The Lust Boat

by Roz Lee

  “Is that for me, or because of …, well, you know, something else?”

  “I’ve been on so many of these cruises that nothing happening down there fazes me. You, however, are something altogether different. I’ve wanted you since I first laid eyes on you.”

  “Really?” The scumbag she almost married hadn’t been attracted to her from the first. In fact, they had dated for a month before he’d kissed her and several more before they’d had sex. Candace understood now that it had been just sex, not making love. She’d loved the bastard, but he hadn’t loved her. For two years she’d made excuses for the infrequent sex, once a month, sometimes twice, telling herself it wasn’t her fault, it was their hectic work schedules that often kept them apart. Now she knew better, knew it had been much worse than she’d suspected. Ryan’s declaration, true or not, warmed her already heated blood.

  “Really, Candace.” His mouth came down on hers, demanding, yet soft. Candace leaned in to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and opened for his tongue to explore. His tongue brought with it a hint of the fruity drink he’d had. Candace swept her tongue over his, trying to capture his essence. He was more intoxicating than any drink and tasted better, too.

  It felt so good to be wanted. Ryan’s hands pressed her closer. Evidence of his arousal pressed hard against her stomach. They swayed together to the music, wrapped in each other’s arms.

  “Better get a room, Monk.” Richard’s voice broke the spell they’d been under. They broke apart, but Ryan’s arm slid around her waist, pulling her hip to his. Richard stood surrounded by several women, all dressed alike in the robes provided by Lothario.

  “Mind your own business, Dick.” Ryan glared at his friend. He turned to Candace. “How about we call it a night?”

  She nodded her agreement and they moved off, leaving Richard and his bevy of women behind. When they were out of earshot Ryan stopped, his arm fell away, leaving her cold without his touch. “I’m sorry about that. I don’t usually make a public spectacle with women. At least I haven’t in a long time.”

  “I guess we both sort of forgot where we were.” Candace averted her gaze. “I know I did.”

  Ryan moved a fraction, bringing them closer together. He didn’t touch her other than to reach out and take her hand in his. He held her hand, rubbing his thumb over the back in lazy circles. The motion stirred things inside her, made her wonder what it would feel like to have his thumb rub those same lazy circles somewhere else on her body. Already blushing, she felt her skin warm more at her wicked thoughts.

  “I did too.” With one finger under her chin, he lifted her face. “I don’t know what it is about you, but I’m doing and wanting things that I haven’t done or wanted in a long time.” His lips brushed hers as if he needed the contact, however brief. “I promised you would be in charge and I go and do something like that. I’m sorry.”

  He sounded upset with himself, and his concern for her made her heart leap in her chest. Maybe she was two times the fool for believing him, but she did. Her track record showed she had no judgment where men were concerned, that she trusted too easily, but looking into Ryan’s eyes, she saw something she had never seen in her former fiancé’s. She saw lust, to be sure, but also sincerity and a vulnerability she wouldn’t have thought to find in such a virile, attractive man.

  Candace lifted her hand to close around the throbbing pulse in Ryan’s wrist, his finger still touching her chin. “You’re doing fine, I’m fine. Remember our code word? Ice Water?” she asked. He nodded his head as his lips curved up into a genuine smile, revealing deep dimples. “I haven’t had to use it yet. I promise if I feel uncomfortable at any time I’ll use the code word. So unless you hear it, you can assume I’m okay with what we’re doing.”

  “Does that mean I can kiss you again?”

  “Yes, but if you don’t mind, can we go somewhere else? This hallway is drafty.” She shivered as a gust of wind swirled under her short robe and she had to free her hands to smooth it down over her bottom.

  “Sure. Would you like to see more of the ship? We didn’t get to finish our drinks back there, so maybe one of the bars?”

  “I’d like that. You choose.”

  “Okay, but remember, this is Lothario and if…”

  “I know,” she cut him off. “If I’m uncomfortable we can leave.”

  He wrapped an arm around her waist again and pulled her close. “Exactly.”

  Candace was being a real trooper, he thought, but her first night on the ship wasn’t the time to take her to the more depraved bars. He might lose her for sure; scare her back into her cabin for the duration. With her tucked close in his protective embrace, they made their way to Dionysus.

  The wine bar, decorated to resemble a grape arbor complete with secluded niches for private trysts, was the least shocking of all the bars onboard. Candace spent a good deal of time admiring the Dionysus statue in the center of the room.

  “Is this real?” she asked.

  “It’s a reproduction. The original is in the Louvre.” He steered her to one of the more secluded alcoves. A lattice wall covered by twining grape vines concealed the round burgundy velvet sofa. Candace leaned back and tucked her legs to one side. Ryan joined her. A waitress dressed as a nymph approached with a plate of grapes, assorted cheeses and crackers. They ordered a bottle of white wine and nibbled from the tray while they waited.

  Candace sighed. “This is nice. I like the music, it’s relaxing.”

  “Flutes, similar to the aulos of ancient Greece. This is the quietest place on the ship, except for the night of the Bacchanal.”

  “What happens then?”

  “That’s when the nymphs become maenads and this place goes wild. You might like it.”

  “Why would I like it?”

  “The women are in charge. They choose who they’ll be with and dictate what happens between them.”

  “You’ve been to one?”

  “Once.” That night and the following morning were permanently etched in his brain. He’d woken up naked with two maenads and a passenger in one of the secluded arbors. What bothered him wasn’t the fact he was nude in a public place, but that he didn’t have a clue who any of the women were. They hadn’t shared names, but they had shared their bodies. It was in that moment Ryan realized he wanted more.

  He wanted to wake up with someone who knew his name, who knew him. He wanted to share more than a physical connection. Since that day he ventured out of his tower room, as Richard called it, to take care of his physical needs when they became unbearable, and he scanned the faces of every woman coming aboard for a spark of interest, any indication they were different than the masses of sex-crazed passengers who regularly filled the cabins of the Lothario. Until today, no one had come close to capturing his interest.

  “I’ll never forget it.”

  “What happened?”

  He took her hand in his and laced their fingers together. He wasn’t about to tell her about his epiphany, but he could tell her about the night he’d spent. He’d had a great time fucking everything in sight until he’d heard Richard’s voice over the loudspeaker announcing that the ship had docked. “Those innocent looking nymphs transform into sex-starved maenads. They run wild with wreaths of grape leaves on their heads and little else, demanding sex with anyone they desire—and they desire everyone. Wine flows freely and inhibitions are left in staterooms.”

  “It’s an orgy.”

  “Yes. I didn’t want to use that word, but yes, that’s what it is.”

  “Why do you think I should attend?”

  He didn’t want to think about Candace with anyone but him, but if she came to the Bacchanal, he’d be there. Maybe she’d leave her inhibitions in her cabin. He’d like nothing better. “Because I’ll be here.” With one hand on her cheek, he held her face for his kiss. His lips touched hers, whisper soft at first. Her lips parted, allowing his tongue to sweep in. She tasted of sweet wine and sweeter woman. He’d never get enough
of her. He pulled her closer and wrapped his other arm around her shoulders. She sank against him with a sigh and kissed him back. Her lips moved against his. She thrust her tongue past his lips and they dueled, parrying and thrusting in an age-old war. When they parted, both were breathing hard. Ryan dropped his forehead to hers, his palm still pressed against her cheek. “If you go to the Bacchanal I’ll be there. I wouldn’t go again for anyone but you.”

  “I’ll think about it,” she whispered. She brought one hand up to caress his face. Her tender touch sent fire racing through his veins. He wanted her more than he’d ever wanted anything or anyone in his life.

  “We’d better call it a night. I think you’ve seen enough for your first day.”

  They parted, scooting off the end of the sofa. Ryan got to his feet and reached out to help Candace up. She put her hand in his. So right, he thought. He held her hand all the way to her cabin door. “You should have a newsletter in your room with a list of all the things happening onboard tomorrow. We’ll be at sea all day, so there’s plenty of time. Choose anything you want.” He pressed his lips to hers in a brief kiss. “I’ll pick you up for breakfast and we’ll go from there.”

  Ryan waited outside her cabin until he heard the deadbolt slide into place before he returned to his suite. He sat at his desk and scanned the bank of surveillance monitors. The poolside mixer continued in full swing. With a wiggle of his finger on the joystick, he swiveled the camera around to pan the area. He saw nothing out of the ordinary. Couples and a few groups were scattered around the deck in various stages of sex-play. Many of the passengers on this cruise were repeat customers and it showed. Usually it took a while longer for things to heat up to this degree.

  He checked the monitor outside Candace’s room. He resisted the urge to look in on her. Instead, he turned on the ship’s open channel on the television. Already there were several videos available to watch. It wasn’t unusual for one couple to upload a video to the open channel on the first night, but ten had to be a record. He clicked on the first one and recognized the two passengers as regulars. “They should move in,” he mumbled, unimpressed by their attempt at porn, and flicked to the next one. The video editors did a good job of making sure everything submitted to the open channel was, if not tastefully done, then at least inoffensive and non-violent, but Ryan made a habit of skimming the amateur videos himself, just to make sure.

  The open channel had been Richard’s idea and Ryan had argued long and hard against it, but Richard had been right, the passengers loved it. The staterooms were equipped with a closed-circuit camera that could only be turned on from the control room, or Ryan’s personal control panel. Passengers had to visit guest services where they were required to sign a waiver and pay a small fee to have the camera activated for a period of time. The fee covered minimal editing and a take-home copy of the video. Many, chose to have their videos shown on the open channel for the enjoyment of the other passengers, some only wanted a souvenir.

  The thing that had sold Ryan on the expense of cameras in every stateroom had been the ability to check in on passengers via the in-room cameras. Everyone coming aboard signed away virtually all their rights to privacy, but Ryan remained adamant that the system would be used only as a security tool. He’d never been tempted to break his own rule — until tonight.

  What was she doing in there? Had she gone to bed already? Was she reading the list of activities for tomorrow or trying out one of the items in her welcome basket? Maybe she was watching one of the passengers’ videos.

  His hand hovered over the control panel. If he looked in on her, she’d never know. Ryan flexed his fingers and curled them into a fist. No. He wouldn’t stoop that low, not tonight. Not ever. If he gave in to his need, he’d be no better than the degenerates, both male and female, who used the Lothario as if it was their own floating whorehouse. His conscience ate at him. That’s what Lothario was, what he and Richard designed it to be. When they had come up with the idea, they’d told themselves they were providing a service, that there wasn’t anything like it out there. Nowhere on earth, except maybe in Amsterdam, could a person explore their every sexual fantasy without censure.

  Throughout the years of planning and remodeling, he’d anticipated Lothario’s maiden voyage like a kid who had discovered his hidden birthday present a week before the big day. Eight days, seven nights, filled with no-holds-barred sensual pleasure. Who wouldn’t want that? Ryan had embraced the spirit of the cruise with enthusiasm equal to Richard’s, but The Epiphany— he thought of it that way now, capital T, capital E— had changed everything. Two long years later Candace had walked across the gangway and he felt alive again, hopeful.

  Candace closed and locked the door and pressed her forehead against the cold metal. Ryan. Oh. My. God. She took a deep breath and turned so her shoulders pressed against the door and her palms flat against it. What am I doing? I’ve known him a few hours. She peeled herself off the door and took the few short steps to her bed. The cabin steward had turned down the bed revealing ivory satin sheets, and had left behind a penis-shaped towel sculpture and the promised list of activities for the next day. Lying across the foot of the bed was a tiny pink baby-doll nightie. A pair of terrycloth slippers sat on the floor.

  Candace showered and pulled on the satin nightie. The light fabric felt cool and decadent against her heated skin. She rummaged through the goody basket and found a bottle of rose-scented skin lotion. After spreading the lotion on every inch of skin, she crawled into bed. Candace propped the pillows behind her and pulled the basket closer. Someone knocked on her door as she sorted through the books looking for something to read.

  “Who is it?” she asked through the door. No way would she open her door for a stranger on this ship.

  “David, Ms. Candace, your steward. I have running shoes and workout gear for you.”

  “Thank you. Can you leave them by the door please?” She listened while he did as she asked and bid her goodnight. When he left, she opened the door and whisked the small bag of clothes inside. She scanned the contents, surprised that everything appeared to be her size. The bottom of the bag contained Ryan’s note.

  “He remembered,” she whispered. The note said he would come to her room at eight the next morning to escort her to the Odyssey deck for a short run followed by breakfast. He suggested she read the list of offerings for the next day and decide what she wanted to do. She’d been avoiding the list, but Ryan’s note reminded her she wouldn’t have to do any of it alone. He would be there as a buffer.

  She climbed back into bed with the list. She found the remote and clicked on the television for company. There weren’t many channel choices, it turned out. She found one satellite link to a major news outlet, but all the rest were onboard channels. Candace flipped through several movies ranging from romantic comedies to XXX rated porn. She stopped for a moment on one of the channels. The people were in a room identical to her stateroom, down to the villa scene on the wall and the luxurious bedding. Oh. My. God. It appeared to be one of the Lothario cabins and, if she was correct, she squinted to see the date imprint in the corner of the screen, it had been recorded today. How did they do that? The couple fucked, moving from one improbable position to another. They knew they were being taped, the man kept looking up into the camera making sure his face and other parts were visible. The woman flashed her face to the camera whenever she had a chance.

  Candace noted the angle of their gaze and followed it in her own room. She found the small camera attached to the cabinetry in one corner of the room. She snatched the comforter, dragging it up to cover herself. How did one go about turning it on and more important, could someone turn it on and spy on the rooms’ occupants? Not wanting to take a chance on it, she grabbed the bottle of skin lotion and jumped out of bed. She pulled out the desk chair and stood on it while she smeared the lens with lotion. She applied a thick a coating to the tiny blank eye.

  She returned to the bed. The on screen couple was still going
at it. They weren’t bad looking and Candace became engrossed. Soon she kicked the heavy comforter off and ran her hands over her body to ease the growing ache. It had been so long since anyone had touched her that way. Months before the wedding date her fiancé had suggested they abstain until the wedding. She’d agreed to the arrangement, giving in to his argument that their wedding night would be so much more special if they did. It sounded like a good idea at the time, but now that the wedding was off, she knew there had been more to it than that.

  The man on screen positioned the woman on the bed so the camera picked up her whole body. He spread her legs and knelt between them. He slid down and buried his face between her thighs. Alone in her bed Candace pulled her knees up and let them fall open. She knew women took men into their mouths, she’d done it for her fiancé a few times, but he’d never offered to reciprocate. Now, as the ache grew more pronounced between her legs she wanted to know how it felt. The woman by the pool sure seemed to enjoy it. Her fingers sought her tender flesh.

  On screen, the woman bucked her hips and ran her fingers through her partner’s hair, holding him to her. His hands supported the woman’s hips, holding her up and open to him as he licked and sucked. Candace heard him moan low in his throat, or was it the woman? She couldn’t tell, but both were lost in the moment. Neither one was looking at the camera now.

  Aching, Candace sifted through the welcome basket and found a penis-shaped vibrator. When she’d looked at it earlier, she thought she’d never have a use for it, but watching the couple on television had her so hot and hurting, she knew she needed release.

  She wasted little time getting the vibrator out of its package and coating it with one of the oils that guaranteed to bring you to the highest orgasm you’d ever had. Candace was beyond caring, she needed something between her legs, and she needed it now. As soon as she touched her swollen and heated skin with the slick cold plastic, she wished she’d taken the time to warm up the oil, the vibrator, or both. With a flick of her thumb, the device began to vibrate, emitting a low hum that filled the room.