by Nicole Hite
Now she really was going off the deep end. The only act of betrayal was that of this disease against my life. That was the ultimate act of betrayal.
The last card was, The Chariot. It was a truly valiant looking card with what looked like an Egyptian warrior going into battle.
Smiling widely, “This is your final outcome, dear. You will win this battle through your determination and might. Your willingness to fight is a direct reflection of your achievements through your bold actions, and change through your fierceness. Strict discipline and individual effort not to mention endurance will turn the tide with your struggles. You will get through this and change your destiny.”
“You’re kidding me right? So, hard work and determination is going to cure my ALS. Nice try.”
“The cards, they do not lie,” she looked oddly offended.
“I don’t know if you know this, but there is no cure so that great and wonderful future you see if full of shit.”
“Kat…” Lee began.
“No, Lee. I knew this was a crock of bull. I need to get out of here before I really lose my shit,” I said storming off.
“I’m so sorry, Esmeralda,” I could hear Lee apologize for me.
I was almost out the door when I swung around to see Lee talking and paying Esmeralda. I walked briskly down the sidewalk, ticked at the outcome. I wasn’t exactly sure why though. I had known this would be the outcome, so why was I so pissed?
“Hey, Speed Racer, slow down!” I could hear Lee yell from some ways back.
Lee finally caught up just as I was taking a right onto Magazine Street.
“Kat, can we stop for a second so we can talk about what just happened back there?”
“Why? Seemed pretty cut and dry if you ask me,” I pouted.
“I don’t think you are seeing the big picture here, Dove,” he stated as he clutched my elbow, swinging me around.
“What, Lee? What is the big fucking picture?”
“I know I’m not going to say what you want to hear right now, but listened to me, please. I think you were taking her words a little too literal.”
“What!” I barked.
“Hear me out. Fortunetellers, tarot card readers, even fortune cookies are designed to be vague as shit. Their meanings are subjective, Dove. She could have said, ‘you are destined for greatness’, and to you, this means a long and healthy life for the future. Consider, just consider that it could also mean something extremely irrelevant.”
“Like what?” I looked at him annoyed.
“Perfect example, you could be destined for greatness at your job, or even Mario Kart. The fact of the matter is it’s not always about the major issue at hand. Sometimes little victories are big victories.”
I growled under my breath.
“Did you just growl at me?” he snickered.
I growled even louder, as a slight smile began to creep across my lips.
“Oh you are so done for little one,” Lee grabbed me and started to tickle.
I tried my best to keep it together for as long as I could, but the tickles became too much to bear. I erupted into laughter as my body doubled over, trying desperately to curl into a ball so he would cease his evil doings.
“I say, we go back to your place and Google the shit out of things to do in the Bahamas, then I can show you what lumberjack Lee has under his hypothetical flannel.”
“You are so weird sometimes,” I giggled, “I guess Esmeralda was right about the traveling though.”
“See that, that you are allowed to take literally,” he laughed.
After two weeks of browsing, booking and waiting for our trip to get here, we were finally waiting on the tarmac, waiting to take off. The plane was nothing to call home about, but it was comfortable. With my feet firmly planted on the ground, I clutched Lee’s hand tightly. I closed my eyes and prayed to whatever Goddess was above to keep us safe.
“Afraid of flying,” Lee whispered into my ear.
“I just hate take-off and landing, that’s all,” I bucked as the plane began to prepare for takeoff.
“Maybe this will help,” he undid our fingers and withdrew a blanket from the pocket in front of him. Laying the blanket on my lap, he made sure to cover both out laps.
“Lee, I hardly think a blanket is going…”
Before I could protest, Lee was inching my sundress up to my knees. I was in total shock as my eyes shot up, surveying the other passengers. There wasn’t anyone beside or in front of us, which was a blessing.
“No one’s looking, Dove. Try to relax,” he whispered into my ear not before laying a light kiss on my neck.
“Ladies and gentleman, it’s going to be a couple minutes before we can take off. We have two planes in front of us – Flight Attendants, prepare for takeoff,” the Captain came over the intercom.
Just as the crackling of the receiver was hung up, I could feel two achingly perfect fingers slide into me. It really was the perfect distraction. I rocked into his hand, wanting him to go deeper. As he would withdraw his fingers, his palm would crash into my bud.
I wanted so desperately to moan in pleasure, but I’m sure the rest of the plane would prefer me not to.
“As much as I want to hear your screams right now, you need to keep quiet, Dove,” Lee laughed. He pressed his lips to the sensitive skin behind my ear and I nearly lost it.
“How am I supposed to stay quiet when you’re doing that?” I grinned as the plane began to move again.
“Okay, folks, we’re second in line. We’ll be up and away in just a moment,”
Lee was doing a tremendous job of distracting me. My mind was the furthest away from takeoff right about now. He sank his fingers in and out of me slowly, drawing out each caress.
“I love the way my fingers feel inside of you, Dove,” he silently muttered into my ear. “I bet you taste just as good.”
I desperately wanted to straddle this man and show him how I needed him in that moment, but something tells me, that’s frowned upon. Instead, I reached over and unzipped his fly. It was just as easy to get to him as he did me. So that’s what that little flap on his boxer briefs was for.
Two can play at this game.
As soon as my chilled fingers touch him, he let out a breathy sigh.
“Jesus, Dove, your fingers are freezing,” he squirmed, but quickly relaxed the moment I continued to massage him.
Everyone was too distracted by the rumbling of the engines to realize we had both reached out climaxes as we were now in the air. Lee covered my mouth from screaming my passion for the entire plane to hear.
This was going to be a great trip.
“So, do I get that special treatment when we touch down too?” I chuckled.
“If you give me that sort of response again, absolutely.”
“Only if you give me that response yourself.”
“I think our negotiation skills are getting truly astronomical,” Lee states.
“Next we should discuss how to solve world peace,” I stated.
“And while we are at it, perhaps third world problems?”
“Perhaps real problems like, where in the world is Carmen San Diego?”
“Ah yes, that damn Carmen. Always fucking shit up,” Lee laughed.
We touched down after only a short while in the air; the unfortunate part about living relatively close I suppose. Once we landed, we exited the tiny plane, praying we didn’t receive any wondering eyes should someone have heard us. The first stop was the resort.
The van that transported us from the airport to the hotel was, by far, worse than the entire flight combined. The driver drove, easily, 30 miles over the speed limit and that’s if the limit was 45. He weaved in and out of traffic, nearly hitting a bicyclist. The poor bicyclist had a plastic crate basket with a rooster perched within. A pet, perhaps? Nothing would shock me here.
Finally arriving at the resort, the cabbie slowed down only slow enough to wave to the guards manning the gates. Armed with assaul
t rifles and barrettes, I started to question whether this place was safe. I suppose that fact that the walls were high and the gate keepers had guns, should be a good sign, right?
We drove around the round-a-bout, parking in front of the so-called lobby. The lobby, however was not like just any hotel. In the Bahamas the resorts were wide open, no walls, but more like marble floors with a roof of sorts to protect from the elements at times.
As we were in line waiting to check in, we were approached by an attendant with warm cloths that smelled like heaven – lavender and a hint of sage. I had never been anywhere so nice in my life. I was lucky to go anywhere where someone didn’t spit on me. Although I was commissioned through the Saints, that didn’t stop the NFL from shipping me off to this place and that. Never once actually putting me somewhere as stellar as this though.
It was our turn in line as we walked up to the marble counter. It was as if each marker on your journey to the counter was the resorts milestone gift to us. Another young lady this time offered us cucumber infused water, while the attendant pulled up our room, charged the card on file and sent us on our way.
“This is delicious. I know it’s so basic, but it’s insanely good,” I squawked like a redneck on Rodeo Drive.
“They probably have magical springs of water syphoned by Oompa-Loompas just beyond that wall,” he laughed, pointing to where we just arrived.
“How in the hell could you afford this? This is amazing!” I said as I looked across the lobby. Dropping off like an infinity pool, the stairs cascaded into three separate pools loaded with cabanas, tan legs and endless thong bikini bottoms.
“My goal was to get you in one of those by the end of the trip. The travel agent said they were a staple at this resort. Naturally I booked right on the spot,” he smirked.
“If I have to wear one of those, then you have to where that,” I stated pointing to a rather large gentlemen wearing a gold banana hammock. “And I mean the whole outfit too!”
“There is no way in hell I’m wearing tube socks and sandals. I’ll do the whole, swinging bean bag, but for the love of Christ, not the socks and sandals.”
“Not even for me,” I batted my long eyelashes at him.
“Especially not for you. You’d tag that shit all over social media and then I’ll be the laughing stock of N’Orleans.”
“And what would I look like with all that butt floss up my crack?”
“Sexy is what you’d be,” he grinned.
“And if I wore slouchy tube socks and sneakers with?”
“You’d look like one of two things. A, either a Hooters waitress or B, Jane Fonda in one of her workout videos. Either way, I’m sporting wood. Your call Jane Hooters,” Lee roared with laughter.
“Well then, sounds like we’d be a sexy pair, huh?”
“We could have weirder fetishes I suppose.”
“I’m not even sure I want to know,” I giggled.
Our bags were delivered to our room as we toured the incredible resort. The palms were lush and the water as blue as the sky. Everywhere we looked, there was staff busily running around, serving drinks, and delivering towels. We walked down to the water just so I could see how truly beautiful the water was.
As we approached, I took off my sandals, sliding my bare feet into the cool sand, letting the grains slip through my toes. The coolness of the under sand was a stark contrast from the top.
We walked to the waterfront hand in hand, allowing the rolls of the tide to sweep over our sandy toes. The heavenly smell of suntan lotion and salt invaded my nostrils and I began to relax.
“What an amazing view,” I slowed to take in the impending sunset.
“I suppose this is your sunset, Dove. Check another off that list,” he grinned.
I retrieved my cell out of my bag and, for the first time, took a selfie of the two of us. The reds, oranges and golds of the sun plunging behind our heads were absolutely breathtaking. Turning my head, I kissed the side of Lee’s cheek as I snapped a photo.
“I think we should get to our room, change and eat. My stomach sounds like it wants to eat you right now,” I giggled.
“Can we just sit and enjoy this…for a couple more minutes perhaps? The view is so gorgeous, I want to remember ever detail of it forever,” he said, taking my face into his hands.
Placing a sweet kiss on my salty lips, I wrapped my arms around his waist and closed my eyes. The sound of the waves lapping behind us felt so peaceful as Lee’s tongue circled with mine. We held each other, kissing until we finally opened our eyes to see the sun had finally bid her farewell into the shimmering ocean.
By the time we made it to our room, room service had been in, dropped the luggage and turned down the bed for the night. Resting on the giant king sized bed was a towel swan with a rose in its mouth.
As I looked around the room, it was clear Lee had spared no expense with booking this suite. The floors were a chilly marble as I padded my way to the massive claw tub in the open bathroom area. There were no doors to conceal your every move, except for the potty, which had a phone inside the stall.
“Who on earth would you need to call in here?” I laughed as I explored the room.
“POTUS is the only one worthy of a shitter phone in my eyes.”
“Touché. I’m going to call you every time I’m in there, just because I can,” I laughed.
Snooping around further, we noticed an incredible ten-person shower, or at least that’s what it felt like. There had to have been three or four showerheads involved, but who needs to get that clean? Lee and I sang a chord or two of my embarrassing Stop and Shop excursion in the closed confines. It felt good that we had personal jokes and memories to share, ones no one could take away because they were all ours and ours alone.
“Holy shit, Lee,” I yelled as I stepped out and onto the balcony.
“What?” He ran, meeting me with concern in his eyes.
“Look!” I pointed to the best feature of our room.
“Man! That is super badass. I didn’t know we got all that!” He exclaimed as we stared in awe of the personal hot tub. Not only was there a beautiful hot tub, but also the view was spectacular. We were high enough to see the secluded beach, and completely shielded from anyone else.
“You see that over there, I pointed to a cluster of palms.
“Yeah,” Lee sounded vague.
“I want to be right there tonight. Just you and me, laying in that hammock star-gazing.”
“I can certainly make that happen,” we smiled at one another.
We ordered room service, only for the very reason that I couldn’t possibly put forth the effort to get dolled up. I was perfectly content on cushioning up in the plush bedding, eating high priced chicken tenders, while guzzling more of their spectacular cucumber infused water. Lee also didn’t have a single problem feeding them to me either. I teased that I would bite his fingers every now and then, but never actually followed through with it.
“Ready for our walk?” Lee asked as he hopped off the bed. He slid on his flip-flops, offering his hand to me for assistance. Taking it, I grabbed a light sweater before we made out way out for the evening.
We made our way through the deserted palms, and crash-landed on one just on the outskirts of the cluster. I was surprised it was vacant to be honest considering it was a picturesque, clear night.
“Go on,” Lee tried to persuade me to get into the hammock first.
“You must be insane. I am definitely not getting into that thing first. I will bust my ass trying to get into it. You go first and I’ll ease myself on in.”
“Suit yourself,” Lee planted his ass on the swinging chords. Just as he thought he had a good grip, he went plunging to the ground.
I doubled over in a fit of laughter as I tried to cover my mouth to mute my cackles. Lee sat in a pile of sand, laughing hysterically himself, which made me feel better for losing it.
“See. What did I tell you?” I knelt down before Lee, clutching my stomach.
Just then, Lee pulled me down into the sand with him. Tickling me senseless, I wasn’t even worried at how sandy we were getting. I wouldn’t trade this feeling for the world.
Lee hushed my giggles with a passionate kiss, rendering me immediately speechless. Sitting up right, Lee dusted the sand from my hair, placing a sweet peck on my nose.
“Let’s try this again, shall we?”
He stood wobbly, grabbing the chords again. This time, Lee slowly lowered himself onto the hammock. He was finally situated enough to lower me down on top of him. The hammock swung ever so slightly as I wrestled around to get cozy.
Swaying from side to side, I snuggled under Lee’s arm, resting my head on his shoulder. Pointing to the sky, Lee began to identify the numerous constellations.
“Do you see those stars right there?” he asked, pointing to a cluster of stars.
“Yeah, kinda looks like a box with legs,” I laughed.
“Almost, that box has arms and a bow as well. That’s Orion.”
“I’m not sure how you see that, but I’ll take your word for it. I only know two – the big and little dipper.”
“At least you know those though,” he grinned into my hair. I could feel the bristles rub my head as he continued to talk. “In Greek mythology, Orion was a huntsman who was cast among the stars by Zeus.”
“Why would Zeus do that though?” I questioned.
“Well, his daughter happens to be Artemis – the goddess of wild animals, wilderness and the hunt. Like Orion, she is said to always carry a bow and arrow.”
“Seems like a father’s dream to have a guy interested in the same things as his daughter.”
“Oh, she loved him alright. So much that it’s said she “accidently” shot him with a bow and arrow while out on a hunting excursion. Some say she did it because he was trying to seduce her friend Opis, the goddess of fertility. Others believe that he was not trying to seduce
Opis but instead persuaded by her bother Apollo who killed him in retaliation for his sister… Either way, Zeus cast him away into the stars for his beloved daughter.”