by Zane
I poked her in the shoulder as she started dialing on the rotary phone. “A thank you would be a nice touch.”
Aunt Frances turned to face me with the receiver nuzzled against her ear. She reached for my hand. “I’m sorry would be even better.”
I raised my brow, confused.
“You know? For Eugene and all.”
I squeezed her hand. “Eugene wasn’t the problem, just the wrong answer.”
“Jasmine, I want you to get out and meet new people. Start enjoyin’ life again.”
I hugged her. Gripping the basket with both hands, I walked to the doorway. “Maybe I should leave the island. Seem like each day I stay in Sapelo…in my house, it gets harder to forget the past.” A frown crept on her face, but I walked out.
***
The humidity in the mission was overbearing. I wiped the sweat off the nape of my neck, and pulled the slightly frizzled locks of my mane into a make-shift bun. My mind was on a much needed nap on the sand, soothed by a misty breeze. I placed the last bandage in one of the drawers, and headed back to the office when I glanced at a patient, unraveling the bloodstained bandage on his head. He noticed me watching, and motioned with his finger to come over.
“No, no,” I mouthed. “I’m not a nurse.”
He put his hands in a prayer gesture, and mouthed, “Please.”
I licked my lips that were dry from the humidity. I smiled at the young man as I walked closer. He looked like a mummy, with his head wrapped in gauze. The closer I got to him, the more attractive he became. Tight pecs shadowed his sweat-laden tank undershirt. His muscular arms glistened from the sun shining through a nearby window. A bright smile, with the prettiest white teeth I’d ever seen, complemented his flawless cocoa skin. When we were only inches apart, he gently took my hand and kissed it. The warm and wet tingling on my flesh from his smooth lips sent butterflies to my stomach. I jerked my hand away, feeling flushed in the face, and ignited below by his continuous stare.
“What’s your name?” I asked as I opened the medicine drawer.
“Name’s Harrison. Harrison Holmes.”
I looked back at him, fixated on the smile that was suddenly familiar. “You Charlotte’s boy, aren’t you?”
He smirked. “I’m Charlotte’s son. Thank you for obligin’ me, Miss Jasmine.”
I fiddled with the heart pendant resting on my chest. “You know me?”
“I’ve seen you in passing plenty of times.” He grabbed my hips and pulled me closer. “But with those sexy eyes, and this soft ass, I sure as hell wanna know you.”
I was stunned by his forwardness, but I didn’t move away this time. His hands felt good on my curvaceous bottom. I could only imagine what would happen next if we were alone on the beach, instead of sweating in the confines of this stucco mission building. I cleared my throat, and slowly removed his hands from my waist.
“We’re not alone, you know,” I said, peeking behind us at a few of the occupied gurneys. A couple of patients were sleeping; another one had a girlie magazine, but was getting more enjoyment watching me and this young man.
Harrison pulled a cigarette pack from the pocket of his khakis, and tapped it against his palm until one came out. “You want to be alone? I can arrange that.”
I ignored his proposition, and took some more gauze and bandage tape out of the drawer. “Looks like that bandage needs changing.” I slowly unraveled the soiled gauze from around his bald head, gasping when I got to the gaping wound at his ear. A part of his earlobe was gone, the remaining skin jagged and bloody. The dog tag around his neck let me know he was a soldier. I thought of Adam. “Maybe I should get Dr. Tate or Frances,” I said, abruptly placing the gauze on the side of the bed. “I don’t know what I’m doing, anyway.”
He touched my arm. “Just keepin’ me company is enough; please stay.” His deep brown eyes were persuasive. I gave him a slight smile as I picked the gauze up.
I resumed wrapping the bandage around his head. He winced when the fresh gauze grazed his ear.
“Sorry,” I said as I rolled the remainder of the dressing around his wound.
“If you don’t mind me asking, how’d this happen?”
He lit the cigarette. “Air strike. My unit’s helicopter was shot down. Only two of us survived. I lost enough hearing to get me out of that damn war. I’m all right, though. Coulda been worse.” He took a slow drag from his cigarette, blowing smoke out the side of his mouth as he surveyed my dress. “Those shells coulda blinded me, and I wouldn’t see all this beauty standin’ before me.”
I smacked my lips as I opened the medicine drawer and dropped the tape in. “Did you practice that line on your wife before you got here?”
His jaw clenched for a second as he leaned over to put out his cigarette against the cement wall. He let his finger glide down the smoothness of my bare arm. “Now why you wanna ask a question that you don’t wanna hear the answer to?”
I braced my hands on the gurney as I leaned in closer to him. “I’m a lawyer. I like to know the truth.”
He shrugged with a blank expression. “I got a wife. Ain’t much of a marriage, though. I get done fightin,’ come home, and now it feel like I’m battlin’ secrets. My gut tells me something went down with her while I was away. I’m back in Sapelo, searching for the truth. Lately, it seems like the truth and lies are the same thing. Sorta like rum and Coke. Sometimes one is stronger than the other. Sometimes you can’t tell the difference, but you drink the watered-down stuff, until you come across something more potent.” He smiled. “Something strong enough to warm your soul.” He placed his hands on my shoulders and gently began a massage that almost melted me to the floor. I steadied myself and closed my eyes as he rested his cheek against my face. “Miss Jasmine, I guess what I’m tryin’ to say is that I want more than what I got right now.”
“Ahh…I see.”
“Ahiem…,” a motherly tone bellowed from behind me. I abruptly pulled away from Harrison when I heard Frances’ interruption. “I see you and Mr. Holmes got acquainted,” she said, tapping her big foot.
I nervously played with my damp bang, smoothing invisible wrinkles from my dress. “Uh…I was just leaving.”
She puckered her lips. “Some beach water would do your hot tail some good, right about now.”
Harrison chuckled. I rolled my eyes at the both of them. “Hush, Frances,” I whispered, brushing past her.
“Miss Jasmine?”
I glanced back. “Yes, what is it?” I asked, crossing my arms.
“You got a nice touch. Thanks for taking care of me.”
I grinned. “You’re welcome.” I turned and walked towards the door.
“Uh…Florence Nightingale?”
I stopped, shifting one hip to the side. “Yes, Frances?”
“Thanks for taking care of Mr. Holmes,” she said with a gaptoothed grin.
I turned my nose up to her, and headed out when I heard her cackle, “Eugene who?”
I had to laugh.
***
I sat on a rock near the sand dunes, admiring how the sunlight made the tips of the water waves sparkle like fine crystal.
“Thinkin’ of me.” The sound of someone’s voice startled me. When I turned to see Harrison directly behind me, I got goose bumps. His tenor-toned words, and an infectious smile, seemed to stir desire in me that had been dormant for too long.
I smiled. “Don’t flatter yourself,” I said turning back towards the water. He straddled the rock as he sat down, pulling my body back towards his chest. I rested my head against his taut chest muscles. I didn’t know this man, but for some reason I enjoyed his flirtatious nature—the feel of his arms around mine.
“I apologize if I was being fresh earlier.”
“I don’t have a problem telling a man when he’s out of line. I’m just wondering why you got a fondness for my company.”
“Seem like you’d be good company. Damn, you smell good,” he said as his chin whisked over the crown of m
y head.
I moved a loose strand of hair away from my eye. “You smell Apple Blossom, the scented shampoo I use. How old are you?”
“More lawyer questions.”
“And?”
“Now, I’d be rude if I asked a lady, such as you, her age.”
“No, you’d be informed. I’m thirty-one.”
“Well, bless you. I’ll get there next decade, God willing.”
“Shit, twenty-one? You just a baby.”
He smirked, putting my hand on his crotch. “These feel like baby balls to you?”
I blushed, but I continued to feel. When his erection became too tempting, I removed my hand.
“Why’d you move your hand?”
“I’m not an adulterer.”
“I don’t think I called you one.” He pulled me up to my feet. “Come with me.”
“Why?” I asked, hesitant to walk toward the water with him.
He smiled. “Just come. I bite, but it don’t hurt.”
“You’re crazy,” I said, laughing at him.
“I guess Vietnam will do that to a brotha. Uhmm…the water is nice today,” he said, holding my hand as we treaded into the calm waves.
“Yeah, it is pretty warm, I reckon,” I said, looking around to see if anyone was watching.
“Nervous?”
“I just feel silly, is all.”
He pulled me close to his body. “Guess I’ma have to do more, ’cause that ain’t what you supposed to be feelin.’”
I shook my head. “Harrison, this whole seduction thing is tempting, but I like privacy, like at night? There’s an old man fishin’ over there,” I said, pointing in the distance.
He shrugged. “He ain’t botherin’ us, and he look too old to know what’s goin’ on. Come on and enjoy yourself. He won’t see nothin.’”
He trailed wet kisses down the middle of my neck, circling all the way to my collarbone. The pressure from his lips caused a shiver to escape my mouth. I closed my eyes, leaning my body into the confines of his broad shoulders. He moved us further into the water. When the water line reached my shoulders, I felt him unzip my dress.
Harrison’s strong hands cupped my breasts. He merged them close together, massaging each nipple with his thumbs until they hardened like raisins. I opened my mouth, but only moans came out. He smiled as he went under water. He sucked hard on my breast, increasing my breathlessness. I wanted more, but when I felt his hands underneath my dress, I knew he wanted something else.
Within seconds, I felt my silk panties against my thigh. He slowly came up for air, looking sly. “I think I see a pearl down there.” Before I could respond, he was under water, parting my legs. He got straight to the point, licking my pussy furiously, back and forth. The way he devoured me with his mouth was incredible. He was under the water so long, I feared he’d drown. I pulled Harrison’s shoulders upward, but he resisted. His firm grip on my ass assured me that he was doing just fine. My hands held his smooth head, drawing him closer to the folds of my sweetness. The staying power of his tongue flicking my clit, then plunging inside me, sent a fever through my body. My lip quivered as I felt my release come over me. I bit down to prevent screaming out in ecstasy. Harrison slowly surfaced, his wet body shining under the sun. I felt something hot and strong poking me. I panicked, pushing my body away from him.
“Let’s get out,” I gasped. “Jellyfish.”
He reared his head back as he laughed. Then he pulled me back to him. “I’d like to think I’m more like a stingray.” He winked, poking me again below.
I curled my lips seductively as I wrapped my arms around his neck. “What you thinkin’ about doin’ with that?” I asked, looking down at his torso.
“I ain’t much for words, but I think you’ll feel what I’m sayin,’” he said, raising my thighs effortlessly. The bottom half of my sundress was now a lavender tarp, covering the waves as Harrison raised me higher on his pelvis. I felt like a flower, whose petals were being opened by blazing sunlight, as I slid down his dick. “Ohh…,” I sighed as I took him in. “Please, be gentle with me. It’s been a while.”
He kissed my neck. “Oh…you can’t take it deep from Charlotte’s boy, huh?” He tightened his embrace around me, kissing my cheek. “I got you, big girl. Don’t worry, it’s gonna hurt so good in a second.” He lowered my body on the water, securing my back as he smoothly grinded into my tight canal.
“We shouldn’t be this careless,” I said, breathless. “I mean, we just met and all.”
Harrison licked his lips, staring into my eyes. “Careless is dunkin’ a stitched-up ear into some damn salt water.” I giggled as he playfully nibbled on my earlobe. “Don’t worry. Doc Tate said my health is fine.” He nuzzled his head against my neck. The warmth of his rapid breaths to my skin made my heart race. “Ease your mind, and let me take you where you wanna go,” he said in a soft whisper.
It took my body a minute to get used to him. The friction from his pelvis clamping my clit gradually lessened the discomfort. “Sweet Jasmine, you feel soo…good,” he moaned as he kneaded my ass, spreading my cushion into a comfort zone that had me crying out for mercy. He looked dazed as he peered into my eyes. This gratifying infusion, and the oneness I felt, made my eyes mist.
“You all right, Miss Jasmine,” he asked, his powerful hands gliding up and down my thighs.
The sensation of his thrusts was so intense. “Don’t stop!” I cried. “Please, don’t stop.” I threw my head back as he pumped harder and longer. The water around us splashed from our bodies being together. His shoulders stiffened, and the velocity of his shaft pummeling through my ribbed tunnel, sent a tickle inside of me. Harrison grunted as he dove closer to the point of climax.
“Damn, I’m about to cum,” he muffled into my shoulder. He made contact with the tip of that erotic spot, giving me so much pleasure.
“Harrison!” I screamed, feeling my walls contract around him, like a butterfly trying its wings.
“Jasmine, I feel you grippin’ me, baby,” he said out of breath. “Ahhh…!” he screamed, banging me beautifully until he came. We held onto each other, gasping for air. The waves were tranquil again.
There was golden silence surrounding us, until we heard, “Hey, young fella. I see you done caught yo-self some good fish out dere, huh?”
It was the old fisherman’s raspy voice, giving Harrison a toothless grin, and a “thumbs up” from afar. Harrison returned the gesture as we kissed and laughed at the same time.
RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW
A cabaret-style celebration, and live drummers banging sultry African beats, had folks celebrating at the Heritage Parade. I’d just finished my rum punch near the bandstand when I saw Harrison. It had only been a couple of days since our rendezvous at the beach, but I missed being close to him, safe in his arms. He rocked to the rhythms of the conga drums, holding an adorable baby in his arms. The baby boy wore denim overalls, and appeared to be around a year old. He giggled as Harrison proudly raised him up to the sky, and then glided him back down like an airplane into his arms. The little one had a smooth bald head, like Harrison, whose ear bandage was covered with a nice red-and-black crocheted tam. His festive gait lessened when a lanky, ebony-brown woman, dressed in a tube top and capris, approached.
By the small crease to his brow, I could tell he was unsettled. I assumed the baby was his son. I knew the woman in red was the community whore, whom I gathered was his wife. Her name, Naomi; the smart-mouthed gal who back-talked me years ago, when I caught her making out in my shed with the neighbor’s son, Marcus. She had a reputation for dividing her private goods between the young men of Sapelo and St. Simons Island. I heard that she’d married a soldier, but I didn’t know it was Harrison.
Harrison was an amazing stud, who knew how to talk to a woman, and didn’t back down until he got what he wanted. His joking nature, coupled by his earnest gaze at my delight from the pleasure he gave…those images were hard to resist. Though he was here with his family, I
felt a connection to him. Naomi talked to Emma, one of the island elders standing beside her, while my focus stayed on Harrison. Finally, he felt the desire of my soul searching for relief. His almond-shaped eyes shifted from the young child, straight through the partygoers, to me. He smiled as I let my hair down, swaying my hips to the beat of the drums. I raised my arms, waving them in time with the dip of my hips. The split to my sarong widened. The fluid moves of my body had him in a seductive trance. We both enjoyed this playful hunt, and my thighs became increasingly moist, hoping he’d find a way to join my dance.
I put my finger to my lips, slowing parting the fullness of them, smiling as he watched intently. I sucked up and down my fingertip. I could tell the gesture excited him, based on the slow lick of his lips. I pretended that he was my fingertip, and I was locked on his dick. Sucking him as he slurped the sensuous juices of my pussy. The thought of us making love this way had me aroused.
The beats got harder. My hips shook faster, my body sweltering from the mixture of island humidity and bridled passion. The dancing bodies around me were engrossed in their own world of excitement. Some fueled by the liquid spirits they had consumed; others aroused by the hypnotic drum force. I swept the newness of sweat drops from my chest into my mouth, moaning his name. Harrison read my lips and stepped closer. He studied the roundness of my breasts as I opened the top button to my yellow knit midriff. I sauntered closer, licking my lips, enticing him. He took more steps, at a calculated pace, opening his mouth slightly. We were still a few feet apart, but bonded by sensual chemistry. I gyrated harder. The dance of his eyes followed my lead. We created a private code. A passionate body language, longing to be unleashed.
Naomi moved into my line of sight, pulling Harrison away. The drums stopped. Her eyes threw darts at me as she took the baby out of his arms. They walked near the food tent. He broke free from her grasp and faced my direction. Naomi’s calls to him were unanswered. His hearing had been impaired from the war, but he knew she was speaking. He wasn’t paying attention to her. The hunger in his eyes spoke to me. We remained still as the music began again. Slowly, I turned my back, ignoring his silent pleas. The fantasy was over. Frustrated, I swiftly removed my sandals, and wormed through the crowd. I ran toward home, where I would endure another sleepless night.