Turned out, her family was renting a house that was literally right on the beach. Less than two minutes later, I was being herded towards a bathroom to take a shower and clean away the dirt. But before I could go, I took a last look at Claudine.

Wrapped up in an oversized towel, she looked so incredibly young, maybe a full decade younger than me. Her bright blue eyes continued to stare at me as she bit her Lip pensively. And then her mother got me down the hall and into the bathroom.

After I cleaned up, my boxers and cargo shorts were drying into hard cardboard on a rack while I wrapped my towel around my waist. I felt incredibly vulnerable in that moment. It didn't help when Claudine's mother opened the bathroom door without knocking and urged me with broken English out into the living room.

Wearing nothing but the towel around my waist, I was put on the couch while the mother began stinging me with cotton balls dunked in medicinal alcohol and then coating my cuts in Neosporin. It was a bit of an embarrassing position, and I began wondering where those oversized towels went. My own towel barely extended past my knees, and

I was in grave danger of showing my jewels to the whole household.

Things were not helped when Claudine's mother finished with my stomach and lower legs. But then she began tugging my towel upwards so she could get to my knees and the upper slopes of my thighs.

Alarmed, I snapped my knees shut Like a defensive Little girl. But she gave me a firm Look and stated sternly, “Yours is not the first penis I have seen." And then she pushed my towel back and finished cleaning me up.

By the time she was done, I heard the water from the second bathroom finish running behind the walls. Claudine's mother got up and went into the Master bathroom. When no one came out, I assumed she was similarly addressing her daughter's wounds.

That left me alone in the living room with Claudine's father. He was a man of few words, not saying anything to me while looking gruff but approving. That Left me alone with my thoughts.

A small part of me wanted to leave. This wasn't my family and we had no bonds. And yet I felt an overwhelming sense of concern over Claudine now. It was as if my saving her Life made me responsible for her life.

I seriously hoped she would grow up to be a good person. In a way, I would have hated to rescue someone who would turn out evil.

But as I thought about her, there was no way I could ever think of her as evil. She was too sweet, too innocent. And she'd faced a life-altering experience. I knew right then, no matter what happened for the rest of our lives or how far apart we drifted, we would forever be a part of each other's lives.

Then she returned, and what I saw took my breath away.

Claudine was wearing a short, summer dress. The hem was high enough to show off her wonderfully toned Legs and the light fabric flowed around her ample curves. The top was neither cut too low or too high, showing just enough of her big cleavage to be enticing without scandalizing her parents.

But above all else, she had the face of an angel. With her hair blown dry, it was now an incredible coppery color, and this time her smile was full of perfect white teeth.

Automatically I stood up as she walked in, but my graceful motion was completely ruined when I felt the towel begin to slip around my waist and I had to hunch over and grab it.

Claudine smiled, Lighting up the room, and then she said sweetly, “I can never thank you enough for saving my life. I will forever remember my miracle rescuer.”

Her mother suddenly came to a realization.

“Are you here with your family? They must be very worried about you!"

For the first time since the entire ordeal began, I remembered Brianna.

I didn't have any obvious haven Like Danielle and Cherys' house around here. She probably would be worried about me. "Uh, well, no family. I'm here with a friend."

I don't know why I said the word ‘friend’ instead of ‘girlfriend’.

Something subconscious perhaps?

Musing on that, I Leaned over to my wallet and cell phone. There were no missed calls. Still, I said, "I probably should be getting back."

Her father looked at me. "You will have dinner with us." It was a statement, not a request. "You may bring your friend if you wish."