The Tempest (c) Copyright Doug Craig, 2002
dcraig2000@yahoo.com

I awoke with a start. Time seemed to stop as my mind traveled through the transition zone between the world of dreams and daily reality. Another slamming sound snapped me into full consciousness, adrenaline coursing through me veins. It was a few moments before I remembered that I was in Key West, having arrived at the Ricon Del Amigo late last night. The remnants of Johnnie Walker Red still coursed through my system, making focus a touch tougher than normal. Swirling winds whipped outside.  I rushed to my feeling, jumping at the cool marble under my feet and ran to the sliding glass door that opened on a spacious deck. The world was engulfed in a multitude of sounds that rattled, banged, smacked and slammed. A slate gray sky was the backdrop for ominous groupings of clouds that moved through the sky at hyper speed. It was hard to tell which direction the wind was coming from since the Palm Fronds were swirling like they were in a Maytag spin cycle.

Reaching into the recesses of my mind, I searched for any recollection of a major storm that was supposed to hit the area today and nothing registered. The miracle of cable provided the weather channel who would surely be covering this early morning surprise. As I was about to head back in, I heard a scream from beyond the stone wall that kept Rincon’s guests apart from the savages that normally frolicked down Duval Street. I could not make it out, but it did not sound good. Raising on my toes, leaning left, leaning right, there were still no signs, but the voice was distinctly female and distinctly frantic. This storm was only getting worse and I could let myself sit, locked inside my room wondering what happened. Double timing it down the steps, I ran to the wrought iron gate to find a woman hunched over a medium size dog that seemed to be asleep. I called to her but my the racing winds took my voice and pushed it right back into my face.  Upon yelling, she turned to me, eyes ablaze with reddened sadness. I tried again and it was not happening. She couldn’t hear me. I scaled the iron gate and hopped down to her side. I did not exist. Her focus was 100% on the injured animal. The puppy start to move and whimpered just as the bullet size drops started to explode on the sidewalk. I removed my robe and tried to shelter him from the rain that was picking up in intensity. My attempts at help were met with a flash of his pearly white fangs and look that simply said “FUCK OFF, DUDE!!!” I looked at her and handed her the robe and she tried to help. A completely different reaction, as the puppy opened himself to her and let himself be wrapped up in the robe. Street signs started to shimmy in the intensifying winds, small branches and leaves started to fill the street. She looked at me in bewilderment, screaming into my ear something about a cruise ship and an hour ago and the port. All of which added up to me that she was on the wrong side of town and by the sound of it, the wrong time as well. I took her by the arm and guided her around to the front of Rincon, through the courtyard and back to my suite. Rain was coming down in sheets and she huddle over just to cover the injured puppy.

Inside my room – reality crept in and the thunderous sound of the storm eased a bit. The temperature seemed to have dropped dramatically and we were all shaking. Water cascaded off of us as we stood inside the room, not knowing what to do. Her main concern was still the puppy and she was looking about for way to keep him warm. A large stone fireplace, sat at the center off the room, something I had not even noticed and thought was kind of considering where we were. But it was January and, I guess, even Key West has its cold snaps. Well, I double timed it over to the hearth and quickly
assembled the logs and kindling that roared to life with surprising ease.  She huddled in front of the fire and cradled the doggy, willing him back to life. I emerged from the bathroom with fresh towels for her canine friend and for her when she took the time. A peel of thunder ripped through the sky and lightning lit the entire room. She shuddered at the interruption but concentrated on her friend as tears softly fell from her eyes. Not knowing what to do with myself, I just sat behind in silence and watched as the dog slowly seemed to rise. His eyes opened slowly, squirmed a little, his tongue reached out, then slowly began to lick her loving hand. Little by little it gained intensity before he was lapping away at her hand. She smiled and laughed and brought the little guy to her face which he lapped with intensity. A short barked preceded a laugh and a hug from her. At this time I reached down and laid a bowl of water in front of them.

Startled, she looked at me, almost surprised I was there. It was obvious that she was so focused on the dog that she barely had noticed me. “Oh, my, I am sorry…..Ummmmmm, Uh…..my name is Sandy, and….and….this is rocket…..”

“Hi Sandy, I’m Doug…….no need….here you relax, stay here …..let me….um…..”

She started to shiver as the cold rain started to penetrate her bones.  Rocket had obviously recovered, sniffing around the rug, investigating the fire and lapping at his water. We chatted for a few minutes and I found out that she was part of a cruise that departed early due to the impending storm. She was looking for a bed and breakfast when Rocket was knocked out by falling branch. Once she was convinced I was safe, I offered her a hot shower and a fresh cotton robe to keep her warm while her drenched clothes dried out and the storm passed through key west.

As Sandy washed the chill from her shaking bones, I took a few minutes to acquaint myself with my suite. Rocket just chilled in front of the roaring fire. My eyes lit up when I saw the fully stocked bar tucked away in the corner of the living room. Reflexively, I found myself brewing a pitcher of bloody Mary’s with horseradish, Tabasco and pepper to suit to taste. A light knock on the door and I asked through the warming steam if she wanted something to drink? Water, coffee, bloody Mary. A drink was just what the doctor ordered after the ordeal she has just been through. The fact that it was 9:30 AM seemed immaterial right now.

When she appeared from the shower, her mocha skin seemed to glow against the snow white cotton of the robe and the flames in the hearth. Driving rain slapped against the windows, trees rattled the stressed limbs and thunder periodically shook the whole building. I tuned the stereo in and Sade, crooned softly about something……We sat upon the couch and felt that warmth of the flames. The bloody mary’s flowed and our conversation moved with unexpected ease as we explored the broad strokes of each others lives.  Rocket seem to bore with our laughter and snored softly in front of the fire. As I stood to take Sandy’s glass, stumbled slightly and fell back to the couch. She took her arm and wrapped it around my shoulder and I naturally fell into her lap. It seemed so natural. Our conversation picked right back up and she slowly stroked my shoulder.

I rolled over and looked up. Her big brown eyes locked with mine and her hair fell around me as our necks craned to meet. Her soft wet lips send shock waves through my system when we first touched. A light moan fell from each of our mouths. Her fingers traced my face and worked across my lips as I peppered her fingertips with soft kisses. A playful smile and laugh followed.. Propped by an elbow, I sat up, traced her chin with my forefinger and brought her close to me. Leading with my eager tongue, I parted her lips and her tongue rose to meet me. Intertwined and dancing, she led me deep for a long, soft luxurious kiss that connected our souls as one. My arms reached behind her neck, slowly outlining the nape, running along the outline of her ear, tugging at the lobe. After what seemed like hours, our lip lock broke and we withdrew just enough to lock eyes. At that moment, I could look into the depths of her being and her heart smiled back at me. We kissed again, this time, deeper and more intense than the last if that was
possible, My had reached onto her shoulders and I softly kneaded her tense shoulders. A soft moan of pleasure filled my ears as I felt a knot melt away under pressure from my willing hands. My hands slid up under the robe and gripped her shoulders into totality and worked the tension. Sandy’s head fell backward as I moved to her upper arms and slowly the robe fell away. She giggled as her left breast appeared momentarily before she dropped face down to the couch. A scarlet streak raced across her cheeks.  Her naked body lay on the couch, glowing against the roaring fire. Outside the storm seemed to rise in intensity, matching the fire that was growing inside of me. I peppered her back with soft kisses and alternated a light brushing stroke with my finger tips and penetrating runs with my entire hands.

She moaned in delight as the music droned on, the storm continued and flames danced along the suites walls. Moving along down her spine, along the base of her back, full deep tissue treatment on her cheeks, thighs and calves and feet and toes, she laid there in all her glory, fires raging deep inside as well. I played little piggy with her toes, I turned outward, and she rolled with the greatest of ease. As my eyes took her glorious body in piece by piece, my heart nearly exploded when our eyes met. Fire, desire and a soft deep love showcased a mischievous smile that lit up room. Running, the palm of my hand along her shin, thigh, damp mound, up along her navel, around the base of her breasts, tracing her erect nipples, my journey ended at her lips. Her arms wrapped around my neck and pulled me tight and once again, we lost ourselves deep inside of each other.

When I came to my kisses went of tour, softly cupping each lip, to her chin, along the base of her chin, along the clavicle until stopping at her breasts for an extended stop. Slowing tracing the circumference of each breast, I offset the sensation by gently kneading the other with a free hand. Her back arched and gasped in delight as I gently sucked on her right nipple while pinching the left with my thumb and forefinger… I
started slowly and slowly ratcheted up the intensity. Her movements and oral gasps proved I had struck a chord. Her hands found my hair and ran her hands through and gripped my thick locks when waves of pleasure rolled through her body. Regrettably, my lips left Mt. Sandy and continued our journey across her wondrous body. Slowly soft wet kisses across her abdomen and a slow erotic ring around her navel, before crossing her hips.

Slowly, my tongue, slowly traced along her bikini as the trace of stubble created reaction points that tore through her body and she ached for more, more more. I could feel the heat of excitement against my cheek as I explored deeper into her soul. She groaned as my kisses climbed her soft mound and felt her lips, swelling with excitement and damp to the touch. Meticulously, I trace her lips from the base of her thighs to protection surrounding her blooming flower and then back down. As I moved back towards hers throbbing clit, I parted her lip lips with my tongue and dipped to taste her loving juices. She recoiled at my touch, grabbed my hair and pulled me closer to her. I eagerly dove in, lapping her love and making her move and sway on the couch. My hands ran rampant across her abdomen and back along her breasts as I moved north. Her hands gripped me tightly as my tongue parted the folds surrounding her throbbing clit. She cried in desire when I first took it between my lips a and softly massaged it with my tongue and lips. We moved in unison as my kisses grew more intense and we took it to the next level. She pulled my head up and pulled me closer to her. Reaching down, she slid my shorts down and took hold of my throbbing hardness. Stroking slowly, she felt my excitement and the fire in her eyes step up another level. She pulled me over, on top and paused before gently guiding me inside of her. Collectively we gasped as I felt her grip and pull me deep insider of her. Slowly, I reared back and nearly pulled out completely before thrusting myself deep inside of her. We groaned again before settling into a long steady rhythm that built step by step through, groans, gasps and grunts. Deeper our kisses went, deeper into a place neither of us had ever been. Stroke by Stroke we climbed to the mountain until, nails digging deep into my back, we both reared and exploded as one, mixing our desire and moaning as aftershocks tore through our wasted bodies that pounded against each other in exhausted ecstasy…..

We laid there, heart to heart and drift off slowly as the protective flames danced playfully against the suite walls. The storm outside continued to rage but was no match for tempest that blew suite 7A……