Chapter 21: I'm a Gemini, baby!

**Chase**

As dusk approaches, the five of us make our way back to the boat, urgent in our mission to avoid becoming a tiger shark’s meal. Katie and Jordan head to the bedroom to dry off and change, their laughter echoing as they shake off the day, while Corey makes his way to the kitchenette, readying our well deserved, post swim fuel. I hoist myself into a seated position on the edge of the stern, and watch as Lena climbs up the ladder, the salt water dripping off her silky skin. “So, you’re a mermaid too.” I comment as I hand her a fresh towel, and she smiles at me without reservation. “I love the ocean, but I’ve never experienced anything quite like this.” She says while patting down her long hair, and then wraps the towel around her waist. I can’t stop my eyes from flickering to every supple inch of her body, admiring her perky breasts as she sits with her legs extended behind me. Lena sets the goggles down beside her, and her eyes shift to the cove across the water. I follow her gaze to find scraggly moss swaying outside of its dark entrance like something out of a fantasy novel, and I realize I haven’t been there since high school. Amanda pops into my mind unexpectedly, and my thoughts flip through memories of her reluctance to join me nearly anywhere. She’d always claim she gets seasick, or express irrational fears of the ocean despite my life long expertise. She was a monumental part of why I avoided returning to Cancun when we were together, understanding that any trip we took here would be dictated by her wants and needs alone. It’s strange that those recollections would resurface now, as Lena and I share this idyllic moment without saying a word, lost in the haze of the sun setting across the horizon together.

“What’s your zodiac sign, Chase?” Lena breathlessly asks, as if she’s just returned to the present from some distant thought. “Oh no, you’re one of those girls huh?” I say jokingly, earning a whack on the shoulder as she glares through a giggle. I reposition myself to the side so that it’s easier to see her, one of my legs still dipping into the water. “I’m a Scorpio. My birthday is October 29, and you?” I say while glancing at Lena, curious about her celestial traits as well. “OH THAT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE!” Jordan interjects loudly as she hands each of us a beer garnished with salt and lime. ”What do you mean?” I ask before sliding the lime through the opening. I secure my thumb like a cork and flip the bottle upside down so the flavors can mix. I take a sip of my beer, coughing as the fizz tickles my throat then do the same for Lena’s. “Well…” she starts, Lena giving her a troubled look as I hand her beer back. “You have a mysterious aura for one. You look intimidating, but you’re actually as sweet as a puppy dog.” I laugh as she paces back and forth in contemplation, tapping her temple to call forth her thoughts. “You’re obviously determined and ambitious, we can all tell by this lovely ship you have here. And…” she stalls before peeking at Lena cautiously, “you’ve got that devil dick!” She shouts while laughing hysterically, hunching over in a fit of uncontrollable hysteria. I glance at Lena, whose entire face burns bright red, her eyes wide with disbelief. “What the actual fuck Jordan, are you drunk!?” She says tentatively, her voice bouncing all over the place with panic. “What!?” Jordan says in between gasps, “it’s well known that Scorpio men are well endowed and savage in the bedroom!” Lena tosses her towel at Jordan roughly as she turns to leave, ”and yes, I’ve already had 2 shots! I’m a Gemini baybeeeeee!”

Lena hides her face with her hands, but I can see that her ears are crimson between her drying curls. “Well,” I say, after taking another swig. “I’m happy to hear you enjoyed yourself as much as I did.” She peeks through her fingers, and I can’t help but chuckle at her sheepish reaction. “I’m a Taurus, May 12.” She says with a wince, dropping her hands to take a long swig. “Ah yes, I’ll pretend I didn’t notice your diversion. Taurus makes a lot of sense,” I tease, unable to conceal the grin I know is swelling on my face.“What makes you say that?” she asks, raising an eyebrow at me interrogatively. “For starters, you’re probably the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met,” I reply, swaying my finger like I’m drawing a bull with horns in the air. She glares, but I can see the gaiety twinkling in her gaze. “And you’re obsessed with food. Don’t think I didn’t notice you scarfing down those snacks on our way here,” I continue, nodding toward the empty chip bags resting in the trash can. “AND…” I lean in her direction while tilting my head, “you’re a bit lazy, which honestly surprises me.” Her mouth falls open, her curls bobbing as she shakes her head at me slowly. “How could you say such things? You don’t even know me that well,” she laughs, her eyes drifting back to the cove as she downs a little more of her beer. “I know I did the majority of the ‘work’ last night, while you… sat back and enjoyed being worshipped.” Her laugh fades as she glances back at me, her soulful eyes more ruminative than before. “What? I definitely did my part, and besides… You didn’t even kiss me so… why would I put in my best effort for someone like that?” she says with an offended snark, but the longing in her eyes betrays the real emotions she’s failing to hide.

When I gaze at her for a moment longer and read between the lines, it seems my teasing has poked a hidden vulnerability. I decide to press her further instead of backing off, yearning to obtain the key to unlocking her heart. “If I’m using your words Lena, what happened between us last night was a one night stand. Correct? I don’t make out with women I’ve just met, you know, that’s far too intimate for me.” I say jestingly while waving my arms in pitiful surrender. She takes a double look and scoffs, astonished by candor I slung her way. “Too intimate? I’m fairly certain your face and dick being in my vagina, without a condom mind you, is pretty damn intimate.” She crosses her arms, letting a frustrated huff escape her lips, the tension making itself known through hernewly clenched jaw. “Hmm,” I hum as I scoot closer, resting my palm on her delicate thigh. “You seem disappointed. Would you like me to… change that?” I ask, my voice lowering to a whisper as we lock eyes. I inch even closer, caressing her lips with my thumb before tracing up her cheek. She leans into my embrace, closing her eyes as my touch drifts to the back of her head. She is softer than she portrays. Hidden underneath her independent demeanor, I sense someone who craves loving affection more than she’d like to admit. And what the fuck is wrong with her fiance? I don’t think I’ve heard her phone go off once since she’s been here with me. I lean her head back, positioning myself between her thighs as she sits before me. The setting sun casts a warm glow on her angelic features and her mouth twitches as I maneuver even closer, pausing just before our lips meet.

“Are you going to tell me what you want, little dove?” I purr, pressing my chest into her. A quiet whimper escapes her as I nuzzle my forehead on hers. I move down, trailing tender kisses along her stressed jawline, my hand stroking her inner thigh softly as she fidgets in place. Just as I cup her chin and lean in for the kill, a loud crack snaps us back to reality. She pushes me off and rises to her feet in surprise, searching for the source of the commotion. “Sorrrryyyyy!” we hear Jordan hollering in the cabin, “I dropped my drink!” We glance at each other with relief as Katie scolds her, “JORDAN! This isn’t our property, you have to be more careful!” Lena starts up the stairs, I’m assuming to check on her friends, but I wrap my arm around her waist, effectively halting her in her tracks. “Do you want to go to the cove with me?” I whisper in her ear, wondering if she is courageous enough to take the risk. “Right now? Is that safe?” she ponders, her eyebrows scrunching as she surveys the darkening sky. “I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t. Now is the perfect time actually.” I say while setting her back down gently. “How would we even get there? It’s nearly night, aren’t the sharks out?” I pat the top of her head before suggesting with a shrug, “we can go by… emergency raft.” Her eyes widen and she chuckles, “what if you end up needing it later?” Tucking a curl behind her ear, I shrug one more time, “I guess I will just have to buy another one.”