Chapter 14

No need to get dressed.

When all you are wearing is flip flops and another woman’s secretions, those aren’t the words you expect to hear out of a dinner date. Vanessa was dressed for fun in shorts and a tank top. A nurse handed me a towel. I was blushing.

“How about we get some barbecue on The Waterfront?” Shani suggested.

“I figured we’d go to The Strip...” I ground my teeth as I considered.

“You just landed in paradise,” Vanessa took my arm and leaned on my shoulder. Olivia mirrored on the left, “Let’s go where there’s whores and fun, not black ties and snootiness.”

“He’s not thinking lunch. Japan time is nearly twelve hours off.”

“Oh, midnight snack then!” Vanessa grinned, “But barbecue sounds lovely.”

“Is Dad at the Waterfront?” I asked fearing a yes as much as I wanted to see him.

“Usually, but it’s only the afternoon. I had left him in bed with a bunch of Russian girls. You know how much he loves girls who don’t speak English?” Olivia laughed. I nodded. That wasn’t something I knew about my father.

“Cart’s arrived.” Shani said over her shoulder. “C’mon Casanova.”

The four of us piled into a the automated cart. I sat in the back with Vanessa. Shani waddled into the passenger seat. I decided against saying the word waddle aloud in her presence. I rubbed her shoulder. We shared a smile. Olivia pressed the go command.

We drove around the towers. In the light of day, this area, The Strip was near unpopulated. An older gentleman, smoking a thick Cuban, was irritating his impatient companion with second hand smoke.

“She’s not going to work out,” Olivia grumbled.

“She could just sit lower on the stairs and she wouldn’t be getting it in the face.” Shani despised inaction and stupidity.

“Maybe he wants her sitting at his side?” I suggested.

“More than he’d want his dick sucked?” Shani scoffed. “We’ve got Sisyphos for a reason.”

“You’re not going to win a ‘Send the trollop packing’ argument with Shani,” Vanessa laughed. “Win her, win Garth, win you.”

“What?”

“Oh, that’s the plot to get on for another term,” She shrugged. “Even I had to do it and I’m Tannerpharm staff, not Sao Huberto.”

“Fuck Island,” I corrected her.

“Yeah, I know.” She leaned her head on my shoulder. “Did anyone call ahead about that barbecue?”

The short paths across the island were empty until we hit the intersection offshooting to The Castle and The Globe. They had traffic. Rich guests from their hotel rooms or beach cabins and sexual reinforcements coming down from Casa de Tanner. I wasn’t the only naked man, though most preferred Hawaiian shirts and Bahama shorts. We’d take a long winding right and end up down at the Waterfront.

“What about burgers at The Castle?”

“If I get a whiff of dragonfire sauce I’ll throw up...” Olivia gave me the most pathetic frown. I nodded.

“I had The Castle yesterday anyways,” I said without thinking. Olivia reached back and stroked my hair. Vanessa squeezed my dick.

“Did anyone give you any Sisyphos today?” She noticed my relaxed state.

“I did.” Shani spoke up.

“Maybe I need another pill?”

“Probably not,” Vanessa shrugged. “Shouldn’t hurt though. I didn’t bring a bag with me. We’ll grab a tablet at The Waterfront.”

The trip was short; we might’ve been going fifteen miles an hour. We were driven under the bannister and onto the cul-de-sac. I looked out over the beach for the second time in waking memory. It was not as full as last time. A yoga class was going through the motions. There was a bit of a party shuffling back into one of the motel rooms.

The sand splashed over my toes and I was thankful for the flip flops. I turned and offered Shani both hands for her to get up. She took them with a frown. I pulled her into a hug.

“Yeah, yeah, I love you too.” She murmured happily. Vanessa and Olivia cleared their throats.

“There’s the bar here,” She waved to where Dakota was smiling and looking bored. “But we want to head down there.”

She gestured to a grass canopied gazebo down beyond the yoga class and lifeguard chairs. A couple of girls were hauling baskets in.

“One sec,” I squeezed Shani and handed her off to Olivia. I smiled back at her communicative finger. I grabbed Vanessa’s waist. “You can drink right?”

“I’m on call.” She worried.

“Just the one?” I pleaded. “My other dates have uterine parasites.”

“OK, one.” She nodded. I knew I could’ve made her. I knew there was rules saying that medical and security could turn me down. I doubted if I got insistent they would. One drink. I decided. She was on call. “But quickly, I am ravenous.”

“I could eat,” I agreed. “You two start over? I’m sure we can catch up.”

“I’ll make sure she gets there.” Olivia promised.

“You know, if he wasn’t flailing his cock around, I might be able to chew him out for treating me like an invalid.” Shani murmured. I put her behind me.

“Dakota!” I helicoptered with a stupid grin. She snorted laughing. “Two mai tais.”

“That’s not really my drink,” Vanessa hopped on on the stool. “Hoping to bait a trap and lure out the wily Garth?”

“He is pretty wily,” I agreed. “How’s the beach, barkeep?”

“With the rain this morning, the Globe’s where everything’s going wild.” She sighed as she flipped the stainless steel shaker and followed the named instructions. “Mel’s really outdid herself with that Sailor Moon room. I’m glad I don’t work mop up.”

“Really? I’d better get my hands on Mars.” Truth be told, when I thought of the symbols over the doors in the rooms of The Globe ... I wanted to see what was through the marked for Cobra. Tight leather, glasses, pistols, I could go for some Baroness.”

“I don’t know the cartoon,” Vanessa shrugged, “I find The Globe a little immature for my tastes.”

“You’re missing out,” Dakota shook her head.

“Or I know that I’m going to be here after six months, so I’m not slavering over the thought of auditioning for cosplay whore.”

“I’ve never put you in a slutty nurse outfit?” I grinned. Dakota garnished our drinks and slid them on coasters in front of Vanessa and me.

“See, no audition necessary.” Vanessa gave me a smug grin and sipped her drink. “This is delicious! You think about being a bartender when you’re finished up here?”

“I’m glad you like it,” She grinned. “I could see myself owning my own bar.”

“That’s great, I hope--”

“But, I won’t have to if I get picked by Mistress Hess.” She grinned. “She’s moving to comic books next, I didn’t get Wonder Woman but maybe I can get Big Barda or She-Hulk.”

I frowned. She was tall, 5’10’’, and muscled, for a girl. Not quite the 7’ Barda or Shulkie claimed but you had to make some leeway for actual human shapes no doubt. I knee-jerked no, because I wanted impossible authenticity. I forced myself to be reasonable. I could see her taking on the role, but, yeah, it wasn’t my first choice. Taller would be better

“What about Blackfire?” I asked. 5’10’’ was closer to 6’4’’ after all. And the cartoon got Tamaranean heights totally wrong anyways, “You’d need a matching Starfire but--”

“Already cast,” Dakota shrugged. “Spider-Man, Justice League, Titans and everything Batman. It’ll probably be Avengers next...”

“Careful, don’t want to miss your deadline...” Vanessa put down her empty glass. “C’mon, drink up.”

I’d only drank the first fifth. I doubled my intake. I put a hand on Vanessa’s thigh. I looked up and down Dakota’s black bikini top and sarong. I liked what I saw. “Screw it, I’ll sign you up for another six months, if that’s what you want. Gotta see if you’re Jennifer Walters material.”

“Who?” Dakota asked. Vanessa gave me a smug look. I drained my glass.

“You may want to do some character research,” I warned her. “Now get rid of that top and c’mon. We’re going to a barbecue.”

“Cool!” And the top half of her bathing suit went flying over the counter and onto the sand. I grinned to see a pair of big tits high on her chest. I slapped my left hand down on the edge of the bar, reached across with my right, snagged the back of her neck and dragged her across for a kiss. Vanessa ran a finger over my asshole and slapped the cheek.

“C’mon Lothario, if you waste much more time, I’ll kill and eat her.”

I grinned as I let go of the brunette and chased after the redhead. I caught Vanessa from behind with both hands on her hips.

“Seems like Shani’s pill is working,” She beamed over her shoulder. She gestured with a small ziplocked sun shielded baggie. “I picked up another dose from the bar just in case.”

“Good thinking, Doc,” I grinned. We cut straight through the Yoga class. Girls on mats in form fitting outfits in limber positions I loved. I recognized Kelsey and slapped her ass up in downward dog. “C’mon, time for your workout.”

“Having fun shopping?” Vanessa asked me as Kelsey climbed to her feet. She shook out her hair. Sand had ended up coating the ends of her blond waves.

“Hi, welcome back!” She hugged her naked boss. I kissed her ear. Reached out my other hand. Dakota instantly filled it. I left the other thirty girls in their square. There were girls of every color in many hourglass shapes. I had no interest in learning any new names. Vanessa hadn’t waited and she had reached the gazebo. That smell hit my nose and I was salivating.

The gazebo was a big square structure under a vented grass roof. Benches ran around the rim broken by short staircases centered on all sides. A white phone was screwed into corner. A smaller box of smouldering charcoal came up to my waist in the center. The grill was laid across it and two girls in aprons over bikinis worked with a thirtyish woman in a chef’s coat. Shani and Olivia conspired on the bench. I waved to the one kitchen helper I recognized.

“Hey Master!” Traci beamed. “These ribs are going to be awesome!”

“Making it a party?” Shani asked with a laugh to see each girl on my arm.

“I’m home, I like to celebrate that fact,” I decided. I surprised myself. This was my second waking day in memory. There were strangers everywhere but I was always welcome, always accepted, always desired. This felt more like home than any of the stark apartments I had used as sleeping boxes since university.