The BMW pulled up the gravel driveway, the late afternoon sun reflecting from its immaculate coat of dark blue paint. The driver's door opened, and out stepped a dark-haired man of slightly more than average height. He quickly moved around the front of the car and opened the passenger door for his female companion. Like him, she wore dark sunglasses to shade her eyes from the sun. Unlike him, she was decidedly smaller than average, the top of her auburn ponytail barely reaching his chest. Her form was petite, almost elfin. The ocean breeze swirled the hem of her sundress around her shapely calves and she moved toward the entrance of the bed and breakfast while he retrieved their luggage from the trunk.
This quaint establishment was a rarity in the Southern California costal town of La Jolla. Most of the private owned beachfront bed & breakfasts had long since been replaced by sprawling resort complexes.
He held the door open for his companion, then followed her through, still bearing their luggage. A clerk looked up as the pair approached her desk. "Welcome to Sea Breeze Inn. May I help you?", she asked cheerfully.
"Yes, I believe you have a reservation for us? The name is McCormick, Kevin McCormick", he replied, removing his sunglasses, tucking them in his shirt pocket, and revealing light blue eyes.
The clerk spent a moment looking at the screen of her computer, and then replied, "Yes, here it is. Weekend reservation for two, for a room with an ocean view. If you'll sign here, you'll be all set."
Maggie Callahan was only half-listening to the process, most of her attention drawn to the décor of the inn. Classic Victorian trappings, with typical eclectic SoCal pieces thrown in for emphasis. A good match, actually. As Kevin finished checking in, she moved to accompany him up the stairs. "This a lovely place. How did you find it?"
Kevin glanced back at Maggie and smiled. "Oh, a couple years ago I thought about making a trip here with someone special. Just never found the right someone. Until now."
Maggie felt a little patter in her heart. She knew how she felt about him, and was pretty sure he felt the same way. It always gave her heart a lift when she heard him actually say it. Even though they've only known each other for less than a week, and that was under unique circumstances, to say the least. But for all the oddity of how they met, it didn't change the fact that they were together now.
They reached the top of the stairs, and made a right. There was a door at the end of the short hallway, and Kevin promptly opened it with the key the clerk gave him. Again, he held the door for Maggie, and they let themselves in.
It was a small room, she saw. Well, perhaps small was an injustice. It was certainly cozy, but far from cramped. This was a room that was perfect for couples. From the balcony overlooking the beach to the fireplace opposite the bed, to the bed itself, it was a mix designed to encourage intimacy and togetherness.
Kevin placed the luggage in the closet and on the bench next to it, then sat down on the bed, sinking several inches due to the downy softness of the coverings. "Ohh... going to sleep like a baby tonight."
Maggie smirked and took a seat next to him, luxuriating in the softness as well. Until she remembered it was doubtful that she'd be able to sleep here with him. Squashing that bit of regret, she turned toward him and with a predatory smile said, "Well, I hope sleeping isn't all you plan on doing here."
Kevin tilted his head towards her, and softly brushed her lips with his. "Hmm... I admit, I had hoped other types of recreation, but I thought I'd act the gentleman and leave such matters up to you."
Again, Maggie felt that blossom in her heart unfold. Her eyes shut, she kissed him, once, then twice. Then resting her check next to his, she whispered in his ear. "You already have my heart and my soul. You can have my body anytime you wish."
Kevin arched an eyebrow at this, then smiled broadly. "And here I was thinking just the same thing. I think I'm getting the better deal, though." And with that, he leaned backward, pulling Maggie down on top of him. His lips caressed hers, softly at first, then with growing passion. His hands moved from her shoulders down to her waist, fingers going just a bit lower to glide over her bottom.
Arousal built between them, a spark, a lick of flame, before engulfing them both in a roaring conflagration. His mouth moved to the sensitive spot behind her ear and nuzzled her for an eternity, her hands roaming over his chest. Soon they were both panting with desire.
At least, that's all it was for Kevin. Maggie had other concerns, however. Ever since she was turned into a living guinea pig and experimented upon, she was limited in one very important way. Her respitory system had been altered so that instead of using lungs to breathe the air, she now had tiny gill slits on her neck, and they required water. She could use them to breathe air for about an hour, but after that she had to submerge herself or risk suffocation. Even with the breathing suit that Kevin had made for her, and even now wore under her sundress, she couldn't go more than 4 or 5 hours between immersions. And she was getting close to that limit.
Torn between the playing and ravishing and the need to breathe, she regretfully chose the latter. She disengaged herself and sat up. "Kevin... I need to stop for a bit... Getting a little too dry for comfort."
Kevin sat up as well, concerned. As well as aroused. But that could wait. He'd seen her in worse straits, but there was no reason to push her limits when it wasn't necessary. "Well, we do have the whole ocean out there. How about little swim before supper?"
Maggie's eyes brightened up, and nodded, her breath coming in small gasps. "Sounds good to me, love. *Gasp* It's been too long *gasp* since I've been submerged. The suit helps, gasp, but it has its limits."
She slipped out of her sundress and peeled off the breathing suit, gasping harder as she uncovered her gills. Now exposed to the open air, they felt dry and itchy. She knew from previous experience that in a couple minutes they'd feel like they were burning, and she'd be unable to breathe at all.
She filled a cup with water and inhaled it, using a towel to dab at the water that dribbled out her gill slits. Twice more she filled her cup and inhaled the contents. Now, she could at least last long enough to reach the beach. Her skin was another matter, but she could deal with that for a few minutes longer with no ill effects.
