Chapter 9

The next morning when she awoke, she felt wonderful. She could hear Collins up and in the kitchen, trying to talk to Abuelita in her pidgin English. Angel climbed out of the bed and put on her robe and her blonde wig.
"If it isn't my Angel of the morning." Collins was waiting for her with his trademark smile.
"Good morning, Abuelita." She kissed her grandmother, then went to sit next to her lover.
"Good morning, Collins." He looked a little uncomfortable as she kissed his lips, but relaxed when he saw that Abuelita was smiling at them.
"I like this boy, Angel." Angel translated to Collins.
"I like her too." Angel likewise translated to Abuelita.
"Damn, this trip makes me wish I'd taken Spanish instead of French in high school."
"I'll teach you, love."
Abuelita served them both breakfast of huevos rancheros and coffee. They insisted on doing the dishes. Abuelita relented and left the room to get ready for work. Angel rose to put her dishes in the sink and turned on the hot water. She added some soap and stirred the hot water with her fingertips. Collins came up behind her to add his dishes and pushed her against the sink with his body. He brought his hand around her waist and pulled her closer to him. He moved her hair and kissed the side of her neck. She tilted her head so that he could get in closer. He whispered her name, which sent shivers down her spine. He seemed to intuit the shivers, and gently scratched his fingernail up her backbone. She reached around and took hold of the back of his thigh muscles with her soapy hands. Her back arched into him and he took the opportunity to kiss her lips. She kissed back, gasping into his mouth. He released her from the sink and she turned around into his arms and kissed him more fully. When she broke the kiss, she looked into his face. He smiled sweetly at her.
"We'd better stop this now," he murmured softly.
"Yes, we can't do this here."
"Can we find someplace else?" He was out of breath.
"Umm. . .maybe." Angel smiled impishly at him and smacked his behind.
"My Angel's got a plan." He grinned. "What is it?"
"That's for me to know and you to find out." She nipped his collar bone.
"You must be feeling better. You're back to yourself again."
Just then, Abuelita entered the room. Collins was momentarily glad she hadn't come in a few minutes prior. Then he realized she must've timed her entry carefully and blushed.
"Abuelita, can I have your resident card so we can go to the local beach?"
"Are you sure you're well enough to go out, Angel-cita?"
"I'm sure. It's warm out. We'll take it easy." Angel smiled.
"All right, Angel-cita, you know best." Abuelita pulled out the card from her wallet and handed it to Angel. Abuelita kissed both on their cheeks, said goodbye, and left for work.
"Here, Collins, let's finish these dishes and go out to the beach."
"Beach?"
"Yeah, the local beach. It's for residents only. Kapow!" Angel held the card up and wrinkled her nose in a diabolical smile.
"Hmm. . .Your plan?"
"My plan."

Chapter 10

After much soap-flipping and water-squirting, Angel and Collins finished the dishes and got dressed for the day. Angel chose to wear her black wig, a light pink skirt, a white t-shirt, and some platform sandals. Collins came in wearing light blue pants and a soft gauzy white shirt, unbuttoned about halfway down.
"Wow, you are hot today, Professor Collins." Angel purred. She had rarely seen Collins in anything but winter clothes. She really liked the difference.
"Thanks. I like your hair like that." Collins said, smiling.
"Yeah? Do you think I should go out in this?"
"I do. I think you look gorgeous."
"I really haven't been out in drag in San Juan before. I'm a little afraid."
"I'll protect you."
She stood up and clung to him, liking the way his smooth skin felt under the soft, transparent shirt and inhaling his ever-present soft scent of sandalwood.
"You always protect me, Papi."
"I always will."

Chapter 11

They packed Angel's backpack with a picnic lunch and other beach necessities, and set out for the bus stop, a few blocks away. They got a few stares, since they were in a family neighborhood, but most people had heard about Angelita Dumott's strange grandson, and no one openly hassled them. Angel led the way, holding Collins' hand. They were a little more discrete than they'd have been in, say, Alphabet City, but they made no pretense of hiding who they were. At the bus stop, Angel sat down on a bench to rest her slightly ungainly long legs. A car drove past and three men in the backseat cat called. She simply laughed and pulled her short skirt up a little to show off more leg. Collins, chuckling slightly at his girl, sat down beside her. He put his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him.
"See? Nothing to be afraid of," he murmured into her neck.
"Who's afraid? I'm little but I'm sassy. And I've got you for backup. What else does a girl need?"
"Transportation." Collins replied with a smile. "Here's the bus."
They paid the driver and boarded the bus. The bus was packed, as usual. There was only one seat available. Collins, like the gentleman he was, stood while Angel sat in the only seat.
"Thanks, love," Angel said as she shrugged off her backpack and settled in.
"Not that I'm complaining, because they're really hot, but I don't know how you manage with your shoes all the time. I wouldn't last ten minutes in those things."
"Sometimes it hurts to be beautiful."
"You're beautiful with or without the shoes and the wigs and the short skirts."
"So are you." Collins laughed at the thought of himself wearing Angel's wigs, then reconsidered. That might be an idea for another time. . .
His train of thought was interrupted by Angel.
"Here's our stop, love. We get off here."
The blocks around the local beach were pretty run down. The houses mostly looked as though they'd tumble down with a stiff breeze. They were all up on stilts and most of them had at least one person sitting outside on a porch or in the yard. Holding Collins' hand, Angel smiled and waved at almost every person that they saw. She was like her own private parade, Collins mused. He turned back and noticed that many of the people they had passed were watching them walk down the street. One house even had several people poking their heads out of the door. There had only been one person on the porch when they'd passed. He thought again of how very lucky he was to be with this person. She shone like none other.

Chapter 12

After a few more blocks, they reached a hedgerow. Collins could hear the surf roaring beyond and had smelled the salt in the air for blocks, but couldn't see the water. In a break in the hedges, there was a rundown little booth, with a man inside. Angel led Collins to the booth and showed the card Abuelita had given her.
"Hola," she sang out melodically.
"Hola." The man looked at the card, then at Angel. He looked from one to the other again.
"Are you one of Angelita's grandkids?" he asked Angel roughly in Spanish.
"Yeah, I'm Angel." Angel replied. He softened some.
"I've known your grandmother for years. Are you the one who went to America?"
"That's me," Angel said with a sweet smile.
"What's with the funny clothes?"
"You think they're funny?" Angel stepped away from the booth and twirled. "I think this is a pretty cute outfit."
He laughed at her attitude. "You look ready for the beach, that's for sure."
"I am ready. In fact, I can't wait. I'm ready for some sun after a long New York winter."
"Well, have fun. Tell Angelita Jefe' said hello."
"I will. Thanks Jefe'"
"What was that all about?" Collins asked as they walked away from the booth. "I thought maybe we might have a little trouble."
"He knows my grandmother. Almost everyone on this side of San Juan does. He thought I looked a little weird, but he was ok once he knew who I am."
"Well you're also totally adorable. That can't have hurt."
"Nope, you're right, I am adorable. Come with me, I want to show you all the places we went when we were kids."
The beach was empty. Angel put down their stuff, took off her sandals and carried them in one hand while she held Collins' hand with the other. He rolled up his pants and walked along in the surf. She splashed and played, kicking water all over him. He joined in the game and both were soon drenched. She started to run, pulling him along with her deeper into the water. He was more than a little afraid of the ocean. He didn't swim well, and he always worried about what was under the water, but Angel coaxed him in with kisses, tugs, and soft words. Before long, she was under the water up to her shoulders. Collins, being taller, was only in a little less than chest deep. Angel's wig was completely soaked and she had to hold it on with one hand while holding Collins with the other. They kissed and caressed in the relative privacy of the murky water. Angel could feel her lover getting aroused and she felt her own body responding in kind. Collins was kissing and nuzzling her neck, using his teeth from time to time. She loved his teeth.
"C'mon," she panted. "There's someplace else I want to show you."
"Better than this?" he asked, his face pressed against her cheek.
"Mmm. . ." she moaned. "Much better. You'll like it."
Angel gave her lover's butt one more good squeeze and waded out of the water.
"Let's get our stuff."
"Where is this place?"
"Not too far, c'mon."

Chapter 13

Collins waded out after Angel, a little embarrassed to be walking along the beach in his now soaked clothes in his semi-aroused state. He had noticed that Angel seemed to have the same problem, but she didn't seem concerned one bit, and indeed, there was no one else to be seen. Angel ran back to their stuff, about a half mile down the beach, picked up the backpack, and ran all the way back, meeting Collins halfway.
"Hey, I thought you were taking it easy today."
"This is taking it easy. Plus, this is only half of today's exertion." Angel smiled that devilish, wrinkled nose smile which so turned him on. He knew when he saw that smile that she was up to no good and he loved it.
She led on, more directly now, to a small section of the beach backed up with glorious sheer rock faces. Collins wasn't sure he'd ever seen a more beautiful place.
"Wow. This place is amazing."
"C'mon."
"Where are we going now?"
Angel pointed up the cliff face to a small depression about halfway up.
"Now, we climb."
"Climb? Ang. . .Where. . .?"
"Come on, I said. You'll like this place, I promise."
Collins liked it when she took control. He followed her, climbing up the rocks barefoot. Once he slipped and was saved from falling only because he was holding her hand. She steadied him and pulled him to her.
"You ok?"
"Fine. This place is hard to get to."
"But so worth it. Look, we're almost there."
"Good. Let's go."
They climbed higher, and finally they were on the ledge in front of the depression, which he now saw was a decent-sized cave. Angel pulled him inside with her and kissed his lips urgently. This took Collins off guard, but he recovered quickly and returned her kiss. She let him go just as the kiss really heated up, pulling their beach blanket out of her backpack.

"Mmm. . .I love you so much, Angel."
"I love you too, baby. C'mere."