by S. E. Lund
We rinsed off and I couldn't wait, kneeling and kissing my way down her belly to her mound. I lifted one thigh over my shoulder and ate her, my tongue finding her clit and licking firmly, fingers slipping inside of her body to stroke her. She ran her fingers through my hair, rewarding me with a groan when I sucked the nub. I worked her up for a few moments, but I wanted her to come on my cock.
“Wait here. I have to get a condom," I said and left the shower, dripping all over the floor to my bedroom. I found a condom in my nightstand and slipped it on, then went back to the shower.
Once back in the shower, I lifted her up, positioning her just right so I could bury myself inside her hot wet tightness.
"Do you want it?" I said, rubbing my cock against her clit.
"Yes," she replied. "Fuck me now."
I did, sliding in deep, groaning at how tight she was and how intense it felt to be completely inside her once again. She gripped my shoulders as I began to thrust harder and soon, she gasped and I knew she was there. My movements were slow and steady through her orgasm, enjoying how she lost control, her eyes almost rolling up in her head, her jaw slack, her nipples hardening.
Watching her come on my cock sent me over and I thrust harder, faster, my orgasm starting, my own body tensing as I found my release. Pulse after pulse of white pleasure almost blinding me as I came.
I slowed my movements when it became too intense and simply leaned against her, her back against the wall, both of us breathing heavily.
"Fuck that was good."
I glanced at her face and she was smiling. "It was too good."
"Never. It could never be too good."
I kissed her and we remained like that for a few moments, the water still running, cascading over my back.
Finally, I pulled out of her and removed my condom, tying it off and throwing it into the trash can beside the toilet. When we finished rinsing, I turned off the water and we both dried each other off.
"I better text John and tell him we'll be right there or he might leave." I took my own cell and sent off a quick text to John.
LUKE: Sorry bud, but I'm running late. Had to pick up Alexa and we had some business to take care of first.
He texted right back.
JOHN: Yeah, I can only imagine what business you had to take care of. BASTARD! Get down here. I'm already half-drunk.
I grinned and showed Alexa the texts.
She smiled. "I feel guilty that we made him wait."
"We didn't make him wait too long. Damn, girl. You were fast."
"So were you."
I laughed. "I needed you."
"I needed you, too.”
I kissed her again once more.
Alexa went to her pile of clothes on the floor and went through her bag for her cell. She checked her messages and smiled. "Look," she said and held her cell up for me to read. "It's my mom. Everything's fine. She was just out in the garden and didn't get my text until now."
"That's great. I told you she'd text you." I read it over, a twinge of envy that she had such a close relationship with her mother and father. I pulled her against me. "I'm so sorry this happened to you. You'll be safe with me at the beach house. The cops will find Blaine and you'll get a new restraining order. You'll see."
She sighed and leaned her head against my shoulder. "I hate that he knows where I am. I feel like I have to leave, go somewhere else to do my PhD."
"You can't do that," I said, frowning at the thought the bastard was going to derail her plans. Of course, it was then that my brain went there.
There.
I remembered my conversation with Dana.
She could come with me.
To French Polynesia. Tahiti. Australia. South Africa. Back home again. She could sail around the world with me, the way I didn't let myself imagine before.
Now, I could imagine it. I could see her lying on the hammock at the front of my catamaran, dressed in a tiny bikini, her skin tanned, her hair bleached in the sun…
"Come with me. Sail around the world with me."
She glanced up, her brow furrowed. "Are you serious?"
"Never been more serious," I said, my conviction that this was the right decision growing stronger with every passing moment. "Come with me. Sail as far as you want. Stop when you want. You can take a leave of absence from your PhD. I'm sure if you really want, you could go anywhere and do your PhD at any school."
"I don't know what to say," she said, her voice soft.
"Say yes," I replied. "I know it's sudden, but I've been thinking of it for a while now. I know our start was," I said and smiled, "unconventional, but now I don't want to lose you. I want to see the world with you. John is great, but you're special."
"It's a huge decision."
"I know, but if you have to change graduate schools, if you have to move away, why not take some time, see the world, and make a decision that isn’t rushed? You're young. One year won't make a difference in the bigger picture."
She looked in my eyes. "You're serious about this? You really want me to come with you? I've never sailed before. We've only known each other for such a short time …"
"Some things are meant to be. I feel like I know you better than most people I've known for years."
She smiled. "It never felt like an act for me."
I shook my head. "Me neither. At least, I wished it wasn't."
I kissed her again, deeply, pulling her tightly against me. "Come sail with me and be my love."
She smiled, recognizing my riff on a poem by the sixteenth-century poet Christopher Marlowe.
"You know Marlowe. Color me impressed."
"I'm impressed you recognized it. Don't be too impressed with me. It's the only poem I know so you better appreciate it." I grinned and kissed her again. "I had to memorize it when I took an English Lit class in High School. We thought it was a joke back then, but I understand it completely now." I stroked her cheek. "Come with me."
"I'll think about it," she said and played with my collar. "I have to make arrangements…"
"We have time. You'll stay with me at the beach house until the cat is done and we have all the details ironed out. Then, we'll sail off into the sunset."
"It sounds like a dream." She met my eyes. "Are you sure?"
"I'm completely sure. You know what? My sister suggested it to me when I was feeling down because it didn’t seem like we were going to be together. She knew even then we were right for each other."
"She really wanted us to be together. You know she and I had breakfast together that morning after I left.”
"You did? She didn't say anything. Sneaky…" I smiled, thinking about Dana contacting Alexa, trying to encourage her to continue to see me. "So, you'll come with me? Leave all your cares behind and sail the world with me?"
"As what? What will I be to you? You said yourself that you're not the type to be exclusive to anyone."
"I know what I said. I want you to be my real girlfriend." I stroked her hair, her cheek. "The performance is over. Now, it's real."
She sighed and kissed me. When she pulled back, our eyes met.
"I will."
We kissed once more and embraced and I knew then what I had known all along, somewhere in the back of my consciousness.
She was the one – the one who could bring me back to the world I once believed in and which I feared would never be mine again.
Chapter 23
Alexa
* * *
I spent two weeks with Luke at the beach house while the Chatter sale was finalized and police tracked down Blaine. When they found him, they charged him with first degree aggravated harassment due to the threats he made to Candy and the damage to the apartment. Because he was on full parole, he didn’t have to go back to Oregon and could stay in New York while his case was being prosecuted. The District Attorney's office drew up an order of protection on him.
It was great to know he couldn't come within one hundred yards of me or the apartment, so
Candace could move back in. I'd keep paying my share of the rent while Luke and I were gone, in case I wanted to return early. I had no idea if sailing was my thing, being more of a landlubber, as Luke called me, so I wanted to have a place to land.
I didn't think I'd need it, but it was a second home for me if and when I needed or wanted it. At that point in our relationship, I didn’t want to imagine us separating, but I had to be realistic – we had only known each other for a very short time. Although we both felt the same – that we wanted to be together – there was no way to know for sure we would for the long term.
When we got to the beach house, Luke sent the cook home and we had the entire place to ourselves. The only staff were the groundskeeper who mowed the lawn and tended the pool, and the housekeeper, who came every other day to do various cleaning jobs. It was amazing to spend time in the huge house, having it all to ourselves.
We christened every room in the place, making love wherever and whenever the mood struck, which it did – often. When we weren't having sex, we spent most of our time in the living room at night, or on the porch or beach during the day.
Candy came out to the beach house for the weekend before we set sail for our first big stop – Miami and then south to Key West and on to Havana. After a short stay in Cuba, we'd sail farther south to Panama and go through the Canal before heading out to the Galapagos and the South Pacific.
I still couldn't believe it, and often stopped to mentally pinch myself, especially when I woke up in the morning with Luke naked beside me in bed, his arm thrown over his eyes, his glorious body on display for me and me alone.
My mom and dad were planning to fly to Miami and spend a few days there with us so we could visit and they could meet this 'new man,' as my father called him, before we left the US. My father was happy that I had someone new, and the fact that Luke was one of the wealthiest men under thirty in the country didn't hurt. Fathers always worry about their daughters being taken care of, or so he said, so the fact that Luke could most definitely take care of me – if I needed it – was a relief to him. I told him that was terribly sexist, and that he wouldn't be worried about his son's girlfriend being able to look after him.
"Yeah, I'm a dinosaur, I admit it," my father said on the phone when we made plans. "You're my little girl and there's nothing that can change that. I don't want to think the guy you're with can't support you if you needed it."
"He can more than support her, dear," my mother said in the background. “And she can more than look after herself without him, and has for the past two years.”
My mother understood how important it was for me to be independent. I could still be independent, because I could always come back at any time. My scholarship would still be there. I could delay my PhD for a couple of years if I needed, so I had a cushion of time in which to finish. That gave me the freedom to decide to go with Luke on the trip, but even if I didn't have that leeway, I knew if I got a scholarship to Columbia, I could go to most any university in the country and work on a PhD.
* * *
The day before the Phoenix was finished, we drove to the Alpha Yachts and took a tour of the cat and I got to see exactly where I'd spend my next six months to a year. The cat was large enough for four passengers comfortably with the ability to sleep six in a pinch on a fold down bed.
I'd thrown a monkey wrench in the plans for the trip but Luke would not stand any grumbling from the guys about my presence. I think they must have understood that Luke was serious about it and so if they resented my presence on the trip, they were quiet about it.
In fact, we all spent the weekend before the trip getting to know one another, spending time around a bonfire on the beach, or sitting at the large al fresco table on the beach house's porch, running through the trip itinerary, and what we would be responsible for. I offered to do all the cooking and cleaning, with the exception of any specialized meals the other guys were expert at preparing. Each of the four guys would do a six-hour watch so that the entire day was covered. Luke and I would do a watch together, only because I didn't trust myself to do a watch on my own.
I wasn't a seasoned sailor like the others.
The day of the big launch came, and we were all really excited. The guys spent the night at the beach house and even Candy came out for the launch. We woke early that morning, the sunlight streaming in, waking us up at five o’clock.
I glanced over at Luke and marveled at how intense our relationship had become so quickly. Since we decided to be a couple, I couldn't get enough of him and it seemed he of me. On the trip, we wouldn't have the freedom we had at the beach house, but we'd find a way. I thought it would make our encounters, such as they were, even more special since we would have to wait until we were alone and things were quiet or the guys were off on some excursion on land. We did have a bedroom on the cat that had a door so we could fool around if we wanted, but we'd have to be discreet, and quiet.
“If they hear us, neither of us will hear the end of it. They’ll be merciless, so keep that in mind when I drive you wild with passion,” Luke said with a grin.
I'd become so used to being able to say and do whatever we both felt like, it would be restrictive, but at this point, I couldn't imagine saying goodbye to Luke while he went away for a year at this point.
That last morning, Luke rolled over on top of me, and took my hands in his, his ‘morning wood,’ as he liked to call it, a pleasant hardness against my groin.
"Are you ready for this?" he asked, a gleam in his eye.
I pretended to act innocent. "For the trip?"
"You know what I mean," he said and began kissing my neck and throat, his scruff making me giggle.
"I'm always ready for you," I said, closing my eyes as his mouth moved lower.
It was the truth.
* * *
After a quick breakfast of eggs, bacon and toast, fresh squeezed juice and coffee, the six of us, including Candy, drove to Patchogue and Alpha Yachts to pick up the cat.
My stomach was all butterflies as we parked in the lot and removed our gear. There was a lot to do to get ready, including stocking the galley with food, getting all our gear stowed and taking the cat on its maiden run.
"I have the bottle of Champagne," Luke said and held up a bottle of Dom Pérignon we'd bought especially for the trip. "We can christen her before we cast off."
After speaking with the owners of Alpha Yachts and getting the keys, the six of us went to the launch where the cat was moored and Luke and I did the honors while Candy and the other guys, John, Andy and Ted, watched.
"I christen thee The Phoenix," Luke said. He popped the cork and poured us each a plastic cup of champagne. We raised a glass to each other and then Luke and I poured the rest of the bottle of Dom over the hull.
The time came for us to cast off and I had to say goodbye to Candy. I felt a bit teary eyed at leaving her behind, but with Blaine safely in lockup, I felt comfortable that at least she'd be safe at the apartment alone. I offered to let her sublet my room to another student if she felt nervous, and she thought she might if she became too lonely.
"Have a great time," she said, hugging me tightly, both of us with wet eyes. "I'm so happy for you that finally, you found someone good. You can put the past behind you. Luke's great. He's a keeper."
"He is," I said and wiped my eyes. "Now it's up to you to find someone. What about that bagel shop guy? Is he a candidate?"
She grinned. "We'll see. His name is Zach and I'm seeing him this Saturday night. We're going to see the Rocky Horror Picture Show and if he dresses up, I'll know he's my type."
"I hope so."
We hugged once more and then I followed Luke to the cat and stepped on board. The cat was big enough that I felt secure on it and I watched while the guys cast off and Luke gunned the motors to pull out of the slip.
"Goodbye!" Candy called out as we drew further and further away.
I waved and watched as she grew smaller and smaller.
Finally, I turned and watched as we pulled out of the narrow channel leading away from Patchogue and started our journey.
"Come here," Luke said and waved me over. I went to his side and he pulled me against his body. "I'm so glad you're with me. When we met, you were just a way to teach my brother-in-law a lesson but you've become the love of my life. I had no idea how important you'd become to me."
"Me, either," I replied, a surge of emotion making me choke up. I leaned my face up for a kiss. When we pulled apart, I reached up and brushed his bangs out of his dreamy blue eyes. "You were a great story I was going to tell my girlfriends at Sunday brunch. I had no idea you'd become the love of my life."
He smiled and then turned back, one arm around my waist, the other hand on the wheel, steering the cat for open waters.
Epilogue
Luke
* * *
Pape'ete, Tahiti
* * *
Six months.
That was all it took.
By the time we got to Pape'ete, Tahiti, I knew without a doubt that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her.
Six months of knowing each other, a little over four of being together in close quarters day in and day out, tells you a lot and I knew all I needed to know about her – as a person, as a partner, as a lover.
Well, the lover part I knew would be even better once we were back on dry land and had the full freedom to explore each other without three other guys watching over us with jealous expressions in their eyes. As a result, we took every opportunity to stay in a hotel for a couple of nights at various ports just to be completely alone.
Now, while we were in Pape'ete for a few days, we sent the two remaining crew members, Andy and Ted, into the town to stay at a local motel on the beach so we could spend the night alone on the cat. John flew back to Manhattan earlier in the day to be with his mother after she discovered she had cancer and would be undergoing radiation treatment. He didn't want to miss any time with her because it was a late stage and she might only have six months to live.