I Want To Lay the Very Best! - 195 – Snuggles in the Sun

195 – Snuggles in the Sun

Maple had saved them spots with some extra towels on the sand, and after some shuffling around and Rock Tombing an Umbrella, Brandy was able to take a breather and just enjoy the sight of Maple and her new Pokémon partner. Calcine and Morgan immediately lept on Marina to ask more about her, leaving Brandy to take in the sights with Maple and Mahi.

There was a lot for Brandy's new eyes to enjoy. Brandy had expected to see skin from Maple when she'd hopped off the back of Marina's metal corset, but she was actually wearing a really sporty, figure-hugging one-piece made of messy white and gold stripes with a sharp black trim to separate the swimsuit colors from her silky looking skin. She hadn't changed much since Brandy last saw her, but Maple was already gorgeous. Inheritance didn't have a lot to fix. Maybe she was a little fitter? Her skin a bit glossier and smoother than before?

Still effortlessly stunning, and Maple knew it. She had an amused smile on her face as Brandy watched her straighten out her team's towels. Mahi was by her side, her swimsuit nothing more than a few strips of white fabric, letting her own white and red frills do most of the work of making her look fashionable. She waved to Brandy with two fingers as if scratching an itch in the air.

"Maple looks a treat, doesn't she?" Mahi said. Brandy has been expecting a barb there or some squirt bottle-based trick, but no. Just a little teasing. Maybe she really was going to bury the hatchet with their rivalry finally. "You're barely wearing a stitch, Brandy, but respect. It works for you almost as good as it does for me."

Was that a compliment? Truly Brandy was in new waters.

"Maple looks incredible. Hey Mahi. It's been a while," Brandy said. She held out her hand to shake, but Mahi just stared at it with her eyebrows raised. Brandy's skin began to crawl from embarrassment. "Uh..."

Mahi pushed the hand gently out of the way and stepped up to Brandy, arms wide and an almost innocent smile on her face. She embraced Brandy, the hug firm and close, with a peck on the cheek.

"There's only one reason you should shiver around me Brandy Joyce," Mahi grinned, "And we'll save that for tonight. Relax."

Mahi's voice was a low and soft purr, her words a mix of honesty and shameless flirtation. Her sea-blue eyes sparked with what Brandy could only describe as a fiery lust. In the tight hug, Brandy could feel her nerves reacting in a confused panic, her body growing warmer and warmer as Mahi's unfairly perfect chest pressed against the bottom of hers. Mahi looked up from her cleavage with a predatory grin; it was a sight that got the blood racing with excitement and apprehensive fear. Brandy's heart had reached her throat before Maple caught Mahi's frills and tugged her back into a kiss.

"Mahi, what did we discuss?" Maple affectionately admonished.

"I'm trying," Mahi said, "Brandy's such a spicy treat. You can't blame me for wanting a bite."

Maple snorted and gave Mahi a pat on the butt, grabbing it and turning her around. "Sparky and Holly are catching up. Go share some stories and cool off. Please?"

"Because it's you." Mahi blew a kiss to Maple. Then reloaded and fired a second at Brandy. Brandy caught the kiss in the air and ate it, poking her tongue out at the Goldeen. "Keep that tongue warm for me. Enjoy the making up and making out, you two lovebirds."

Maple watched her go, softly shaking her head, before dragging Brandy down onto the towel, their limbs all a tangle as they both got comfortable until Maple slipped into the curve of Brandy's taller body.

"She's trying," Maple said up close. "Local Water Gym's had us all a bit weepy since we cleared it. It's been nice helping her be more confident in herself."

"More?" Brandy laughed gently, "That's like pouring a cup of water into the sea."

"You'd have said that about me just as we left school. Then I discovered I wasn't as big a deal as I thought and had to rebuild myself." Maple ducked her head to snag her hair into Brandy's fingers. Brandy eventually took the hint, stroking her hair and patting her head simultaneously. Maple's feet kicked happily in the spoony hug as Brandy petted away. "Mahi's trying to be better. I've picked up quite the mess of a team, and helping them fix things feels good. Like a bit of penance."

"Maybe that's just because I can feel your butt." Brandy teased, "I've missed you. I caught a blackbird while you were gone. You'll love her."

"I thought she was your kidnapper," Maple laughed. Morgan had briefly pretended on the train to be that. It'd lasted about as long as it needed to before it devolved into more sexy roleplay. "I want a proper talk with all of you. So much to catch up on."

There was a thump, and sand sprayed over them as something dug a divot into the ground beside their towel. They were both spitting sand and squawking, looking back to see who'd done it. Calcine and Morgan, trying to look innocent, hid behind Marina, who just shrugged and thumbed at them.

"We've been here five minutes!" Brandy huffed, "You troublemakers bored already?"

Brandy looked at what they'd thrown and bit her lip with excitement. Maple reached out and picked it out of the sand.

"Brandy." Maple turned the beach volleyball in her hands. "I think they're challenging us."

"If they want to start trouble, we'll end it," Brandy grinned.

"Marina's on our side! Team captain!" Morgan called over, "I'm not playing if I have to fight both your tall butts. I want a chance to win."

Brandy laughed. She didn't know who she was messing with. Brandy had lived and breathed Volleyball. "We'll pick from the others and make two teams. If we win, the Trainers are in charge today!"

"If we win, then the Pokémon call the shots," Calcine said, giving Marina's arm a friendly punch. "I'd love to see what Big M here comes up with when I've melted her a little."

"Problem," Maple said, "There are only two Trainers; the two Pokémon on our side will throw the match."

"No, not necessarily," Brandy said, "We just need to pick the Pokémon who want us to be in charge. That means we get Sparky, and from your team ... uh ... who'd fit?"

"If we can't have Marina, we should grab Holly. She'd love to be in charge but hates losing way more. She'll fight like hell."

They had picked the two shortest Pokémon for their side, but Brandy was still confident. She was the Volleyball Queen, and these brats needed to learn not to throw their balls in the sand.

She was just going to ignore Morgan's sly smile. The Murkrow was a cheat, but there was no way she could cheat at Volleyball.

Well. Probably not. It was Morgan, after all. If Holly hated losing, she'd get along great with Morgan because they shared that trait.

Damn, Morgan was definitely going to cheat. But Brandy knew the rules for Volleyball like the back of her hand. How did Morgan think she'd slip one by her this time?