Chapter 1 - Midnight Swim
"With their feet in the sand and the warm wind caressing their faces, who else watches the moon floating above the sparkling horizon? Who else listens to the sound of the waves whispering to the shore? There's no telling what goes on just beneath the surface, and no one will ever know if tonight two people should decide to join together in another Midnight Swim." Craig Chaquico
Rachel stood in the doorway between her bedroom and the second floor deck. She approached the rail and gazed out over the sandy white beach, gently kissed by the white surf and dark blue ocean. Her face turned upward toward the evening sky savoring the display of dusty colors of mauve, blue and gold sprayed across the scattered clouds. Breathing in deeply, relishing the wonderful scent of the ocean, she thought back on her life before moving to Cedar Key a year ago. The sensual sound of the surf was relaxing as she stood watching the waves caress the shore.
Constant noise, she thought. Rachel certainly didn't miss having to work a second job just to make the rent on that tiny studio apartment. The streets were always so crowded with people pushing their way past, never smiling, just always in a hurry to get somewhere. The ocean breeze gently kissed her soft cheek, chasing away her last thoughts of the city. She turned back into the bedroom to finish dressing for the Memorial Holiday weekend beach part.
Rachel loved it here. She had finally warmed to the slow-paced lifestyle, so different from New York. The locals were pleasant and had welcomed her into the small community. The tips she earned at Jake's Pub from wintering snowbirds were as good as those from the vacationing summer crowds. With her evening schedule at Jake's, she could spend her mornings sunbathing, something that was almost impossible to do back in the city. Best of all, the rent was reasonable, sharing it with Theodora, Theo for short. Theo wasn't her first choice in a roommate, but Rachel loved the house and her bedroom, and as a bonus, it was close to work.
Slipping on her sandals, Rachel checked herself in the mirror. "Not bad" she complimented aloud to her reflection that smiled back at her. Green was her best color as she adjusted the gauze halter-dress one last time, swirling around, letting it float back into place. And with a quick spray of cologne, she pranced from her room and down the stairs.
"Theo? I'm off. See you at the party." But Rachel's mood suddenly changed as she rounded the corner to the kitchen. Bowls, pots, pans, and dishes were heaped everywhere in the small space. "Damn it!" she yelled, "Why can't you clean up after yourself?"
"I'll clean it later," Theo impatiently answered, walking in behind Rachel. "I was making a casserole for the party, when I realized that Derek would be here soon, and I wasn't dressed yet."
"Yeah, and you'll get home later and be too tired, as usual, and not clean up. You can't even see the sink!" Rachel's anger peaked.
"Hey, it's really easy; if you don't like it - MOVE," Theo snarled back.
Neither of them liked the other much. Theo acted like a spoiled princess most of the time, expecting everyone to cater to her ever whim, and daddy was always in the background with his wallet open. Rachel had learned to fend for her self back in the city, struggling to make ends meet. But until she got a little more money behind her, Rachel couldn't afford to move into her own place. They were stuck with each other. Rachel prepared to snap back but was interrupted by a quick knock that brought Derek through the backdoor.
"WOW. Don't you two look great," Derek flattered, smiling at the two beauties, leaning over to kiss Theo. "All set for tonight?"
"I need a few more minutes," whined Theo. "Rachel is having a friggin' cow over the dishes, and my casserole isn't quite done."
Derek glanced at Rachel just in time to see her dart her tongue at Theo. But Rachel blew him a kiss with a wink, and danced out the front door with a large bottle of wine.
Smiling, Derek turned back to Theo, kissing the back of her neck while she scrubbed out the last pot. "Why don't we go smoke one before we go?" He breathed down Theo's neck to tingle her nipples.
"Go ahead and roll one, I'll be just a sec," said Theo, turning to face him, softly kissing his mouth.
Playfully, he grabbed her ass with both hands and pulled her into his pelvis. "Don't be long," he commanded coyly, rubbing against her. He released her, his hands slowly moved up her torso, circling upward to caress Theo's proud nipples. Smiling at him she sent him off with a quick soapy slap on the hand.
Derek walked to Theo's bedroom, but he couldn't help thinking about Rachel. Such a tease, he thought to himself. Damn, she looked hot in that dress, leaving just enough for the imagination.
The two women were as opposite as a reflection in a mirror.
Theo stood about 5' 8", her sultry Greek heritage blessed her with full breasts, a nicely rounded ass; her legs were long, shapely, and smooth. She had long, thick, black hair and deep-chocolate brown eyes that complemented her dark olive skin. Theo's personality left much to be desired at times. She could act like a spoiled child, frequently crying to daddy on the phone or pouting until she got her way.
Rachel, on the other hand, was fair-skinned, but easily tanned a golden brown. A real beach bunny, she was perky, petite at 5' 3", with shoulder-length, blonde hair, almond-shaped, green eyes, and full lips. Full, rounded breasts accentuated Rachel's small frame, strong, lithe arms and legs. She had lived on her own since she was 18. She seemed confident, streetwise and quite capable of dealing with the curves that life sometimes threw at her. At times her aggressiveness would showed through when provoked. If Rachel wanted something, she went after it.
"Any man's dream," thought Derek, wishing now it had been Rachel he met first instead of Theo.
Derek smiled as he rolled a joint, thinking about Rachel's mouth. His heart beat faster as he thought of those succulent lips, large and full, delightfully sweet-and sucking his cock.
