by Shade, S. M.
“There’s a reef over there I always liked to explore when I was a kid,” Jani says, pointing to the right. “We can go snorkeling if you want.”
Denton is like a kid in an amusement park. “Yes! I’d love to snorkel. I brought swim trunks, but I don’t have goggles or a snorkel or anything.”
Jani shows us into the pool house. “These two are changing rooms, and the third room is full of trunks, swimsuits, goggles, anything you need. They won’t mind what you borrow. I’m going to get changed and I’ll be right back.”
When I emerge from one of the dressing rooms wearing a new pair of board shorts, and carrying goggles and a snorkel, Denton is waiting for me with a huge smile on his face. “Dude! This is so amazing! Jani’s mom is okay, and we got a Hawaiian vacation out of the deal.”
We walk out on the deck and he doesn’t take his eyes off of the ocean as Jani approaches us carrying three sets of fins. “It’s so blue,” he murmurs.
Jani leans against me and sighs. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”
“It’s so much more…powerful than it looks on television.”
Jani turns to Denton. “Have you never seen the ocean?”
“No, my family didn’t really take vacations.”
Of course they didn’t. I struggle with money for the reason a lot of people my age do, because we’re trying to pay for college. Sometimes I forget that Denton grew up a lot worse off than I did. I may not have had everything I wanted, but I didn’t do without anything growing up.
“Come on,” Jani says, smiling at him. “You have to see what warm sand between your toes feels like.”
It really is something special to watch someone experience a beach for the first time. We run around and goof off like a bunch of little kids, splashing in the surf. It turns out Denton isn’t a strong swimmer, and after he realizes how hard the waves pull at you, even with a life vest, he’s too nervous to swim out as far as the reef, so he stays on the shore while we snorkel.
“I feel kind of bad leaving him,” she worries as we make our way out to the reef.
“He’s fine. Look at him.” He’s playing in the sand, probably building a castle. He’s managed to find a kid’s pail that was abandoned and is filling it with water and heading back to his project.
It’s getting late and the sun rests low in the sky, throwing sparkles across the water’s surface and January’s face. It’s one of those moments I know I’ll remember forever, watching the sunlight dance across her smile.
“Look down,” she says.
I stick the snorkel in my mouth and do as she says. As I said, I’ve swam in an ocean before, but I’ve never seen anything like this. I didn’t expect the colors to be so vibrant. A huge, green, sea turtle swims right beneath me, and I watch transfixed as a rainbow of tropical fish dart in and out of the vast array of vegetation.
We stay out there until the sun starts to set and the wind begins to pick up. I’m just about to ask Jani if she’s ready to go back when I see a small jellyfish swimming next to me. I’ve never seen one close up. It’s so weird looking, I want to show Jani, but I know better than to grab it and get stung.
Isn’t it only the tentacles that sting? This one is tiny, so I have an idea that I’m soon going to regret. Taking off my goggles, I scoop up the jellyfish. It falls into the space effortlessly and it doesn’t look like it can climb out or anything.
“What are you doing?” Jani asks.
“Look, I caught a jellyfish.” She swims toward the shore when I start toward her.
“Are you crazy? Those little bastards hurt. My uncle had to pee on my cousin once to stop the pain when he got stung. Chuck it away from you and let’s go before it gets dark.”
“Aww, he just wants a little kiss, Jani. Look how cute he is,” I taunt. A wave sweeps over us and washes the jellyfish out of the goggles. “Oh shit! I don’t know where it is!” I call, throwing the goggles back on and swimming like hell toward the shore. I can hear January’s laughter ahead of me.
It isn’t until I’m wading up the shore that I realize I’ve made a mistake. A huge, horrible, burning mistake.
“Shit, that hurts!” I curse, flinging off the goggles.
Jani’s jaw drops. “You put the goggles back on? Jesus Chalupa Christ, Noble! They must be covered in stinging cells!”
She rushes up to me. “Did they get into your eyes or is it just the skin around them?”
“I don’t think it got in my eyes.” I move my hands away and she gasps. Definitely not a good sign.
“You need to see a doctor.”
“On Christmas Eve?” I scoff. “No way. And my insurance isn’t going to pay when we’re out of state.”
“Fuck, dude,” Denton exclaims. “I don’t think you have a choice.”
The pain is unbelievable, and my eyes start to pour. The salty tears set the irritated skin on fire. Splashing water across my face doesn’t help since it’s just as salty.
Jani turns to Denton. “You’ve got to pee on him.”
Denton shakes his head, taking a step back.
“It’s what you’re supposed to do for a jellyfish sting. It stops the burning.”
“I know that, but…”
Turning my head away from them, I top off the stellar moment by throwing up. “Sorry,” I groan. “The pain is turning my stomach.”
“You do it,” Denton tells Jani.
“How?” she snaps. “You expect me to me just strip, squat, and piss on him?”
“I can’t golden shower my best friend!”
Stumbling back onto the sandy shore, I plop onto the sand. My face is swollen to the point where I can’t see much, but I can hear them arguing about what to do.
“Just take this pail and fill it up. I’ll turn my back,” Denton says.
All my pride flies right out the window. I never imagined a jellyfish sting could hurt like this. I was stung on the arm when I was young and it wasn’t like this. Of course, my face would be more sensitive. “Please, Jani,” I mumble.
“Okay, but when we get back, I’m calling a doctor.”
“Deal.” I’d say anything at this point. I mean, once you reach the point where splashing piss on your face sounds like a good option, you don’t have much left to lose.
“Denton, I swear if you turn around and peek, I’ll kick you in the head until my hip dislocates,” Jani warns.
Amusement is clear in Denton’s voice when he replies, “Understood.”
I lie back on the sand and the sound of Jani peeing into the bucket is briefly drowned out by Denton’s chuckle. I’m never going to live this shit down.
“Give me your shirt,” she tells Denton. “I’m not just going to dump it on him.”
“Okay, babe,” Jani says. “Just stay still, okay?”
“Yeah.”
A second later the damp cloth lands just above my eye and the relief is almost instant. “It’s helping,” I breathe.
“Good. Now keep your mouth shut unless you want a taste.”
“Not that we’re judging if you do,” Denton adds, and I flip the bird in the direction of his voice.
The pain is now manageable, so I take the shirt from Jani and stand up, holding it to my face. Jani holds my arm, leading me back up the path and stairs to the mansion. She starts a shower while Denton grabs me some clean clothes. I can hear her on her phone as I’m washing away the sand and grime from the beach. I can’t use soap on my face, but a quick rinse with cool water feels good and gets rid of the “I just got pissed on” smell.
“Aunt Helen said we should just go to the emergency room.”
“The pain is better now. I might be able to wait it out.”
I don’t have to see her to know her arms are crossed and the little wrinkle on her forehead is standing out. “Your eyes are swollen shut and you have no idea if you’ve damaged your vision. Unless you want to be reading next year’s textbooks in braille, we’re going to the hospital.”
“Fine, let’s go.”
T
his is not how I pictured my holiday going.
Chapter Eight
January
After a few hours in the ER, an IV of steroids to fight the inflammation, and a quick check by an ophthalmologist, Noble is finally okay to go home. Luckily, his vision wasn’t permanently affected. As soon as the swelling goes down, he’ll be able to see normally again.
When we return to my aunt’s home, Denton is lounging in the living room with my cousins. Brinna is preoccupied with her phone, but Chloe is practically in his lap, laughing over something he just said.
“Hey, what did the doctor say?” Denton asks.
“I’m okay,” Noble says, then proceeds to walk into the coffee table.
Denton snorts. “Yeah, you seem perfectly okay.”
“He will be once the swelling goes down,” I explain.
“You’ll be happy to know you’ve been awarded the dumbass of the month award. Kenny and Trey agree. It’s no contest.”
Noble curses and glares in Denton’s direction. “What did you do, call them the second we left?”
“Of course not. I texted. It’s Christmas Eve, after all. I don’t want to interrupt those with a normal family life.”
I take Noble’s arm as he flips him off.
“I’m a little farther to the right,” Denton laughs. “I know urine a bad mood, but there’s no reason to get pissy with me.”
Chloe giggles and moves closer to Denton. I can’t help the chuckle that escapes me, and Noble turns to me.
His lips twitch up as he asks, “Are you laughing at me?”
“Of course not, babe. I’m laughing with you.”
“I’m not laughing.”
Denton pipes up again. “Aw, don’t be such a wet towel…I mean blanket.”
I know they’ll go on all night like this if I let them. “Aunt Helen said Christmas Eve dinner will be at seven. She’ll be back by then. Denton, are you okay on your own for a bit longer while I get Noble taken care of?”
“I think I’m in good hands.” He winks at Chloe.
“I’ll see you at dinner then.”
Wrapping my arm around Noble’s, I lead him back to our room. He falls onto the bed with a sigh. I know he must feel miserable with the drugs they gave him and everything, and I feel bad because none of this would have happened if he hadn’t come here after me. Fortunately, I know just the thing to cheer him up.
“I think I’ll skip the dinner,” he says. “I just need a nap.”
A small smile graces his lips when he feels me pull his shoes off. “The door is locked. You can get comfortable. I’ll grab you a cool compress for your eyes.”
“Thanks,” he mumbles.
When I return from the bathroom, he’s lying on his back in only a pair of boxers.
Perfect.
He turns his head toward me when I sit on the bed beside him. “Can you see at all?”
“If I raise my eyebrows and open my eyes wide, but it’s sore.” He runs his hand down my back. “Go join the others, Jan. It’s Christmas Eve. And I’m just going to fall asleep.”
“I will. After I take care of you.” My hand slides down over his crotch as I speak. His cock instantly jumps to life. I swear, most men could be on their deathbed and still perk up at the first sign of a blow job.
I drape the cool cloth across his eyes and press a soft kiss to his lips.
“If this turns out to be some drug-soaked dream and I’m still at the hospital for jellyfish poisoning, I’m going to be super angry.”
His joking comes to a halt when I lick down his neck and chest, pausing to pay attention to his nipples since he really seems to like that. His breath catches when I nip at them, and he groans. “God, yes, babe. Bite them.”
His cock is rock hard and dripping by the time I pull down his boxers. Being unable to see me must really add to the sensation for him because he looks like he could come any second. “Ooooh fuck,” he groans, when I deliver a long, gentle lick from his balls to the head.
This is one area where I’m completely confident. The trick to giving a good blow job is simple. While different guys like different things, they all appreciate enthusiasm. You’ve got to go after that cock like you’ve been brainwashed by it, like all you can ever think about is getting it in your mouth again.
Knowing his dominant tendencies in bed, I grab his hand and put it on the back of my head, giving him the illusion of control, and then I really get into it. The gasps and hisses, groans and cursing just drives me on. His thighs tighten and relax, and I love the way he loses control when he gets close.
Pausing for a second, I ask, “In my mouth or on my tits?”
The words alone seem to shove him to the edge and he gasps out, “Tits.”
I sit up and rub his cock between my breasts. It takes about three seconds for him to come, and his hands instantly begin to rub it over my nipples. “God, January, you are fucking perfect.”
Yeah, I thought he’d like that.
After I get us cleaned up, he’s snoring like a congested walrus, so I pull the covers over him and creep out of the room. Those antihistamines they gave him will probably keep him out for the night.
Aunt Helen, Brinna, Chloe, and Denton all wait at the table, which is covered with platters of food.
“January, dear, I’m glad you could join us. How is your friend?” Aunt Helen smiles at me as the food starts getting passed around the table.
“He’s feeling better. The meds knocked him out. He asked me to apologize for all the trouble and thank you for having us.”
She flips a hand at us. “Nonsense. You’re both more than welcome. I don’t get to see nearly enough of you and your mother. I’m glad to have you here under any circumstances.”
See, Aunt Helen is just the kindest person in the world. I’ve truly never met another person like her, and I have no idea how she ended up with my asshat of an uncle. “It’s good to see you too. Mom often talks about visiting, but it isn’t so easy for her to travel anymore.” I take a sip of water. “Where is Uncle Leon?” Not that I give a fart in a windstorm where he is or what he’s doing, but it seemed polite to ask.
I’m met with a forced smile. “He had some business to take care of.”
The food is wonderful, and the conversation stays light and cheerful. Near the end of the meal, I accidentally bump my spoon with my elbow, knocking it to the floor. When I retrieve it, my eyes encounter something I definitely could have lived without.
My cousin Chloe’s dress ends just past her hips, and apparently, she doesn’t consider panties essential. Razors aren’t a necessity either, judging by the panty hamster that’s staring back at me. I grab the spoon and raise my head back up, but not quickly enough to avoid the sight of Denton’s hand crawling toward the afrogina.
Gross.
Gross.
Double Gross.
Denton gives me a wicked smile when I surface and set the spoon aside. Doing my best to ignore them and the shudder inducing sight I’ve just endured, I turn to Aunt Helen. “Would it be all right if I made a plate for Mom? I’ll run it to the hospital.”
“What a thoughtful idea. I’ll go with you. Would you like dessert first?”
“No thank you. I’m stuffed. I’ll just check on Noble, first.”
Noble is curled up, deeply asleep, and I swear, he’s so damn adorable like this. The puffiness around his eyes has gone down a lot, so he’ll probably feel much better when he wakes. I throw the blanket over him and sneak back out the door.
Aunt Helen and I arrive at the hospital, and wave to the nurses as we make our way back to Mom’s room. Her face lights up when she sees us.
“We brought you a plate. Even in paradise, I can’t imagine hospital food is too tasty.”
“Cardboard with salt and pepper,” she laughs, taking the plate and digging in while Aunt Helen and I sit on the little couch beside her.
After a few minutes of talk and laughter, Mom gives me that look. You know, the one all parent’s get when the
y have something to tell you that you aren’t going to like. Aunt Helen takes the hint and excuses herself from the room.
“Jani, honey, I’ve made a decision. You know Helen has asked me to move in with them, and I’ve decided to do it. It’s so beautiful here. Sunshine and warm temperatures all the time.”
My chest tightens, but I do my best not to show my disappointment. “I want you to be wherever will make you happy. Just…I’ve got everything under control, Mom. Don’t do it because you think it’s too hard for me.”
She gives me a small smile. “January, I know you can do anything you put your mind to. This isn’t about you. I’m not trying to lessen your burdens. I honestly think this would be the right choice for me.” She glances toward the door, making sure Helen isn’t near. “It’ll be good for Helen too. Do not tell her I told you this, but she is getting ready to file for divorce, and she’s lonely. She needs a support system, and we can lean on one another.”
Holy shit. I didn’t see that one coming.
“She’s divorcing Leon? Is that why he wasn’t at Christmas Eve dinner?”
Mom’s lips thin in anger. “He’s cheating with some waitress.”
“Oh no. That son of a bitch. I hope she takes him for all he has.”
Mom bursts out laughing. “That’s the plan. There’s no prenup, and she has video proof of adultery. He’ll be lucky to come out of it with his clothes and car.”
My heart aches for Aunt Helen. Nodding, I squeeze Mom’s hand. “Okay, if this is where you want to be, I’m not going to argue with you. Just know that you can always change your mind.”
Aunt Helen returns, and we spend a few minutes discussing the best ways to ship Mom’s things. There’s no reason for her to go back when traveling is so hard for her. We finally say goodbye and as we make our way back to the car, Aunt Helen assures me, “I’ll take good care of her.”
I give her a hug. “I know you will. You’re my favorite aunt, you know.”