Caught in the Net (9 page)

“Michael?  Do you seriously believe that you’ll find a
girl who would allow you to do that?  You can’t be reserving your sadistic
tendencies for your little baby sister,” Sam pouted again.

Michael elbowed her playfully.  “It’s because of my
little baby sister that I insist on having a girlfriend who must allow it.  I
have seen how effective my sadistic tendencies can be, but hopefully, she won’t
do much to bring it on.”

“Better her than me.  Mike?  Do you think Daddy ever
spanked Mama?  I mean, not in play.”

“I don’t know and I’m not about to ask.  Scott’s
always been more that way than Dad; but I would guess that if she pushed him,
he probably would.”

“Oh.  So, I guess I have no hope in him forbidding it,
then.”

“Doesn’t sound like it.  Where is Rich taking you
tomorrow?”  Michael changed the subject.

Sam shook her head.  “I don’t know.  He said somewhere
quiet.”

Rich opened the door of his jeep for the girl to
enter, tossing her gear bag in the back.  She watched him walk around the
front, dressed in sharply pressed slacks and a snug polo shirt that made his
eyes a vivid green.  He was so handsome, with those dimples and strong hands. 
The girl blushed, thinking of his tall, sculptured body and his large rippling
muscles…

“…tonight.  Is that okay?”

“Huh?  Oh, I’m sorry.  Was flaking out for a minute.” 
She blushed again.  She wasn’t accustomed to feeling out of control. 

Rich smiled, sensing her nervousness.  “You look
beautiful, as always.  I was thinking about a special surprise tonight.  Do you
mind if I don’t tell you what we’re doing?”

“A surprise?  Will I like it?”  She sounded excited.

“I hope so. “

They chatted about work and the family as Rich drove
downtown to the harbor and parked in the lot near the bay.  Taking her hand,
and slinging her bag over his shoulder, he walked her to the boarding gate that
led to the plank of the harbor dinner cruise.  She gripped his hand with
excitement.

“This is awesome!  I’ve never done this before!”

Rich smiled warmly at her excited bobbing.  “Good.  I
thought it would be a good first date.  Um, none of your ‘friends’ are going to
come see you, are they?  I didn’t consider that.”

“They’re not supposed to.  I told them I would call if
I needed anything.  Oh, thank you,” she said as he helped her on board.  They
had a private table overlooking the starboard side.  Rich held the chair for
her and then seated himself.

“Where did you learn your manners?  It impressed my
folks.  They are both very old-fashioned when it comes to etiquette.”

“I noticed that at dinner when Mike held the chair out
for you.  Annapolis polished them, but I’ve always been polite to compensate
for my mother’s rudeness.  I detest rude people.”

“Did you feel I was rude last night?  I didn’t mean to
be.”

“No, Sam, not at all.  There is a difference between
asking honest questions and being downright nasty.  Okay, my first question. 
What is your pet peeve?”  Rich asked, sticking a breadstick in her mouth.

Sam thought about it for a moment as she chewed.  “I
guess a better way to phrase that would be to ask what sets me off the fastest
and the hardest.  I loathe being challenged because of my gender or age.  I
know I’ll get older, but the gender thing seems like it might be a constant
issue.  You would think I would be deaf to it, being the only girl in a house
full of men, but it really fries my spaghetti.  I hate being underestimated or
dismissed.  So please, if we ever argue, don’t blow me off.”

“Good thing to know.  I won’t be frying your spaghetti
anytime soon,” he laughed at her phrase.  “Your turn.”

“I do have something I need to discuss with you before
we even consider going out again.  You deserve to know some things.”

“Uh oh, you’re in love with someone?”

“I wish it were that easy.”  She smiled at his gentle
teasing, relieved to see that he was relaxed and at ease despite her obvious
discomfort.  “What are your personal hopes and dreams?  Beyond your career
goals.”

“They are simple.  I just want to be happy and be
involved in a healthy relationship with a lady who shares my interests.”

“How about things like children?”

“Aren’t you a little young to be worried about that,
Sammi?”

“This is serious.  Please, just answer me.”

“Very well.  No, I don’t want kids.  You can call me
selfish, but I want the freedom to explore the world with my partner and
concentrate on my career.  It’s not that I don’t like children, but I know I
would make them miserable because I would be too overprotective.  Terrible,
huh?”

“Not at all.  And, thank you for being honest,” Sam
said quietly.  She took a deep breath.  “Rich, I can’t have children. 
Everything was crushed during the accident.  Dad and Scott were devastated
because they wanted me to be terrorized by mini-mes.  I just wanted to be up
front with you about that; so you didn’t waste your time in case it was
important to you.  I didn’t want you to be hurt or disappointed, just in case
we decided to pursue this relationship.”

Rich reached for her hand.  “Your concern for my
feelings just told me everything I could ever want to know about you.  Thank
you.  And I hope we do get serious.  But, you must like doing some traveling. 
I get restless easily.”

“I like travel as long as it involves boats, planes or
swimming.  And I need to be allowed to operate the boat or plane.  I’m not too
keen on anything with wheels.  I am also confined to living in close proximity
to the ocean.  You know, because of my issues.”

“Hmmm, force me to hang around a beautiful woman and
the open sea.  I can deal with that.  What’s your biggest vice?”

“Don’t you already know?  My temper and big mouth. 
I’m too opinionated sometimes.  Yours?’

“Perfectionism.  I can’t forgive myself for doing just
enough.  I’m too self-controlled.  Your Achilles’ heel?”

“My family.  My biggest fear is losing my brother
during a mission.  That’s why I put myself in so much danger when the accident
occurred.  I was losing him.  Nothing else mattered.”

“I wasn’t aware of that.  I guess I assumed you were
just being reckless.  Please forgive me.”

“People who know us call us ‘twins’.  Same date of
birth, same time, exactly four years apart.  My parents were smart about
preparing him.  When my mother started showing, they told Michael that they
were growing a very special birthday present for him because I was due the same
month.  When Mom went into labor, Uncle Scott told Michael that they had gone
to the hospital where Daddy worked to pick up his present.  Scott brought Mike
in and Mom wished him a Happy Birthday as she handed me over to him.  Daddy
said he kicked the nurse because he didn’t want her to take away his present,”
she giggled.  “It hasn't changed.  He’s been that way since.”

“You’re very fortunate.  I envy your upbringing,” Rich
said softly. 

“I know that I am the luckiest girl in the world. 
I’ve never known loneliness and I’ve had more love than I know what to do
with.  Of course, I’ve also had very severe structure, direction and very
little room for mistakes.  They’ve always been tough on us, but they do it to
help us discover and explore our potential.  They’ve never allowed either of us
to settle for anything less than what they believed we could achieve.  They are
incredible, even though they won’t let me fly tomorrow.”

“Let it go.  It sounded like your uncle was about to
lay into you,” Rich grinned.

She made a face.  “He would have too.  He already
informed me that he didn’t care if you were around.  Oh, thank you,” she said,
as the pretty waitress placed the salads in front of them.  The girl was short,
curvy, with long blonde hair and brown eyes.

“You’re welcome, ma’am.  Can I get you anything else? 
More tea?”

“No, thank you.  Do you work here a lot?” Sam asked,
noticing her speech was well cultured and she carried herself gracefully
despite the movement of the boat.

“Just the weekends.  I go to UCSD, bio major.”

“Really?  What year?”

“Sophomore in the fall.  I want to minor in Chem. 
This helps pay lab fees.”

“It’s Jennifer, right?”

“Please, call me Jen.”

“My name is Samantha, this is Rich.  Do you plan on
interning anywhere this summer?”

“I tried several places, but no one wants freshmen,” she
sighed with a note of discouragement.

“Here’s my card.  Please call me and I might be able
to help you.  I work through Pt. Loma base as the director of the marine
biology unit.”

“You’re not serious, are you?”  The girl looked
skeptical, before glancing down at the card.  Her eyes widened with disbelief.

“I certainly am.”  Sam smiled.  “But, I do have one
condition.”

“Sure, anything.”  Her voice trembled with excitement.

“I would like you to meet my older brother.  He’s an engineer
and team commander.”  She took out a picture from her purse.  “He’s really
cute.  And very single.”

Jen bit her lip.  “Oh my… How old is he?”

“22.  His name is Michael.  Well?”

“Would it be okay to call you tomorrow?”

“I’ll be waiting.”

“Thank you, Miss Quimby.  Thank you so much!” Jen said
happily, clutching the card. 

Rich watched her skip away.  “You just made that
girl’s night.  What’s Mike going to say?”

“He trusts my judgment.  I didn’t like the other
dingbat the second we met and I let him know it.  This one has a sweet spirit
to her and a meaty bottom for him to play with,” she giggled.  Rich tsked,
leading her outside to the forward bow.  They started dancing to the quiet
music being piped in.  Sam, her head on Rich’s chest, started to sense the
swirls.  She tried to fight it, finding herself relaxing in his strong arms. 
He stopped to kiss her soundly and her knees began to buckle.  The swirls were
intensifying!

“Rich, slow down,” she panted, melting onto a bench. 

Rich joined her.  “Did I do something wrong?”

“Not at all.  In fact, you are too right.  And I think
you are getting some help from some peeping Toms,” Sam said, pointing to the
water.  Rich looked over the side to witness the dorsal fins of several
dolphins slicing through the waves beside the boat.  “If they had their
druthers, we would be doing more than kissing.  Stop it!” she ordered, closing
her eyes to concentrate. 

The dolphins flipped playfully, whistling and
squealing their encouragement.  Rich watched them in amazement, still holding
her hand as she scolded them.  “I’m telling your bull tomorrow!  He promised
you would stop!  Splasher!  Ooo, I’m letting Ton know too.” 

“Are they going to get their tail flukes bitten?” Rich
asked humorously as the animals swam quickly away, clicking and spouting.

“That only happens to land walkers.  No, the bull will
read them the riot act and Ton will threaten to eat Splasher.  I, on the other
hand, need some recovery time.  They got me.”

“What do you mean?”

She giggled, flushing.  She whispered in his ear, “I
think I just got the cetacean version of an orgasm when you kissed me.”

“What?  Okay, this is weird.  Please explain more.”

“You should be pleased that they approved of you as my
mate.  They were trying to help things along by stimulating my endorphins
through the convergence.  It’s really quite enjoyable.  Michael says it’s
better than the real thing,” she giggled again. 

Rich made a face.  “Well, Michael obviously hasn’t had
the best it could be.  I’m sure I could exceed any cetacean orgasm if given the
chance.” 

“Daddy would kill you, then Scott would do it again,”
she snickered, the high taking effect.  “Oh Lord, I’m stoned.  Please get me a
glass of water.  It will take about 20 minutes for me to recover.  So if I say
anything inappropriate, just kiss me and shut me up.”

“Be right back,” he promised.  When he returned with
the water, he commented,  “You know that this could be dangerous if you weren’t
in a safe environment, Sam.” 

She nodded, fighting the desire to release control. 
“That’s why Michael didn’t want me to study it.  But I did it anyway.  I never
listen to him like I should,” she confessed, the endorphins acting like a truth
serum and removing her desire to exercise control.

“Are you saying you’ve been pursuing this study on
your own and without supervision?” Rich asked, holding the glass to her lips. 

She nodded, her eyes glazed.  “Isn’t the sky beautiful?
 Look at all those stars.”

“They are bridge lights.  Come on, baby, stay with
me.  Answer my question.  Are you still studying this phenomenon without
supervision?”

“Of course.  I always do.  Don’t tell Michael.  He’ll
kill me,” she giggled again.

“Do you remember the conversations you have when you
are like this?”

“Nope.  It’s like Versed.  Milk of amnesia.  Rich,
kiss me.  Your lips feel so good.”

He obliged, savoring her in his arms.  He grazed her
neck with his teeth, listening to her moan.  His thoughts started to drift and
he forced himself to remember his promise to be a gentleman. 
Self-control,
man!
  “We need to walk around.  You are positively intoxicating,” he
panted. 

She stroked his cheek, fingering his dimple.  “It’s
the endorphins.  They are emitting pheromones.  See?  It proves we are
compatible.  They don’t work on my family at all.”

“It also proves that I need to be better controlled. 
I am not going to take advantage of you.  Stand up and walk,” he ordered
firmly, adjusting the uncomfortable bulge in his pants. 

“I can’t.  I have no legs.  See?  They’re mermaid
fins.”  She swung her legs back and forth.  “Is that for me?”  She pointed at
his crotch.