Chapter 3
Gabriel walked into the hotel restaurant just as we were finishing up a breakfast of waffles, eggs, sausage, and fruit. He said cheerily, "Bonjour, mes amies! You kids ready to blow this popsicle stand?"
"Yeah, we've already checked out and put our bags in the car," I replied as I wiped my lips with my napkin and stood.
"Great! Let's head out to the parking lot then." The archangel popped a Jolly Rancher into his mouth and made his way toward the door.
Dean knocked back the rest of his coffee before following us out. "So 'bout this resort—whaddya mean by supernatural friendly?"
Gabriel explained as we walked through the lobby, "It's called Chavah Island. Some of the staff and most of the guests are of the paranormal variety—witches, vamps, weres, shifters, et cetera, even the occasional well-behaved demon. But don't worry—like I said before, the resort has strict rules on guest behavior, including a no violence policy. All of the more . . . uh, specialized items on the menu are what you might call 'cruelty free,' meaning they get 'em from butchers, morgues, blood banks, places like that. No live humans are ever harmed to provide this place with chow.
"Also, the guest list is pretty rarefied compared to what you're used to as hunters. See, the monsters you guys run into are generally the lowlifes of the supernatural world—too stupid or violent or outta control to keep from getting noticed. The rest of the community has learned how to live without causing trouble, so they typically fly under the hunter radar. Most of 'em are nice, ordinary folk who happen to have unusual abilities or eating habits. That's the sort that you're gonna see at Chavah."
My brother looked skeptical. "Really? Monster communities? You ain't just pulling our legs?"
"Really really. Scout's honor!" The angel held up two fingers in a V.
I considered the idea as we walked through the parking lot to the Impala. "Huh! I guess it makes some sense. We hunters usually find cases after something attracts enough attention to warrant a news article or start a local legend. But if those creatures are like the equivalent of criminals, then it stands to reason that there'd be even more supernatural entities out there living quiet lives. It'll be fascinating to talk to some of them!"
The other hunter groaned. "And there he goes! Sam, we're going on our honeymoon to have fun, not collect research for a fucking dissertation on monster society!"
"Err, does this mean I won't hafta worry 'bout you guys hunting there just on principle?" Gabriel asked tentatively.
"No, you won't. Our dad may've been fairly black and white about the supernatural, but we've run into non-violent creatures before and let them go. As long as no one at the resort is hurting anyone else, we shouldn't have any issues," I assured him as I opened the passenger-side door.
"Besides, both of us ain't exactly human, so it'd pretty damn hypocritical to hunt someone just for that," Dean added as he got into the car.
"Perfect! Everyone in? All passengers, please fasten your seatbelts and return your tray tables to the upright positions. And hold onto your butts!" Gabriel snapped his fingers, and the Impala and its passengers disappeared.
There was a loud flapping of wings and the momentary smell of ozone, and then we materialized in a parking garage. As we opened the doors, the feel of warm humid air, the smell of saltwater, and the sound of ocean birds told us we weren't in Iowa anymore. Gabriel leaned forward over the seatback to hand Dean a parking tag to hang on the rearview mirror before getting out.
"We're currently on Little Torch Key, and this garage is right next to the marina. You could bring your Baby to the resort on the ferry if you really want," he continued as we emerged from the car. "But you can walk from one end of the island to the other in half an hour, and most of the place only has footpaths. So I gotcha a parking pass for the next two weeks. You can always take the ferry back here anytime to drive her around the main islands.
"I also took the liberty of getting you two some more duds. Chavah doesn't do much black-tie stuff, but they do expect you to wear more than jeans and flannel to dinner. Figured you might not have much else besides your tacky Fed outfits and the penguin suits from your wedding, so I picked up some slacks and shirts. Feel free to toss or donate anything you don't like."
Dean popped open the trunk, and there was a new rolling carry-on style bag inside, in addition to our usual military duffle bags, laptop bags, and the garment bags for our suits. We looked at each other, shrugged, and grabbed everything. The archangel then led us out of the garage, into the marina, and down one of the piers. There were already a handful of people waiting there.
"The ferry travels between the resort and here every hour, and it should be here in 'bout ten minutes. You lovebirds have fun, and you know how to reach me if you need anything!" Gabriel gave us a jaunty wave and walked off.
We turned our attention to our new companions, who were presumably were also waiting for the ferry. There was a distinguished-looking couple who looked to be in their mid- to late thirties, dressed in linen slacks, long-sleeved summer shirts, large sunglasses, and wide straw hats. Judging by their pallor and how covered up they were, I wondered if the two were vampires. The others were another couple closer to my age and a red-headed boy of no more than six, all wearing shorts, tank tops, and Hawaiian shirts.
My husband immediately knelt in front of the little boy. "Hey there, buddy! What's your name? I'm Dean, and the hairy giant with me is Sam. We're here on our honeymoon."
The child looked up at his parents, who nodded, before answering, "My name's Tyler. I didn't know boys could get married!"
"There ain't too many places that allow it yet, but we got lucky!" Dean said. "So, whaddya turn into?"
Tyler's eyes grew wide. "You know? I'm not supposed to tell, but . . . I'm a Golden Retriever!"
"'Sokay, kiddo. I'm a shapeshifter, which is kinda like a skinwalker. And Sammy here loves dogs, so maybe your mom and dad will let him throw a ball or Frisbee for you on the beach while we're here."
The kid turned to his parents. "Ooh, can I? Huh, Mom, Dad?"
His mother, who shared the same red hair and freckles, smiled indulgently at him. "Sure thing, honey, as long as Dad or I are watching. Just don't pester either of these nice men too much!"
She looked up at me and held out her hand. "I'm Susan, and this is my husband Joe. We spent our honeymoon here too. Joe just got a big promotion, so we decided to treat ourselves and come back. It's so nice being someplace where you don't have to hide what you are, don't you think?"
I shook her hand. "Dean and I have never been somewhere like this before. But we do have a few people we can just be ourselves around, so I understand."
Her husband, a thin man with light brown hair, also shook my hand, and they both shared some memories of their previous visit to the resort. Dean was still engrossed with Tyler, who had pulled some action figures out of his bag and was gesturing animatedly. The other couple soon moved closer.
The woman asked, "Was that Loki with you just now? I'm Edith, by the way, and he's Donald."
"Um, yeah. He's . . . kind of a friend of the family. This trip is his surprise wedding gift. We don't actually know too much about the place," I answered.
Edith, a handsome woman with a silver streak through her dark hair, rather like Polgara, smiled. "Hopefully you'll love Chavah Island as much as we do. The bungalows are luxurious and fairly private, and I'm told the food is phenomenal. The resort has all the island activities you could want, or you can spend the day lounging on the beach or by the pool. And as Susan said, it's a pleasure to not have to maintain the usual façade."
"I hope so too, ma'am! We've never been on an extravagant vacation like this before, so I don't think either of us quite knows what to expect."
"Well, Don and I will be glad to show you around if you need it. It's certainly different to see a mixed race couple about. Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course! It's just that people tend to stick to their own kind, or humans at the most. Survival of the species I suppose, or some outdated notion like that. I can tell you're not a shapeshifter, not like your lovely husband," she clarified at my confused look. "I can't place your scent, other than it isn't quite human. Do you mind if I ask . . . ?"
I'd never really thought before about how to explain what I was to an outsider, and I certainly didn't want to talk about the demon blood. "Uh, I guess the simplest description is I'm a kind of psychic."
Before she could ask for details, Dean stood and faced the water, as did Tyler and his parents. Moments later, Edith and her spouse turned their heads in the same direction. It took another minute or so before I could hear a boat engine approaching the dock.
"Okay, champ, you put your toys away now, 'cause we don't want Batman to hafta swim to shore. I gotta go help Sam with our bags," my brother said to the little boy before walking over to me.
"Edith, Don, this is my husband Dean." I put an arm around his waist as I made the introductions, a warm feeling spreading in my chest at being able to call him that. "Edith's been telling me a little about the resort."
Dean smiled charmingly and shook their hands. "Nice to meetcha. I hope we get a chance to talk more at the island. For now though, looks like we got a boat to catch!"
We waited for the ferry to dock and the current passengers to disembark. The ferry had room for two vehicles in the cargo area in the rear and seating for about twenty on the deck in front of the pilot's cabin. Two burly men assisted with unloading the leaving guests' luggage and stowing ours in the front of the cargo area. The seven of us took our seats near the bow of the ship a few minutes before it launched again.
The ferry ride took perhaps twenty minutes. The loud engine made conversation difficult, but we were amply entertained by watching Tyler's excited antics. We soon pulled up to a small dock that led up to a large, brightly painted building with traditional island architecture. The two husky sailors tied the ferry off and unloaded everyone's bags from the boat onto luggage carts, which other employees pushed towards the building.
Dean and I let the others go on ahead while we took a good look at the island. It was small, maybe a quarter-mile long, and vaguely S-shaped. The dock was near the southwestern end, and a sandy beach lined with palm trees and dotted with lounge chairs and umbrellas extended further to the south and around the tip. Past the colorful main building, we could see the first of the thatch-roofed guest bungalows, each with a small private beach and shaded from its neighbors by tropical foliage. The water surrounding us was amazingly clear and calm.
"This place looks unbelievable!" I breathed, and Dean simply nodded, looking just as stunned.
After gazing around for a couple more minutes, we made our way into what I assumed was the main lodge. Inside the tile-floored lobby, a blue-tattooed djinni stood behind a polished marble concierge desk. The cart holding our luggage waited near a side entrance.
We walked up to the desk, and my brother addressed the djinni. "Uh, we've got reservations here? Thing is, this was kinda a surprise gift, so we're not exactly sure whose name they're under. The reservations woulda been made by Loki, I think?"
The concierge tapped on the keyboard of his computer for a moment. "Ah yes, here it is! A two-week reservation at one of our island romance suites for Dean Smith and Sam Wesson, booked as you said by Master Loki. He apparently is taking care of all your expenses here, including meals, drinks, and any activities you'd like to partake in. Luis will be back shortly to take you to your bungalow after he drops off the other guests. In the meantime, why don't you sit down and enjoy a complimentary cocktail at the Lounge over here? While you're waiting, I'll explain a few things about the resort, if you don't mind, since I don't know how much Master Loki may have told you."
We nodded and went over to the small tiki bar-themed lounge, where I ordered a mojito and Dean got a rum punch. Once we were seated at one of the little bamboo tables, the djinni left his desk and stood nearby.
"As you're aware, we cater to guests of a wide variety of races. To ensure everyone's safety and comfort, Chavah Island has a strict policy against any form of violence. This includes nonconsensual feeding or use of spells or abilities on other guests. Resort staff are off-limits at all time to such behavior, consensual or not. Infractions will be dealt with promptly and may result in anything ranging from a verbal warning to expulsion from the island without refund, depending on the severity. We fortunately have not had to resort to the latter yet, and we hope this trend continues.
"Now that that is out of the way, please let me welcome you to Chavah Island! Our goal here is to provide our guests with a relaxing getaway. As a result, there are no alarms or telephones in our bungalows, though they are equipped with a paging system to contact the concierge desk for requests or issues. There is cell and internet service throughout the island and phones and computers available here in the Lodge. Each bungalow has its own TV and Blu-Ray player, but the only TV with cable service is in the Great Room. Movies, books, and board games can be borrowed from the Library and enjoyed there or taken back to your bungalow.
"Chavah has a full range of amenities, including a secluded pool, quiet beaches, full-service spa, fitness center, meditation garden, and boutique stocked with souvenirs from the resort and surrounding islands. Luis will show you the locations of some of these on the way to your bungalow, and there is a complete map there as well. We also offer a wide assortment of activities on and nearby the island, including hiking, fishing, sailing, sky diving, and wildlife encounters. There is also water and air shuttle service to the Keys and the Bahamas. A brochure detailing all the options is waiting at your bungalow, and you can call the concierge at any time to schedule a reservation.
"Lastly, the resort has a variety of dining options as well. There is our award-winning Dining Room here in the Lodge, where you can mingle with other guests. We have three private dining locations throughout the island, and you also can have meals served in your bungalow. Meal times and menus can be found in your bungalow, and you can make reservations through the concierge. In addition, there is the Lounge here and the Pool Bar, which serve drinks and snacks. All of our dining areas can accommodate any allergies or dietary requirements, though rest assured that no sentient beings are ever harmed to acquire some of the more . . . esoteric menu items. Raw meat or organs are not served at the public dining areas to not disturb our more squeamish guests.
"It sounds like Luis has just pulled up, so I will bid you good morning. Please feel free to ask questions of myself or any of the staff over the course of your stay." He bowed slightly and returned to his desk.
We finished our drinks and made our way over to the side entrance, where what appeared to be a modified golf cart was just outside. A slim, cheerful-looking young man was piling our bags into the luggage area of the vehicle. He smiled widely at our approach.
"Hi guys! Sam and Dean, right? I'm Luis, and I'm gonna take you on a quick guided tour before I drop you off at your bungalow. Looks like you're in one of our romance suites—nice! Most of our guest accommodations are oceanfront duplexes; only a dozen or so are private and have their own beaches like yours. Well, all your bags are stowed, so hop in and let's get going!
"You already saw our Sunset Dock and main beach when you came in. Jacques at the front desk probably already mentioned that the Lodge here houses the Lounge, the Dining Room, and the gift shop. There's also the Salon for socializing, and there's dancing on the attached verandah in the evenings. Out back are the pool and the Pool Bar."
As we cleared the main building and drove past a smaller wooden building, he continued, "This right here is the Great Room, another social spot, and the Library. Anything in the Library can be lent out, as long as it's returned in time. North of here are some of our private bungalows.
"This white stucco building up ahead is our fitness center and main spa, as well as our administrative offices. There's also a first aid station that can dispense over-the-counter stuff. North of this is the dive shop for our snorkeling and scuba excursions, and beyond that is Solitude Point, where they've got outdoor massages, beachside yoga sessions, and private dining. To the south are most of the regular bungalows, and along part of the southern shore is the Atlantic Dock, where the sea plane, helicopter, and some of our boats take off."
Before we turned to the north, Luis pointed further down the eastward path. "If you keep going down here, you'll reach the outdoor spa pavilion, and past it is the meditation garden. We're heading to where the rest of the private bungalows are, including yours. Further to the east are the marina, Harbor Dock, and Harbor Point, another private dining spot. At the far end of the island is a bit of a wilderness area for hiking and picnics, and then a smaller beach and Sandy Point, the last private dining location."
We pulled up alongside a squarish bungalow with a peaked thatch roof, mostly hidden from the main path by lush tropical plants and trees. He parked the golf cart and announced, "Here we are, at the Griffin! All the bungalows have the names like Pegasus, Phoenix, and Chimera. Kinda cool, huh? Guess it keeps with the theme of the place."
We all grabbed bags and carried them inside. Luis departed after telling us to ask for him if we needed anything. We were then left alone to explore what would be our residence for the next two weeks.
The half of the bungalow facing the water was entirely made up of an airy great room. Tall louvered windows making up the majority of the three outer walls let in a lot of light, while the bamboo-lined vaulted ceiling made the room appear even bigger. A soft blue rug covered a good portion of the polished wood floor, and white curtains hung between the windows. A large seating area took up most of the space—comfortable wicker couch and armchairs with blue and white cushions arranged before a low entertainment unit, a square wooden coffee table in front of the couch and matching end tables bracketing it. A simple wooden desk and leather-bound chair sat against the wall near the entertainment center. The far end of the room held a small kitchenette area with a mini-fridge, microwave, and Keurig machine. The fridge and cabinets were stocked with soda, juice, bottled water, and various snacks, with instructions to request refills on a folded card. Resting on the counter was an open bottle of chilled champagne and a tray of sliced fresh fruit.
After pouring ourselves glasses of champagne and munching on some of the fruit, we continued our reconnaissance. The bedroom was spacious, with similar windows filling one outer wall, though the high ceiling here wasn't lined, allowing a view of the underside of the thatched roof, and the floor was carpeted. The canopy of the plush king bed was hung with sheer netting, over which a ceiling fan slowly spun. Two chairs, a small table, and a standing lamp made up a reading nook in one corner. Nightstands with lamps, a long dresser, a large armoire, and a padded chest at the foot of the bed comprised the rest of the furnishings. The bathroom was almost as roomy, with stone floors, mosaic-tiled walls, double vessel sinks, and a deep soaker tub in the main area. The toilet and bidet were sequestered in their own room, and a glass door led to a rainfall shower enclosure big enough to fit the both of us easily.
Outside, an oversized deck wrapped around the great room. A large hot tub and circular daybed filled one side, while an outdoor dining set and several patio chairs were scattered about on the other. Heavy white curtains along the sides could be pulled shut to create a private oasis. Past the deck, a small beach lined with palm trees and shrubs dropped off to a somewhat rocky shoreline. A circular stone fire pit was set between two cushioned lounge chairs, with small wooden ice chests serving as end tables. A wide hammock hung between two of the trees, and a bamboo outdoor shower stood against one side of the deck.
We went back inside, where Dean snagged a bag of pretzels and flopped onto the couch. "Dude, this place is awesome! If the rest of this resort lives up to this, I might hafta downgrade to only wanting to rip off one of Gabriel's testicles."
I filled a plate with more fruit and sat beside him. "I know, right? We'll have to improve the quality of the motels we stay at in the future, because I don't think I can handle our usual fleabag dumps after this! I just hope all these different supernatural creatures in one place won't become a problem. That skinwalker family seems quite nice, however, and I rather like Edith, even though I'm pretty sure she and Don are vamps. Jacques also was very courteous and professional."
"The ferry pilot and Luis are human, but the other two working the boat are werewolves. From what everyone's been telling us though, this resort's been doing its thing for a while without problems. So I say we stow the weapons we brought in the safe and hope we ain't gonna need 'em." He crunched up another pretzel and swallowed. "So what do we wanna do today?"
"I think we should take it easy. Unpack our stuff, go through those brochures over on the desk, and figure out some of what we'd like to do while we're here. Maybe walk around a little after lunch to get the lay of the land."
"Sounds like a plan. Though the first decision we need to make is which room are we gonna christen right now, baby!" He slid an arm around my waist and waggled his eyebrows.
I laughed and kissed him. "You're right—where are my priorities! We should start in the bedroom then."
My husband grabbed my hand and led me to the other room, where we both quickly undressed and climbed onto the bed. He sighed in contentment as he settled back against the soft pillows, and then smiled up at me and pulled me down for a long kiss. Our cocks stiffened as we pressed against each other, and I started to rub mine slowly against his.
Mmm yeah, Sammy, that's nice, he murmured, running his hands along the muscles of my back.
Love you so much, Dee! I said, in between peppering kisses along his neck.
He slid his hands into my hair and caught my lips with his. At the same time, he began to rock his hips, sliding our shafts together faster and faster. We were soon moaning into each other's mouths and rutting against each other passionately. As my pleasure crested, I pulled my mouth away and bit down on the base of his neck. He shouted and spurted onto his belly moments after I climaxed with a loud groan.
Before our cum could even cool off, I pushed my lover's legs up and slid into his tight, wet passage. He gasped as I set up a rapid pace of thrusts, squeezing around my member as each stroke grazed his prostate. His gasps turned into soft moans as I plunged harder into his silky heat, and his volume increased when I hitched his hips up so I could drive deeper into him.
No matter how often we made love, I never tired of feeling my cock sinking into his slick channel, feeling his velvety walls flexing around me, feeling his smooth skin sliding against mine. Nor seeing his lovely face flush and his brilliant eyes widen, hearing his deep voice keen and cry out, tasting his sweat and spit and seed, all due to the pleasure I was giving him. And those experiences were made a thousand times better by being able to sense his love, his joy, his ardor as we joined.
I kept driving into him over and over until Dean shook and clenched around my shaft. As his orgasm overwhelmed him, he grasped my shoulders and surged up to kiss me ardently. I closed my arms around his back in a close embrace while pulsing deep into his passage. We fell back against the bed still wrapped in each other.
Best. Husband. EVAR, he declared with a happy purr. Love you, sweetheart.
I replied, I think we're making a pretty great start at married life so far!