Chapter 74: Casual Pursuit
In the darkening dusk, a small otter washes up on the beach. He eagerly waddles up out of the ocean as he pants with joyful optimism, speeding up to the driftwood-fenced house.
"AHH!" He yelps as Sally starts to bark just as Arnaav opens the door. The golden dog bounds around the boy playfully as she yelps loudly, "Not now! I have to hurry!" He quickly bats and pets the dog, before rushing across the house, tracking in dirt and sand along the way.
"Hmnn..." Arnaav digs under the couch, his tail waving back and forth as he grapples underneath the cushions. Skyler lurks as he crouches down, eying Arnaav's thick tail like a predatory kitten.
"Aha!" Arnaav's webbed paw grabs the artifact he has sought for, wrapped in a soft cloth, unveiled to reveal the jeweled butterfly hairclip. He giggles with joy as he brings it to his wet, furry chest as hugs it lightly.
"She's sad right now. Yuri did say love is fleeting with humans, so she doesn't like Merrick anymore..." Arnaav said as he rewraps the beautiful trinket partially.
"All I have to do is find her again." He ponders to himself, a little defiantly again, "And then I'll show her that I found her treasure!" He takes one last look at the sparkling jewels, before concealing them.
"And then she'll be so happy, she'll forget all about Merrick!" He took a moment to blush as a light spiral swelled in his chest, "And after that, maybe she'll like me instead..."
"EEEP!" Arnaav squeaked as sharp pinpricks hit on his tail. He looks over his shoulder to see the small white creature gnawing and wrestling with his appendage. Arnaav casually bent around to pull the kitten off of his tail, and placed him on the couch, "Not right now, I have to go." He told the creature.
Arnaav quickly retrieved his ocean knapsack, and tucked the bundled trinket safely within. The boy then waddled out of the house as fast as he can, eventually going to all fours as he rushes straight for the shore. He runs off to the rocks, and dives once more into the familiar sea.
One minute after Arnaav have left the house, a few cars pull into the gravel of the driveway, emerging the residents and a couple of guests from the luau.
"Eelgh, what the heck??" Yuri grimaced as she sees the trail of wet sand-mud all on the carpet.
"What's up?" Merrick asked.
"I think Sally killed another rodent again." She scowled. The golden retriever whined as she bowed her head.
"Uh," Jamal looked over the house, "I don't think Salls can open the damn sliding door, Yuri." He pointed out. Merrick observed the couch, and felt around the area.
"I think Arnaav was here. Be must've stopped by, and forgot to close the door."
"Ulgh, lets clean it up later," Yuri complained as she pulled off the lei, "I need a soak."
~~~
Sasha hissed as she slowly gets into the bubbling cauldron of the hot tube, slowly sinking into the biting hot water before setting down, "Blimey, this feels nice..."
"Heads up," Jamal and climbs up, and starts to dip into the Jacuzzi too.
"Oh for God's sake, Jamal!" Yuri whined, "Do you HAVE to wear a ball-clenching speedo like that??" She asked as Jamal's hot chocolate thighs braced around a round, tight red bulge with a white cross on it.
"Ah, quit yo bitchin gurl." He said as he grunted in, "You just lucky I ain't dippin in nekkid -- we got company here."
"Oh gee, how decent of you." Yuri rolled her eyes.
"Oh, by all means!" Sasha adjusted, "Take'em off, Jamie!"
"Aight," Jamal shrugged and leaned forward and submerged his hands in to take his tight speedo.
"NO! No!" Yuri shouted, "Please, keep them on!"
"You don't seem to have a problem with ME being naked." Merrick said as he sipped his ice water.
"Nor me." Syrinx said, both her and Merrick as naked as the day they were born in the hot tub.
"That's different," Yuri said, "You guys are mature and natural with your bodies. Not like the bunch of horndogs I'm surrounded by."
"Oh, lighten up, Yuri." Adam said, shamefully hiding the fact that both he and Kevin are currently sporting erections, safely concealed in their trunks and the distortion of the water.
"Lighten up?? Nick isn't even wearing a speedo!" She said, holding her hand toward him, "He's just wearing a small jockstrap!" Nick quirked his eyebrows as he toasted up his small martini glass, and drinks.
"Humans." Syrinx said, looking to Merrick, "Right?"
"No kidding." Merrick answered.
"Ok, so, when you guys get married," Kevin said, "Are you sharing a last name, or are you keeping both of yours."
"Hm yeah," Sasha said, "Are you going to be Mr Adam Piscien, mate?"
"Oh no," Merrick said as he hugged Adam's left arm, "I'm taking HIS name."
"Ah, so Mr Merrick Bryant." Syrinx said, "... Ok, that still doesn't roll of the tongue."
"You say ONE word," Yuri pointed at Jamal and Nick, "I'm going to kill you." Both of them snickered at her threat. After an awkward pause, Adam smirked.
"... I'll tells you what rolls on MY tongue." Kevin snickered, unable to resist.
"OH. MY." The rest of them laughed as Yuri splashed at Adam, "GOD!"
"Jeez, Yuri, how much of a prude ARE you?" Kevin asked.
"She ain't." Jamal said, "She just likes to bitch a lot. Ow!" Jamal jerked as his knee was kicked.
"Shut it or I'll aim higher." Yuri growled as she takes a drink of her spiced tea.
"So what about YOU guys?" Syrinx asked Jamal and Nick, "You're a couple, right?"
"Hard to tell." Adam said with a grin, "They screw around with sooo many people."
"Heh," Kevin smirked, "Kinky neighborhood."
"Eh," Jamal shrugged, "Not really into the whole wedding thing." He told them, "I love my lil Nicky."
"Awww, man~" Nick cooed as he put his head on one of Jamal's thick pecs, while secretly rubbing one of Jamal's thighs under the water, while Jamal put his strong arm around Nick's shoulders.
"We don't need no rings to know we love each other, ya know?" Jamal said.
"And I suppose monogamy is out of the question, out the window, and paying rent by selling sex, uh?" Yuri muttered lowly as she drinks her tea.
