They kept moving around the teak deck. The steward gestured toward a short ladder and told Sabrina that it led up to a small sundeck. He then turned and took her down a few steps into a surprisingly spacious area.
“This is the main living area, called a salon. Here we have the kitchen, where the chef will prepare all of your meals. As you can see, it’s open to the dining room. Beyond that is the media area.”
Sabrina felt as if she was gawking, but couldn’t help herself. The kitchen was incredible. The countertops were gray granite. There was a large six-burner cooktop along with a stainless steel wall oven and built-in microwave. To the right of the large stainless steel refrigerator sat a dishwasher. A small island served as extra workspace and housed a separate wine refrigerator. The teak cabinets were a dark burnished brown and matched the stain from the above deck. A woman in a white uniform stood at the large triple sink. Brian cleared his throat.
“This is Elle. She’s the chef. Elle, this is Sabrina.”
Elle turned to look at Sabrina and smiled. “Hello. I’d shake your hand, but they’re a bit buried in shrimp right now.” She laughed, and her blue eyes twinkled.
“Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise. You’re not allergic to shellfish, are you? If so, I can accommodate you.”
“No, not at all.”
“Great. Your menu tonight will comprise of shrimp cocktail with my own special sauce, poached salmon with dill, sautéed fresh green beans, and roasted rosemary red potatoes. Dessert is tiramisu.”
“Sounds delicious,” Sabrina squeaked. Was she really talking to a private chef about tonight’s dinner? She usually grabbed takeout or threw a frozen dinner in the microwave.
“If you’ll follow me this way, I’ll take you to your cabin,” Brian said as he turned. Sabrina walked through the main living area, passing a large sectional couch, a few recliners, and a large flat screen television artfully situated on the wall.
They passed through a small hallway. “The main bathroom is here on the right, but your cabin has an attached bathroom, so technically you don’t have to share. And here’s your room,” Brian announced with a flourish as he passed through a doorway just beyond the bathroom.
Although the room was small, there was no denying the elegant touches. The queen-size platform bed fit snugly against the wall. The deep red duvet cover was turned down just a bit to reveal crisp white sheets, and there were plenty of pillows in varying shades of gray and red. Along with the drawers underneath the bed, there was also storage built into the wall. There was a large mirror that was framed in an elegant hand-forged steel pattern. A modern chandelier lighted the room, and there was a small reading lamp attached to the wall at the top of the bed. There were also two round windows that let the evening sunlight in.
“Dinner is at 7:30,” Brian stated as he put her overnight case on the bed. “Mr. Norton is with the captain right now. Whenever you’re ready, just head up to the main deck. We will be serving appetizers and drinks in about ten minutes. I’m going to go help the other guests settle into their cabins.” He nodded to her and shut the door.
Sabrina stood still for a moment then sank onto the bed. She had to admit this was much better than her typical Friday nights, which were the only times she allowed herself to veg out and maybe eat some ice cream while watching bad reality television. She lay down on the bed and reveled in the softness of the coverlet. She wondered where she could get bedding like this, but realized it was probably out of her budget. This was a long way from the hand-me-down Star Wars bedspread she had as a little girl. And she could just about bet that no one would be drunk and fighting in the middle of the night. Sabrina moved out of her mother and stepfather’s last rundown apartment when she was eighteen, but she still remembered the rough and scratchy sheets, threadbare towels, and never-ending pile of dirty dishes in the sink because her mother was usually too drunk to do them.
In the years since she left home, Sabrina had worked hard. It took her five years to finish her undergraduate degree because she was a double major who worked four days a week at a small café close to campus. Although she managed to get some scholarship money, she still had to work and take loans out to finish her first degree. Then she took two years off school to pay down her student loans. During that time she worked as a secretary at a large marketing firm during the week and picked up weekend hours at the library. Finally, she decided that she wanted more and went back for her M.B.A.
She knew she was lucky to land a job with Radcliffe Holdings. And it was more than just a job. She had met some really great people at the company. She was glad that her friend Steven was part of tonight’s celebration. He was one of her favorite co-workers and had grown to be a good friend. She knew that Pete from accounting was invited, as was Don, her direct boss.
She hoped the fact that she was the only female wouldn’t cause her to clam up. Sabrina’s experience with the opposite sex was severely limited. At first it was a knee-jerk reaction to her mother’s wild behavior. Barbara never met a stranger, especially when she was drinking. There were many nights when she didn’t make it home at all, leaving Sabrina and her brother to forage for themselves. They would often leave for school in the mornings without knowing where she was. After school they would find her on the couch, yelling at them to be quiet because her head hurt. She would bounce from job to job, getting fired more often than not due to poor attendance. Sabrina learned from an early age that she didn’t want to live that life.
Sabrina snapped back to reality when she looked at her watch. It was just after six-thirty. She quickly got up and smoothed out her dress and hoped there weren’t too many wrinkles in it. She checked her face and hair in the mirror and adjusted her sandals before grabbing a light shawl from her overnight bag. She figured it might be windy on the water, especially when they left the marina. She was glad that she pulled her hair back into a low ponytail. Otherwise, it would be a tangled mess as the night progressed.
As she made her way up to the main deck, she heard laughter and the clink of glassware.
“Sabrina! There you are! We were about ready to send a search party for you,” Don said with a smile.
“Hi Don, nice to see you. And you too, Pete,” nodding in their direction.
“Where’s Steven?” Don asked Sabrina. “Have you seen him yet?” Steven was the vice president of the public affairs division and flamboyantly gay. His partner was a doctor, and Sabrina had gone to a few dinner parties at their home. She was glad that he was on tonight’s cruise, as he was very good at keeping a conversation going and loved to be the center of the party.
“He’s late, as usual,” Pete said as he rolled his eyes.
“Oh Pete, calm down. I’m right here. The party can get started now!” Steven said as he walked onboard, trailed by Brian. “I’m just going to let this young man show me to my cabin then I’ll be right up for a drink. Ooooh. I see the mojitos have been made already.” He walked by Sabrina and air kissed her. “So glad to see you, dear. Hi, Don. Pour me one of those drinks. I’ll be back shortly.”
Fifteen minutes later, the four of them were making small talk when Drake joined them.
“Hello, everyone. Glad you could make it. Captain Martinez is ready to go, so we should be leaving here shortly. I trust you all got settled into your cabins alright.”
“I know I did. And all this fresh air is going to have me sleeping like a baby tonight, especially if I have a few more of these mojitos,” Steven said with his eyebrow raised.
“Well, you can thank chef for those. She not only knows her way around the kitchen she can also make delicious adult beverages,” Drake said dryly.
Sabrina was also impressed with the drink, but planned on nursing it for quite a while. The last thing she wanted to do was get drunk in front of her boss. She didn’t drink very often anyway. Even on the rare Friday nights that she joined some co-workers for happy hour, she was usually the designated driver.
Suddenly, the huge boat l
urched forward, catching Sabrina off balance. Drake’s arm shot out to steady her.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. I’ve just never been on a boat like this before.”
“This isn’t just a boat, kitten. This is a yacht,” Steven exclaimed.
“You’ll get used to it. The water should be fairly calm tonight. The captain said the headwinds weren’t too bad,” Drake said while he looked straight into her eyes. He still had a hold of her arm, and his hand felt firm and hot.
Sabrina realized she was holding her breath and exhaled slowly. The rocking of the boat, coupled with the low hum of the engines and Drake’s touch made her feel slightly lightheaded.
“Well, this is certainly a new experience, but I’m up for that,” she tried to reply gamely.
Drake smiled and let go of her arm. He turned to the others and announced that dinner was ready. As they turned to go down to the main salon and dining area, he gestured for Sabrina to go ahead of him.
“Ladies first,” he said.
Sabrina let him guide her toward the stairs. As she walked down into the main salon area, she smelled the wonderful aromas of food cooking, mixed with the scent of the fresh gardenias on the dining table.
“Have a seat, everyone,” Chef Elle said. “Everything is just about ready. Mr. Norton, I decanted the wine about an hour ago. It should be ready now as well.”
“Thank you, Elle. I’m sure it will be fine. I trust your choices.”
Dinner was absolutely impeccable, with each course better than the last. The shrimp cocktail was perfect, and Elle’s special sauce had a touch of heat to it that was tempered by the chill of the shrimp. The main course of salmon was prepared so that it practically melted in Sabrina’s mouth. By the time dessert was served, Sabrina was practically salivating at the sight of the decadent tiramisu. She also couldn’t help stealing glances at Drake as the five of them made easy conversation. She tried not to lose her cool when they made eye contact, but it was hard not to.
Maybe it was the one mojito and the glass of wine that she managed to slowly drink all through dinner, but he looked more irresistible than ever. Not that she planned to accost the man—she wouldn’t even know where to start. Of course she had a basic knowledge of sex, she’d just never experienced it for herself. She had dated here and there, but her walls were high and she didn’t feel much of a spark or connection with anyone. She had gone out with a guy for six months after she graduated with her undergrad degree. At first it was nice to have a boyfriend, but after a few months she realized that they didn’t want the same things. He wanted someone to make his dinner and sit with him while he played video games. She didn’t know what she wanted, but it wasn’t that. So when he told her he thought it was time to “just be friends,” she didn’t take it to heart.
After dinner, the five of them had spent some time on the upper deck, lounging in the chairs and reveling in the beauty of the full moon. But by ten-thirty, everyone had decided to call it a night.
Sabrina thought she would fall asleep the moment her head hit the pillow, but that wasn’t the case. The slight rocking of the boat and the sound of the water lapping up against it should have been soothing, but the longer she lay in bed, the more wide awake she became. She decided to put her robe on and go upstairs. Maybe sitting in the clear night air by herself would relax her enough to fall asleep.
Sabrina went up the stairs and took a deep breath of the sea air. As she stepped forward, she lost her footing when the boat pitched. She braced herself for falling face first onto the hard decking. In that split second before she completely lost her balance, she felt a warm hand move around her waist. Instead of landing on the deck, she found herself standing toe-to-toe with the rock hard body of Drake Norton. She stood there in shock for a moment before realizing that her nipples were skimming his chest. She breathed in his heady scent, waiting for him to say something. When he stayed silent, she looked up at him, trying to get a glimpse of his features in the darkness. As soon as she did that, his mouth came down on hers, and a groan came from deep inside his body.
At first Drake was gentle, his mouth teasing hers, almost as if he was asking her permission. But after a few moments, he grew bolder. His tongue engaged hers in an intimate dance. She felt his other hand tangled up in her hair, keeping her from moving. Not that she wanted to move. Sabrina felt like she could just stay in this one spot for a good long time, kissing Drake for all she was worth. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body into his more fully. Drake’s answer was to move the hand that was wrapped around her waist lower until it rested directly on her hip.
Sabrina could hardly contain herself. She whimpered almost involuntarily. She slid her hands down to his shoulders, feeling the barely coiled tension of the muscles underneath. She knew she should stop. She knew kissing her boss on his yacht in the middle of the ocean was probably not a wise move, but she felt that if she stopped now she would walk around for the rest of her life regretting what could be an incredible experience. As their kiss deepened, Sabrina realized that she could feel his hardness pressed against her stomach. She could feel the heat of it through her flimsy pajamas. She could feel her legs weaken. Her underwear was drenched, and her stomach was all tied up in knots—in a good way.
When Drake drew away from her a few moments later, Sabrina wasn’t sure what was going on. She looked at him under the light of the moon, memorizing the moment.
“You’re driving me crazy. It’s distracting, how much I want you,” he said to her in a gruff voice.
“I feel the same way,” Sabrina said simply. She didn’t trust her voice to say any more. She didn’t want to tell him that the way he kissed her made her knees weak.
“Come here.” He led her to one of the chaise lounges on the deck that was built to seat two comfortably and gently pulled her down on top of him as he lay down. He put his hands on either side of her face and kissed her again until she almost felt dizzy. Her hands were on his shoulders supporting her. Her knees were on either side of him, straddling his lean body. Drake pushed her robe off her shoulders and slid the thin straps of her pajama top down her arms as well, effectively pinning her arms to her sides. She shivered in anticipation as she felt his mouth around her left nipple while he tweaked the other one with his deft fingers. Sabrina let her head fall back and pushed her breasts more fully into his mouth. She couldn’t believe the exquisite sensations that she was felt and those feelings intensified when his teeth gently tugged on one nipple as his fingers pulled on the other.
“Don’t stop,” she said as she exhaled. “It feels so good.”
Drake’s response was to switch nipples, and the juxtaposition of the cool air around the nipple that was just in his warm mouth just about sent Sabrina over the edge. He also shifted his hips upward, and she felt every bit of his manhood through her pajama bottoms. She wanted to touch him, but she couldn’t move her arms. She decided to give him a little taste of what he did to her when he shifted upwards by moving her hips against him.
“Let me take your top off. I want to see what you look like,” he rasped as he maneuvered her pajama top off her body and flung it aside. He stared at her for a long moment, taking in her breasts with his eyes. The moon above them gave them plenty of light, but she couldn’t read his expression. He caressed her nipples with the palms of his hand, and although Sabrina couldn’t believe it, they tightened even more until they were almost aching for a release.
“Stand up.”
She mutely did what she was told, standing in front of him on the side of the chair. He sat up and pulled her pajama bottoms down, kissing her stomach as he did so. He helped her step out of them and then tossed them to the side. Sabrina felt exposed, like she was losing control, but she didn’t care. All that mattered was his touch. His tongue. He resumed kissing her stomach and slid his finger underneath the elastic to her white silk underwear. Sabrina didn’t know how she could get any more wet, but the moment his finger slid against
her clitoris she felt like she was gushing. He stroked her with his finger on the inside of her underwear and used his thumb on the outside. Sabrina widened her legs to give him better access. She couldn’t help but look at what his hands were doing, and it added to her excitement.
As Drake’s touch grew more insistent, Sabrina found she was practically riding his hand. Her breathing grew more labored, and she felt like she was going to explode. Just before she was ready to dissolve, he stopped and looked up at her.
“Are you ready?” he asked her. She nodded, not knowing exactly what she was ready for, but knowing she would do anything at this point. She knew that she wanted to feel him inside of her, and that need was growing with every passing moment. He tugged on her and pulled her down on the chaise lounge. He moved to the side a little bit and slid her underwear down her legs, adding it to the pile of clothing on the deck.
“I’m completely naked and you’re not. I don’t think that’s fair,” she said in a shaky voice. Did she really say that?
He chuckled. “Funny how that works.” Drake leaned down and kissed her again. Sabrina couldn’t help it. She decided to take matters into her own hands. She touched his hardness through his pants, and then slid her hand underneath the waistband so that she could get a better grip around him. As she wrapped her fingers around him, she realized she could barely fit her hand all the way around his thick girth. She heard his sharp intake of breath and felt his fingers between her legs again. He slid one inside of her, then another.
“Let your knees fall open more,” he whispered as he looked down at her.
She complied, and almost immediately, he found what he was looking for. She could feel his finger stroking deep inside her, then slowly withdrawing. She felt her wetness on his hand as he began to gently circle her clit.
“Please,” she said.
“Please, what?” he teased.
“I want you. Inside of me,” she managed to say.
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