Chapter 9: Animals- Nickelback
Autumn was Rikki's favorite season. Of course she loved summer more from a mermaid perspective, the ocean water was the perfect temperature but autumn took away the incredible heat the summers brought on land. This particular weekend was fairly chilly. Rikki stepped outside of her home and figured she could fair in a t-shirt before she left her home to make her way to the beach where she would meet her secret boyfriend. Or whatever the hell he was to her.
They had broken up a few months prior. He would be attending a new school that would take him out of Gold Coast. He had put her in perhaps the most terrifying situation she could remember being in, being in a relationship didn't make sense. Rikki quickly learned love and desire didn't give a shit about common sense. Her heart still longed for him and wanted to trust him. It was clear he still cared for her deeply as well. They only kept their relationship secret because Rikki wasn't ready for her friends to find out yet. She was pleased when Zane agreed to her terms.
Since they couldn't be seen in public, most of their dates were at odd hours on a secluded beach. They would spend hours walking along the shore and simply talking, taking breaks to kiss occasionally. Rikki blushed as she recalled how many of their kisses that were meant to be quick and subtle had turned into snogging sessions. The last time they had walked along the beach, Rikki recalled laying on the sand while Zane gently hovered over her, his lips practically glued to hers. Cleo and Emma had told her they discovered she and Zane were dating when they wrapped their arms around each other at a movie theater the first time around. She could only imagine what kind of reaction they would have to their sand snogging session.
The sun was setting as Rikki arrived at the beach. Of all the places she lived, Gold Coast was the most beautiful, in her opinion. Maybe her mermaid self was biased but something about the sparkling water against the orange sky took her breath away.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" She said when she heard footsteps behind her.
"Not as beautiful as you." The voice had said as Rikki felt an arm wrap around her waist. She rolled her eyes in response but leaned into him nevertheless.
"That's tacky." Rikki replied as she turned to face him.
"It's true." Zane said as he gave her a quick kiss. A part of Rikki knew they were going to share a much more intense kiss soon. She peaked behind him and saw a basket.
"What's that?" She asked.
"I was helping my dad set up for a gala and didn't get a chance to eat dinner." Zane stated. "I hope you don't mind, I packed some for you too."
Rikki smiled. She hadn't eaten dinner either, usually preferring to pick something up on her way home. Her dad worked late hours and Rikki felt he forgot she existed half of the time anyway.
"That sounds perfect." Rikki replied. The pair took a seat in the sand after Zane had placed a blanket on the ground. It wasn't anything extravagant, just sandwiches and crips but Rikki was more than satisfied. If there was one thing she learned growing up poor, it was free things were the best things.
They finished their dinners quickly and then Zane suggested they walk along the beach to end the night. Rikki was more than happy to do so. They packed up their belongings in the basket and began their stroll. Rikki had her hand placed in one of Zane's as he held the basket in the other. He was walking closest to the ocean as he always did. He could afford to get his feet slightly wet.
They talked about anything from her mermaid life to his most recent bike race with Nate. She loved these talks they had. Part of her felt more comfortable telling Zane these things than her friends. Love did make people do crazy things.
A harsh breeze hit them when they were about twenty minutes into their walk. Rikki shivered in response, wishing she had at least brought a light jacket.
"Do you want this?" Zane had asked, referencing the flannel he wore over his t-shirt. Rikki was reminded of the boy who gave her his suit jacket in the rain about a year ago. She couldn't help from smiling as she nodded at him. She didn't have much of a choice, he had taken the flannel off anyway.
"Thanks." She said as she pulled the flannel closer to her body. In part, she was cold but she also enjoyed the scent of the item. It smelled so much like him.
Zane removed his hand from hers and placed it around her shoulders and she instantly felt ten degrees warmer.
"You'd think as a mermaid with pyrokinesis, I'd be able to heat myself." Rikki said.
"That would be a good trick." Zane replied as he gave a shiver.
"Now you're cold." Rikki said as she tried to move out of his arms and remove the flannel. "Here, take this back."
"No, I'm fine." Zane said fairly unconvincingly.
"Just because I didn't prepare for this weather does mean you should be cold." Rikki said.
"Or we could just go inside," Zane said as he pointed to something on the mainland.
Rikki followed his direction and saw he was pointing at a lifeguard stand. It was nearly dark, the beaches had been closed for a few hours. The inside of the stand looked empty from afar, there were no lights on inside.
"Are you crazy?" Rikki asked.
Zane chuckled. "Come on, we'll take a look and if there are people in there, we'll leave."
Zane dashed up to the stand before Rikki could say anything. She took a look around the beach to make sure no one was watching them. Once she knew they were in the clear, she followed him up to the stand that was not only empty, but unlocked.
Rikki followed Zane inside, realizing two things. One, it was much warmer inside without the wind and two, this stand hadn't been used in ages.
Rikki smiled as she closed the door behind her. It wouldn't do them any good if they were caught inside the stand. She walked closer to Zane and removed his flannel, putting it to his chest once she reached him.
"I won't need this anymore." Rikki said with a smile as she kissed him.
"If I had it my way, neither of us would need it." Zane told her. It made Rikki blush and smile. She knew was he was insinuating and oddly enough, she didn't find herself scared at the idea.
He smiled back at her as it was his turn to kiss her. The kiss was short but Rikki knew he was going to dive back in and she had a feeling they were going to end up wrapped around each other again.
Only a few moments later did she feel Zane push her back until she hit the wall. He had pinned her there so well she couldn't move if she wanted to. She felt him grab the back of her thighs and hoist her up around his waist. She felt something hard between her legs before smiling in the kiss. Again, Rikki didn't know what tonight held but she thought she would be much more nervous than she was. This all felt right and comfortable.
The kiss broke and Zane gave out a moan and continued to ravage her neck and right shoulder. Rikki sensed movement and looked to her left to see another couple who stopped in their tracks, likely upon hearing Zane's moan. They shrugged and continued on as neither Rikki or Zane made any further noise.
"Zane." Rikki whispered to him once they were out of earshot.
"Hm?" He answered as he removed his head from her. "Oh, I didn't mean to do anything you didn't-"
He was starting to loosen his grip on her thighs but she grabbed his hands as if to tell him not to let go.
"No, it's fine." Rikki replied. "I like what you're doing. It's just people are still walking by and they can hear us. We should keep it down."
"Not bloody likely." Zane replied, dropping Rikki to the ground. She was a bit upset and confused at first. She wasn't saying she didn't want to do anything, she just didn't want to be caught. If they were, the pair might end up in the police station.
"Perfect," Zane said as he crouched over something on the ground. Rikki saw he had found a wireless radio. She wondered if it would work until she heard the radio jockey's voice come out of it. Zane smiled and turned the radio up to an appropriate volume. Not too loud that it was draw attention but loud enough to drown out any noise they might make.
"Where were we?" Zane asked as he backed Rikki into the corner again.
Rikki was vaguely aware of the radio as she and Zane continued their snogging session that quickly turned to a strip session too. The jockey was interviewing someone a majority of their time in the shed. She was stripped down to her bra, that was doing little to protect her modesty and underwear when a song finally came on. It was the last song she would except to hear and she couldn't help from giggling.
"What is it?" Zane asked and he lifted himself from on top of her. He was stripped to only a pair of boxers and had the picnic blanket on his back.
"Nothing." Rikki replied. "Just an interesting song is all."
"Sorry, I can't pay attention to anything that isn't you at the moment." Zane said as he captured her lips in his once more.
Rikki didn't ever think she would lose her virginity to a Nickelback song in a lifeguard stand. Then again, she also didn't think she would had her card over to Zane Bennett either.
