by Nikki Clarke
“Um, I can’t swim.”
Bati’s head snaps up. He scowls and plants his hands at his waist. “How is this possible? Earth is seventy-five percent water.”
“I never had a chance to learn,” I fess up, a little embarrassed by how silly it sounds. “Chicago doesn’t really have a beach. It’s just a lake. I just kind of wade around in it. I never really needed to learn.”
Bati huffs out a disappointed breath but steps close to me and pulls me against him, pressing his nose to mine. “Ma’h qitah, my lehti. I did not mean to shame you. We will remedy this. I will teach you. It will be fun.”
I imagine playing around in the water with him. It’s not a bad picture. In fact, it’s kind of hot.
“Ew, why are you guys kissing so much?”
I chuckle nervously and try to push away from Bati, but he doesn’t let me go far before his arms lock. He turns to KJ and raises an inquisitive brow. “And how about you, my dahni, can you swim?”
“Like a fish!” KJ drops to his belly and starts to kick his legs in the ankle deep water. His arms arch through the moss, one after the other. “Cupcake hands! Cupcake hands!”
Bati laughs but looks down at me in confusion.
“Cupcake hands helps him remember how to stroke properly.”
Bati nods. “Ah, I see. You have very good form, my dahni, but we must leave if we are to make it to our campsite before the high tide comes.” He turns a playfully disapproving glance at me and scoops KJ from the ground. My son doesn’t stop his swimming demonstration. His legs and arms continue to flail about in the air.
“I’m a fish, Apha!”
We freeze. My eyes go wide at the same moment as Bati’s. KJ, oblivious to the gravity of what he’s said, continues to laugh and wiggle in Bati’s hands.
Holy shit. I don’t have to ask what that word means. My translator kicks in, and there is no mistaking the words that whisper through my head after KJ’s shout. Beloved father.
“I will instruct him not to call me that if you wish,” Bati says softly beside me. I pretend like I don’t hear him and continue to look down where I’m stepping.
My kid thinks that Bati is his dad or something. I don’t even know what to do with that. Partly because I’m too embarrassed that he’s never known his real dad in any meaningful way, and also because when he said it, it didn’t feel wrong. Slowly but surely, whether I realized it or not, over the past few days I have come to see our threesome as a family. It happened so quickly. It was almost like we just clicked together and I didn’t even realize it.
We’re wading through the water on the way to our campsite. It’s knee deep now. The gauze fabric of my dress floats around me, tangling in my legs with each step. I kick my legs up, trying to unravel it.
“I don’t want to diss Qitoni fashion, but this is the most impractical design ever!” I lash my foot out in frustration, sending up a spray of water. In addition to trying to navigate the rising tide, the various moss and plant life is obstructed by the pitch black water and I keep tripping.
“That is a low tide dress. For strolling and protecting the Qitoni’s delicate skin from sun damage. During high tide, they discard their clothing.”
I trip again, but right myself. “They walk around naked?”
“They swim without clothing, yes. It is more practical.”
He continues walking, but I reach out and take hold of his arm to stop him. The muscles bunch beneath my fingers as he turns to face me. KJ is perched on his shoulders. Bati produced another square of Lyqa taffy from his pocket, and my son is busy covering his face and Bati’s red curly hair in neon blue goop. “Wait, they swim? Like the entire time?”
“They are an aquatic species, as I have said. They are similar to…” he looks up as he searches for the English word in his internal translator. “jellyfish, perhaps.”
“They’re animals?”
“We are all animals,” he returns, dryly, and I bend down to flick some water at him, making him laugh.
“You know what I mean.”
“Yes, I do. They are an amphibious species. They have evolved in symbiosis with the planet and dwell both on land and in water. Does that satisfy you?”
I focus back on my feet because the way Bati’s blue eyes bore into mine is too much. He’s so cute. Even more so when he’s happy and playful. It makes it harder to fight the attraction that I’m even more aware of since he explained the leht.
“We are nearly at the campsite. It is there.” He points in the distance to a ginormous yellow tree. The flat top hangs lopsidedly over the truck. It looks similar to the hollowed tree the kids at the park played in.
“What is that?” I huff out as I struggle to keep up with Bati’s long strides. Each step is like walking through quicksand.
“It is a sea willow. Visitors use them as campsites.”
Bati stops abruptly and turns to me. I’m about to ask what’s wrong, but he wraps his arms around my back and hauls me up against him. My dripping legs dangle above the water.
“Put your legs around my waist.”
“Wh-what?” I sputter. I can’t think when I’m this close to him. His blue eyes sparkle in the dark of his face, throwing off my senses.
“Lehti, I love you, but you are slow. I will carry you the rest of the way. If we must walk at your pace, we will never make it.” His mouth curves up, teasingly.
“So you’re going to carry me?” I’m playing coy, but I can’t wait to be pressed against his big body.
“I will, unless you are opposed.” His nostrils flare, and I know he can smell just how not opposed I am.
I sigh dramatically. “If you must.”
He holds me up like I weigh nothing. I check on KJ. He’s bent over Bati’s head asleep. His blue, sticky hands are clasped under Bati’s chin, and his cheek rests in Bati’s hair. Bati holds him steady with a hand around his back.
I lift my legs, kicking the flaps of the dress aside, and wrap them around Bati’s waist, securing my ankles at his lower back. I fumble with my arms, not knowing where to put them.
“Take hold of KJ. That way, I can hold you while you keep him steady.”
I do ask he says. I take KJ’s arms, careful not to wake him. Bati releases him and a second later, his hands slide under my ass, hitching me up against his waist. I gasp as my crotch comes in contact with the unmistakable ridge of Bati’s dick. He grunts softly over me.
“I do not want you to fall,” he mumbles, but doesn’t begin to walk again. He stares down at me, his eyes flickering over my face. I flex my legs, pushing our bodies even closer. Bati’s jaw clenches.
“I have packed a small tent for KJ and larger one for us to share.” As always, his breath is minty and warm. “Is that acceptable?”
I know what he’s asking, and I don’t try to hide my eagerness. I flex my legs again, grinding our middles together.
“It is more than acceptable.”
The reply is barely out of my mouth before he swoops his head down and mashes his mouth to mine. His thin, slippery tongue sweeps through my mouth, ticking the sensitive roof. We stand kissing for a long while. When he finally pulls away, I’m out of breath. I suck in a deep lungful of air.
“My heart.” It’s a soft whisper. Barely loud enough for me to hear. His expression is heated, and his erection presses against me.
“I’m glad I’m here with you, Bati.” It’s getting easier and easier to say these things. I want to say them.
“I am glad you are here with me, Tiani.”
He starts walking again, and every movement is a delicious ache that have no interest in getting away from.
BATI
I force my legs to move through the thick water because this isn’t the time to indulge in my baser instincts. And while the tightening in my pants makes it difficult to navigate the water comfortably, I know I have to wait until we are alone in our tent to do everything I wish to do at the moment.
We reach the giant sea willow just as the water r
eaches my waist. The entire journey, my lehti has remained quiet. Although her scent grew apprehensive as the water rose higher and higher on our entwined bodies, there was an undercurrent of excitement.
When we get to the base of the willow, I look down at the top of Tiani’s head. Now that we are still, I realize she’s shaking. The cloudy, black water around us is frigid, and the sun has begun to set. I should have dressed her more properly. A walking dress is not the most appropriate for this time of year, but I could not resist the opportunity to see all of her smooth, brown skin peeking from beneath the sheer fabric. My keen eyesight has been able to detect the dark tips of her nipples through the bodice of her dress, and it has been all I could do to keep myself together.
But now she is cold and I am sure also hungry. I will see to my lehti and dahni’s dinner as soon as we make camp.
“Release KJ to me and step up onto the trunk,” I instruct softly. She raises sleepy eyes to me and lets KJ go once I have taken hold of him. “Feel to the left with your feet. The base of the tree is there.”
Tiani kicks her legs to the side and makes contact with the solid base. This tree has been modified for campers. I lift her out of the water and onto the first step that leads up the side of the trunk.
When she is on the base, she reaches out for KJ then pulls back, planting her hands at her hips. A little flush of embarrassment dances beneath her brown skin.
“Boy, how long have you been awake?”
“Long time,” KJ proclaims above me. I lift him over my head and turn him around in my hands. He is, in fact, wide awake. He smiles and goes to his mother while I pull myself out of the cold water.
“Um, so do we just go up the side?” She points to the flight of Qitoni made steps, but her eyes keep flicking down my body. The water has made the thin materials of our dress stick to our bodies. Every place her eyes land warms me, and I have to close my eyes to gain control. Tiani’s dress has been made even more sheer from the water. Help me.
“Bati?”
I open my eyes. She’s looking at me with something of concern.
“I am fine, Tiani. These steps will lead you to our campsite.” She looks at me closely for another moment before taking KJ’s hand and turning to go up the steps. The trunk of the sea willow is massive and winding. Sea willow bark is known for its sturdy, rock like material. This willow was been dried out from the sun. The petrified structure has no more life, but stands as a safe place for campers during high tide.
As I follow them up the steps, I can't help but linger on the rounded curve of my lehti’s behind. Her hips sway seductively as she takes the steps, her movements made only more pronounce by the tired lag in her step. Beside her, KJ hops from step to step, his jerky movements causing his mother to trip.
“KJ, come walk with me,” I tell him, and he wastes no time releasing his mother’s hand and leaping back into my waiting arms. Tiani only glances back briefly before continuing up the steps. I lift KJ onto my side and reach into the pouch around my neck to pull out the task list for this ta’ani. I need a distraction.
“Dahni, these are all of the things we need to collect to complete our mission,” I exaggerate. There are only four things, a meager amount. Most ta’ani have no less than twenty items.
“What does it say? I’m gonna get ‘em all!” KJ tosses his arms into the air, his little fists bunched together in anticipated victory. I laugh and ruffle his head. He reminds me so much of Ah’dan. His curiosity. His surety of self. He is magical and joyful. Tiani has done so well with him.
“This is a wuor’gi.” I warble the Qitoni word in my throat.
“Wooooooogie,” KJ repeats, pursing his mouth and wavering his voice on the vowel, triggering a soft laugh from Tiani.
“Very good, my dahni. Wuor’gi. It is a beautiful multi-colored stone found in the west seas. They are said to bring good fortune to those who keep them.”
“What is multi-colored?” KJ asks.
“It means something with a lot of different colors, baby,” Tiani huffs out in front of us. We are nearly to the top, but it has been a long trek, and she is low on energy.
“How will we find the woogie?”
“We must look around. We must search for one.” I don’t mention that the ground where we step is littered with wuor’gi. It is a very common stone on Qiton. One could look at the ground at any moment and find one. With the high tide, they are only slightly more difficult to find without diving for them.
“Ugh, finally!” Tiani comes to a halt in front of us and heaves out a deep breath, planting her hands at her lower back. “Dude, I thought you were tryin to kill me. That was crazy.”
She takes in another deep breath and steps up onto the flat top of the willow. The branches have long fused to create a tightly woven platform that is safe to stand on. Still, she steps carefully forward, looking down at where her feet land.
“It is safe, Tiani. Western sea willow is one of the strongest materials on Qiton.”
She steps more surely onto the platform, making way for me to step up with KJ. I lower him, and he immediately takes off across the platform, his body bent over as he peers closely at the ground.
Apprehension rises in Tiani just as her mouth opens to call after him.
“He is not in danger, lehti. You do not need to worry. I would not bring you to a place where harm could come to either of you.”
She looks at me guiltily. “I’m sorry. I know you know what you’re doing. This is just so different. Black folks don’t really do camping, you know?”
This is strange. “I do not know. What keeps humans of your ethnicity from camping?”
She turns to me and laughs, dropping her hands and shaking her head. “That’s a joke. We camp, we’re just not about putting ourselves in unnecessarily dangerous situations. It’s a cultural thing, I guess.”
This makes sense. Lyqa, too, enjoy adventure but are not inclined to acts of needless recklessness.
“Do not worry. I do not take chances with my family,” I return before I realize what I have said. “I do not mean to imply that we are partnered. I just mean—my brother and your sister are partnered therefore—”
“It’s okay. I know what you mean.” She looks away, but her cheeks warm brightly. I clear my throat and drop our packs from my back. They fall beside KJ’s, which he dropped before running off.
“We should prepare our tents. The sun has begun lowering and the air will cool. In the morning, we can start the ta’ani. It should only take a day to complete. I will also give you a swimming lesson in the morning.” I pull the thin, element resistant tent from my pack and begin to unfold it.
“What am I supposed to swim in? I didn’t exactly pack a swim suit.”
“Your clothing is of no matter. I will teach you to float, and if we have time a basic paddle. Much like KJ’s cup-cake hands.”
When I glance up, Tiani is smirking down at me. “If you say so.”
Chapter 11
TIANI
“Are your eyes functioning improperly?”
I blink on the side of Bati’s blue-black face. I’ve been staring. I can't help it. I spent the past half hour watching this Lyqa dude in wilderness mode and it’s kind of hot. First, he’d propped our tents. I was surprised to find that the same blanket we used at the park opened even further, and with the wave of his hand over a sensor, poofed into a large domed tent. Then he’d pulled a smaller tent from KJ’s pack and set it up right next to ours.
He’s preparing dinner. I’m useless right now. I wouldn’t know what to do with the flat, round pad he slaps on the ground if he told me. I have nothing to do but stare at him. The way the muscles in his arms and back bunch and ripple every time he moves. He doesn’t look up after his question and I clear my throat and look away.
“It’s ‘do you have an eyesight problem’.”
“Do you?” He turns to look at me and his blue eyes sparkle.
“Maybe.”
His gaze flares briefly befo
re he turns back to the pad. He waves his hand over it and the center begins to glow. A red ring spreads outward until the entire pad is bright. It’s warm from where I sit. Bati pulls a small pouch from his pack and tosses it on top of the heated pad. Almost immediately, it begins to puff up, steam shooting from a small hole in the top.
“Wow, that’s so cool. Is the food in there?”
He nods. A second later, he slides the pouch from the pad and waves his hand over it again. The red ring immediately disappears. He reaches out to pick it up, and instinctively, I grab his arm to stop him.
“Don’t burn yourself!”
Bati chuckles and eases his arm from my hand. Before I can stop him, he slaps his hand down on the pad. Nothing happens.
“It is okay, my lehti. The heat is gone.”
“Oh.”
He puts the pad back in his pack and passes me a long handled three-pronged fork.
“KJ, it is time to eat. Come, little one.”
KJ drops the blocks he’s playing with and turns into the circle, taking the fork I hold out to him. Bati pulls the sides of the pouch apart and steam plumes out to reveal a pile of vegetables. They’re glazed in some kind of dark sauce. A spicy, sweet smell wafts up between us, and my stomach grumbles. I’m starving.
I reach in and spear one of the veggies then hold it out for KJ. He immediately scrunches up his nose and turns his face away.
“Bleh, I hate carrots.”
I laugh and pull the fork to my mouth, taking a bite. It does taste a bit like a carrot, except it’s sweeter. More like a sweet potato. I make a show of chewing enthusiastically and hold the fork back out to him.
“No, it’s yummy, baby. It tastes like sweet potato pie.”
“It looks like a carrot.” He holds his mouth tightly closed.
“KJ, I will give you sawa if you do not like it, but you must try it first.” Bati holds up a round, furry fruit. It kind of looks like a large purple kiwi.
“Okay. Ah!”