by Aubrey Rose
They sailed on for a few minutes in silence, Julian adjusting the angle of the boat whenever the sail started to droop. Shannon leaned back, letting the sun warm her even as the cool air streamed across her skin. With every minute came a new pleasure - the salty smell of the air, the echoes of gulls flying overhead.She dipped one hand into the ocean over the side of the boat, letting the cold water stream through her fingers. The boat was moving slower, the wind easing up as they entered a calm spot in the ocean.
“Eeeeeh!” Shannon squealed. She pulled her hand up from the water. “What was that?!”
Julian looked behind them and chuckled.
“The kelp?”
Shannon turned to see. Sure enough, a giant floating mess of seaweed stretched alongside her side of the boat. The green tendrils drifted slowly in the waves, their broad leaves interspersed with bulbous nodes.
“It looks like an alien,” Shannon said. “Or the Loch Ness monster.”
“It might be,” Julian said. He had moved up to the front of the boat and was letting the main sail down. “Only one way to be sure.”
Before Shannon could say anything, Julian had secured down the sail and hopped up to the side. She yelped as he dove gracefully off of the boat into the dark ocean, disappearing with a small splash over the side.
“Julian!”
She stood up and looked down into the water, but she couldn’t see anything. Had he swum under the boat? Her eyes darted across the surface of the waves. Where the hell was he? Her heart began to beat faster. It had been too long. A minute, maybe more.
“Julian!”
A splash from behind made her spin around, tilting the boat. She inhaled sharply, grabbing the side for balance. Julian was treading water just behind the boat, a giant leaf of kelp on his head like an ill-fitting hat.
“I am the San Diego monster,” he said in a deep voice. “Obey my command.”
“Anything you wish, monster,” Shannon said, tilting her head. “I will obey.”
A funny look came over Julian’s face.
“Come in,” he said.
“In? It’s cold!” Shannon wasn’t wearing anything that she could swim in, anyway. At least Julian had his swim trunks on.
“It’s not that bad,” Julian said. “At least not once you get used to being numb.”
“You’re really selling this,” Shannon said.
“Come on,” Julian asked, and in his voice was a neediness that Shannon was unused to. “You said you would obey.”
“What should I wear?” Shannon asked. “I didn’t bring a bathing suit.”
“We’re out in the middle of the ocean,” Julian said. “You don’t need a bathing suit.” He swam up to the side of the boat. “Hurry up, my balls are starting to shrivel.”
“Heaven forbid,” Shannon said, darting a glance around the ocean before starting to strip. He was right. The ocean around them was empty for as far as she could see. The sun’s rays warmed every inch of her body as she took off her shirt, then her bra, then everything else. She moved to the back of the boat, letting her legs swing over the side.
“Are you sure?” she said. Her toes were already numb with the coldness of the water. Julian swam up and put his arm around her, splashing cold water onto her skin. She squealed, and he pulled her entirely off of the boat. They splashed backwards into the water together, Shannon gasping for breath in the cold waves, feeling completely vulnerable in her naked state. She held onto Julian’s hand as she treaded water, her heart pounding as her body adjusted to the cold.
“It’s freezing,” she gasped.
“Just a little nippy,” Julian said. He let go of Shannon’s hand and swam backwards, letting himself float on his back. Shannon took a deep breath and followed suit.
Floating on the surface of the ocean, she felt weightless, insignificant. Her breasts rose above the surface of the water, her nipples hard with the chill of the morning air. As she lay motionless, letting her body move with the slow waves, she accepted the cold and rose above it. It seemed to her that she was outside of her own body, part of the ocean itself. The sun shone down and warmed her face even as the cold water chilled every other part of her. It was entirely silent out here, silent and peaceful.
Then a tendril of kelp brushed her foot and she kicked out instinctively, breaking the silence with her splashing. She looked around to find Julian, who was already over by the side of the boat. He swung himself over easily and motioned for her to come back. She swam to the boat slowly, savoring the cold on her body. When she got to the side of the boat, Julian reached down and helped her over.
It was a strange feeling to come out of the water, her body weighing her down as she rose from the black waves. Every inch of her was covered in goosebumps, and she shivered uncontrollably.
“Here,” Julian said, handing her a towel. She accepted it gratefully, her teeth chattering. As she dried herself, she noticed Julian watching her with hungry eyes as he toweled himself off. She finished patting down her wet hair and handed the towel back to him.
“Can I have my clothes?” she asked. They lay on the seat right next to Julian, but instead of picking them up he brushed them aside and leaned forward. The boat tilted in the water as he came over to her and pressed his lips hard against hers.
“Julian? Julian!” She yelped as he released her, sending the boat rocking. He tore off his shirt and his swim trunks, tossing them aside.
“Julian,” she began to protest, but his mouth was on hers again and he was pulling her down to the floor of the boat with him. She had never felt his embrace like this, so needy, so demanding. He did not say a word as he threw her roughly to the bottom of the boat and pressed himself on top of her. She could feel his erection against her stomach growing harder and harder as he kissed her, his mouth stifling her words.
“Ohhh,” she moaned as he moved his hands over her body possessively, caressing her arms, her side, her breasts. Two of his fingers grasped one of her nipples and twisted until she squealed. Her cold body quickly warmed under his hands, and as he pinched and pulled her nipple she felt the shocks of pleasure and pain running simultaneously through the length of her body and awakening her to full arousal. He did not seem to notice or care as his hands moved over her, squeezing her hard wherever he wanted.
As she felt her desire growing hotter within her, Julian pressed one of his legs between her thighs, forcing them open violently. She opened her mouth but could only draw a single gasp of air as he thrust his swollen cock into her with one swift motion.
This was a different side to Julian, one that she had never seen before. Before, his every motion had been about her pleasure, about making her comfortable. Now, though, she could sense that there was something driving him to the savage neediness with which he plunged into her. He acted like an animal, a beast rutting between her legs. She moaned as he thrust upwards into her, spearing her with his huge cock. The waves lapped against the side of the boat and overhead the boom swung from side to side.
“Julian,” she cried, and then his hand ran through her hair and gripped it hard, tilting her head back and exposing her neck. She swallowed the scream in her throat as he thrust forward again, again, moving frantically above her to the rhythm of his own desire. Her body arched up to match his, the shocks of his body crashing into hers echoed by the rocking of the boat in the water. She could feel herself responding to the savageness of his want, meeting him in that blind and brutal place where only animal lust resided.
The sky above her eyes was turning a brighter and brighter blue, the sun rising above the horizon. She felt the rolling of the boat under her body as Julian rolled into her. His hand moved from her hair to her neck, and she felt the movement of his fingers on her throat, his palm pushing hard at the hollow at the base of her neck. The feeling of vulnerability took her over, and she released control entirely, letting Julian use her body without thought to what he would do or how. She needed him as much as he needed her, and he could do with her what he will
ed.
His other hand came down to her hip and grasped her there, pulling her back and forth onto his cock as he continued thrusting. The pressure on her neck increased and she let her head tilt back, wisps of clouds making their slow way across the sky above her. Julian rocked forward into her, filling her and stretching her out inside, then rocked back. Forward, then back. She looked back at him. His hair fell over his closed eyes, his mouth set in a hard, determined line. His skin glistened either with sweat or with the water of the ocean, his body slick against hers.
Her orgasm came upon her without warning, as he thrust hard at a different angle deep into her body. Her body felt weightless again as she thrashed under him, clenching tight against his swollen hard cock, letting the passion take her over as she screamed without any thought as to who could hear, her moans coming out of her body without hesitation.
Julian paused as though he was trying to hold back, then withdrew quickly. The shudders of orgasm still rippled through Shannon’s body as Julian came onto her stomach, his cock twitching against her skin. He collapsed above her, his head sinking onto her shoulder, his body pressing against hers. She could feel his juices between them, the hot stickiness on her skin.
Shannon could tell that he had needed this, and her hand came up to cradle his head. She pressed a kiss onto his forehead.
“You’re wonderful,” she said.
He didn’t reply, but after a moment she felt the wetness of tears on her neck. He was crying. Why was he crying?
Unsure of what to do, Shannon let her fingers run consolingly through his hair, squeezing him tightly against her. Soon he stopped crying, and when he pulled himself upright his eyes were clear again.
“We should get back,” he said, pulling his swim trunks back on.. He did not meet her gaze.
“Let me clean up first.” Shannon used the towel to wipe herself off, putting her clothes back on as Julian readied the sailboat. They caught a small breeze that picked up quickly as they sailed back to the pier. Julian didn’t say another word. Shannon felt a chill run through her body that even the San Diego sunshine could not chase away.
CHAPTER FOUR
Julian stepped off of the pier and tied the boat to the dock. Inside he kicked himself for his rash behavior. He had intended to confront Shannon about what he had seen with Asher, but then she had taken off her clothes and all thoughts had slipped from his mind but one.
She knew. She had to know. He had taken her so roughly, so wildly, like an improvised guitar solo tearing at the strings. She had to hate him for it. But then her hand had caressed his head, and she had been grateful…
Shannon held out her hand, waiting for him to help her out of the boat. What if he turned and left her there? He didn’t owe her anything.
“Julian?”
Her voice sounded concerned, and he had to force himself to stay calm, even though inside he was exploding with anger. At her, for the ultimate betrayal of his trust. And at himself, too, for giving in to carnal pleasures. He thought about the present he had bought for her, stowed away in his backpack, his flask now resting atop it. He would give it to her anyway, he thought, to show how little she meant to him. How little she could hurt him with what she had done. Then he would tell her that he knew about Asher. She would cry, beg him for forgiveness, but he would just turn away, tell her to go back to LA. Yes. That’s what he would do.
“Julian?”
“Yeah?” He took her hand and supported her as she stepped out of the boat and onto the pier, her hair dripping wet. He longed to run his hands through it, to cradle her in his arms. But she had made her choice, and it wasn’t him.
“We’ve got to get back to the bus,” he said.
“I thought the sound checks weren’t until later.”
“Alex wanted to get set up beforehand.”
“Oh. Okay.” She cast her eyes over the water, the sun climbing higher in the sky above it. “I know he wants the last show to be perfect. It looks like a perfect day.”
Julian swallowed hard. “Sure looks like it.”
They walked back in silence.
When they arrived, Alex was already tinkering with the equipment on the outdoor stage. Shannon went back to the tour bus, and Julian finally allowed himself to relax a tiny bit. Asher was gone doing god knows what, skating probably. Julian didn’t know if the band could survive another fight, but this was serious.
Shannon came bounding up to the stage, her camera in her hands. Julian tensed up inside.
“Time for some candid shots,” she said, pointing the camera at Julian and Alex. Julian turned away.
“Kind of busy now,” he said.
“Don’t mind me at all,” Shannon said. “I won’t get in your way. That’s the point - pretend I’m not even here.”
“Gladly,” Julian muttered under his breath. He couldn’t tell if Alex heard him; the singer just kept fiddling with the amp setup.
Julian fell into his work, setting the amps up the way he wanted them. Last night had been hectic with the opening act playing before them, and an outdoor stage meant that all of their equipment had to be ready to pack up or cover in case of bad weather. Julian scoffed. In San Diego, bad weather meant a handful of mist, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. The crew had already installed the overhangs to provide shelter if they needed it, and all that was left to do were the minor details of setting up equipment. Still, it felt good to be working again. At least when he had cables to unroll, he could ignore the relationships that were falling apart all around him.
Surprisingly, Shannon was true to her word. After a minute or two, Julian tuned out the low clicking noise of the shutter and became unaware of her presence. It was only when she tapped him on the shoulder that he looked up and realized that she had still been there shooting photos.
“I’m going to get lunch,” she said. “Want anything?”
“Nah, I’m gonna eat later.”
“Okay.” She knelt to kiss him, and he obeyed unresponsively. She paused as though waiting for him to say something, but he turned his head away and kept untangling the mess of cable that sat atop the amp.
“Can we talk later?” she said.
“Yeah, sure.” Okay. She definitely knew. Julian breathed a sigh of relief as Shannon left.
“Whoa, man,” Alex said once she was suitably far away in the distance. “What was that all about?”
“What?”
Alex raised his eyebrows.
“You know what. You two. Where’s the love? I thought you were taking her out on like a sailing trip or something.”
“Yeah, we did that,” Julian said, wincing as he remembered the events that had transpired on the sailboat. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know.”
“I really don’t want to talk about it,” Julian said. Every single memory of Shannon that floated to the top of his mind made him cringe with bitterness.
“Okay,” Alex said. Julian relaxed. Alex was a good guy. He would never steal another bandmate’s girl. Or any girl, really. Which reminded him of the fiasco last night.
“How’s the whole PR thing going?” Julian said. “I haven’t turned on the news.”
“Ugh!” Alex fell backwards in a dramatic sprawl, his limbs splayed across the stage floor. “I really don’t want to talk about it.”
Julian laughed. “That bad, huh?”
“Nah,” Alex said. “Pat is on it. He’s coming up with some marketing plan or something. Rebranding, you know, like you were saying. But I think he wants me to just focus on the music.”
“Hard to do when the world is screaming about you,” Julian said.
“Right? I know.” Alex rolled his shoulders. Julian could tell that there was still some tension in him, but he was doing his best to push past it.
Alex jumped off of the stage into the sand below.
“Okay, play something,” he said, backing away from the stage. “I want to hear how it sounds.”
Julian smiled and strummed th
e opening chords to “YMCA”. Alex laughed.
“Sounds great!”
Julian kept playing, though, standing up and shaking out his guitar cord, and Alex began to dance along to the song. A couple of joggers on the boardwalk nearby stopped to watch.
“You think Pat will be mad at us if this gets out?” Julian yelled down to Alex. Alex shook his ass at the joggers gleefully.
“Who cares?” he said. “They’ve already got a picture of me kissing a boy. How much more gay can I get?”
***
It was already getting dark by the time they had set everything up, and fans lined up by the boardwalk entrance all the way down the beach past Julian’s line of sight. The sunny day had been marred by low clouds rolling in overhead, but Pat thought that everything would be fine for the show. Daniel sat back by his amp, tuning his bass for what seemed like the hundredth time.
“Where’s Asher?” Alex asked. “We were all supposed to be here by three.”
“I just texted him,” Daniel said. He looked worried. “No response.”
Julian looked around, scanning the back of the stage. There was no sign of Asher or of Shannon. Coincidence? Maybe. But he doubted it. A surge of anger welled up into his throat as he thought about the two of them.
“The doors open in ten minutes,” Daniel said.
Julian saw Pat running towards the stage. He walked down the stairs.
“Where’s Asher?”
“Yeah, we can’t play without a drummer.”
“He just called me, said he was running late.” Pat told them. “But don’t worry, he’ll be here. Even if we have to start a bit late.”
Julian seethed. First Asher fucked up his relationship, and now his band.
“The doors open soon,” Pat said. “Just be ready to go as soon as possible.” He seemed like he had other things on his mind. Probably dealing with the controversy around Alex being gay.
Walking down to the back of the stage, Alex and Daniel began to talk animatedly, but Julian turned away and went to help the road crew set up the lights. He didn’t want to hear anything about Asher. Not right now. Possibly never.