Chapter Seventy-Five

(Location: The SSS SANTANA)

As the sun blazed overhead, casting its warm embrace on the Santana's deck, Jayden and Harley found themselves at the foot of the ship's most towering water slide.

Harley had bet Jayden that she could crush him in a race to the bottom, and at first, Jayden dismissed the comment, but after she had challenged him over 20 times he finally agreed.

Now armed with wet mats to minimize friction burns and adrenaline coursing through their veins, they stood ready for the race.

Ivy, sporting a sexy one-piece bathing suit that effortlessly drew the attention of every male passerby, stood with them, her calm demeanour a stark contrast to the bubbling excitement that animated Harley and Jayden.

Though both of them were receiving their fair share of appreciative looks, they paid no heed. Their eyes were locked onto each other, a gleam of competitive determination sparking between them.

"Ready for this, Jay?" Harley grinned, her twin-tailed exuberance on full display.

Jayden returned the grin with an equally competitive glint in his eyes. "Oh, you're going down, Harley."

With a nod from Ivy, the two contestants were off, their wet mats sliding smoothly on the water-soaked surface of the slide. However, their eagerness far outweighed their coordination.

Their race quickly turned into a comical struggle for balance as they tried to outdo each other.

Moments of synchronized splashing and synchronized laughter ensued as they navigated the twists and turns of the slide.

Their determination to win morphed into playful antics. Laughter echoed through the slide as they slipped and slid.

They were finally at the bowl of the slide and the first one to make it through the hole in the middle would be the winner.

At the final stretch, Harley launched herself forward, determined to seize victory. But Jayden, with a well-timed manoeuvre, caught her wrist and spun her around playfully.

With a hearty laugh, he gently pushed her aside, sending her sliding off course. Jayden grinned as he stuck out his tongue at her before falling into the pool below.

Harley followed right after. Harley felt cheated and as soon as she saw Jayden she pounced on him...

Caught off guard, he spun Harley over his shoulder and the two began to play WWE in the pool.

[Here comes Randy Orton from out of nowhere, he's slithering like a snake...R.K.O]

Their play fight was interrupted by a splash as Ivy elegantly emerged from the slide. She was greeted by the sight of Harley in the water and Jayden grinning like a child.

A knowing smile tugged at her lips, and she simply shook her head at their antics.

As the trio reunited and regrouped, they noticed Selina and Lola up ahead, their own water slide escapade complete.

With a shared grin, they caught up with each other.

.....

As the SSS Santana glided through the Mediterranean waters, the anticipation for their next destination, the vibrant city of Barcelona, was palpable.

With the ship sailing about 350 miles from France, the journey would take a little over half a day.

The knowledge that their week-long adventure was nearing its end brought a bittersweet feeling, but there was still so much to enjoy.

On this particular day, the ship's activities were a whirlwind of excitement, with the gang determined to complete every ounce of the cruise experience.

Amid the fun, a series of classic "Harley mishaps" added a touch of comic relief, ensuring that laughter echoed through the day.

As the activities began to take a toll, the group collectively decided to seek solace and relaxation under the warm embrace of the sun.

....

(Deck 18)

With Gotham's typically overcast weather leaving them a bit pale, they were determined to acquire a golden tan during their time on the cruise.

Lounging on the comfortable deck chairs, they stretched out and basked in the sunlight.

Ivy, in her element, seemed to merge with the surroundings, her contentment evident in the serene smile gracing her lips.

She was so still, that if Jayden didn't know any better he would think she was a statue...wait could ivy photosynthesize?

And if so, would a flower grow from the top of her head?

Selina layed elegantly, one hand shielding her eyes from the sun. Selina reclined on her chair with an air of nonchalance, making relaxation look like an art form.

Lola's lively energy was contagious as she chatted animatedly with her friends, her laughter a melodic addition to the soothing rhythm of the waves.

Harley, ever the vibrant whirlwind, shifted restlessly as if the sun was fueling her energy even more.

And then there was Jayden, embracing the opportunity to relax amidst the female camaraderie, his presence a calming constant.

Laughter erupted as they discussed the idea of getting a tan and reminisced about their hometown of Gotham.

Most of the chatter was about not wanting to go back just yet.

Then, a light-hearted idea dawned upon Ivy. "Hey Jayden," Ivy said with a sly grin, "Since you're such a good sport, how about you help us apply some sunscreen?"

Jayden's face turned a subtle shade of pink, clearly not anticipating this. But his love for the girls and his innate gentlemanly nature won over his embarrassment. With a shy chuckle, he agreed.

As the girls positioned themselves in an arrangement that allowed Jayden to access their backs, the teasing had already commenced.

"Remember, Jayden, even application is key," Selina purred playfully.

Harley couldn't resist chiming in, "Yeah, we wouldn't want any uneven tan lines, would we?"

Jayden nodded and started with Selina, he applied some sunscreen onto her back, and Selina whose whole face was hidden couldn't help but bite her lower lip.

Fuck she was horny, she wanted nothing more than to take Jayden right there and then, but considering the circumstances she held back.

Though as he finished she didn't forget to tease him." Thanks, tiger, now how about the front."

"That part you can do on your own." Jayden said as he left to apply sunscreen on Lola, completely missing the aggrieved look Selina was giving him.

Lola acted normally and wasn't teasing Jayden, instead, she actually fell asleep while he was applying the sunscreen.

' She's been looking more haggard as of late, I wonder if anything is stressing her out.' Jayden thought, and decided to ask her in private later on.

Next was Ivy, Jayden took a deep breath to calm his already beating heart.

Ivy groaned feeling his hands move up and down her back. He was extremely skilful with his movements, probably because he had done a massage course so he was proficient in this type of stuff.

And after he was done with Ivy, the last one was Harley. Though instead of lying down on the chair she sat on the recliner and removed the top half of her swimsuit.

"H-Harley what are you doing, put your top back on," Jayden said as he looked away, she was half naked now.

"Nah, I want you to apply the sunscreen as I am now. what's the big deal anyway...not like there's anyone here to see me."

Jayden was completely dumbfounded by her logic. Jayden turned to the other girls for some help, but they completely ignored his plight.

Ivy was already listening to music, Lola was asleep and Selina was turning the other way, trying to stifle her laughter.

'My girlfriends have abandoned me...' Jayden sighed, but in the end, complied, and sat behind Harley while applying the sunscreen.'

"Ummmm~ Your hands are so Big Cupcake...nhhhh, Kya..."

*Slap*

"Owwww!! Hey, what was that for." Harley spun around and complained as Jayden had just slapped her back.

"Stop making weird commentary and noises while I'm applying the sunscreen, it's unnecessary." Harley giggled seeing that he was getting flustered.

"Ohhhh, are you hard from hearing my moans sexy moans Cupcake?" Harley asked in a flirtatious manner.

"It would be a lie to say that I wasn't hard, but it was mostly because I just rubbed the backs of four beautiful women." Jayden wasn't ashamed to tell her the truth.

Harley giggled hearing his response, completely oblivious to the fact that she was still exposing her naked body to Jayden.

.....

Amidst the chuckles and playful teasing, Jayden had diligently and meticulously applied sunscreen to each girl's back. His touch was gentle and considerate.

Throughout the process, Harley continued to tease him. Ever the provocateur, she leaned in and whispered, "You're doing a fantastic job, Cupcake. You might have a career in this!"

As the day progressed, and the sun's rays painted their skin with a warm hue, the group revelled in their shared moments.

.....

( A few hours Later)

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting its soft glow over the sea, the group decided to retreat to their cabins for a change of pace.

Lola and Selina's suggestion of a cosy movie night found unanimous agreement, and they eagerly prepared for an evening of relaxation.

In one of the cabins, they set up a makeshift movie theatre. A projector hummed to life, its light casting a large, flickering screen on the wall.

Comfort was prioritized as they arranged pillows and blankets in a way that promised hours of lounging bliss. The scent of popcorn filled the air, and a spread of snacks, from chips to chocolate, was laid out in abundance.

As the movie's opening credits played, Jayden found himself comfortably ensconced between Selina and Lola on the couch bed.

It was a pleasant arrangement, however, the door swung open once more, and Harley entered with her usual exuberance, dragging a somewhat reluctant Ivy along.

"Movie night, baby!" Harley proclaimed, her enthusiasm infectious.

Ivy rolled her eyes but didn't protest. As the girls arranged themselves, Jayden couldn't help but notice that their seating arrangement had taken on an unexpected twist.

His original position was now sandwiched between Selina and Lola, while Harley and Ivy flanked him from the other side.

Ivy and Harley now ended up lying down and resting their heads on his stomach while both Selina and Lola were seated on his left and on his right respectively.

He cast a glance at Lola and Selina, a silent inquiry in his eyes. Their serene smiles and subtle nods assured him that the setup was perfectly fine with them.

It seemed that, for once, Jayden was the centre of attention without even trying.

The movie began, its story unfolding on the screen, but Jayden's attention was momentarily diverted to the unexpected closeness of the girls.

Selina leaned her head on his shoulder, her presence soothing. Lola rested her head against his other shoulder, and he felt a gentle squeeze of his hand. Ivy, though initially aloof, had eased into the embrace.

The atmosphere was one of warmth and contentment. The laughter, the rustling of blankets, and the occasional commentary on the movie added to the ambience.

Jayden felt an unfamiliar sensation, a blend of joy and gratitude mixed into one.

As the movie progressed, Jayden's initial concern about his friends' positions dissolved.

He wrapped an arm around each of the girls flanking him, pulling them closer as the film's plot unfolded.

The night continued.

The movie had finally reached its climax, but as Jayden was about to ask them which movie they wanted to watch next...he was greeted by their serene smiles and sleeping faces.

Somehow all the girls had ended up falling asleep and Jayden couldn't help but chuckle. " They must have been really tired."

Instead of waking them up, Jayden summoned two clones to grab two large blankets to cover everyone so they weren't cold.

And before long he joined them and went took a nap as well.