"What the hell?" I say softly as I stare at the email on my phone. "What's up?" James asks curiously as he plops onto the couch next to me.I turn my phone towards him so he can see the email, "somone wants to buy my photo of Tikiri." James scrolls through the email until he gets to the picture, "hey! I didn't know you took this one," he exclaims as he starts to laugh hysterically.I couldn't blaim him, it was a pretty funny picture of him and Tikiri playing in a mud puddle, both covered in mud and looking like they were wrestling. "How much are they offering?" I take my phone from him and scroll to the offer. When James sees it he lets out a long low whistle, "damn. That is a lot of zeros.""Yeah no shit," I mumble, still in shock. "Should I do it?" He hands me my phone back as he says, "that's up to you baby, but whatever you do, I'm proud of you." He gets up and kisses the top of my head, "we should celebrate." He looks at the time and grins, "the club should be open by now. Let'
"Oh yeah," Annie moans. "Harder." I glance over at her and can't help the laugh that escapes me; she's laying on a massage table, white towel covering her ass and a muscular man pressing his knuckles into her back firmly. His face was scrunched in concentration and mild panic as he rubs her back, "is this hard enough ma'am?" "What's your name?" She asks instead of answering his question. "Robert," he replies. "Well Robert," she groans. "I'm going to need you to break me in half." "Ma'am?" He asks, a concerned look on his face. "You heard me," Annie teases. "Snap me like a glow stick." I watch as he visibly swallows, "yes ma'am," he says before pressing into her harder. "Oh that's the stuff Robert," she moans loudly. "Keep that up and there's a nice big tip in it for you." Shaking my head, I go back to my own massage and almost fall asleep with how relaxing it is. Our hour goes by quickly and when we are done, Annie does give Robert a nice tip and a wink. We make our way to th
“Hey,” I ask nervously. “Can we talk?” James looks up from his laptop and puts it on the coffee table, “of course baby. What’s up?” “Why won’t you fuck me?” I rush out. He looks surprised by my question and sits there staring at me for a moment before he answers. “I didn’t think you wanted me to,” he finally says. “Why wouldn’t I want you to?” I ask softly. His voice was just as soft when he says, “Because I got you pregnant.” “Oh James,” I sigh as I sit down next to him. “It wasn’t just you, you know. It takes two to make a baby. I’m just as responsible as you are.” “I should have taken precautions,” he tells me. “You took some and I didn’t, and I feel bad about that. So I didn’t want to fuck you again until I felt like I had earned it, I guess.” I smile slightly, “and here I thought that maybe you were mad at me.” “Why would I be mad at you?” He asks confused. “Most guys aren’t too happy when their fiancée gets an abortion,” I say. “Most guys are assholes,” he snorts. I
We don’t leave the room until we dock three days later. The condoms that Annie gave me were quickly used up and after a rather awkward phone call to room service, we had two more boxes delivered. The bathroom trash was quickly filling up and I felt a moment of guilt for whoever was going to clean our room during our departure. But that was quickly forgotten when James bent me over the back of the couch and fucked me from behind.After that first time, I hadn’t had to ask again. He’d locked the front door and put out the do not disturb sign before telling me that I was going to be naked and unable to walk for the next few days. And he made good on his promise. The mornings were filled with me waking up to his tongue on my pussy and an orgasm coursing through me followed by breakfast and a shower fuck fest. The rest of the day consists of more food hastily eaten between more orgasms. Every surface of our suit has been christened multiple times over. By the time we docked in Italy we
"You've gotto be kidding me," I deadpan as I look at the church.Or more accurately, what was left of a church. AfterJames had told me his plan, I'd been hoping that he was joking, but after a twenty minute car ride and a thirty minute hike up a steep goat path, we had finally made it to the rundown church. A low crumbling stone wall circles the church and the small graveyard that sits off to one side. the entire grounds are overgrown with weeds and random bunches of wildflowers, the stone paths are cracked and jagged and the church itself was nothing more than a shell.The walls had large holes where the roof had fallen and broken through, the windows were nothing more then dark openings and the doorway was occupied with a fallen tree. The once white paint was now gray and peeling, leaving a spongy looking wood that looked like it would crumble if you touched it. I look at the boys who were obviously pleased with themselves, "tell me this is a joke. You can't really expect us to ha
"I think something bit my ass," Annie grumbles as we walk the streets of Italy. "Maybe you found the one patch of poison ivy," I joke as we duck into a small shop. The boys wait outside with our bags while we look around. She glares at me from across a clothing rack, "don't even say that. How would I even begin to explain that to the ships doctor?" I laugh, "at least you didn't break a headstone." She gasps, "you didn't!" I nod and laughs, "so much for you not wanting to fuck at a church." "Sshh!" I hiss at her while glancing around. "And technically it wasn't at the church it was at the graveyard." "Still sacrilegious," she tells me as she shuffles around the clothing rack. "So are you two alright again?" "Yeah I think so," I tell her slowly. "We didn't really do much talking but I think we will be alright. Wedding is still on so," I trail off with a shrug. "Oh my god!" She exclaimes. "You guys should totally get married at the little church that George and I used. You'd love
A week and a few thousand miles later, James and I find ourselves in the guest room of George and Annie’s house. It hadn’t taken much to convince us to come stay with them, especially considering that we had no idea where to go next. The entire way there Annie had told me all about the house, but I was still unprepared when we pulled up to it. From what she had described, I was picturing a small cottage with maybe a garden. But the house we pulled up to was more like a mansion complete with a large gate that they had to use a code to get open. The long driveway was shadowed by trees on either side and when we got to the front doors, there was even a fountain nestled in the grassy loop of the driveway. Annie and George started to pull bags from the trunk while James and I just stared. Eventually Annie noticed and asked, “what’s wrong?” I gesture to the house, “this is not what I was expecting.” “Oh,” Annie laughs. “Trust me this is not our style at all. My great aunt Gertrude left
"I think Annie's aunt was a whore," I tell James when I finally see the bathroom. The entire space was probably bigger than my childhood bedroom, the walls were made with white marble with gold accents, the floor was a dark hardwood, a giant clawfoot tub sits off to one side putting the shower directly in the middle of the room. Floor to ceiling glass in the shape of a tube sits directly in the middle of the room, a bench runs around half of the inside with two showerheads at opposite sides and a little shower table sits next to the bench with bottles and soaps on it. "Well Annie did say that her aunt made her money in a scandalous way," James reminds me. "Maybe on of those ways was a little shower show." He nudges me as he grins, "we could make our own little videos." "Oh you'd like that wouldn't you?" I tease. "Another one of those male fantasies." "I wouldn't complain about it," he says. I glance at the shower, an idea forming. "Fine," I tell him as I walk towards it. "Fine
A week later and we are back in Kenya at the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary. Our van bounces along the familiar road, the scenery the same as the last time we were here. The children stare excitedly out the window, calling out all the animals that they see. I’m snuggled into James’s side, his arm around me as I doze. It had been a long flight, made even longer by the two bored kids that had refused to sleep on the flight. How they weren’t passed out right now I’ll never know. I’m almost asleep when the van comes to a sudden stop, letting a herd of elephants walk across the road in front of us. “Look at those!” JD exclaims, moving to get a better look. “Let me see!” Cleo demands, trying to shove her brother out of the way. Our driver smiles at them and points to the largest one at the head of the group, “see that one? How she is watching us? That is the leader. She protects the herd.” He lowers his voice, “she watches us to make sure we aren’t a threat.” “How does she
“I can’t believe they still have this shower,” I laugh as I strip. James grins from the bed, “it’s a good shower. I personally love it.” “Oh I know you do,” I tease, going and starting it. I secretly loved the shower too, the glass tube giving a perfect 360 view of whoever was in it. I’m under the water when a rush of cold air hits me and then James’s arms are around me, his head nuzzling in my neck. “James,” I groan as he nibbles my skin. “Baby,” he replies, his hands wandering lower and grazing over my pussy. “Not in the shower,” I tell him. “Doctor said.. no more.. water.. activities.” My words come out in gasps as James strokes me and it takes everything I have to pull away from his hands. “I’m serious,” I tell him. “You almost shattered your knee, James. No more shower sex.”“Technically,” James says with a smirk. “The doctor said no more standing shower sex.” He motions to the bench that’s presumably been in the shower since Annie’s aunt was alive, “he didn’t say anythin
“I don’t know how the hell you do it,” Annie sighs as she falls onto the couch. “What do you mean?” I ask, handing her a drink and sitting next to her. She takes a large swig and sets it on the table, “all of it. The kids, the husband, making it all look effortless. I’m fucking exhausted and I only have one kid. I don’t know how you do it with two.” “Annie,” I say softly, putting my hand on hers. “I’m fucking exhausted too.” She looks surprised, “really? You hide it well.” “I love my kids,” I tell her. “I love my life and I wouldn’t trade it for the world, but being a mom is exhausting. It’s ok to feel overwhelmed, to need some time to yourself.” “I just,” she sighs. “I just feel like I should be better at this. I’m not one to run away from a challenge, but sometimes.. sometimes I feel so trapped. I love Max and Georgie, but I’m not one to sit still. I feel like my body is vibrating with all this pent up energy but I’m too exhausted to use it.” “I know how you feel,” I
Five Years LaterThe park in Paris was exactly as it had been the first time- curly slides, dozens of swings, sandboxes and dozens of kids. The only difference was now our kids join in on the fun. James and I sit on the same bench we did the first time we were here, eating our ice cream as we watch our kids play. JD runs around with a group of boys playing tag, while his sister Cleo plays with another little girl in the sandbox. When we’d first gotten to Paris a week ago, the kids had been curious but shy about the other kids, the language barrier making it hard for them to communicate. We’d tried our best to teach them some phrases before we’d flown over, but it was hard to get a six and five year old to focus on what they call ‘funny talk.’ But after a week of watching French cartoons, they’d started picking it up like a sponge and by the time we leave, I think they’ll know more than we will. We’d decided on Paris as our first international trip as a family because it was where
One Year Later“Ali!” Annie yells as she walks into my house, her arms loaded down with brightly wrapped packages. Georgie follows close behind, even more packages in his arms. “Annie,” I greet warmly as I go and take the packages from her. “Jesus,” I grunt as the weight of them settles in my arms. “What do you have in here?” Annie laughs, “you’ll see. Just promise you won’t be mad.” Setting them in the gift table I give her a suspicious look, “and why exactly would I be mad at my son’s godmother?” “Well, I may have bought him a few things that aren’t technically suitable for a one year old,” she admits sheepishly. “That’s why these are from me,” Georgie says as he puts his packages on the table. “Someone had to buy gifts the little man could actually play with.” Annie claps her hands, “speaking of! Where is my godson?” “He’s out back with..” I don’t even get to finish before she’s racing out the back door, my sons name being shouted so loudly it echos through the house. Even
“Drive faster!” James yells at my dad who is already speeding and swerving through traffic. “Why couldn’t we have just called an ambulance?” Mary asks, hanging onto the panic bar for dear life. “In this economy?” James and I both answer. I groan as another contraction hits me, squeezing James’s hand so hard I’m sure I’ll break it. He doesn’t complain, even though I’m sure it hurts. It seems to take an eternity to reach the hospital but we only live twenty minutes away and with my dad speeding, we made it in ten. Dad screeches to a halt at the ambulance doors, honking his horn rapidly as Mary jumps out of the truck and runs inside, coming back out with a nurse and a wheelchair. James lifts me from the truck, setting me into the wheelchair and rushing me inside, nearly leaving the nurse behind. She follows us, a mixture of confusion and amusement on her face. “First time?” She asks when we finally stop at the front desk. “We need Dr Jones!” James all but yells at
The next few weeks are full of shopping, painting and furniture building. Mary and dad are truly a godsend. Mary knows everything there is to know about babies and what they need, while dad can build a crib in twenty minutes flat. Before I know it, our house is full of everything we need, and a week before I’m due, our house looks like a home. Especially since Mary insisted that we needed to have a baby shower. So, here I was, just days away from giving birth, sitting in my living room surrounded by paper storks, gifts and people. Most of whom were my parents friends since I didn’t keep in contact with anyone from my school days. I did invite Annie and Georgie but when I called them, it went straight to voicemail, Annie’s chipper voice saying that they were off the grid for the foreseeable future. They must have been checking their messages though, because a small package showed up at the house, postage from Zimbabwe and Annie’s handwriting on the label. While I wouldn’t t
The next day, dad and Mary come by the house. The boys immediately say something about power tools and building furniture before disappearing, leaving Mary and I in the kitchen. “So, what are we doing with the nursery?” Mary asks, sitting down her large bag and pulling out containers of leftover food. “Do you know what you’re having yet? Also, we should do a baby shower in a few weeks.” She glances up at me, “hungry? I can make you a plate.” I sigh, “honestly, just give me that bowl of coleslaw and a fork.” Mary laughs, “I was the same way with James. Couldn’t get enough of the stuff.” She pops the lid off the bowl and grabs a fork, sticking it in the bowl and sliding it over to me. “Nursery?” She asks again. “There’s a room next to ours that’s connected by a bathroom that we were thinking about using as the nursery,” I tell her as I take a large bite. “But I’m not sure if I want to do a theme or just paint it.” Mary nods, “we can make a trip to the baby store and look a
By the time we made it home and unloaded all our things, several hours had passed since the incident with Samantha. And even though nobody had called us and we hadn’t seen anyone else we knew, I couldn’t shake the feeling that everyone in town already knew about James and I. Rationally I knew that everyone would find out about us eventually. It wasn’t like James and I were keeping our relationship a secret anymore, but I did hope we would have more time before the entire town found out about us. And maybe I could have handled it better if I wasn’t pregnant, but I was, and somehow that made the thought of facing the town much harder. The ride from our home to our parents house is a silent few blocks as I stare out the window, my mind running wild with all the things that people are probably saying about us. James holds my hand the entire way, his thumb running over my knuckles soothingly and I’m so lost in my mind that I don’t notice we’ve arrived until James lets go of my hand.