by Sandra Ross
In no time, all three were happily drunk, laughing, and seemingly oblivious to the potential danger from the storm just outside.
Joy felt that when Mother Nature decides to exert her considerable influence on humanity, what more is there to do but to submit? And submit is exactly what they were doing. For all she knows, a tornado could come and sweep them all away to the land of Oz and still they would still laugh, talked shit about the place's owner and tell jokes. Hurricane "Anne" or whatever the hell this first storm of the season was called was pushed to the very back of their minds. For now, there were only each other, the laughter, and their drinks.
Later, and at home, she laid in the bed for what seemed like an eternity. The wind had picked up outside and the storm seemed to be really close by. She remembers Brian calling and saying he was coming, and that he was safe and on land. He mentions he was coming straight from the boat, but it feels like it had been an hour at least since the call.
In reality, though, it had been only ten minutes at the most.
When at last she heard the door knob turning, her heart started to beat furiously. She stayed where she was, near-naked, ready, and she stifled the impulse to call his name. As the door to the bedroom creaked open, slowly, she turned onto her side away from the light in the hallway. She thought to let Brian think she didn't care for his absence. As soon as he came to her, though, that facade was shattered. She rolled towards him grasping his torso with her arms and legs and drew him in towards her.
"I was so worried" she whispered.
He smelled of fish and body odor from days at sea without washing himself. She loved this scent of his raw being. She clawed at his ragged, sweaty shirt, pulling it away to reveal a rock hard, chiseled chest. Her hands massaged his upper torso as she inhaled the scent of primeval pheromones. Her own body responded with fluids and sensations stimulated by the most basic instincts of humanity.
As he ran his large, strong, calloused hands along her lithe young body, he felt his body responding. Despite the mental and physical exhaustion from being at sea in the developing hurricane, the physical sensations from her young athletic body, firm smallish breasts with nipples as hard as pebbles and flat stomach commanded his manhood's attention.
"I should go, I need a shower and some sleep" he said unconvincingly, and didn't make a move to leave.
"You're not going anywhere," she said as she aggressively unzipped his pants and started yanking them down, freeing his now fully erect member.
She took his penis into her mouth, tasting the salty residue from the sea. He groaned and mumbled an unintelligible protest that didn't sound at all convincing as she slowly took as much of his sizable manhood as she could without choking. She gently pulled back his foreskin to expose the sensitive underside of his penis. With little licks to that sensitive spot just under the head of his dick, his size grew again, straining the skin. His little protests stopped and he submitted to her oral teasing.
She pulled out the condom hidden under the pillows and stretched it onto his swollen manhood. With him lying on his back, she straddled his pelvis inserting his impressive erection into her wet and ready cunt.
Outside the storm was gathering strength and moving inland. Thunder and lightning accentuated the howling wind that whipped the palm trees, bending and snapping branches. Rain, sand, debris and pure energy was assaulting the land mass of Key West. Inside, another type of storm was peaking until unable to be contained, exploded in orgasmic furor. The unbridled screams of her ecstasy were lost in the raging loudness of the storm outside. Afterwards they both fell asleep immediately, with him still in her.
In the morning, Stormy was alone. Sometime during the night Brian had gotten up and left, but that was okay, he had come to her first. She smiled thinking that he had come in her first.
When Brian had gotten home in the midst of the storm, he found Joy passed out on the couch. A thin string of spittle ran from the corner of her mouth to the pillow cushion she had laid her head upon. He smiled and was happy they didn't have to fight right then, that, he knew, would come tomorrow. He slipped off his clothes placing them into the hamper and took a long, relaxing shower. After, he returned to Joy and lifted her up, carrying her into the bedroom. She never awoke. He settled next to her and fell asleep confident he had gotten away with yet another indiscretion, happy to just rest and sleep in his own bed.
The next day when they both woke up, Joy was so happy he was safe and Brian so happy he hadn't been caught. There was no fighting at all. Even with a splitting headache from her hang over, she had made tender lovemaking with her man back from the sea. After Brian had left to go see what damage had occurred to the boat, Joy decided to do laundry. As she picked up Brian's shirt she brought it to her face and buried her nose into the rank smells of her man's scent. In addition to the pungent odors of man sweat, salt water, fish and smoke she thought she detected the faint odor of something else.
She couldn't be sure, but it almost reminded her of Patchouli.
Chapter Two
"JOY, WHAT'S THE MATTER?" Eric was being his usual caring self.
"Nothing. Brian's not answering his phone. I've texted and called, but I'm directed straight to his voice mail."
"Is he out fishing?"
"No, the boat needs some repair after the storm so everyone's dry docked for a few days. He's just been acting so weird lately."
"What do you think is going on?" Eric sensed he knew what Joy was worried about, but waited to hear it from her.
"Oh, probably nothing. I think he got a little freaked out with the storm but his macho image won't let him admit it." Joy didn't sound convincing at all.
"Okay, let me know if you need anything." Eric responded, looking directly into her eyes. "I'm always here for you, you know that right?"
God she loved this man. She hoped his boyfriend Bill knew what a good guy he had. "Hey Eric, is Stormy working today?"
"Later, in at five."
"Okay, thanks. Got a new one, gotta go." Joy had noticed a single guy had sat in her section. "Hope he speaks English and knows how to tip" she laughed. Even her laugh wasn't convincing.
"Hello, welcome to Schooner Wharf, my name is Joy, can I get you something to drink?" Joy gave the required greeting as she placed a menu and wrapped silverware in front of the guy.
"Well God has heard my prayers and brought Joy into my life" the big man responded with a deep southern drawl and a bigger smile revealing almost perfect teeth. "Do y'all have sweet tea?" Just the way he enunciated "sweat tea" told Joy this man was indeed from the south.
"Let me guess" answered Joy, "Alabama?"
"No Ma'am, but you're real close, Georgia. Little itty bitty town called Marlborough, on the Alabama boarder though, so you were real close." He flashed her a big smile. She notices how perfect his teeth seemed. "And you? You from here?"
Joy smiled back, growing just a little self-conscious about her own imperfect teeth. "No, not originally. I was born in New York, but I'm a fresh water conch."
"Pardon. Ma'am? What's a 'fresh water conch'?"
"Oh, that's someone who wasn't born here but has lived here a while."
"So what do they call someone who was born here?" the man asked, with honest interest.
"A salt water conch." Joy responded with her own beautiful smile.
The man visibly blushed and looking down said "well ain't I a Coon's Ass and just plain old stupid, that sure makes sense. Can I ask one more stupid question?"
Joy was genuinely taken back by this gentle man's unassuming personality, and his great smile. "Sure, ask anything you want."
The customer raised his head and making eye contact asked "I am sure your job isn't to answer stupid questions from a country hick, but what exactly is a conch?"
Joy actually giggled spontaneously. "First time to Key West I take it?"
"Yes 'um. My first vacation as an adult male. Graduated from Dental school and went to work with my Dad back in my home town, he's a dentist
too, and two weeks ago he says to me he wants to retire. He just up and says one day outta the blue Vincent, you better take a vacation now cause you sure won't be able to for a while after I quit." Vincent paused for a second. "Lordy, that sure was a mouthful."
Joy just stared and smiled at this gentle, honest man. She didn't really know what to say.
Vincent stuck out his hand and said "My name is Vincent, nice to meet you Miss Joy."
As Joy took his hand, she notices how his huge hand completely engulfed her own petite hand, but softly, and gently. She felt her hand melting into the strong, secure safe hand of Vincent, the dentist from Georgia. All she could really manage was "Nice to meet you too," but her smile and touch conveyed some of what she was experiencing and thinking at this spontaneous meeting.
Vincent said, "I'm actually Vincent Junior. My daddy is also a Vincent and also a dentist, they just call me Vince." He looked embarrassed and let go of her hand, looking down said "I guess I already told you all that." As he looked back up at her he asked "So what exactly is a conch?"
A little flustered and happy to be back in familiar territory, Joy replied, "Have you ever seen those beautiful big tropical shells, they're like this big?" Joy held out her hands about a foot apart.
"Well sure," Vincent drawled in his best Jim Nabors voice.
"Well," continued Joy, "Those are conch shells and those little snail-like creatures that live inside of them are called conchs. It's considered a delicacy around here but I think it's like eating a rubber bands. Hey, let me get you something to drink and let me check on my tables. We can continue this fascinating conversation in a minute, okay?"
While studying the menu Vincent said, "Your parents sure knew what they were doin' when they named you Joy. Can I have a Key West Ale please?" He looked up, again flashing that perfect smile.
"Be right back," was all Joy could mutter. She walked away, unaware that she hadn't even thought about Brian for the past 20 minutes. After delivering his bottle of beer and checking on her other tables Joy returned to take Vincent's food order. She had composed herself since their first encounter. "Know what you want?"
The southern gentleman looked up and flashed his boyish smile and said, "I surely do Ma'am, but it's not on the menu."
Suddenly all composure fled. Joy broke eye contact and started stammering, "Well that's all we got, what you see is what you get." She suddenly realized what that sounded like and tried to recover. "I mean the menu, I mean what you want to eat. I mean ---," she just trailed off and just stared at the man.
He smiles, from ear to ear. "Gimme one of those burgers with some cheese, please. Ooh, ohh and some tommata and pickle on there if you can. And Bacon. Mayo and lots of ketchup for the fries, okay? Please?"
The man was sure passionate about his food for sure, Joy thought, but other than teeth, what else did he have? "How you want it cooked?"
"I like my meat like my women" replied Vincent. "Rare."
Joy just looked at him, smiled and point blankly asked "You got a rare one at home doc?"
"Marlborough aint't got much that's rare," was all he said.
"Hey, you wanna do something?" Brian and Stormy had just finished an hour-long episode of grunting and pounding each other's body in pure base primitive rooting. Neither one had even considered the other's existence other than as the source of the physical stimulation each narcissist was using to meet their own individual needs.
Stormy made a move towards Brian's crotch. "No, not that." Brian whined, "I mean go out and do something."
"Why?" was Stormy's only question.
"So how's the burger? Ready for another beer?" Joy was checking on Vincent the dentist. He had just taken a big bite of the rare cheeseburger and bloody grease was dripping down from the corner of his mouth.
"Umm yes 'em" was all he could mumble with a mouth-full of food.
As she went to the bar to get him another bottle of beer she reflected on the man's unabashed openness. It was refreshing in this place so full of players, vacationers and transients. When she returned with the brew, Vincent had finished his burger and was eating French fries. He had made a little pile of ketchup and mayonnaise and was picking up each individual fry and twirling it in the mixture, eating one at a time.
"These here French fries are just a vehicle to consume the pink sauce," he offered between bites.
"Pink sauce?" Joy asked.
Sure, that's what we call it to home. Mayo and ketchup mixed together, you know, it kinda turns pink depending on how much ketchup you use. We put it on everything at home."
"Everything?" she asked.
"Jes 'bout, he answered. "Scrambled eggs, cheese sandwiches, pizza, veggies. We put in macaroni salad, deviled eggs and well jes 'bout anything, oh and" as he held up a fry, "fries. It's real good on fries, you never ate it?"
"Well, I've had Thousand Islands on a salad, does that count?" Joy smiled at this country man.
"Well, I reckon it is Thousand Islands without the pickle stuff added, here, you wanna try?" as he held out a fry dripping in pink sauce.
Without thinking she took the pink sauced fry and popped it into her mouth. She had never accepted food from a customer's plate before and was surprised she had just done it. It was good though and she smiled saying "Damn, that is good! But pizza?"
Vincent flashed one of those great smiles, he had some food on one of his teeth but it didn't detract at all from his attractiveness. "For the crust Mam, we dip the crust in the pink sauce. It's mighty good."
"Hey Vince, can I ask a favor? Would you stop calling me "Ma'am"? Makes me feel old," Joy asked.
Sure thing Miss Joy, it's just my upbringing. But no more 'Ma'am' for you. Now can I ask you a favor?" He waited patiently for her reply.
"You can ask," Joy replied.
"Can you come out with me after work and show me your town here? I don't have a clue of where to go or what to do."
The wave of emotions was obvious as they played across her expression. She would certainly enjoy spending time with this kind, polite man, but she had just met him and there was Brian at home. Well, maybe at home, he still hadn't answered her calls.
"I sure am sorry Miss Joy, that was a big assumption on my part. Can I ask, are you married?" Vincent asked so politely and with such respect Joy was a bit taken back. Normally she would have considered such a question a come on and would have retorted something like "Yup, and five kids under the age of four."
"No," Joy said hesitantly, "Not married." She could see the big grin forming on Vincent's face. "But I live with someone."
"You mean like a room-mate?" The dentist had asked the question with a perfectly straight face, but he was joking. "I understand. Well, I sure do hope he cherishes you the way you deserve." That he had said honestly. To that Joy had no answer. "Can you point me in the right direction anyways? I still don't know where I am or what to do. It is my first day here. Looks like you had a hell of a storm recently. I was watchin' on the weather channel. Was afraid I wasn't gonna make it here."
Joy relaxed a bit and felt back in familiar territory once more. This man had unsettled her twice in one hour and she didn't like that. She had given the "What to do one your first day in Key West" speech a million times. "Just a bad thunderstorm, no real damage," which wasn't really true. There were debris strewn everywhere that had been blown about. The tides had risen well above normal and the beaches were still a mess. A few roofs had lost shingles or tiles but no one had been hurt and no major damage had occurred.
"At sunset go to Mallory Square. Everyone goes there for a view of the spectacular sunset. There are local artisans selling their crafts, you know, bracelets and earrings, drawings, painted coconuts and things like that. Local street performers and musicians work for tips and appreciation. Occasionally someone famous, like Jimmy Buffett will just hand out and play incognito. It's cool. It's a Key West institution and everyone goes. Just watch your wallet is all. It is a pick pocket paradise."
"Where? Vincen
t asked? "Mallory Square where?"
"I'll get you a map before you go" Joy advised. "After, just walk down Duval Street. I don't know what you like, but it's all on Duval. It's the famous street here in Key West. People do the "Duval Crawl." They start at one end of Duval and stop and have one drink at every bar along the way and see how far they can get before throwing up, passing out or getting arrested. I don't recommend that for your first day though, maybe wait until your second or third day here." She paused to see if he was smiling and saw that he was.
"Really, Duval and a block or two in either direction has everything. Famous bars like Sloppy Joe's, Willy T's, Margaritaville and the Hog's Breath Saloon, there's a Planet Hollywood, art museums, stores that sell everything from fine antiques to junk and more junk, souvenir shops that sell more junk, restaurants, coffee shops and a whole gay section with drag shows."
"Drag shows, Ma'am?" Vincent asked somewhat indignantly.
"You know, female impersonators," Joy explained.
"Yes 'em, I know what a drag show is, it's just---. He paused, "Do I look like someone who wants to go to a drag show? Don't get me wrong, Live and let live I always say, I just choose to live without that. Unless of course," he added slyly, "You want to go with me, then it'd be all right I reckon."
Joy could only say "Let me get you that map and your bill, I hope you have fun, Doc."
Vincent left her a twenty dollar tip on an eighteen dollar bill. On the receipt he had written "You are a Joy!" A few minutes later Eric came to her and said "Good job!"
"What?" Joy asked.
"That guy asked for the manager. He complimented the food, said best burger he ever ate, and went on and on about you. Said the service was perfect and you were very friendly and helpful. Way to go."
Joy still had two and half hours left on her shift. Lunch had come and gone and she was trying to keep busy, cleaning and filling things. At the same time she obsessed about Brian and why he wasn't picking up or answering her messages. Something just didn't sit right with her. It wasn't a specific thing, just a subtle inside feeling something was up, something was wrong.