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CHAPTER TWENTY

CHEETAH

I wake in the morning to the greatest sensation known to mankind. Without opening my eyes, I grab Kamryn’s hair and feel her bob her head up and down between my legs. I croak out, “Hmm, Daylen, that feels good. No one does this better than you. Nothing like a big tight end sucking my cock in the morning.”

I hear her giggle around me as she continues sucking the life out of me and tickling my balls until I explode into her mouth. Fuck, she sucks a good dick.

As she kisses her way back up my body, I blink my eyes open and smile at her naked body pressed to mine. “What did I do to deserve to wake up getting my love pump licked?”

She raises an unimpressed eyebrow. “Licked? I more than licked it. I sucked every ounce of the filling out of your Twinkie.”

“I stand corrected. Thank you for swallowing down nature’s breath mint with such vigor. Please come again soon. ”

She gives me a small smile before she bites her lip nervously and runs her hand over my chest. “Thanks for being so understanding last night. Sorry I was a crazy woman.”

I run my hand down her sexy bare back before giving her equally sexy bare ass a little squeeze. “No apology needed. You know I dig your crazy, Kam bam. How about I take a turn and give you some moral support without the M?”

She lets out a laugh. “Maybe later. I can smell breakfast, and it’s making my mouth water. It’s probably why the blow job was so lubricated.”

I act offended and gasp in horror. “What? I just gave you breakfast. Are you complaining about the food at this establishment?”

She shakes her head as her face turns more serious and tender than normal for her. “It’s my favorite restaurant in the world, kitten.”

We stare at each other as a rare moment of emotion passes between us. I think the past few days have her feeling vulnerable. In some ways, I think it’s good for her to let her carefully constructed walls down for a bit, but I know Kamryn Hart. Laughter and silliness are her medicine. Today is about both of those, and I’ll do everything in my power to make sure her face hurts from all the smiling and her belly hurts from all the laughter by the end of the day.

I feign disappointment and blow out a breath. “Fine. Should we go see if they need help buttering the morning biscuits?” I mumble, “Since you won’t let me butter yours.”

She nods. “Yep. I’m starving.”

As we roll out of bed, I instruct, “Put on your bathing suit. The pool shenanigans start early at the geezer ghetto.”

She lets out another laugh as we both dress in our bathing suits. I add a T-shirt, and Kam adds a sexy little sundress. She’s going to give these old men a heart attack .

She lifts the back of her dress and takes in her skimpy bikini in the mirror before scrunching her face. “I thought it was just going to be you and me in Jamaica. I only have thongs. Too much?”

I shake my head. “Hell no. Thanks to you, they won’t need Viagra today. The people here are hornier than you could ever imagine, and you’re playing right into their fantasies. I’m telling you, they’re a hoot. You’ll love it. There’s a reason I brought you here.”

I grab her hand, and we walk out of the bedroom and into the kitchen area. Gemma is sitting on the counter next to the stove with Fletcher on her lap, both still in pajamas. Trey is at the stove flipping french toast while alternating between feeding Gemma and Fletcher fruit, followed by kisses to them both. Gemma and Fletcher are both giggling uncontrollably. They may be the cutest family ever created.

Fletcher is a true combination of his parents. He inherited Gemma’s unique emerald-green eyes that she shares with Grammy Jane, but he otherwise looks like Trey with wavy dark hair and a chin dimple we used to love to make fun of.

I catch Kam staring at me staring at the DePauls. She releases my hand and exhales a long breath.

We hear Grammy Jane’s voice. “Good morning, you two. I hope you slept well, and I hope you have a big appetite. Trey makes the absolute most divine french toast in existence.”

Kam pinches her eyebrows together. “I didn’t realize that Trey is a gourmet chef.”

Trey shrugs. “Mostly just breakfast foods. My sister is a professional chef. She’s taught me a few recipes throughout the years.”

Gemma nods enthusiastically. “She’s an amazing chef. She and her wife own a restaurant in Connecticut. It’s the best food you can imagine. ”

Kam offers, “Can we do anything to help?”

Grammy Jane, who’s sitting at the kitchen table with a mug of coffee, motions toward the chairs at the square, modern, dark gray stone table. “He doesn’t like anyone besides Gemma in his kitchen. And he only lets her in to fondle her. He doesn’t actually let her cook anything. Thankfully . There’s fresh coffee in the pot. Have a seat and relax.”

Gemma lets out a laugh. “Yep, he’s all about the fondle.”

I pour us two coffees, making Kamryn’s just as she likes it, and we sit at the table. I ask, “What’s today’s theme at the pool?” I turn to Kam. “They always have themes. On the fifth of each month, it’s always cinco de whatever month it is. There are margaritas and other Cinco de Mayo decor. On the last day of the month, it’s always a New Year’s Eve theme. On the twenty-fifth of each month, it’s always Christmas. You get the point.”

Kam smiles. “That’s fun.” She holds up her hand to Grammy Jane. “Don’t tell me. I want to try to figure out what today could be. January second…hmm…what famous things happen on the second of a month.” She’s quiet for only a few seconds before she perks up. “Groundhog Day is the second of February.”

Grammy Jane gives an impressed nod. “You got it. Since no one has a groundhog and the weather here doesn’t get cold, it’s morphed into the one day each month we’re allowed to bring our pets to the pool.”

Kamryn’s face lights up, and I chuckle. “Now you’re speaking Kam’s language. She loves dogs.”

Gemma asks, “Do you have a dog, Kam?”

She shakes her head. “No, I can’t with our travel schedule. The second I retire, it’s the first thing I’m doing. I want, like, ten dogs.”

Gemma smiles. “Did you have one growing up?”

Kam’s face immediately falls. “For a few weeks until my mother killed him. One of the millions of reasons she’s currently suffering eternal damnation in the fiery pits of hell.”

Well…that’s an oxygen sucker.

Everyone is silent as Kam stares off into space. She shakes her head. “I didn’t grow up with Christmases like you all. My house wasn’t full of happiness and cheer. My sister and I weren’t showered with love and gifts. Honestly, being with Cheetah’s family last week was the best Christmas I’ve ever had.”

I see concerned looks spread across both Gemma and Grammy Jane’s faces.

Kam continues. “But one year, I think my father felt particularly bad. It was the year my mother’s alcoholism hit new heights. I won’t bore you with the details of the things she’d do when she was trashed, but it was extreme. Worse than you can imagine.” She cracks a small smile. “On Christmas morning, I was awakened by a lick across my face. I opened my eyes, and the cutest golden retriever puppy was sitting on me. I named him Gilmore after the show Gilmore Girls, which my sister and I were obsessed with at the time. We called him Gilly. We had a very small backyard, but it was fenced in. I came home from school every day at lunchtime to let him out. One day, I had detention, and Bailey had a teacher meeting. We asked my mother to let him out that one time. One time.” Tears fill her eyes. “She was blitzed and mistakenly let him out the front door instead of the back. A car hit him, and he died immediately.”

Gemma and I exchange looks. She knows I brought Kam here to brighten this difficult week.

Gemma slides down from the counter and hands Fletcher off to Grammy Jane before rubbing Kam’s back. “I’m so sorry, Kamryn. That must have been devastating for you.”

Kam wordlessly nods, in another world right now. She then shakes her head a few times. “Shit. Sorry to put a damper on the morning. I haven’t thought about that day in a while.” She cracks a smile. “One day I’ll get my dog. Anyway, I’m excited for this french toast, Trey. Did you know that french toast didn’t even originate in France?”

Trey shakes his head. “I didn’t.”

She nods. “It was ancient Rome. And it was how they found a use for stale bread. Instead of throwing it out, they soaked it in eggs and butter to soften it. It was served as a dessert with honey and sugar. It was called something else. It only evolved into french toast when it came to America, and that’s because it’s made like other French dishes.”

Grammy Jane asks, “How did you know that?”

Kam gives her a mischievous smile. “I’m a wealth of useless information. Ask Cheetah. He knows.”

I nod. “True. It’s endless.” I wink at Grammy Jane. “Kam told me that over sixty percent of seniors are still sexually active.”

Grammy Jane grabs right onto the easy setup I gave her. “In this community, it’s one hundred percent. Proud of it.”

I chuckle while Kam asks, “Is it all senior citizens in this community?”

Grammy Jane answers, “Not all, but most.”

Kam questions, “How often do you make it up to Philly?”

Grammy Jane scrunches her face. “Not too often. I don’t go anywhere that the temperature is less than my age, which somehow manages to go up every damn year. I only visit in the summer. I watch a few of Trey’s games and usually get in a dance with Cheetah.” She blows me a kiss.

I nod. “Ooh, you can certainly move, old girl, but now you’re my number two favorite dance partner.”

I’ve got a new number one girl, and her name is Kamryn Hart.

KAMRYN

I’m folded over, belly laughing. Grammy Jane and her friends are officially the funniest people on the planet.

We’re sitting at the pool with Grammy Jane, her much younger boyfriend, Marvin, married couple Millie and Mortimer, both well into their eighties, and a hilarious woman named Happy. Happy’s boyfriend, Samuel, had to go home for a nap after drinking too much too quickly. She told him not to spank the monkey when he got home, and then, in what was possibly the biggest overshare of all time, whispered to me that he can only come once a day, and she wants him to save it for her.

I’m madly in love with these people. Now I know why Cheetah loves it here. And there are so many dogs. As terrible as I am with kids, that’s how good I am with dogs. I think it’s because I’m allowed to curse in front of them. Every single dog here has spent time on my lap today, regardless of size. It’s like I died and went to dog heaven.

Grammy Jane looks exactly like what Gemma will look like in fifty years. They share the same gorgeous green eyes and darker hair, though Grammy Jane’s is mostly gray now. Happy has a gray bob, Millie has a dark bun that she likely colors, and Mortimer is bald with a belly that Millie loves to rub.

We’re all at least three or four drinks in while the music plays, dogs run free, and everyone is having a great time. It’s one big party, and apparently they do it every day. I sort of want to live here.

They’re talking about a man Happy used to date, who she says was good in the sack but not otherwise very good for her. Grammy Jane has not hidden her contempt for him and said, “He was a Floridiot. Just because it’s good for your hole doesn’t mean it’s good for your soul.”

Cheetah and I spit our drinks in laughter. Gemma smiles as she rolls her eyes. “Grammy Jane, you are truly one of a kind.” She turns to me. “I swear, half the one-liners in my books come from her.” She pulls out her phone and starts typing. “In fact, that line will slot nicely into my next book. As will her made-up word, Floridiot, which happens to accurately describe a lot of people down here.” She lifts her eyes until they meet mine. “Grammy Jane gets the biggest kick out of seeing her lines in my books. I think she plans out when to drop them on me to best ensure they’ll be used.”

“Your grandmother reads your books?” I ask in complete shock. I haven’t read them, but my sister is obsessed with her books and has shared that there are a lot of dirty scenes. I know Cheetah has read all of them too.

He nods. “I can totally tell which lines are yours when I read the books, Grammy Jane. You have a brilliant, dirty mind. I want to be like you when I grow up.”

She smiles and winks at him.

Just then, a man who must be younger than this group by at least twenty years comes by. He’s got a full head of dark, perfectly combed hair. He places his hands on Grammy Jane’s shoulders and smiles. “How are the cool kids doing on this beautiful day?”

Without giving it a second thought, Grammy Jane removes his hands. “Jack, we’ve discussed this. You should only touch a woman when invited.”

“I’m just waiting for you to invite me to sit with you.”

She waves her hand like she’s shooing him away. “That’s not likely to happen. Move along.”

His shoulders fall, and he walks away while Gemma’s eyes widen. “What the hell? That was so rude, Grammy Jane. That’s not like you at all.”

Grammy Jane scrunches her face. “I don’t like him. He’s a creep. I’ve asked him for years to stop touching me. A woman, even one as flexible as me, can only bend so far before she breaks.”

Happy nods enthusiastically. “He’s been hitting on Jane for years. Won’t take no for an answer. And he truly does always find ways to touch her.” She makes a look of disgust.

I get that. It drives me nuts too. Why do men think they can do that?

Grammy Jane shrugs. “What can I say? I’m a magnet for younger men.”

Marvin places his arm around her shoulders. “Beautiful women attract men of all ages. None more beautiful than you.” He kisses her cheek. So cute.

Grammy Jane smiles. “I don’t need much at my age, but I do need a gentleman. Being one isn’t that hard. Hold her hand while you’re out, and hold her hair while you’re in.”

Our whole table erupts in laughter. I think Grammy Jane is secretly my grandmother. At least I wish she was.

Gemma happily types away on her phone. “That one is going in a book too. I don’t know where you come up with this shit. There’s no one else like you in the world, though Christian had a bunch of one-liners for me this week.”

I ask, “Who’s Christian?”

Happy throws her shoulders back and proudly replies, “My grandson, the bisexual.”

I smile. “I’m bisexual too, Happy.”

She claps her hands together and gasps. “How exciting. I have questions. Christian rolls his eyes at me when I try to ask anything. He told me a few years ago that he’s bisexual. Jane had to explain to me what it was. Now he says pansexual. What’s the difference? They sound the same to me.”

I let out a giggle. “They’re similar. Pansexual is like bisexual but less horny.”

Gemma shakes her head at me in disapproval. “Oh, stop it. That’s not true. You’ll confuse her even more. I’ve been trying to educate them for years.” She looks at Happy. “Bisexual is when you’re attracted to both men and women. Pansexual is when you don’t see gender. You’re attracted to the person.”

Happy sits there dumbfounded. “Still don’t see the difference.”

I nod. “Yep, my definition is much easier to understand.”

“Yet wrong,” Gemma corrects. “I love that Happy is supportive and wants to understand Christian’s sexuality, but let’s give her real facts. While I appreciate that older generations are confused by some relatively newer terminology, it’s our job to help educate them, not make light of it. I feel very strongly about this. How will we progress as a society without giving real facts?”

I suppose she’s right. I get annoyed when people misunderstand my sexuality, yet I only add to that by cracking jokes and giving misinformation. Nodding at her, I say, “You’re absolutely right.” I turn back to Happy. “I do see gender, but I’m physically attracted to both men and women.”

Millie asks, “How do you know who to marry, Kamryn?”

I answer, “Not everyone wants to get married, but it’s no different from you. You had all these men to choose from, and you chose Mortimer.”

Mortimer nods. “Damn straight she did. I’m the luckiest man alive. I don’t know how this beautiful woman picked me from the long line of suitors. I practically had to beat them all away with a stick.”

Millie rubs his arm lovingly. The cuteness is almost unbearable.

I continue, “You had all these men interested in you, your long line of suitors, and you chose one. You no longer consider other men. A bisexual person just has a bigger pool of candidates, both men and women, but it doesn’t mean he or she can’t choose one to spend his or her life with. If that’s what they want.”

Happy contemplates my words. “Sounds good. As long as he’s happy, I’m happy.” She hiccups and giggles. “Happy is happy.” She then starts giggling uncontrollably.

Happy is trashed. That’s what Happy is .

Suddenly I’m taken back in time to fourteen years earlier. I wish my mother had felt like Happy when I told my parents that I’m bisexual. My mother berated me and tried to shame me. Support from my father and Bailey got me through that first year when I was fifteen. I know Bailey lost any lingering feelings of affection for our mother when she treated me the way she did when I came out. I know that’s why Bailey thinks I hate her so much. While it’s one of the many reasons, the night at the studio remains the day I stopped seeing Beverly Hart as my mother.

My mind drifts back to the first and only time I walked into our house with Dakota. My mother immediately kicked her out. She started quoting the Bible and acting belligerent. It was one big nightmare, one that caused me to never again bring a friend or anyone else into our home.

Parents and grandparents should support their kids no matter what. I hope Christian knows how lucky he is to have a grandmother like Happy.

Happy rubs my arm. “You know, Kamryn, when I was your age, I was quite the sexpot. My maiden name is Silver. They called me Swivel Hips Silver for a reason.”

She starts thrusting her hips uncontrollably until Grammy Jane grabs her arm. “Stop all the thrusting. Do I have to remind you about what you and Samuel were up to on the seventeenth hole of the golf course last year? You’ll break your hip again.”

Happy leans over and whispers in my ear, “It was totally worth it if you know what I mean.”

After one of the best days of my life, we head back to the house to shower for dinner. I’m so thankful to Cruz for bringing me here and giving me the day full of laughter and joy that I desperately needed.

So much so, that we have amazing sex in the shower. He loves shower sex, and I happily indulge him whenever I can. I love how strong he is. I’m not a huge woman, but I’m not small, and I have muscles. Not every man can lift me and fuck me against a wall like he can.

I’ve never had sex with one person as much as I’ve had sex with him. I get lost in the familiarity and pleasure at times. It terrifies me.

We’re both now in towels, standing in front of the vanity as I brush my wet hair and then apply my face lotion. As I pick up my body lotion, his eyes meet mine in the mirror, and he asks, “Can I rub that on your body for you?”

My face scrunches in disgust. “What? That’s serial killer weird. Why?”

“Because I fucking love the way you smell. It’s something between a peach and a tropical flower. I’ve never smelled anything like it. It’s so damn good.”

I hold up the bottle as he reads the scent aloud, “Tropical Peach. Well, my sniffing abilities are top-notch.”

“I originally bought it because it’s basically an oxymoron. No peaches can grow in the tropics. They need a dry climate. There’s no such thing as a tropical peach. That’s why this is the only company that makes this scent. Whoever came up with the name lies somewhere between idiot and innovator, therefore it amuses me.”

“Whatever, brainiac. It’s fucking hot. I love it. I want to rub it all over your body. Hell, I want to rub it all over mine.”

Handing it to him, I say, “Knock your socks off, killer.”

He smiles as he lifts me onto the vanity and pulls open my towel, leaving me naked and exposed. He squirts a healthy amount onto his palm and rubs his hands together, spreading the lotion all over them. “I don’t want it to be too cold for you.”

I bite back my smile. “I’ll be okay.”

He bends and rubs my lotion over every square inch of one leg and then the other with extreme precision. Kneading it into my skin. His thumbs and fingers press into my muscles, soothing them. It’s like a massage.

Taking his time, he leaves no inch of my legs untouched. It’s much more sensual than I would have expected.

He then does the same to my arms before landing on my body and breasts. This is shockingly nice and extremely erotic. I could let him do this to me all day long.

He’s savoring it as much as I am. We just had sex, yet I can see by the large tent in his towel that he’s hard again.

“A little lotion turns you on, kitten.”

“ You turn me on.” He brings his hand to his nose and inhales deeply. “And your smell. Fuck, now my cock is leaking.” I think I’m leaking too.

“I’ll need visual confirmation,” I challenge.

He immediately and happily rips off his towel. His cock is, in fact, leaking. Rivulets of water drip down his chest while his giant cock, oozing pre-ejaculate, is staring right at me. He’s so hot.

My eyes roam his body until they land between his legs. “It’s a good thing you don’t have to lotion your balls. You’d go through a bottle a day.”

He chuckles, though he doesn’t break stride as he continues to rub the lotion into my breasts, which are now more than adequately moisturized.

I wrap my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck before softly kissing his lips. “Thanks for today. It was just what I needed.”

His handsome face lights up. “I’m glad. I brought you here to see how these people live their best lives. Some have lost spouses, some have lost children, and I’m sure there are countless other losses and other life downturns they’ve dealt with in their seventy-plus years of life, yet they wake up every morning and do nothing but have the best time. There’s something inspiring about it, don’t you think?”

I nod as I consider his words. “There is.”

He tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear. “You can’t change the past, especially the things that were never in your control. You can control your future though. You can choose to move forward and appreciate life like they do.”

I swallow down the large knot forming in my throat. “I can try. I’m sorry we missed out on our full stay in Jamaica, but I’m kind of happy we ended up here.”

What I don’t say out loud is that I think I’d be happy anywhere as long as I’m with him.