Our James.

Episode 14: Making friends wherever we go!

It was to be a five hour cruise with lunch and snorkeling by an island. They'd have beach time when the cruise got back. James hoped he hadn't started an argument and ruined the day for the young couple.

James picked up Rose's hand and pressed it against his lips. She had been so wonderful with him the night before. He felt so much better. Rose squirmed as his lips travelled over her knuckles and she finally pulled her hand away and shook her finger at him. He saw her nipples were pressing against the tight cups of her red bikini top. He looked away quickly as he felt a familiar twitch in his bathing suit. Tristan and Dale were smiling at them and James smiled back. The young man wasn't smiling when James looked towards the bow. James sighed. Nothing he could do about that.

James removed his shirt and pulled the suntan lotion out of the bag as he tucked the shirt inside. Rose took the bottle from his hand and squirted some in her palm then handed it back to him. He began rubbing lotion on his chest and stomach while Rose got his back. He'd already done his face, arms, and legs back in the room. He had to twist his body to face the bow so Rose could reach his back properly.

James tried not to look at the couple before him but there was an almost tangible quality to the man's glare. Looking the other way he saw an appreciative gaze from the woman who was smiling openly at him. She cried out in sudden pain and a string of coarse sounding words flew from her lips at her companion as she rubbed her hip. He'd kicked her?

He looked to the man and he was firing some coarse words back at the woman. He suddenly stood and made his way to the back of the boat pulling a cigarette from a pack.

James looked at the woman who was still rubbing her leg. "Are you alright?"

She smiled and shrugged. "Sergio can be a jealous prick sometimes. I am Katrina. Please, call me Kat."

"Hello Kat, I'm James, this is Rose, Tristan, and Dale," he said, making the introductions. Kat nodded to each of them with a smile. They traded hotel names. James thought he recalled seeing hers when they were driving around.

"I'm not familiar with your accent. It's very nice," James said.

"We're Georgian." Seeing James's confusion she continued "it's a country near Turkey on the Black Sea."

"Ah, we're from the States," James replied.

Kat smiled. "Yes, I recognized your accent."

James looked at her in surprise. "I have an accent?"

Kat began to laugh and the others smiled at his innocence.

"I think you are a very sweet man, James from the United States, but should better go find Sergio. I can leave our bags here?"

James nodded to her and she made her way to the back. He slid down until he was fully reclining on the mesh. It was heavenly. Rose ran her fingers through his hair and he purred with contentment.

He must have fallen asleep as he suddenly jerked awake to the sound of shouting. Sergio and Kat were flaring at each other across the netting. Kat was sitting up on the center beam with her feet on the surface near James's shoulders. Sergio was sitting up on the hull across from her. Both were shouting and gesturing at him. James got annoyed.

"Hey! People are trying to relax here. Keep it down!"

Sergio gave him a condescending look and rattled off something directed at him.

James just looked at him tiredly. "Was that meant to upset or insult me? Or just make you feel brave?"

The look in Sergio's eyes went cold and dangerous. James just held his gaze calmly. Eventually Sergio made an odd sucking noise with his teeth, picked up his bag and walked to the back of the boat. Kat looked at James nervously. "You shouldn't have questioned his bravery."