A deep red hue crept up on Sira's face as Azul stepped behind her.
"N-No, it's okay, I can do it myself!"
"Oh? Are you that flexible?" Azul let out a low whistle as she squirted some of the sunscreen into his hands.
"N-No, I'm not, but….."
"But what? Your ears are turning red already." He teased as he pressed his hands against her back.
Sira flinched as the cold, thick paste touched her back.
With a sigh, she lifted her hair up, allowing him better access to her, "Fine."
Both of them found their hearts racing as Azul rubbed the sunscreen on her back, making sure to slide his hands underneath the backstrap of her bikini in case it moved at all.
After he had completely coated her, he took a step back, his eyes narrowing at the exposed nape of her neck.
For some reason, he found himself wanting to walk up to her, wrap his arms around her waist, and place his lips against that delectable spot.
His view was blocked when Sira let go of her hair.
As she applied sunscreen on the rest of her body, he sat and applied some to himself as well.
"Can you help me get my back too? It's only fair, right?"
Sira shot him an annoyed glance as she let her hair down from her clip, redoing it up into a sort of bun.
"Fine, turn around."
A shiver ran up her spine as she massaged the sunscreen into his muscular back, her eyes roaming over his flesh, noting the contours and definition of each muscle.
Once she finished, she found herself standing there staring, biting her lip.
"Are…..you done?" Azul's voice snapped her out of it.
"Oh! Sorry, yeah!"
Before Azul could say anything, Sira quickly tossed the sunscreen bottle into her tote bag and ran towards the beach.
He watched her for a moment before following her in.
Sira shrieked as she entered deeper and deeper into the water.
"Why are you shrieking? Is it scary? Don't go in if you're scared." Azul called out over the sounds of the waves crashing and their co-workers screaming with joy.
"No! It's cold!!"
He chuckled as he swam after her, "It's not so bad, not enough to shriek like a dolphin."
Sira splashed him and glared, "If I can't shriek like a dolphin in the ocean, then where can I?"
Azul put his hands up defensively against her splash attack, droplets of the salty water landing on his face.
As he licked the salty brine off of his lips, he flicked some water back at her.
"Somewhere that isn't within the vicinity of my ears. I need these you know."
Sira feigned confusion, "Not really. If I burst them and you lose your hearing then I won't ever have to worry about my shrieks."
A look of concern washed over Azul's face, his skin paling at the though of her bursting his eardrums.
"Listen I-"
Just as he was about to challenge her on her nefarious plan, he felt a hand grab onto his arm and yank him.
"Hi! I don't think we've met yet? I'm Elora and you are?"
Azul turned his head to see a beautiful blonde with bright blue eyes staring at him with a hint of desire.
He looked her up and down.
"Ah, Elora." There was a mischievous glint in his eyes.
This was the girl that was dressed up as the devil at Fright Night, the one who seemed to be the ringleader amongst the co-workers that were tormenting Sira.
"It's good to meet you. Want to come with me to see the rock pool?" Elora wiggled her legs to propel herself closer to Azul, pressing her breasts against his arm.
Sira watched the interaction awkwardly, her face falling as Elora invited him elsewhere.
For a moment, he contemplated. Right now he was supposed to be getting to know his new employees and his fellow 'co-workers' but, he already knew Elora was bad news and he wanted to spend more time with Sira.
Before he could say anything, Sira spoke up, "It's okay. You guys can go to the rock pools. I was just about to go to the bathroom and see how the grilling was coming along anyways."
Without giving Azul any time to protest, she swam towards the beach.
Elora smirked and pulled Azul's arm, kicking her legs around him as she tried to drag him in the water.
Azul yanked his arm away, "I'm not interested. I actually wanted to go look at them with Sira."
She flashed him a disgusted look, "With Sierra? Why? I mean….we can invite her I guess but she seems uninterested in spending time with you. Did you see how fast she swam away? She practically pawned you off on me."
'Manipulation, huh? Can't you tell it was you that made her uncomfortable?' he thought as he glanced towards the shoreline, watching as Sira jogged towards the bathrooms.
"She prefers being called Sira." He said quietly.
"What's that?" Elora placed her hand against her ear, her eyebrows furrowed.
"I said," Azul turned back to face her, a look of annoyance on his face, "she prefers being called Sira. How long have you worked with her now that you don't know that? Why do I know that already?"
Her eyes widened, "Well she never says anything when I call her Sierra. That IS her name after all. How was I supposed to know when she never says anything about it to me? Or…is she trying to make me out to be a villain? That really hurts my feelings you know….that she would do that already. I hope she doesn't go doing that to the other new team members."
Elora looked towards Sira on the beach, the corners of her mouth turning down slightly.
Azul looked up at the sky and rolled his eyes. Could she be any more obvious?"
"I don't think you have to worry about that."