Up A Notch Page 9

  While very curious and excited to help the land walkers, it pouted when Michael placed boundaries of travel until the dolphin matured. To Michael’s amazement, Splasher added an unexpected dynamic. He willingly placed himself under the care and guidance of a natural predator and accepted Ton as pod bull when they were with the land walkers. Wait until Sam heard about this!

  As the family drove home together that night, Michael caught them up on the events while his sister complained about breathing room. Her plan to pretend she liked his excessive attention was majorly backfiring on her. He was practically sitting on her lap!

  “Daddy, tell Michael to get off of me. He’s heavy!” she whined.

  “Michael, please don’t sit on your sister. I shouldn’t have to tell you,” the man ordered patiently, glancing in the rear-view mirror.

  “I’m not sitting on her. I’m sitting next to her. Nice and close, the way she likes it,” Michael pressed up against her some more, propping his thigh over her knee.

  “It’s hot! Get off.”

  “Do you guys want to stop for a Jamba Juice?” their father asked, ignoring the bickering.

  Scott nodded. “Sounds good. It is hot today. That makes her cranky.”

  “We can share one!” Michael announced.

  “Get your own!” his sister retorted.

  “That’s quite enough, you. Son, you will have plenty of time to annoy her without us around to hear it. What are you, two years old? Control yourself.”

  “Consider this part of your punishment for your part of the prank. Huh, sis?”

  “Get out of my face, Michael!”

  “You are starting to give me a headache now. Cut it out,” Scott commanded using his don’t-even-think-about-it tone of voice. Michael stayed put but his sister instantly quieted down. As soon as she stopped struggling to get away, Michael moved away from her. He winked cheerfully as she glared at him.

  “I guess they are more normal than we realized,” Dr. Quimby said quietly to his friend, observing their interaction as he pulled into the shopping plaza.

  “They can be as normal as they want to be after we are out of earshot. Same thing for you guys, Peach Passion and Pina Colada?” Scott asked, leaning across the seat to look back at the siblings.

  “Yep!”

  “You two stay in the car. I’ll be right back. No fighting,” Dr. Quimby ordered, leaving the car running with the air on. Scott hurried out with him, unwilling to subject himself to more of their banter.

  “Love ya, little sister,” Michael grinned, tugging her ponytail.

  She put her head on his thigh as she stretched across the seat. “You’re a pain in the ass. I’m melting.”

  “I see where this goes when the tables are reversed. No, you stay right where you are. I like it when you are quiet,” Michael said softly, stroking her face. “I used to do this when you were little and you couldn’t sleep. Do you remember?”

  “You were always around. I can’t remember a moment when I needed you that you weren’t there, except when you abandoned me for that camp.”

  “Hey, I missed you as much as you missed me. You’ve always been my favorite toy, even when you were real small. You’re a lot of fun for me, except of course, when you don’t get your way. I’m glad we don’t really fight like a regular family. I don’t know what I’d do if that happened.”

  “Yes you do. You would react the way you did yesterday, get mad, blow your stack and eventually forgive me. We fight, just not about dumb things, like you didn’t get mad when I used your razor while on ship.”

  “Is that why it was so dull? Sam,” He said warningly.

  “And it never seems to bother you when I steal half of your t-shirts. It’s just what I do and, if it was important enough to you, you would ask me to stop. And I would. That’s the difference.”

  “Of course you aren’t deterred by the fact that I am now allowed to spank the daylights out of you, which will happen tonight, by the way. No, you stay right where you are,” he ordered as she tried to push herself up off his lap to protest. He released her when the drinks came and teasingly sipped hers before handing it over to her. Sam merely scowled.

  Once home and settled, Michael announced his intentions to the family. He gave Sam the option of going upstairs to face him or to stay in the living room. She flew upstairs. He began his slow ascent to her room and entered, without knocking. Michael leaned against the closed door with his bulging arms crossed as he studied the girl sitting on the edge of her bed.

  Sam swallowed. He was wearing a tight t-shirt which showed his deeply tanned biceps, the broadness of his back and chest and outlined the rippling muscles of his stomach. His shorts revealed long, hard, lean legs with sharply sculpted quads. With bright blue eyes and short, dark blond hair, Sam understood why the women always took double takes as he walked by. Little did they know that he was like a lion fish, and carried a deadly vibe that would cause even a crocodile to shudder fearfully.

  “You know why I’m here,” he said firmly, not moving.

  She issued a tiny smile. “Because you don’t appreciate a damn good practical joke when it’s played on you?”

  “Now is not the time to be sassy,” he reminded her.

  “If I had played that joke on Scott or Daddy, you would have thought it was hilarious. Admit it!”

  There, the twinkle. Keep it up and she could escape without the loss of too much dignity! She blinked her big, blue eyes. “Michael, you know I had no control over Splasher. And now you know what really good sex feels like too! It sounds like it was scientifically beneficial.”

  “I’m not happy with you. What you did was deceptive and mean, especially when you led me on about that guy. I won’t tolerate you lying to me.”

  “I didn’t lie once. I just abstained from full disclosure.”

  “And they think I should have been an attorney,” he shook his head, walking across the room to her bed and he sat next to her. “Sammi, there is a time and a place to mess around. There is also a reason not to. You took advantage of my fear of you getting into my head with the convergence and then played me like a drum. You are never, ever to do that again. Hear me?”

  “Come on, Mike, Seriously? What harm was done? Except to the big brother pride?”

  “Are you really asking me that? How about trust? I’ve always trusted my instincts about you. Now I have to question if they are based on fact or were inputted. How many times have I been able to rescue you from harm because I knew where you were or what was happening to you?”

  “Yeah, well…” she trailed off.

  “Well nothing. I need to trust my senses about you, not be distracted by….” he struggled to find the word. He finally sighed. “Not to be distracted by dolphin sex!”

  She tried not to laugh but couldn’t contain herself. Michael fought it, but joined her as well. She elbowed him with a knowing grin. Michael relented. “Alright, I’ll give you that. In retrospect, it was funny. It made me realize that I can be a little over-protective when it comes to you.”

  “A little?”

  “Lay off. I’m a lot over-protective, okay? Remember Dad telling us how I kicked the nurse the day you were born because I didn’t want her to take away my birthday present?” He touched her chin. “That hasn’t changed. But instead of kicking someone, I would want to kill them if they ever tried to take you away. Please, don’t use my weakness for you against me.”

  “Gosh, I didn’t know you felt that strongly. I’m sorry. I really am.” She saw the depth of his seriousness. “I won’t do it again, I promise.”

  “Good. Now, I owe you a bun warming. Let’s make our time together here count,” he said as he spewed forth one of the most dreaded phrases used by their uncle. “You're a good kid, Sammi. Do I tell you that enough?"

  She smiled and wiped a tear that had already started to stream down her face.

  He centered himself in the middle of the bed and patted his lap. Sam took a deep breath, knowing that she had invi
ted this consequence in the beginning and that after it was over with, everything would return to normal between them. She finally put herself over his knee and clenched her fists in anticipation.

  “Remember how you played me like a drum?” he asked, peeling her panties down to her knees and lifting the sundress high out of the way She blushed when she knew that once again, her bare bottom was being exposed to his scrutiny. He rested his hand resting on her bottom. “It’s my turn. Do you understand why we are doing this?”

  Sam nodded, clutching his hard leg for balance.

  “I expect an answer out of you when I ask a question, Samantha.”

  “Yes, sir,” she said.

  “Good girl.” His large hand lifted and then descended without mercy, pelting her in a flurry of sharp, exact smacks against every inch of her soft, not so pale, bottom. She had been sunbathing in the nude again, he noticed. Good, her bottom would be tougher to redden to his satisfaction!

  Sam tried her best not to yell or fight him too hard, but after a couple of minutes, it was impossible to stay still and quiet. She began to yelp and kick and he rapidly and harshly spanked her backside to a deep crimson red. She began to cry like a baby and begged him to stop.

  "Please," she pleased. "Please stop, I-I'm sorry." She bucked, squirmed and wiggled to prevent his slaps from landing on the same spots, but her efforts were in vain as he concentrated on the under curve of her shapely backside and targeted the very soft area where he knew he would get the most mileage.

  She was a sobbing, limp mess when he finally finished. His own hand was sore, but he knew it was nothing compared to her backside. He was also pretty sure there would be no bruising, despite the ban being lifted. He lifted her up and hugged her tight against his chest as she cried her apologies and repentance.

  "Shh, Sammi-girl. It's okay. I'm all finished now. You're forgiven, honey," Michael spoke in a calming voice as he rubbed her back. He kissed her forehead and lifted her to stand between his knees, pulling her panties back up and smoothing her sundress over her hips. Wiping her cheek with his hand, he asked if she had learned anything. Of course, the answer wasn’t quite what he was looking for.

  “Yes, sir. The next time I pull a prank, I need to really decide if it’s worth this,” she answered, rubbing her aching bottom.

  The next time? Great.

  Chapter 8

  “You are to call me the minute you hit land, and before you go back in. And if you have any problems, questions or concerns. Got it?” Dr. Quimby said anxiously when the day arrived to begin the assignment. Michael nodded with a slight degree of annoyance, but Sam wrapped her arms around her father’s waist.

  “Can I call you before I go to bed for goodnight kisses?”

  The man’s face softened. Michael fought back a grin, she was good! It was enough to calm their over-anxious father. “I would like that very much. Promise me that you’ll mind your brother and stay out of trouble.”

  “I promise to try my best. Uncle Scott? Take good care of Daddy, he’s going to be a wreck.”

  “Not to worry, my love. You kids be careful and contact me if you have any difficulties with the coast guard. They were somewhat vague in their instructions and the ship’s officer seemed a bit peeved that he was being required to work under our command.”

  “I’ll confirm everything prior to placement, Scott. I’ll also put one of our markers on everything to validate. Dad, you need to trust me to do my job and take care of things, okay?” Michael tried to sound understanding. “You have my promise that neither of us will take any unnecessary chances nor will I permit Sam play with the packs. Ton will provide any extra protection that we could possibly need.”

  Sighing, his father acquiesced and reluctantly handed his daughter over to his son. The four walked out to the deck for the final goodbye. The siblings flung their small dive packs over the railing and, with a wave, dove into the cold, deep water below.

  “Well, kiddo, we’re off. Excited?” Michael asked his sister as they buckled the packs to their bodies.

  “A vacation away from responsibility, hell yeah, I’m excited!”

  “We still have a lot of work to do, just not structured or inside. You’re gonna be good, right?”

  “I will try my best. I’m still a bit tender from your last discussion with me, so I’m not quite ready to push it yet.”

  “Good. Let’s go… Oh, wait. Lt. Quimby.” He responded to the transmitter inside his face mask.

  “It’s me. I love you guys.”

  “We love you too, Dad,” the young man rolled his eyes with every attempt to be patient. “Call whenever you need to, okay? If we don’t answer right away it’s because we are working. Would you like one of us to contact you before we lay a unit?”

  “That would be great. Tell your sister I’m sending her loves.”

  “Shall do, Quimby out. Dad sends you love,” Michael laughed.

  Sam wrinkled her little nose. “We have literally been gone 5 minutes. This is going to be a long trip if this keeps up. How can you act like it doesn’t annoy you?”

  “Because I know how he feels now. Plus, it would hurt his feelings.”

  “Marshmallow,” Sam grunted.

  The two rendezvoused with the Coast Guard carrier two miles off shore early that afternoon. The Officer in charge eyed them suspiciously and leering at the beautiful red-haired girl dressed in the fitted wetsuit that accented every well-muscled curve of her body. His unwavering stare made Sam uncomfortable and she fought the urge to hide behind her brother’s hulking form.

  With no access to deep diving equipment or rovers, the OIC began to directly challenge their ability to complete the task. Michael let him ramble as he scanned the small ship and the four units they were given for local placement.

  “I would like to know how a little snippet of a girl is going to lift and secure the stations,” he overhead one man saying.

  “I’d like to lift and secure her. Right on this,” another answered as he cupped his crotch. “She’s a beaut.”

  “Do you have any questions, Mr. Quimby?” the coast guard officer snidely asked.

  “It is Lieutenant Quimby and no, not at this time. I will emphasize my insistence on your men behaving like gentlemen around my partner when we come up. I will only say that this one time,” Michael turned in the men’s direction, unsure who had made the comments.

  “That little snippet of a girl has multiple ratings in martial arts and diplomatic immunity. She has no qualms regarding the application of deadly force. Piss her off and a hungry white will look like a goldfish, so I would suggest you keep your comments, and your hands, to yourselves. One more thing just to make myself perfectly clear,” he beckoned to his sister. “Lieutenant, please call in your reinforcements.” He turned to look at the crew, towering over the majority of them. “I suggest you carefully observe the events below. Touch her and you will be swimming, for a very short time.”

  Sam gracefully dove overboard as all watched. Within minutes, the waters below were teeming with well-known species of dangerous sharks. The crew stared as she bobbed about in the center of them, speechless as they recognized Mako, Threshers, Black-Tips, White Tips and several Great Whites. Michael’s facial muscles twitched as he pulled himself to full height, his demeanor demanding attention and obedience.

  “Do you have any more comments? No? Good. Lieutenant, you may come back on board,” he called. His sister stroked the top of a great white as it swam by her before slowly catching hold of the ladder to hoist herself up. The crew stood out of her way as she silently walked toward them.

  “I think we’ve reached an understanding with this crew,” her brother said, looking around at the frightened faces. “If you please excuse us, we need to grab some chow and rest up a bit before we drop the devices. Which way to our cabin, please?”

  The OIC nodded with a furious expression after his pompous attitude was quickly squelched by the young lieutenant’s dominant display of raw power. Michael h
eld the hatch door open for his sister to enter and then securely closed it behind him.

  She plopped on the tiny rack on the very bottom. “I’m so tired. I need to take a nap,” she groaned as she rubbed her leg muscles. They had been in the water since 0700 that morning, swimming and plotting the coast non-stop for six hours.

  “Me, too, but we need to eat. I’ll get us something from the chow hall while you rinse off. Stay here and do not open the hatch for anyone. I would hate to be stuck doing paperwork after you killed or seriously injured someone. Plus we’d have to tell Dad,” he shuddered. Dealing with their father for an incident like that was far worse than paperwork could ever be!

  “I won’t. Promise.”

  After eating and a short nap, the two returned to the loading deck to begin the unit distribution. Specific coordinates were given and included a shelf placement for 180 feet. Sam offered to perform the chore and, much to the onlooker’s surprise, Michael nodded with agreement. He had the crewmen attach floating buoys to each of the 150 pound units so they could be hauled to the drop site. Michael rigged a large loop and tied the four floating buoys to it.

  “How the hell are they going to drag those to the sites? Even floating, they are hard to move unless you’re in a boat,” whispered several men. Michael let out with a loud whistle, signaling Sam to summon Ton. The mammoth whale’s body swelled under the surface before breaking through and he grabbed the loop on his snout. Without looking back, the siblings climbed on the animal’s glistening back and, directed by Sam, Ton easily brought them to the first set of coordinates.

  Michael took the first drop. He carefully brought the unit to the bottom, checked the coordinates with the unit’s device and got coast guard verification of location and operation. It was anchored into rock using a pressure released spike. He took advantage of being out of Sam’s hearing as he called HQ and reported to Scott, careful to relay the ship-board issue. Scott laughed, admitting he had already gotten a call about Michael’s insubordination and the degree of disruption they caused the ship.