Author's note: This is #9 in the Helena series; written originally for my friend and muse here on Lit for the last few years, and my inspiration for this and other tales. I hope you enjoy it as much as she and I have in the creation of this story. No actual sex in this one, but some teasing.
You drained me pretty dry in that shower, and then you wouldn't let me return the gift, just smiling and telling me you'd let me catch up later. I think you thought I was going to collapse in the shower by the time you were done with me, and you probably weren't far from the truth. I can't remember the last time I felt like that. Okay, well, yes I can, it was probably just last night, but it seems like every time with you is better than the last, so...
So instead of tying your wrists and ankles to the bedposts and devouring you, I reluctantly agree to get dressed. At least you let me dry you off, a treat in itself. I got to get a little taste of those dark cherries before you slipped away to go put on clothes. (Boo, clothes!) At least at my bidding you put on a bathing suit before you donned a t-shirt and shorts. You ask where we're going, but I won't tell you. All you know is that we're going to do something "very American" today.
Our one shopping stop doesn't yield much of a hint for you. A bottle of sunscreen, a hat and water shoes for you. I don't know if you've ever seen water shoes before; rubber soles, the body of the shoe is mesh, and a bit of elastic holds them in place. You walk in the water in them, and water can drain out easily, while the soles give you a grip on rocks while protecting your feet. And a mesh bag, plus a few bottles of water. Then we're off: Next stop, River Rage Tubing!
Once you're there, the days activities are pretty evident: A tall square rope structure holds dozens of oversized, electric lime green tubes. There are single tubes and double tubes, where two people ride together. Guess which kind WE will be using! :)
We get there and sign in, and grab our double tube. While we wait for the converted school bus to pull up to take us upriver, I make sure you are fully, completely safe from sunburn by rubbing lotions at every exposed square inch of skin. "Hey, I'm just being protective!" I respond when you respond to my hand slipping inside your bathing suit top by cocking your eyebrows up and putting your hands on your hips. Hey, a man can only resist so much temptation, and you, baby, are ALL temptation!
Soon, the bus pulls in and stops, and the employees begin to load up, putting our tube on the top. We take seats at the back of the bus (hey, that's where you can have the most fun!). We have to wait a little bit for the bus to fill up with more people, time I try to spend "making out," but you have questions.
"So, we ride in the tubes, or on the tubes?"
"Is it safe?"
"Are there rapids?"
"John, get your hand out of my shorts!"
"How long do we float?"
"Is it safe?"
"Is it cold?"
"Stop touching me like...oh, you need to stop doing that to my ear...please?"
"How far up do we go?"
I just smile, not answering most of your questions, except to say that it is MOSTLY safe, and that the only waterfall we go over is ONLY about a 5-meter drop, and that MOST people survive...most of the time...
The bus finally fires up, and once it is moving, it is just about impossible to hear anything. We don't have to go far; just a couple of miles up into the National Park. There, as the employees unload the tubes, we gather ours and make our way down to the river.
I hold the tube and try to help you achieve the "fall of faith" into it, at which you squeal as you find your sexy little derriere is now trapped in the COLD water. I just chuckle, then turn the tube/raft and gently, gracefully lowering myself into it. (Yeah...graceful...a graceful bear...yeah, that's it...) A gentle nudge off of the shallows, and we're now adrift on the Little River.
The first few minutes are about getting comfortable, and getting used to - in a sense - a bit of helplessness. I mean, your arms can reach the water and paddle, but it's kind of like being a turtle on its back. Once I show you how easy it is to get up and out of the tube if you want to, or turn over and lay across it on your front, you settle in a bit.
The beauty of tubing is that you are NOT going anywhere in a hurry, unless the river pushes you, and even then, short of a storm upstream (it's a clear day), you cruise along slower than the fish beneath you. This gives you time to take in the sights as you drift...and to talk...and to just listen.
We've talked online for so long, but there are so many questions we both have. What was your childhood like? What did you want to be when you grew up? Memories about parents, family, funny stories, favorite pets...now we have all the time in the world to really get to know each other. I'm as curious about growing up in England as you are about the U.S., and we laugh at some of the differences.
I reposition us so we are head beside head, which has the surprise (okay, not much of a surprise; you already know how I am!) benefit of giving me the chance to just turn and kiss you, albeit our faces are upside down to each other.
Even upside down, you're my favorite person to kiss. Ever.
There ARE a few "rapids," although the farthest drop is about 6 inches, not 4 meters. On your back, though, it's a little unsettling, as you're at the mercy of the river. Being the gentleman I am, I see the rapids coming up, and I...don't say anything to you. I just take your hands in mine.
"OOHHHH! What-?" you holler as we cascade down the entire half of a foot of drop, splashing. I can't resist laughing.
