Page 21 of Ripe & Ready
His mouth quirks, fighting a grin and losing. He lightly pushes me off, but I laugh and pull him right back in.
“You fucked me with a banana last night,” I say.
“Not literally with the banana,” he corrects, all faux seriousness. “But yes… banana was utilized in an… unconventional way.”
“Very unconventional,” I say.
“How do you feel about that?”
I hesitate, trying to find the guilt I know I’m supposed to feel. But it’s not there. Instead I feel this annoying little burst of happiness. “Less embarrassed than I thought.”
His eyes light up. “So I need to keep a bushel of bananas on hand for the future?”
It’s a full-body effort not to crack a smile. “I’ll stick to silicone based lubricants, thanks.”
He chuckles, pulling me closer. “Fair. But admit it… it was kind of iconic.”
A groan escapes me as I drag my hand down my face. “I’m happy my asshole is still intact.”
“Me too,” Derek says, rolling on top of me. A feral, contagious grin on full display. His brown eyes lock onto mine. “I’d like to use it again. And again. And again.”
His gives me quick kisses before he hops up off the bed, “Now get up. Jupiter pack awaits!”
He disappears into the bathroom and I stay there a moment longer, watching him go. Still sore, still slightly sticky, and still completely, stupidly enamored.
The jungle’s calling and for once, I’m not scared to answer.
Much of our day in the jungle starts out exactly the same.
Same unbeaten path through thick forest. Same oppressive heat. Same friendly Obed, steady, and somehow leading us deeper into the wild without a compass or a care. The gorillas? Still lounging, still eating bugs, still very much unimpressed with us squishy, ogling humans.
And even with all the repetition, something feels different.
The world is brighter. Or maybe I am.
I wouldn’t say there’s a pep in my step. I’m still very much concerned about where my feet are landing in this endless junglewhere, according to Obed, there’s apparently a house-sized spider with a taste for tourists, but each step feels a little more sure. A little more like I belong here.
I guess a good fucking’ll do that for you.
“What are you most excited about today?” Derek asks, jolting me out of my thoughts.
I act like I’m weighing options, but we both know the answer. “Another night with you, obviously.”
“No, that doesn’t count. What are you excited about out here?” He gestures to the wild expanse of jungle stretching in every direction.
I try to take it all in. The endless green, the tress that rustle overhead, the smell of my own sunscreen fighting with the wet, earthy heat of the jungle, and all this noise. Bugs, birds, whatever else is out there making a racket I can’t even see.
Mud sucks at my boots as I trudge across the uneven terrain. “I guess… doing it together. Having memories we get to carry with us.”
There’s a pause, then a hum that says I’ve thrown him a bit.
“I probably won’t ever do anything like this again,” I add. “So… I guess I want to make it count.”
“Good plan,” Derek says. “So how do you want to do that?”
HowdoI want to do that? I got what I wanted. I’m here. With him. I’m not scared of that anymore. So what else is there? Lead the group? Swing from a vine? Stare down a silverback? That’s never going to be me.
Though maybe that’s not the point.
