Swimming.
They were going swimming.
We’re going swimming,his otter replied gleefully, attempting to shift before they’d gone more than a few steps.
Behave, I’ll let you out once I’ve seen the pool.
Then hurry up.
Monty did, his sneakers moving silently as they walked through the hotel lobby that was all elegance. The corridor Dacian led them down was empty. The walls had painted murals depicting the different seasons of growth of the vines. Dacian came to a large set of decorative double doors and opened them. They led into a small, opulent area with an ornate table with a red velvet seat behind it. There was one other door, leading to the pool, he supposed. Yet, the scent of oils and herbs made it obvious the area housed a spa, somewhere beyond the door, as well as a pool.
“Through the door, to your left, you’ll find the changing rooms. Enjoy.” Dacian offered what could only be described as a tight-lipped smile before he went out the door they’d just come through, shutting it quietly.
“What was that about?” whispered Monty, still no clue what Dacian was beneath all the polish and dashing suit.
“No fucking clue,” Kendrick growled. “He was sniffing you like he was about to cock his leg and pee on you.”
“Yeah, I picked that up too.”
Monty’s otter wasn’t interested in silly talking, and his shift was upon him before he could reply.Hey!
Swimming.He wriggled out of the pile of clothes and lifted his tiny paws to Kendrick, wiggling his bottom.Swimming, come on take me swimming.
“Why aren’t you just the cutest!” Kendrick scooped him out of the clothes one handed and brought Monty to within reach of his whiskered jaw.
His otter tapped impatiently on Kendrick’s cheeks.
“He’s as impatient as Monty. I think he’s ready to get in the pool,” chuckled Rue.
“Then let’s give him what he wants.” Kendrick glanced at the clothes. “Can you grab his things?”
Wiggling impatiently, he squeaked to get Kendrick moving. His laughter had Monty shaking in his hand as they walked through the door into another area, this one with several doors. Kendrick strode to the one marked with blue waves on it. The scent of salt water got his otter giddy with excitement. He squeaked and vocalized his pleasure and impatience.
Kendrick walked to the loungers at the side of the pool and placed Monty down. He scampered down the leg of the lounger and across the pale green iridescent tiles surrounding the pool, and dived into the water.
It was warm and heavenly as he flipped over onto his back, floating, watching his mates strip off.
His teeth gnawed at a paw.We aren’t biting anyone.
Mine.
I agree. It’s polite and the right thing to ask first.
Then ask.
I will.
When?
I can’t now. Can I?
His otter considered this, and Monty chuckled at how he was reluctant to shift to get him to do what he wanted.When we get home.
Monty didn’t answer when his otter side had other things on his mind. A nude Kendrick, stretching out his arms, tilting his neck from side to side, right before his bear emerged. His otter flipped over onto its front and swam to the shallowest part of the pool, the same direction Rue headed in.
Excitement got his otter vocalizing loudly at Rue coming into the shallows, rolling his shoulders, then there was his rhino. The water reached the middle of his vast body. The rhino lowered its head when Monty’s otter lifted its paws as far as it could to keep afloat. Its large horn right there for Monty’s otter to grab hold of, he scampered up to sit on top of Rue’s head, clapping his paws in delight.
The sound of Rue’s trumpet bounced off tiles and glass. Monty’s otter squealed and clapped harder, looking at Kendrick with begging eyes. The bear rumbled and lumbered to the edge of the pool, slowly coming down the first three wide steps before sitting on the second to top step. Half in and half out of the water, he was wearing what Monty’s otter considered a beautiful grin. All sharp teeth and sass.
