word, "No," Ryan returned to her partner, continuing to nibble on her lips.
"Uhm … do you wanna have dinner together?" Mia continued hesitantly, unused to her friends playing intimately in her presence.
"Mmm," Ryan purred sexily, mumbling around Jamie’s mouth and tightening her embrace, not giving any indication of stopping her exploration.
"Uhm… okay. Uhm … talk to you later?" the curly-haired woman said, as she started for her bedroom.
Ryan started chuckling, and soon Jamie joined her, both of them laughing harder every time they looked at each other. "Mia, come back here. You have to forgive Ryan’s atrocious manners," she said
. "She’s very bratty today."
"I’m not bratty," Ryan said. "I’m playful. Big difference."
"Okay, Ryan’s playful today. Whatever you call it, watch out."
"I like it when Ryan’s a little wild," Mia said. She was standing by the pair, and she ran her hand through Ryan’s messy hair, settling it a little. "You haven’t been very goofy in a while, Ryan," she said, her concern evident. "I hope you can relax down here."
"Doing my best, Mia. I had a nice lunch, a nice nap … even a nice coconut milk drink this afternoon. Just what the doctor ordered."
Jordan had slipped on some running shorts and a mesh tank top, and she came into the living room and sat on the sofa. She adopted one of her favorite poses, sitting with her feet pulled up on the cushion, the soles of them touching.
"I will never understand how you can get into that position," Ryan said.
"Yoga," she said. "I’ve been slacking off for a while, but I’m concentrating on it again now that I’m not in school. You should try it, Ryan. It’s great for your balance and posture."
"I think the last thing I need right now is another thing to do," Ryan said, "but I may look into it when the season’s over. I know a bit, and I was on the verge of really getting into it, but I uhm … lost my motivation."
"Was your motivation by any chance a yoga instructor?" Jamie asked, recognizing the look her partner had on her face.
"Yup. She was one flexible woman," Ryan said, grinning at the memory.
"Goodness, I have a lot to compete against," Jamie said. "Body builders, yoga instructors, what else don’t I know about?"
"You don’t have to compete with anyone," Ryan said. "You’ve won the contest … hands down."
"Awww … that’s so sweet," Jamie said. "You deserve a kiss for that."
As she leaned in to give her partner her reward, Mia advised, "Let us know about dinner … if you come up for air by then."
They came up for air quickly, and Jamie suggested a dip in the spa. Ryan was stripping as she walked, unconcerned as usual about her nudity. Jamie decided to shed her inhibitions as well, and given that her suit was nearly invisible, she didn’t have many to shed. It felt strangely decadent to be sitting on their private deck, the warm sun and even warmer water caressing their nude bodies.
"Yo, Jordan!" Ryan called toward the open door to their roommates’ bedroom.
"You rang?" The blonde head poked out of the room. Ryan was pleased to see that her friend was still clothed, and she didn’t look like she’d been in bed for a change.
"Could you go into the mini bar and get me a beer?"
"Sure. Jamie? One for you?"
"No. I’ll have some of Ryan’s."
Jordan went into the bar and called back out, "Kalik okay?"
"Sure. I love all things Bahamian," Ryan said.
"Mind if I join you?" Jordan asked, bearing two bottles.
"Please do," Ryan said. "Keep us company."
The dark-haired woman took a long swallow, then leaned her head back against the edge of the tub. "I swear I’m Bahamian at heart. I love everything about this place." She looked up at Jordan and asked, "Can’t you see me running a little surf shop down here? Surf early in the morning, work for a few hours, eat a little conch for lunch, work a little more, then go snorkeling for a bit … maybe a nice ride across the beach on my horse, play my steel drum while my baby makes dinner, have a couple of Kaliks while we watch the sun set." She gave her partner a devilish look and said, "Make love on the beach with the moonlight playing across Jamie’s body. What could be better?"
"I can see it," Jordan said. "I think it suits you."
They were all quiet for a while, thinking of how peaceful it all sounded. The realistic part of Ryan knew that it would never happen – that she could never be away from her family – but the fantasy was like a balm for her spirit, given the tumult of the previous week.
"So, tell us all about life at the training facility," Jamie asked. "I know you talk to Ryan on the phone, but she never tells me a thing." She playfully poked her partner in the ribs.
"Okay." Jordan leaned her head back and thought for a moment, then said, "It’s kinda like being in college, only you don’t have to go to class. They have dorms and a big cafeteria, and fabulous training facilities, but most of the women on the team don’t live in the dorms. It’s sort of a college atmosphere in the dorms, and they allow high school kids to stay there when they come to the facility for a short time. It’s not a very relaxing atmosphere."
"Sounds like it," Jamie said.
"As soon as I go back, I’m moving into an apartment with three of the players. I can live in the dorm for free, but I don’t think I’d be happy there long term. We practice so much that when I don’t have to be there I want some normalcy in my life."
"Tell Jamie how much you practice, Jordan," Ryan said. "She thinks I have a tough schedule."
"It depends on the day, but with skills drills, plyometrics, weight training, scrimmages and matches, we usually work around 8 hours a day – with weekends off, of course."
"8 hours a day! How can you do that? And what is a plyo … what?"
"Plyometrics," Jordan said. "That’s the training we do to make us jump and leap with more power. And yeah, 8 hours a day is a lot, but we usually only stick with one drill for an hour or so. There’s enough variety that you don’t mind it so much."
"Do you like it?" Jamie asked, having been unable to get a read on Jordan’s enthusiasm.
"Yeah, I like it well enough. I’ve been to a lot of intensive camps and training programs in my life, and this one is about the same. The quality of the athletes is better, of course, but other than that it’s about the same as all the rest. It’s a lot of work, some time to rest, and then you go to bed early." She shrugged her shoulders and said, "There’s really not much to report. I like the women well enough, but not many of them took the time to get to know the college women – since only a couple of us were going to hang around. I assume we’ll get to be friendlier as time passes."
"Do you go out and do anything?" Jamie asked.
"Mmm … not really. Making the team was all that mattered, Jamie, so we all worked our asses off. When we get back to Colorado, they’re supposed to have a big party at one of the local bars to celebrate the new team members. That should be fun."
"But you’re happy you made it, right?" Jamie asked, still not seeing much emotion.
"Oh, yeah," Jordan said, giving one of her full, warm smiles. "It’s been tremendously rewarding, Jamie. It’s a life-long dream come true. Not many people get to live their dreams."
"Not many people even have them," Jamie said. "Most people just muddle along and let life take them where it may."
"I’m not one of those people," Jordan said.
"No, I’d say not," Jamie said.
Mia came out, fresh from a shower, and she sat next to Jordan as the pair shared a beer. "Ryan wants to move here," Jordan said.
"I’m in," the smaller woman said. She looked up at her partner for a moment and asked, "Can you imagine how gorgeous this one would be after a few months down here? All of that tanned skin, with her hair just getting lighter and lighter. I’d never let you wear more than a bikini top and a sarong."
Jordan looked at Mia with a fond expression and said, "Oh, you wouldn’t, would you?"
"Nope. Just a sarong, worn really, really low on your hips. Of course, some part of me would be under that sarong most of the time," she said. "You wouldn’t have a moment’s peace."
"I don’t need a moment’s peace," Jordan said quietly, looking like she was about to cry. "I just need you."
Jamie shot Ryan a look, and they decided to give their friends a little alone time. They got out of the spa quietly, sparing a quick glance at Mia, who looked like she was on the verge of revealing her feelings for the tall woman. It was all Jamie could do not to say, "Go for it, girl!" but she just took Ryan’s hand, and went back into the cottage to shower and get ready for dinner.<
br />
As soon as they were gone, Jordan took Mia by the hand and lay down on one of the chaises, cuddling the smaller woman tightly against her body. "It just hit me that I probably won’t have any time off until the end of September," she said, her voice quavering with emotion. "I can’t stand to think of not seeing you for that long, Mia. The team doesn’t pay me much, but I can get some modeling jobs to get some extra cash. Will you come see me if I pay for your ticket?" she asked, her eyes filled with a mixture of hope and despair.
"Of course I’ll come see you," Mia said. "How could you even ask that?" She kissed her softly, spending a moment experiencing the incredible softness of the full, warm lips. "You don’t have to pay for me to come see you, Jordan. I get a very decent allowance. I just don’t always manage it well. But I’ll save every penny if I get to see you in the bargain."
"You are so good to me," Jordan sighed, looking into Mia’s warm brown eyes with wonder.
"You deserve to be treated well, Jordan. You’re a very special woman."
"When I’m with you I feel special," she said softly, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. Jordan’s eyes fluttered closed as she whispered, "I … I love … I love … how you treat me, Mia." Her whole body was shaking, and Mia held her close, wishing she could get her hands on Jordan’s parents and kick their butts for making this wonderful woman feel like she deserved so little.
"I care for you, Jordan. I care very, very much," she said, rocking her slowly as she held her close and placed a wealth of delicate kisses on her brow.
"Honey," Jamie said as Ryan was getting out of the shower. "Mia and I are going to walk down to the liquor store."
"Let me go too," she said. "I’ll just be a sec."
"No, you stay here and dry your hair. We’ll be right back."
"I don’t dry my hair in the tropics," Ryan sniffed. "I’m free and wild down here." She tossed her dark head, hitting her partner with a scattering of water droplets.
Giving her partner a silly grin, Jamie said, "Okay … then, how about I tell the truth? I want to spend a few minutes with Mia alone. She looks a little upset."
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