Decorate My Palm Tree

by M. Garnet

  * * * *

  She actually sighed as she just hung onto his belt and her life jacket. If she got out of this, she was going to have this jacket put in a glass case for her office on display. She put her head against his shoulder and spoke loud. “I want to let my legs drag downward. Do you suppose there are sharks here?”

  * * * *

  Doug started to chuckle, but coughed as he swallowed water. “Baby, you are more likely to drown than to be eaten by a shark in bad weather. They go to the bottom to wait out the water turmoil.”

  He felt her shivering. “If you are getting cold, you may need to move your legs.”

  She coughed against his shoulder. “Cold in Florida. This is so stupid. I am going to drown and I have so many regrets.”

  “Hey, don’t get down now, baby. Talk to me. What kind of regrets would a beautiful girl like you have?” He looked around, trying to avoid the wind and salt water in his eyes, but hoping to see something. Unfortunately, there was nothing but water blowing sideways with the tops of the waves being pulled off adding to the moisture in the air.

  * * * *

  She leaned in against him more, letting her toes down in the water. It seemed the deeper in the water the warmer it felt. Maybe talking would help.

  “Well, to start with, I have wasted three years of my life grieving for my dead parents and they wouldn’t have wanted that.” She turned into him more as she closed her eyes against the rain. “My fiancé killed them. He was driving when drunk, and hit them broadside, crushing their small sedan with his big SUV They were strong religious people. They would have wanted me to go on with my life. When I meet them, I will have to tell them how sorry I am for wasting that time.”

  * * * *

  Doug pulled her tighter, hoping their bodies would create heat. “Well, just consider that we will get through this so it will be a long time before you have to apologize to them. Hold me, baby.”

  She hesitated, then asked him, “So what do you regret?”

  “Oh, sweetheart, that I never had the chance to make love to you.” He felt her shiver, trying to look at him. “At first, I was attracted and just wanted to fuck you, but the more I saw you, the more I saw that you kept so much hidden, I realized it was deeper. I wanted to make love to you, to bring back alive all of your feelings.”

  * * * *

  “Oh, Doug, before this storm, I would have stayed hidden and refused you. It was so stupid of me, and now it is too late.” She held onto him, but she felt her strength going. She just let her legs drift down longer.

  Suddenly, her toes touched something and she let out a yelp and jerked her knees upward, almost tipping over.

  * * * *

  Doug tried to settle her and keep them above water. “Hey baby, easy. It’s okay.”

  She gasped into the wind. “I felt something with my feet.”

  * * * *

  “No, baby, I told you, the fish stay on the bottom. Look, I will stretch my legs down to—”

  Then she felt him jerk.

  “Shit, sand, baby you found the bottom. We must be near a beach or island. Come on, we need to figure out which way to walk, we need to walk upward if it gets shallower.”

  Gigi was not sure she understood him in the confusing storm, but she went where he pulled her. She was aware that he was standing and walking. She realized he was so exhausted, he couldn’t drag her, too, so she slowly placed her feet down and found wet sticky sand. She still wasn’t going to let go of him or her friend, the life jacket, but she went with him and found they were coming out of the water and into the wind and driving rain. This was worse as the rain stung her skin and flung her clothes and hair.

  Doug was pulling her in the knee-deep water, not going further up on the beach. He seemed to be just wading and she was confused until she was aware that the wind wasn’t as strong.

  “Baby we are on one of the barrier or interior islands. We have moved so that the island and all its wild growth are shielding us somewhat from the wind. Now, we can move up on the beach to see if we can find any type of shelter.”

  Gigi held onto his belt, but let a little room slip between them. “What do we do?” She finally could speak without swallowing seawater.

  “Well, when the flash from the lightning bolts hit, look around at the ground and see if you recognize anything. Each time, look a little further away. We aren’t going to move yet until we recognize something. We are looking for bushes, trees, old wood, washed up debris, anything.” The whole time Doug was talking, he was facing away from her, ready to look around.

  Gigi decided to look in the other direction. She didn’t turn away, just moved her head a short way to see over his shoulder. The next flash just blinded her so she was no help, and evidently, Doug didn’t see anything either as he didn’t move. But there was another flash right behind it and she saw a dark shape against the pointy leaves of the underbrush by several palm trees that were bending in the wind above them.

  “Doug there is something stuck up under those two trees in the bushes.” She tugged on him to turn him in just the right direction.

  * * * *

  “Okay, baby, let’s take a few steps in that direction and see if the next flashes will show us anything.”

  It turned out to be a couple of pieces of damp plywood that had probably been brought here by campers. All Doug could do was put one on the ground and lean the other one at an angle against the wind and rain side to give them some more protection. He even pulled in some of the dead palm fronds and had Gigi sit on the life jackets that he spread out flat on the bottom board.

  They had no way to start a fire in the wet environment so he laid down, almost covering her with his body, hoping that they could share warmth. He pulled the palm fronds over their feet and they finally allowed their bodies to rest, listening to the storm still raging around them.

  Surprisingly, they both caught some sleep as their exhausted bodies just did what was demanded: rest.

  * * * *

  Gigi woke up as Doug moved away. “Where are you going?”

  “The storm is still with us, but it is getting lighter out, must be dawn. I just want to look around. We need water or something to drink.”

  She looked at him carefully as he pushed the makeshift covers away and moved out into the rain. “Please be careful,” she begged him, not sure he heard her in the rain.

  She rose up to a sitting position and watched him until he disappeared in the wind and rain. She could see things, so maybe the storm was starting to move away. She tried not to worry, but it took him so long to get back that she had begun to wonder if he got lost or was swept away in the squall as the winds picked up again with it getting darker.

  She heard a noise in the other direction. It was Doug dragging something behind him with a couple of bottles under one arm.

  “Help me. I think we can make a better shelter.”

  She got out, and at his instructions, picked up the life jackets. He had found a large piece of blue tarp. It evidently had blown off a boat or something that had tied it down. It was large enough to lay down first and then fold back up and over them. Doug propped it up with the plywood and put the life jackets back down for them to lie down on.

  He brought his face close to her and smiled. “Look what else I found.” He held up a bottle.

  She saw a black and gold label wrapped around it.

  “Champaign. Now all I have to do is figure out how to get the cork out. A good puzzle.”

  She watched, forgetting how cold she was as he unwrapped the paper around the top. He used his fingernails to loosen and pry up the wire, carefully handing it to her to save. Then he worked the cork with knuckles and fingernails, and muscles in his hands without any luck.

  She handed him the wire. With a smile at her, he began to chip away at the cork, small pieces slowly plopping into the air. She sat and watched, totally enthralled by his hands working on the neck of the bottle. Suddenly, there was a hiss and bubbles along with wine beg
an to trace down the outside of the bottle.

  Doug brought this to his mouth and sucked like a baby. Then he stopped and looked at her with a guilty smile. As soon as he pulled his mouth from the lip of the bottle, bubbly wine ran down the side, so he just pushed it between her lips.

  Gigi did the same action Doug had done and sucked on the Champaign. It washed the night taste from her mouth along with the salt from the seawater she had gotten. She sucked on the small amount that the bottle dispensed.

  She handed the bottle back to Doug. “Is alcohol really good for us in this situation?”

  Doug took his lips off the bottle and put a thumb over it to save the bubbly wine. “I don’t know for sure, but I figure any liquid that doesn’t have salt going into our body shouldn’t hurt.” He had the bottle back in his mouth.

  It took her only about ten minutes to feel drunk. No food for a very long time, lots of exhausting exercise in the dark storm and now the bubbly drink that they both shared.

  “Doug, I am getting warm from the drink. I am also getting a little tipsy.”

  He put his arm around her, pulling her into his warm body.

  “Doug, I want to give you a small Christmas present. Oops, that was not PC.” Gigi actually giggled.

  Doug carefully sat the bottle in a hole in the sand beside the tarp and looked at her. “I thought you didn’t do the holidays, baby.”

  Gigi grew solemn as she turned to look at his blue eyes. “I promised myself when we were struggling in the storm that I would change my ways. We are still not out of this, but even for a few hours, I can change.” She knew he was going to speak, but she put a finger on his lips while she still was brave enough to say what she wanted.

  “I want you to make love to me. Please. Finish what you had said you wanted to do when we fought to save our lives. Make love to me.”

  * * * *

  Doug wasn’t foolish enough to speak when she removed her finger. He drew her close and moved his lips to taste the Champaign on her mouth.

  * * * *

  She let her lips relax and welcomed him in. Why on earth had she thought she didn’t want this for three whole years?

  Even with the storm around them, she heard Doug’s voice. “Baby, there is no way this is going to be sweet and slow and lots of romance. But I do want you so much, if you are sure.” He returned his mouth to hers, going deeper.

  She had her arms around him and he pulled her over onto his lap. She just wrapped her legs around him, sitting chest-to-chest, feeling the warmth of his body fill her as his arms encircled her, pulling her tight. She could feel his own excitement growing fully against her between their bodies as his erection told her he really was ready. Instantly, even in the cold storm, she felt heat and moisture of a different kind was ready in her.

  She felt him fumbling with one hand between them, but each time he moved, he rubbed against her clit, exciting her as she pushed against him. “Baby, I need some help, can you get this damn belt undone?” He was talking into her ear, his hot breathing feeling so good.

  Gigi smiled, loving that belt that led her to the safety of this island. She leaned back against the one strong arm behind her. Working her hands between them, she undid the wet belt and began tugging it, but with his wet pants along with the soggy leather of the belt, it wasn’t coming out. As long as she was in the area, though, she unbuttoned the top button of his pants and scooted against him as she slid his zipper down. She smiled as she heard him groan. That was one big pole between the two of them.

  “Baby, I warned you that there couldn’t be much romance, but I want you so much. I have for weeks.”

  The wind was kicking up again, even whipping their tarp, but neither of them noticed as Doug pulled her up against his chest.

  Gigi sucked in damp air through an open mouth as she felt his hand on her mound, then he was fumbling with her thong that was sticking to her body. With a frustrating sharp tug, he just ripped the material, then his hot hand was against her swollen nub. She shuddered as she almost climaxed just with his touch.

  * * * *

  Doug was desperate to get inside of her. Everything else might be cold, but the joining area of her body was hot and inviting. He had almost died in the water and they still weren’t out of this storm, but if this was the last thing he was going to enjoy, he felt it would be like heaven before he got to the golden gates. He rolled his fingers across her clit, pushing the wet lips apart and found the hot entry that he wanted. He slid a finger in, hearing her soft gasp as she bent her head against his neck. He could wait no longer as he eased her down, guiding her onto his erection.

  “Damn, baby, you are so tight. I don’t want to hurt you, but I’m not in a position to stop now.” He was panting around each word.

  * * * *

  Gigi wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed her legs around his hips, feeling the first entry of a man in too long a time. She felt her body sink down and close around the large male member, surprised that there was a feeling of being, uncomfortable as her unused female orifice stretched to accept him.

  * * * *

  Doug waited, feeling the tight grip, wanting her to enjoy this as much as he already did. He again felt for the swollen nub he knew had to be full of passion and would help her relax. He felt the change in her as she pulled him with her legs and sank down entirely on his erection.

  * * * *

  His long penetration ignited a fiery lust that shocked Gigi. She wanted him to move, to let her know she was alive so she pressed down, feeling her body relax around him as he slid deeper.

  * * * *

  With a storm surging around them, they moved together, bodies also surging. The ancient dance that was so much more for these two out in this primal setting. When the release came for both of them, it was as strong as the lightning flashes above. For her it was climax after climax, sending her shuddering weakly against his chest. For him, it was a release that started at the tip of his spine, his balls gripping almost in pain, then the ecstasy of release as ejaculation of seed once, then twice as all his muscles tightened before softening, almost tipping them both into the wet outside sand.

  Chapter Five

  Gigi opened her eyes slowly, feeling the loss of Doug’s warmth. “What is it, Doug?”

  “The storm has passed. It either blew out or moved on inland over interior Florida.” Doug spoke over his shoulder as he began to kick at items that had washed up on the sandy island.

  She saw him stoop over and then pull something from being partially buried.

  He turned and raced back to their ragged little shelter, holding in his hand a bottle of water. He knelt on his knees in front of her as he unscrewed the cap, offering it to her like a gift.

  Gigi smiled and took a deep gulp of the clean warm water, then wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she gave the bottle back to Doug, making sure he took a deep drink.

  Doug spoke as he looked out at the salt water. “Well, no food, but this fresh water gives us a break. We need to walk around the beach to make sure there are no boats that we might be missing. Surely people are out looking for survivors even in the rough waves.” He pointed at the waves that were only about two feet but were choppy.

  She joined him, walking carefully since she was also bare foot. They needed to avoid rocks and shells within the sand. Looking around, Gigi suddenly stopped and started to laugh. She sat backwards on her butt and pointed upward.

  Doug stopped, totally perplexed until he looked to where she pointed—a lone palm tree stripped of all dead fronds by the storm. It stood in glory, totally wrapped in twisted bands of silver ribbons. Evidently, the storm threw around someone’s outdoor silver decorating ribbon until caught by the tree. The whipping back and forth in the storm had twisted the silver ribbon around and over each green frond, then even around the curved trunk that, like most palm trees, was rough and had many prongs to catch the silver. It was like the proud tree, having survived a storm, wanted to draw attention to itself. />
  Doug stood over her, legs apart and hands on hips. “Okay, it’s cute but not enough to send you into so much humor. Are you going to be okay? Perhaps you have been through too much.”

  Gigi finally got hold of her laughter and let Doug pull her up. “Doug, I have a single palm tree in my front yard. Every house on my street has decorations up, a lot of them covered with outdoor lights. This is my first Christmas in Florida and I had never seen anyone decorate a palm tree before this. Because of my sadness and anger, I refused to look at my dark house. I refused even to admire my neighbors’ decorations. So here, in the middle of surviving a storm is a decorated Christmas palm tree. There has to be a message there.”

  * * * *

  Doug pulled her into his arms to give her one of those deep kisses that she responded to with full need each time his mouth claimed hers. As he leaned away from her face and looked down into her dark brown eyes, he spoke softly.

  “There is a message. We got through this storm for a purpose. So don’t answer me at this moment, but after the proper amount of time, I am going to ask you to marry me and you are going to say…”

  Gigi looked at him for only a second. “I will say, yes.”

  Doug kissed her again meaning to make it last except it was interrupted by the sound of the engine of a boat and someone yelling at them. Help had arrived in the form of a large flat Zodiac boat with a Coast Guard team.

  About the Author

  After raising a daughter, running an International Business, traveling the world and only finding time to write a few minutes in any twenty-four hour period, Muriel now is retired in Florida and can write all day and all night, which she often does. Under the pen name of M. Garnet she uses all the experience she gained, and without any hesitation, draws information from her long list of friends and acquaintances worldwide. She loves to hear from you at mgarnet2@yahoo.com.