Summary: In answer to Laurel’s challenge (how could I ignore the list mom’s command?) I cheated, it’s 2,400 (but 500 words is smut so, I guess I could cut it out – yeah on this list!): July 4, the beach, a lime, an oar and sand in someone’s underwear (you’re perverted under that sweet exterior, sweetie). While this story takes place in the near future, Hail and Farewell (hell, Need to Know) was just a Bobby Ewing moment — none of it happened. No death, no retirement and no twins. Not beta’d all mistakes are mine.
Dedication: To the wonderful group of folks who share my obsession.
The city is far behind us; the tangy smell of the oceanfront is still an illusion. Seagulls lead the way. Clay is determined to get to the beach house before everyone else. He’s in host mode. I turn in my seat to study him. "Who are you and what have you done with my uptight, secretive boyfriend?"
That puts a small smile on his lips but he doesn’t take his eyes off the road. Half of Washington is on its way to the coast. We’d even planned on going to the beach for the Fourth. However, at the last minute, Clay invited several people from JAG to join us, thus unknowingly, ruining my own deviant little plans. Not that I mind really. It will be good to have everyone together. Harriet and Bud jumped at the chance to escape a house whose air conditioner can’t be fixed until next week. Not that it was all self-serving on their part; they both like and accept Clay, not only as my boyfriend but as a friend in his own right.
Harm has accepted the fact that no matter what Clay and I have together, we’ll always be his friends. I’m a little surprised that he talked Sturgis into driving out with him. They’ll share one of the three bedrooms at the cottage. The Roberts family will take the master bedroom.
What surprised me is the occupant of the third bedroom. How Clay talked AJ Chegwidden into coming is beyond me. Of course, Clay often gets his way. It will be odd to host my CO. I just hope he can kick back a bit. Francesca might even join us, though where we’ll put her is a mystery. The guest cottage that Clay and I will be relegated to for the weekend is nice enough but it’s only one small room and a bath.
"So? What plans have I ruined?" Clay asks, pulling me out of my musings.
"What?"
"Come on. I saw that look on your face. What were you planning?"
We – as well as about twenty other cars – are stopped at the only traffic light leading into town. I decide to tease him. "You know the strawberries and whipped cream I had you take from the fridge?"
"Yeah. It’ll make a good desert." He gives me the grin that makes him look like he doesn’t have a care in the world.
"I had other plans for them."
"Oh." He closes his eyes imagining what might have been.
I lean in. "Had you gone into my bedroom, you would’ve seen the scarves tied to the bed posts." His eyes pop open to see my smirk just as I caress the length of his zipper. "Pity." His eyes are a lusty shade of green, but he’s wearing his own smirk. "What?" I demand.
"Look in the pocket behind your seat.
I reach around and pull back the scarves. "When?" I demand.
"Like I’ve ever passed up a chance to check out my own personal Mecca."
"Idiot!" I laugh but it turns into a sigh. "You think we’ll have chance to even cuddle this weekend? Between hosting, prepping, cooking, eating, cleaning up, and chasing after the kids, we’ll be lucky to get any sleep."
"I’m sure that Harriet will insist AJ and Jimmy go to sleep at a decent time," he says.
"True, but who’s going to insist that Harm go to bed?" I can envision that he will want to sit around the campfire talking until dawn.
"I could bribe him with a dollar," he offers.
"Yeah right!" Traffic is moving again and we enter the picturesque, though overcrowded, town and make for the private end of the beach. Clay’s property is on the most northern end.
Normally, when we’ve come out here before, we wait to unload the car. I’m a terrible tease on these trips and I normally have him so worked up that we barely make it inside before he’s tearing off my clothes. We’ve had some mind-blowing sex on the couch.
Unfortunately, today we have live lobsters, crabs, oysters, and bags of potatoes, onions and corn to lug inside. All the basics are in the cupboards, but we brought extra towels. He looks at the many decorative objects lying on tables and shelves. "You want to kid-proof a bit?" I marvel at his foresight but it takes too much time, what with his blitzkrieg kisses and phantom caresses, instead of just getting it over with and taking me across the back of the overstuffed chair.
By the time we’ve moved the few clothes that we keep here out to the guest cottage, Harm’s red Corvette is pulling up. "Hey, where do you want the beer?"
"Cooler’s on the back porch!" Clay leaves me to help and I walk out to sit on the upturned rowboat at the edge of the surf. I nudge the oars back underneath it. Clay’s next door neighbor is walking along the shore. I’ve only met Laurel Bishop once. She’s the local DC evening anchor. She’s blond, beautiful, and very rich. Sturgis just might end up sleeping in that bedroom alone.
I lean back, stretching my arms out behind me, watching the waves crest and spark in the light. Seagulls scream and laugh, soaring on the updrafts. I inhale the heady scent letting go of the last of the work-induced tension. I really hope that Clay and I will have a few moments of privacy before we’re both too exhausted.
Car doors slam and AJ Roberts squeals in delight. "AJ!" Harriet screams. I turn in time to see him rush headlong for the water. Harriet’s holding a squirming Jimmy and I know that Bud can’t reach AJ in time. I stand and grab him right before he reaches the water but I twist my foot in the sand and we both go tumbling into the surf. I come up, sputtering, panic-stricken, only to find Laurel pulling AJ out of the water.
She gives me that bright smile that everyone in DC knows. "There you go." She places AJ on the wet sand just past the surf and reaches out her hand to help me up. "Thought you could use the backup."
"Thanks!" My clothes will dry soon enough. Together we walk AJ back to Harriet who’s just thrust Jimmy into Bud’s arms. "AJ Roberts!" I wonder if I’ll ever wear the mad/scared look that’s on her face as she grabs him up into her arms. "Sorry, ma’am."
"Hey, no problem," Laurel and I answer in unison.
"Mommy! I got sand in my underwear!"
"Serves you right young man." She smoothes his hair. "Come on. Let's get you into your swimsuit."
"Yay!"
"Laurel!" Clay calls as he, Harm and Sturgis join us.
"Hey neighbor."
Clay makes the introductions. I look for that ‘Hey! A new blond’ look in Harm's eyes, but everyone seems content to exchange benign pleasantries.
"Looks like you have a crowd for the weekend," Laurel says.
"Just old friends. What about you?"
"A couple of days of peace and quiet." Just then AJ pulls up in his SUV. As he climbs down I hear her heartfelt, "Hello, handsome."
My dear sweet spook has such a pleased look on his face. I lean in and whisper, "He’s going to break your nose again."
"It just might be worth it." His boyish grin sets my insides buzzing.
AJ doesn’t seem to notice the newcomer. He goes to the back of the truck to pull out the supplies he brought. He’s in charge of dinner tonight. Laurel gives me a quick smile and goes up to him. I can’t hear what they say, but when she turns around, her arms are full of bags and AJ is staring at her with a bemused look on his face. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Harm and Clay exchange wide grins. Great. Two broken noses.
"Harm." Clay nudges him. "You want to be in charge of digging the pit?"
"Sure thing." He turns to give me a wink. "Come on Jarhead. This is what Marines are made for."
It doesn’t take us long and by the time we’re done, AJ and Laurel are deep in conversation. Both of them are holding Coronas with wedges of lime stuck in the bottlenecks.
Bud and Harriet are walking with AJ. Sturgis is sitting on a beach chair, playing with a gurgling Jimmy. Harm grabs a beer and goes to stand next to him, just as a small sports car slow turns into the property.
"Admiral," I call, "Francesca’s here."
Clay and I allow AJ to go greet his daughter. "What are we going to do?" I demand softly.
"Problem?" Laurel is standing right behind us. I hear that tinge of jealously that only another woman can recognize.
Clay explains. "AJ’s daughter. We weren’t sure if she could make it or not."
Years ago, Clay made one phone call and waited for AJ to pulled Keeter and me out of Iraq for him. Once again, he waits and sure enough, Laurel offers a solution. "You know, you’re awfully overcrowded. I have all those empty bedrooms. Why don’t you suggest that AJ and his daughter stay with me?"
"Well, if you you’re sure you have the room." Clay says it without so much as a smirk. He and Laurel go to discuss the change of plans with AJ.
Francesca!" I don't think I've ever heard Harm express that much interest in the Admiral's daughter. But, sure enough, I see the look. Only she's not blond and she's the ADMIRAL'S DAUGHTER! Dear Lord. No. No! NO! I refuse to contemplate it.
"Sea flies taste nasty, darling," Clay murmurs in my ear as he gently pushes one finger against my dropped jaw.
"Did you set this up?" I demand.
He shrugs. "Can you help me with some more beach chairs?"
We walk, hand-in-hand to a large shed behind the guest cottage. A shiny padlock greets us. "Darn," Clay mutters. "Key’s inside."
He doesn’t release my hand and it isn’t until the screen door closes behind us and he pushes me up against the wall that I realize that there were more than enough beach chairs. "Beast," I sigh moments before his lips find mine. Our tongues caress and I finger his hair as he hugs me close. He lets me breath — a bit — when he abandons my mouth to trail hot wet kisses down my neck. "You really don’t think we can, do you?" I moan as he releases his grip to cup my breasts, pinching the nipples through my tee shirt and bra. "Oh Clay, hurry."
He’s on his knees before me, tugging at my zipper. "Do we have time for..." I gasp. My shorts and panties are flung behind him and his tongue flashes across my clit. "Oh God! Yes! Just like that." His touch is elemental and I can no more control him than I can control the ocean. He lifts one of my legs over my shoulder to open me wide to his mouth and hands. His fingers find me more than ready. "Please Clay. I need you. Please I want you inside me."
He rocks back on his heels to gaze up at me. His face is shiny with my juices. That languid smile that I adore appears and he slowly stands, unbuttoning his fly as he does. I wish we could make it to bed. But he has other ideas. Kicking his shorts and underwear away, he takes my leg and wraps it around his waist. "You’re beautiful." He dives in for a kiss, letting me taste myself on his lips. He pulls back, positioning his cock at my entrance. "You’re so smart and sexy." He moves in just enough so that his cock parts my lips, stretching me, and steals a longer more delving kiss. But still he holds back.
"Clay, please."
He thrusts home, making me gasp just like he always does. His lips hover over mine; moving out of my reach when I try and kiss him. "And, you’re mine." Our lips meld and I fist his hair so he can’t move away again. I lift my other leg to encircle him, to hold him in place, even as he rocks against me. He drives his cock deeper and harder into me, pushing me against the rough whitewashed pine. The scent of the ocean adds to our lovemaking. He buries his mouth in my neck to muffle his cry as his cum fills me. I’m left with no choice but to pray that the pounding surf will mask my shout. What can I say? My response to Clayton Webb is always vocal.
When he raises his head he has the most satisfied look on his face. "You know, I just remembered. All the chairs are already out." He holds me against the wall, still deep inside me. There’ve been times when he’s actually hardened again. I squeeze my inner muscles to test the theory.
"Aunt Sarah!" Little AJ is very close by.
"AJ!" Harriet admonishes him.
"But I think she’s hurt. I heard..."
"Oh damn," I murmur in his ear.
"Oh, now you whisper." Clay teases me. His cock falls from me as he lowers my feet to the floor. He grabs up his shorts and tries to smooth his mussed hair. Going to the back door he calls out, "Someone looking for us?"
I quickly find and don my own clothes, momentarily ignoring the need for clean up.
"Mr. Webb! Is Aunt Sarah hurt?"
"She’s fine. She dropped something on her foot."
"Oh. Did you kiss it and make it better?"
"I was just doing that. We’ll be out in a little bit."
"Okay. Everything’s just fine, mom."
"I’m sure it is, sweetie." Her giggles finally fade away.
When Clay turns to me, I can see he’s embarrassed. But I hug him tight. "Come on, spook. Let’s clean up...this toe of mine."
I expect to be teased when we rejoin our guests, but save for the confused look from Bud after he looks at my perfectly healthy toe, no one seems to notice. Harriet is studiously making sand castles with little AJ. Harm and Francesca are sitting on the rowboat, talking. AJ and Laurel are walking back from her house carrying a large stockpot between them, laughing. From the look on Sturgis’ face his phone call is to his girl friend.
The sky above is free of clouds; the birds swoop across the ocean. I’m here with my friends and lover. This may very well be the most perfect Fourth of July ever.