Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter twenty-four of "Dark Desire." This chapter has lots of Tommy/Kim. The other Rangers will be returning very soon. Kim's parents will make their first appearance as well. I feel it is important to show their reactions at Tommy and Kim's disappearance. Stay tuned for chapter twenty-five.
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Chapter 24: Swimming
Tommy was still waiting for Kim to return eight minutes later. He moved his body from side to side while standing next to the bed. He dug his heel into the floor. He heard squawking and turned to see a blue-and-yellow macaw sitting on the windowsill. It tilted its head somewhat as it raised its tail feathers. It opened its beak slightly and flicked its tongue.
He looked toward the entrance with a heavy sigh. He hoped his girlfriend didn't have to poop. He had little doubt she would do what he asked her to do with it. Then again, he wondered if she was admiring the plants and animals around her. He knew she would be careful with them, even if they looked familiar. He snapped out of his thoughts when heard footsteps. He saw her come in. He went to her, kissing her on the lips.
"I am so glad you are back," he said warmly.
"I am glad to be back," she said, taking his hands into hers and rubbing the backs of them with her thumbs. "I did have to poop."
"I hope you—" Tommy started.
"Yes, I did," Kim said with pride. She knew he was talking about burying her waste. "There is no way in hell any animals will be able to sniff it out."
Tommy smiled and kissed her forehead. "Great. You are already taking to living off the land."
"I have to, or I can't survive here," Kim murmured truthfully.
"Some people think that living off the land is a cinch. When it comes to actually doing it, they realize it is very hard and refuse to do it anymore," Tommy grumbled very annoyingly.
"Those people want life to be easy-peasy. It's not. It can be really hard, especially when families go through rough times due to job loss, drug abuse, illness, etc.," Kim explained.
"Your brother's drug abuse and your mother's miscarriage are the perfect examples of a family going through rough times," Tommy commented.
"Yep. We managed to stick together," Kim whispered in much relief.
"In the darkest hour, there is always a light," Tommy responded with a soft sigh.
Kim nodded in agreement. "Yes, there is."
Tommy and Kim kissed tenderly. They wrapped their arms around each other. Their tongues wrestled for dominance. Moans came out of their mouths. They broke apart, gasping for air.
"You ready to go swimming?" Tommy wondered.
"Yeah," Kim said, smiling widely. "Come on."
Tommy and Kim let go of each other. They headed out of the hut, stopping a short distance from it. They focused their attention on the ocean. Waves crashed onto the shore. They retreated out to sea with more coming in. Tommy and Kim looked at each other.
"You want to race down to the water?" Tommy asked.
"You're on!" Kim shouted in much delight.
"On your mark, get set—Hey!" Tommy yelled in surprise when she took off toward the water while laughing like a maniac. "Get back here, Kim!"
She looked over her shoulder and blew a raspberry at him. She shifted her attention toward the water. He snorted and chased after her, grabbing her before she could go into the surf. She struggled against his grasp, but he threw her on the sand and pinned her down with his weight. He grabbed her wrists in which he pinned them above her head. He looked at her with a smirk.
"If you cheat at another one of our races, I'll tie you to the bed!" he threatened playfully.
"Ha! That doesn't scare me!" she retorted, narrowing her eyes at her boyfriend.
Tommy emitted a loud snort. "Maybe the tickle monster will scare you!"
Tommy wiggled his fingers as he moved his hands toward his girlfriend's sides. He growled as if he were a monster while tickling her mercilessly. This made her squeal with such loud laughter that a gull flew away from the beach in fright. He moved his hands up and down her body for thirty seconds before ceasing his assault. He smiled at her and kissed on the lips. He let his weight off her, standing up. He grabbed her hands to help her to her feet.
"You make a great tickle monster, Tommy," Kim commented.
"Thanks. By the way, there's a real monster behind you!" Tommy shouted as he pointed his finger over her shoulder. "I mean it! Here's there!"
Kim looked over her shoulder, but she didn't see anything. She felt annoyed and turned back to Tommy, who laughed heartily. They yelped when the waves hit their feet, extending past them a little bit before retreating. They waded into the surf and inhaled deeply as they dove underwater. They swam for a short distance before they surfaced, their wet hair clinging to their necks.
Tommy and Kim swam away from the beach, kicking their feet along the surface. They slipped beneath it after taking deep breaths. They watched many fish go by. She tapped his shoulder and pointed her finger at a green sea turtle. They looked at each other and started moving their arms back and forth as if they were flippers.
The couple caught up to the turtle, and it turned its head and seemed to nod at them. They waved to it, a few bubbles leaving their mouths. It went to the surface for a gulp of air and continued on its way. Tommy squeezed Kim's waist, causing her to let out a muffled squeal. He tickled it for ten seconds before she turned around and entwined her hands with his. They moved in circles while heading for the surface. They laughed after breaking it.
"Tommy, you're such a naughty boy squeezing my waist like that," Kim joked.
"What do you expect from someone who likes to play around in the water?" Tommy replied with a smile.
She raised her hand. "Then why don't you have a little bit of this?"
Kim splashed water into Tommy's face, and he retaliated with a splash of his own. They became engaged in a water fight, laughing in delight. Suddenly, an orca surfaced not far from them, spouting air from its blowhole. It slipped underwater. It did a spyhop. It let out a series of whistles while wiggling its flippers. They watched it go underwater. It surfaced once more. They smiled as it swam toward them.
"Wow," she whispered as the orca stopped very close to them. "What a beautiful orca."
"I'll say," he agreed and emitted a soft chuckle. "It's cool to know this world has orcas."
"Orcas do live in all oceans on Earth. When it comes to tropical waters, they can be seen in the Caribbean. They are seen occasionally in the Gulf of Mexico," Kim explained. "Their diet consists mostly of tuna, but they will feast on dolphins."
"It is really interesting to know that orcas can be seen in the Gulf of Mexico," Tommy said in great awe.
"It was just last year researchers started studying Gulf of Mexico orcas," Kim said, wiggling her eyebrows.
"No way," Tommy yelled in much shock.
"I am not kidding," Kim responded and giggled to herself. "It is not known how many orcas live there, but it is suspected to be in the hundreds."
"I hope the researchers can find out," Tommy murmured.
"Me too, Tommy," Kim said, sighing in content. "Me too."
The orca rolled on its side to expose its flipper. It waved at Tommy and Kim while blowing bubbles. It squeaked in much pleasure at their hitting its head. They gave it a wave of their own. It headed underwater, breaking the surface a little further away from them. It dove downward once more. It spyhopped in front of them. It let out a playful squeal. They couldn't help but laugh in delight. It came back down.
The orca opened its mouth and wiggled its tongue. Tommy and Kim weren't sure if they should rub it. They decided to take the chance. They reached into its mouth, rubbing its tongue. It squeaked in much pleasure. They took their hands away. It closed its mouth and slipped beneath the surface. They wondered what it was up to. They yelled when it surfaced underneath them, putting them on its back. They fell off and hit the water with small splashes, laughing loudly. It swam a little bit away from them. It spyhopped and wiggled its flippers, squeaking delightfully.
"You're such a silly orca!" Tommy blurted out excitedly.
"Of course, I know some people who are sillier than an orca," Kim joked while looking at her boyfriend. "Yes, I do."
Tommy snorted in annoyance and smacked his girlfriend on the shoulder. He screamed when she squeezed his neck. The orca swam toward them and went underwater. It resurfaced and spit water all over them. It repeated both actions four times before turning on its back. They ran their hands along its stomach. They listened to it squeak in pleasure.
The orca returned to right side up and sank beneath the surface, as did Tommy and Kim. It allowed bubbles to escape its blowhole as they touched its nose. It nudged each of them in their stomachs before swimming away. They swam alongside it, running their hands along its sides. It whistled pleasurably while sliding its tail against the sand on the ocean floor.
The orca swam toward the surface, singing a beautiful song. Tommy and Kim grabbed its flippers. They laughed in delight as they broke the surface with it. It dove underwater, swinging its tail upward and hitting it on the surface. They joined it and let bubbles escape their mouth. It arched its body toward them. They rubbed its tongue when it opened its mouth. Bubbles left its blowhole, as did a sweet squeak. They took their hands away, allowing it to close its mouth. It rubbed its nose against each of their chests.
The orcas let more bubbles escape its blowhole and swam down toward the sand. It rubbed its stomach against it. Tommy gripped Kim's hand tightly and pulled her along for a swim. They dropped behind it and went for the sand. They sighed contently at its smoothness on their stomachs. They made their way toward it. They rubbed the area behind its blowhole once they reached it. It squeaked with delight, opening its mouth as bubbles left its blowhole.
The orca headed for the surface with Tommy and Kim close behind. They broke the surface simultaneously. They emitted a delight laugh. It moved a little bit away from them. It let out a series of clicks and whistles. It dove underwater, slapping its tail on the surface. They looked at each other, swallowing hard.
"I have to say I loved being underwater with that orca," Tommy said with a big smile on his face.
"I wish I could stay underwater longer," Kim said, forming a small frown on her face. "Then we could really spend some time with an orca or another marine animal."
Tommy growled playfully and splashed water into Kim's face, only to be hit with a bigger splash from her. They became engaged in a huge water fight. They screamed in surprise when the orca surfaced underneath them. It put them on its back for ten seconds before they fell off. They laughed as it approached them, opening its mouth. They rubbed its tongue gently. They took their hands away as it closed its mouth. They eyed each other.
"That was so wild being surprised by the orca!" Kim yelled in great joy.
"It sure was!" Tommy agreed, clapping three times. "Who knew wild orcas could be so playful?"
She squealed so loudly that she scared off a gull. "For sure!"
The orca spouted air from its blowhole and sank beneath the surface. Tommy and Kim inhaled deeply and went underwater. They swam toward it, touching its nose. It sang a beautiful song, and bubbles escaped its blowhole. It nudged each of them in their chests gently and began to swim away. They grabbed its flippers on either side while kicking their legs. It slid its tail along the sand in which it let out a series of clicks, whistles, and squeaks.
Tommy and Kim petted the orca on its sides before swimming upward to join each other. It went under them and pushed them toward the surface, a soft click leaving its blowhole. It caught them on its back, and they fell off right after, laughing in delight. It dove underwater, swinging its tail upward and hitting it on the surface. They joined it and rubbed its tongue when it opened its mouth. Bubbles left their mouths.
The orca emitted bubbles from its blowhole. It closed its mouth after Tommy and Kim took their hands away. It headed for the sand, sliding its stomach along it. He gripped her hand tightly, and they swam to it. They ran their hands along its back. It squeaked pleasurably. They dropped back a little bit and went toward the sand. They turned on their backs to feel it against their backs. They made their way to it and petted the area behind its blowhole.
The orca headed for the surface with Tommy and Kim close behind. All three of them surfaced at the same time. It rolled on its side in which it exposed its flipper. It waved to them, happy squeaks coming out of its blowhole. They returned the wave with one of their own. It turned right side up and swam away. It headed underwater hitting its tail on the surface. They looked at each other with very contented sighs.
"Wow. That was such a refreshing swim with an orca," Kim said, running her hands through her hair.
"Yeah. Not once did I ever think I would swim with a wild orca," Tommy exclaimed with a delighted laugh. "I am so glad I did."
"So am I," Kim agreed and touched his cheek. "The best part about it was doing it with you."
"You got that right," Tommy commented with much pride. "Of course, I am the better swimmer." He formed a big smirk on his face. "Yes, I am."
"Sure, you are," Kim said, her voice laced with sarcasm.
"Hey, it is the truth," Tommy retorted in mock annoyance. "Get used to it."
"You need to get used to eating the truth," Kim teased and made a funny noise.
"Oh, get lost," Tommy yelled, waving her off.
"No, you get lost!" Kim yelled as she pointed her finger at him with a hiss. "I mean it!"
Tommy blew a raspberry at Kim, who mimicked him. She leaned in for a kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck. He slid his arms around her waist. He coaxed her lips open with his tongue and slipped it inside her mouth. He traced every part of it. She moaned excitedly as her heart pounded relentlessly. They slipped underwater while maintaining their lip lock. They returned to the surface after ten seconds, pulling apart and gasping for air. They tried to hold back laughs, but they couldn't help themselves.
"Wow. I never thought I'd be able to keep kissing someone while going underwater!" Tommy exclaimed and put his hand on top of his head.
"Me neither. It was pretty neat," Kim whispered, leaning close to him. "I hope we do lots of kissing underwater."
He winked at her. "Mm-hmm."
Tommy and Kim shared another kiss and hugged tightly. They released their hold on each other, sighing contently. They started swimming again, slipping beneath the surface. Fish passed them as three green sea turtles followed them close behind.