James Landis story chapter 13

James Landis story chapter 13
 
 
Just before they got underway a young couple came by and asked if the space on the net next to them was open. James nodded and they smiled and got settled. James caught a flash of gold out of the corner of his eye and saw the young woman was tying her sandy blond hair back and her ear was now exposed. She had gold rings, lots of them, running up the outer edge of her ears. She noticed his stare and smiled.
 
You like my earrings? she said with a lovely accent he couldn't place.
 
Yes, I've never seen so many! James said in awe.
 
Her smile turned into a pleased grin at his wonder. James noticed the boyfriend giving him a hard look so he turned back to face Rose. He heard the woman say something in another language to the man. She sounded annoyed and the man's response sounded... mean? It could have just been the language. Then silence.
 
It was to be a five hour cruise with lunch and snorkeling by an island. They'd have beach time when the cruise got back.  James hoped he hadn't started an argument and ruined the day for them.
 
James picked up Rose's hand and pressed it against his lips. She had been so wonderful with him the night before. He felt so much better. Rose squirmed as his lips travelled over her knuckles and she finally pulled her hand away and shook her finger at him. He saw her nipples were pressing against the tight cups of her red bikini top. He looked away quickly as he felt a familiar twitch in his bathing suit. Tristan and Dale were smiling at them and James smiled back. The young man wasn't smiling when James looked towards the bow. James sighed. Nothing he could do about that.
 
James removed his shirt and pulled the suntan lotion out of the bag as he tucked the shirt inside. Rachel took the bottle from his hand and squirted some in her palm then handed it back to him. He began rubbing lotion on his chest and stomach while Rose got his back. He'd already done his face, arms, and legs back in the room. He had to twist his body to face the bow so Rose could reach his back properly.
 
James tried not to look at the couple before him but there was an almost tangible quality to the man's glare. Looking the other way he saw an appreciative gaze from the woman who was smiling openly at him. She cried out in sudden pain and a string of coarse sounding words flew from her lips at her companion as she rubbed her hip. He'd kicked her?
 
He looked to the man and he was firing some coarse words back at the woman. He suddenly stood and made his way to the back of the boat pulling a cigarette from a pack.
 
James looked at the woman who was still rubbing her leg. "Are you alright?"
 
She smiled and shrugged. Sergio can be a jealous prick sometimes. I am Katrina. Please, call me Kat."
 
Hello Kat, I'm James, this is Rose, Tristan, and Dale, he said, making the introductions. Kat nodded to each of them with a smile. They traded hotel names. James thought he recalled seeing hers when they were driving around.
 
I'm not familiar with your accent. It's very nice, James said.
 
"We're Georgian. Seeing James's confusion she continued it’s a country near Turkey on the Black Sea."
 
"Ah, we're from the States, James replied.
 
Kat smiled. "Yes, I recognized your accent."
 
James looked at her in surprise. "I have an accent?"
 
Kat began to laugh and the others smiled at his innocence.
 
I think you are a very sweet man, James from the United States, but I had better go find Sergio. I can leave our bags here?
 
James nodded to her and she made her way to the back. He slid down until he was fully reclining on the mesh. It was heavenly. Rose ran her fingers through his hair and he purred with contentment.
 
He must have fallen asleep as he suddenly jerked awake to the sound of shouting. Sergio and Kat were flaring at each other across the netting. Kat was sitting up on the center beam with her feet on the surface near James's shoulders. Sergio was sitting up on the hull across from her. Both were shouting and gesturing at him. James got annoyed.
 
Hey! People are trying to relax here. Keep it down!
 
Sergio gave him a condescending look and rattled off something directed at him.
 
James just looked at him tiredly. "Was that meant to upset or insult me? Or just make you feel brave?"
 
The look in Sergio's eyes went cold and dangerous. James just held his gaze calmly. Eventually Sergio made an odd sucking noise with his teeth, picked up his bag and walked to the back of the boat. Kat looked at James nervously. "You shouldn't have questioned his bravery."
 
James looked at Kat. I wasn't the one hiding behind a language we didn't share.
 
With a final nervous look Kat grabbed her bag and went to find her boyfriend.
 
Americans! Making friends wherever we go! Dale teased and James smiled at him. He relaxed back against the mesh and was soon lulled back to sleep by the waves.
 
James woke once more as the boat anchored near a small reef. It was snorkeling time! Dale and Rose decided to sit this one out but James and Tristan got their equipment. She got a life vest but they didn't have one large enough to fit around James's torso. He told them he'd come back to the ship when he got tired. They made their way to the steps leading down to the water and got in.
 
How is your swimming? Tristan asked.
 
"I'm an excellent swimmer in a pool but again, this is another first for me."
 
"It's a lot rougher in the ocean," she said with a grin.
 
They got their masks and snorkels in place and followed the other swimmers. Sergio and Kat could be seen ahead of them. Sergio also didn't have a life vest but he certainly would have fit one. Glancing at each other they veered a little to the side so they didn't get too close to the couple.
 
James was mesmerized by the beauty of the life under the sea. The reef was small but there was so many species of fish and other creatures living on it. It really seemed like an island under the water.
 
Tristan looked like she was enjoying herself as well. She kept pointing things out to James and making squeaky noises in her snorkel. James tried his best not to laugh as that flooded his mask.
 
They followed each other around the reef for thirty minutes and James was starting to get really tired. He wasn't exactly a floater with so little body fat.
 
Suddenly he heard choking and screaming. He lifted his head as he did Tristan and they spotted Kat splashing on the surface. No sign of Sergio. James cast a quick look at Tristan then dove beneath the surface. He saw the man floating just above the reef. James quickly swam to him and dragged him up to the surface. James checked and the man wasn't breathing.
 
He was becoming exhausted but he immediately began pulling Sergio to the boat as that was the only solid surface around. He kicked and pulled for all he was worth and got to the boat's steps quickly. Hands lifted the unconscious man upwards and James pulled off his flippers and climbed up after them.
 
No one seemed to be doing anything so James's training kicked in. He concentrated hard and the steps clicked into place. He worked on Sergio as the other guests arrived and a cheer went up as the drowned man began to cough and gasp. Kat and Tristan finally managed to get back on the boat and Kat dropped to her knees next to the coughing man. She was crying and saying something that James couldn't understand.
 
He flipped onto his back and gasped for air as his exhausted muscles twitched and shook. Rose knelt next to him and put his head on her soft legs. He smiled up at her. "Hello pretty lady."
 
"I didn't know you were a lifeguard too."
 
Didn't I mention I got certified when I had that job working at the community pool? he said weakly.
 
"Are you ok?" she asked with concern in her voice.
 
I'm just exhausted... and hungry!
 
You're always hungry! Luckily they are about to serve lunch. Rose pointed to the back.
 
"Ah! You're an angel!" he gasped and sat up.
 
Sergio was sitting up as well and was looking at James with a sour expression. Kat was speaking quietly and rapidly to him in their language. Finally Sergio raised his hand to indicate he'd heard enough. He looked at James again.
 
"Thank you," was all he said and even that hadn't come across as very sincere. Kat looked furious again.
 
You're welcome, was James's reply. He had no more time or energy for the man. He didn't wait around for more words as there was food waiting for him.
 
The staff was delighted he'd been there to save their guest and piled food onto two plates for James. They cleared a table for four and James's group got to sit together and enjoy the delicious chicken, fish, rice, salads, and vegetables. There was a huge dessert assortment, mostly cookies.
 
James powered through his lunch and ate a few cookies for dessert. Finally he pushed back and patted his tummy to show its little bulge. He was stuffed! He yawned hugely.
 
"Oh! Sorry about that," he said to his friends.
 
"I think someone needs a snooze." Rose said.
 
"Well I am a little bit tired," Dale admitted with a straight face. Tristan swatted his arm and Dale chuckled. The group made their way back out to the front of the boat.
 
Kat and Sergio were back in their spot.
 
If you do not mind we would like to share this area with you. Kat asked.
 
Not at all, we were just going to have a nap, James said.
 
"We will be quiet." Kat replied picking up James's hint. He smiled and settled himself down.
 
Hang on James. You have to reapply your lotion after swimming, Rose said holding out the bottle. He sighed and took it from her. It took ten minutes to cover all of his exposed skin and that was with Rose's assistance. His eyelids were drooping when he was done. Using his rolled up towel as a pillow he lay down on his stomach and was out.
 
When he woke once he felt shadows across his body and the boat was moving once more. He was still on his stomach and felt someone soft pressed against his left arm, sharing his warmth. Opening his eyes he was looking through Rose's lush red hair. Then he realized he felt someone soft pressed against his right arm. He turned his head and saw sandy blond hair and many, many earrings. Lifting his head he saw the angry eyes of Sergio staring at him from his seated position on the hull. James raised an eyebrow in question but Sergio just stood up and walked away carrying his bag.
 
Kat.
 
She stretched out against him, rubbing down the length of his body. She pulled her head back and winked. Oh! James! I am sorry. I was just trying to stay warm and you are very warm.
 
That's OK. Uh, I think Sergio hates me again. He just left if you want to find him.
 
No. I am done with him. I have told him that as well. He showed me what kind of man he is when you saved his life. I will not waste my life on a man like that. When we get back to Georgia I am moving back in with my mother.
 
If you don't mind me saying it I'm glad to hear that. I know you can do better than him, James sighed.
 
He felt movement on his left side so he turned his head and looked into beautiful blue eyes. He leaned over and kissed her tenderly making Rose purr. Her eyes widened when Kat sat up leaning on James's back to steady herself. The breeze was much cooler and sitting on top of the mesh meant the breeze got them from below as well.
 
James looked over Rose and saw Tristan cuddled up against Dale. They looked so sweet together James smiled at them and Rose looked to see what he was smiling at. She also thought they made a cute couple. James caught motion in the corner of his eye and saw they were re-entering the bay they'd left from.
 
We're back, he said to Rose. She sat up and tapped Tristan's foot. The woman blinked her eyes open and stretched against her husband who was awoken by that delightful feeling.
 
They got their stuff ready. While James was over by Dale the older man leaned in beside his ear. "What happened to Kat's boyfriend?" he whispered.
 
She dumped him. She didn't like the man she saw when he came back.
 
That's going to make for an awkward remaining few days. Dale said and James's eyes widened.
 
I hadn't thought of that.
 
The girl seems bright and tough. She'll land on her feet, Dale suggested.
 
 
 
 
By nutbuster