Sailor’s Delight (Second Honeymoon #1)

Chapter 1

Jenn loved surprises almost as much as she hated waiting for things. That made her presence here on the cruise equally wonderful and loathsome. She hadn’t been planning on a cruise until the very last minute— surprise! Yet here she was, doing her least favorite thing in the world: waiting.

She adjusted the name tag secured by magnets to the delicate silk of her designer blouse. They’d tried to set her up with a pin name tag. A pin ? Really? There was absolutely no way she was going to push a pin through this blouse, or any of the clothes she’d brought to wear on this cruise. She’d kindly, but firmly insisted on an alternative, and one of the crew members had finally found her a magnetic one. She’d expressed deep gratitude to the man, who’d grinned and given her the thumbs up, but whom she’d sworn she’d heard whisper, “Bitch,” as he walked away.

Her gut had twisted in equal parts anger and shame. She didn’t make a big deal out of nothing. As a matter of survival, she didn’t sweat the small stuff. But if he’d known how much this blouse had cost, he might have understood her hesitation in putting holes where there weren’t any.

She adjusted the blouse and admired the way it both fit and made her feel. It was a baby blue, deep plunge, sleeveless v-neck peplum blouse, and it fit her like a glove. She smiled at the mental image of herself in the mirror before she’d left the room: her breasts, her hair, and her makeup had all looked amazing. The chest was generous enough to fit the girls, and it created a slimming false waist just under her rib cage, while the flaring fabric at the bottom of the blouse draped out away from the belly where she carried the weight that her sexist doctor insisted she needed to lose, but that had kept her from neither the cycling nor the normally very active sex life she so enjoyed, as he so frequently and obviously implied it would. She clearly needed a new doctor.

She filed that decision away for later contemplation and action. She was here on this cruise for one reason, and one reason only: to end the dry spell that she’d been in for the last several months, with no outside distractions. She adjusted the skirt that was lip-biting-nervous-smile too-short and went back to waiting. Waiting and watching.

She always found people-watching on a cruise ship a fascinating exercise. The procession of the extremes of society never failed to amuse.

She sat on the ostentatious leather sofa of the cruise ship’s meager library, an unopened book on the arm next to her, legs crossed and one foot bouncing as she watched out the glass windows and doors. One hand cupped her cheek, the other idly stroking the freshly-shaven skin of her thigh. Was there anything as satisfying as newly-shaved legs? She was almost tempted to go straight back to the room, take off each and every piece of expensive clothing she was wearing and jump naked between the freshly-laundered sheets. The combination of two of her favorite things was almost enough to pull her away from her waiting. Almost.

She dropped the idle hand to her lap. No more distractions. The parade of bodies was beginning.

The evening meal was one of her favorite parts of any cruise. One got to see so many different kinds of people. She loved telling herself stories about those who paraded past the windows of the library.

They must have come from nearly all walks of life. Obviously, being a public cruise, the likelihood of there being any members of the ultra-rich were nearly zero. If you had money— real money— you certainly wouldn’t be sharing your cruise with others. That didn’t mean that there weren’t those on board who were above PRETENDING that they were the ultra rich. These were the ones with the elegant, full-length gowns and actual tuxedos, taking the “formal” in formal evening wear very seriously. One such couple glided past the window, the woman’s hair crusted with glittering costume jewelry (again, anyone wearing anything real that looked like that wouldn’t be on a public cruise) sparkling at her crown, her throat, both wrists, and her fingers. Jenn glanced at the woman’s name-tag. “Caroline” clearly paid no attention to the “put it all on, take one off” rule when it came to accessories. “Stephen” was hardly any better. The gold watch chain, the tails, the white bow tie reminded Jenn either of a penguin or the Titanic, she couldn’t decide which. Maybe Stephen worked at a hedge fund, but not a very good one. Or maybe he was a lawyer of some kind. Maybe Caroline was a doctor. Or a director of a nonprofit. They had enough money to think it made them different, but not enough to actually be any different from most of the other people on board.

Jenn smiled at “Chloe” and “Desire,” the couple walking past in complementing bohemian-inspired sundress and paisley print button up shirt with suspenders, both of them sporting very chic wide-brimmed hats. They both smiled back.

The group of college-aged young men that walked past needed no back-story and were too many to read name tags. Their elevator eyes (the kind that traveled a woman’s body up and down) and their exchanged comments, then their return to staring and smiling at her were more than enough to tell her everything vital about the group. She uncrossed and crossed with the other leg, taking a moment to stretch the leg out, letting the boys get a good look at a piece of what none of them had any chance at scoring.

Their wide eyes, cupped hands hiding smiles, agitated hops, and muffled shouts of appreciation from behind the glass were exactly the reactions she was looking for. She blinked slowly, smiled ever so slightly, and gently but firmly shook her head.

Laughing silently to herself as the group bounced away, the laugh died in her throat when “Casey” walked into the library. The tightness of the long-sleeve button up white shirt across his shoulders and around his biceps told her a few things. Casey spent far too much time at the gym (obviously skipping leg day,) and he either didn’t know enough to size a shirt that fit properly, or he mistakenly thought the poor fit accentuated his physique. The muscles were apparent, but so was his inability to even move normally. She’d had enough first-time experiences in corporate settings with men like this to be wary as he entered. Men like this respected her position in the boardroom far more than they respected her position on the couch.

His slow walk, eyes carefully averted and aloof from Jenn’s outstretched leg and cleavage made her doubt her snap judgment only for a moment. Watching him closely, Jenn sat back, turning her full attention on Casey. She didn’t have to wait long for the facade to fall. His eyes swept blindly over the titles on the bookshelves, never once lingering on anything in particular. When he turned away, it was to turn the long way— Jenn’s way— to stare back out at the hallway outside the library. As his head turned, Jenn watched his eyes slide up and down her body, and a smile play at his lips. When he finished “checking the hallway,” he turned again, his eyes staring fixedly at Jenn’s chest, then glancing up and startling slightly when he made eye contact with her.

Casey smiled and laughed cockily. He put his hands up and turned from the bookshelf, adjusting the rolled sleeves that strained at his forearms and shook down the silver chain bracelet, then tucked in his shirt, leaving his hands on his waist. “All right, you caught me.” Jenn didn’t smile. She was still waiting. With just a bit more concern, now.

“Jenn, huh? With two n’s?” Casey smiled, his white bleached teeth gleaming, and his perfectly coiffed hair catching the glint of the room’s strategic dramatic spotlighting overhead lights, casting a halo around his head.

“Mm-hmm,” Jenn said, her RBF firmly affixed. She had far too much experience with men like Casey. Even the slightest encouraging act he would receive as a glowing signal for more predatory engagement and unwanted pursuit.

“I’m Casey.” He held out his tanned hand, an easy smile on his slightly parted lips.

She pointed at the name tag on his shirt pocket.

“I know.”

He laughed, like she had made a joke. “Right.”

He sat down at the other end of the couch, spreading his legs as wide as the crotch of his pants would allow him to, and turned himself to face Jenn, one hand mirroring her posture of the arm on the couch cupping her face.

“So, are you waiting to go to dinner, too?”

What an asinine question. Her every urge was to say so. But again, wisdom and caution won out; men like Casey typically didn’t handle rejection or even critique very well.

“Mm-hmm,” she repeated.

Casey mock groaned. “Oh, come on. Don’t be like that.”

“Like what?” she asked coolly.

He groaned again. “Like that! All stiff and aloof. I’m just trying to make polite conversation.”

Jenn clenched her jaw.

“Uh-oh.” Casey laughed again, that false, patronizing laugh so unique to men who chose to act like him. “What’d I say?”

Jenn nearly audibly let out a sigh of relief when the door of the library swung open again and another man walked in. As the newcomer made a beeline to the bookshelf, Jenn could hear him mutter, “All right, let’s see what we have here.”

Casey’s eyes followed the man, sizing him up and taking him in just as Jenn was doing. Well, maybe not just as Jenn was doing.

“Trey’s” suit was nice– no fancy tux like Stephen, but it fit him well, unlike Casey. His touchable, wavy hair looked clean and well-taken care of, and brushed the tops of his shoulders as he ran his hand back through it, whispering, “Okay…”

Jenn glanced at Casey, who looked away from Trey, his lips pursed, staring with a look of annoyance at the door as he waited for the stranger to leave.

Jenn turned back to Trey. He had squatted down, perusing the titles closer to the floor, still muttering. Jenn found herself turning her head, admiring the way his pants now hugged his rear. She smiled.

“Really?” Casey was looking at her. Jenn glanced at him, shrugged, then raised her eyebrows and smiled, returning her gaze to Trey’s bottom near the floor.

“Bruh, for real? Just pick one!”

Trey turned, smiled with only one side of his mouth, and apologized. “Shoot, I was talking to myself, wasn’t I? I’m sorry; I do that sometimes.”

Casey looked away, fuming. Trey made eye contact with Jenn and winked slightly. Jenn’s stomach erupted in butterflies.

“Aha!” Trey selected a book from the shelf and stood up, pushing up off his knees and groaning loudly as he did so. “Boy, I am not getting any younger!” He adjusted his glasses as he read the back of the book under his breath.

Jenn watched his lips move underneath the closely-trimmed mustache and beard that he sported. They were full lips, if a bit chapped. Her eyes traveled down across his broad shoulders, his thick chest and belly bulge appreciatively. Trey pushed one side of the jacket he wore aside, resting a hand on his hip as he read. Jenn’s smile grew wider, and her foot began bouncing again. She wasn’t waiting anymore.

“Are you serious?” Jenn heard Casey whisper as he adjusted on the couch.

“Hey, have you read this?” Trey held the book up, turning the cover of a steamy romance novel Jenn had read several months ago out for Casey to read.

“Hell naw, bruh. Just decide already.”

Trey turned the book around again, studying all its surfaces as if undecided. “A friend recommended it recently.”

“I’m sure it’s fine. You should take it and head in.” Casey’s voice was impatient.

Trey turned to look out at the hallway. Folks were still milling about, waiting for the doors of the ballroom to open. “Naw, they’re still waiting to go in. We got time.”

With that, he walked to the couch, still examining the book cover, and wiggled his way down onto the cushion between Jenn and Casey, muttering, “Just gonna slide right in here.”

Casey leaped up as if he’d been stung by a bee. “Bruh, what the actual hell?!”

Trey looked up, the book held open and his mouth agape. “I’m sorry, was this seat taken?”

Casey turned to gesture to the empty seats and couches placed about the room. “There are a ton of empty seats, man!”

Trey nodded and pointed into the hallway. “No, I know. You were just both already sitting here, I figured it must have the best view to see when the doors open.”

Casey pointed around the room. “It’s a glass wall! They all have good views!”

Jenn could see that Casey was only escalating. She decided the situation needed to be brought to a swift end. She linked one arm with Trey’s and rested the other hand on his leg.

“Oh!” Trey made a quiet exclamation and looked down at the hand on his leg in exaggerated surprise, then looked back at Casey, grinning sheepishly.

Casey glanced back and forth between them, his face an open mask of disgust, and huffed. “Whatever. Y’all deserve each other.”

Jenn waggled her fingers at his back as he left the room, glad to be rid of him. Casey had turned out to be exactly as she’d imagined him to be.

“Do you have enough room?” Trey asked, glancing down and making as if to scoot over slightly to give Jenn some space on the couch. She pulled his arm to keep him from moving further away.

“I’m fine.”

Trey smiled warmly. “All right, well this is cozy!” Then he turned back to his book. Crossing one knee across the other, he opened it to the back cover. “So this is supposed to be pretty good, huh?”

“I loved it.”

“Really? Huh. Well, what the heck.” Trey flipped to the first page, glanced outside at the growing crowd, and began to read.

“Thanks for stepping in, but you took your sweet time.”

“Hmm?” Trey looked up.

Jenn nodded out the glass doors, where Casey could still be seen, walking around the hallway angrily, flexing occasionally in obvious agitation.

“Oh, I didn’t want to step in the middle of anything where I wasn’t needed, is all.”

Jenn chuckled. “I was afraid you hadn’t seen me at all!”

Trey’s eyes returned to his book, but they twinkled in suppressed mirth. “Oh, I don’t think so. I clocked you the moment I stepped off the elevator.”

Jenn blushed in pleasure. She still had it. Approaching forty, and she could still turn all the right heads.

“I think the doors are open.” She pointed at the movement of the crowd outside the doors.

“Hmm?” Trey had already returned to his book. “Oh!”

He stood up and slipped the book into the waist pocket of his jacket, then held out his hand. “Shall we?”

Jenn smiled, slipping her hand into his. “Absolutely.” Trey helped her to stand, and his eyes went wide in open-mouthed amazement.

“Jenn, you are absolutely stunning.”

Grinning now, she turned a full circle for him. “You like it?”

Trey nodded. “Very much!”

“If you like these, you should see what I’m wearing underneath!” With that, Jenn turned and walked for the door, smiling to herself as she left Trey blinking his eyes rapidly and grinning, as well.

“Well, okay!” she heard him mutter.

Trey pulled out her chair for her and pushed it in when she sat down. “Well, what are the chances that I’d be assigned to the same table as three of the most outstanding folks on the ship?” Trey looked across at the bohemian couple Jenn had noticed earlier and smiled. “Trey. He/him. Pleasure to meet you.”

The couple seemed instantly and measurably more at ease, then smiled. Chloe smiled then held out her hand. “Chloe: she/her.”

Trey smiled and shook Chloe’s hand. “Chloe.”

Desire stood and reached across to shake Trey’s hand enthusiastically. “Desire: they/them.”

Trey returned Desire’s smile. “Pleasure to meet you both.”

Jenn reached across. “Jenn: she/her.”

Staring at Chloe, Jenn said, “Chloe, you actually look really familiar. Have we met?”

Chloe laughed uncomfortably. “Do I?”

Desire laughed, as well. “Believe it or not, she honestly gets that ALL the time.”

Desire pointed between Jenn and Trey. “How long have you two been together?”

Jenn turned to look at Trey, who looked at her expectantly, clearly waiting to follow her lead. “Believe it or not, he actually just rescued me from some lunkhead named Casey.”

Trey laughed. “Or, looked at differently, she just saved me from the embarrassment of being beaten to a bloody pulp by said lunkhead.”

Desire and Chloe exchanged a look, then both smiled again.

“Where are you both from?” Chloe asked.

“Actually,” Jenn spoke up, just as Trey opened his mouth to speak. “I have sort of an odd request to make.”

The other three diners at the table went quiet, waiting for her to finish.

Jenn laughed. “I don’t know about you, but I did not come on this cruise to talk or think about life outside of it. Is that weird?”

Desire and Chloe looked at each other and smiled nervously, but Desire turned quickly back. “Sure. I get it.”

Trey just looked at Jenn, a smile on his lips.

“Are you alright with that?” Jenn asked him.

“Sure. Live purely in the moment. I like it. Yeah, I’m good with that.”

Jenn sighed. “Thank you all so much. I just want to be able to focus on nothing but the next seven days!”

“I’ll drink to that!” Chloe raised her glass of water.

“Oh, no,” Jenn said. “This is an adults-only cruise! Unless any of you choose not to drink—“ she paused to check. Chloe, Desire, and Trey each shook their heads. “—we’re not toasting with anything but alcohol!” She flagged down a passing server to request a bottle.

When their glasses were filled, Jenn smiled pleasantly at Chloe. “You were saying?”

Chloe raised her glass, her eyes dancing between her partner and her new friends. “To the next seven days of bliss!”

The other three raised their glasses. As Chloe and Desire grinned into each others’ faces and exchanged a quick kiss, Jenn turned to look at Trey.

“To bliss,” she echoed.

“To the coming absolute bliss,” Trey said, staring into her eyes.

As they drank, Jenn knew bliss wouldn’t be the only thing coming. She’d make absolutely certain of it.

The meal passed quickly. Chloe and Desire were a couple up for a challenge, and they leaned into Jenn’s request to stay grounded in the moment. Their excited conversation covered everything from which onboard shows they were looking forward to, to which outings and activities they’d signed up for. When the last dessert had been finished and the table was cleared, Chloe and Desire stood up.

“We’re going to head up to the deck,” Chloe said. She turned to smile at Desire. “This is my first time at sea; I don’t want to miss the sunset.” She looked at both Trey and Jenn. “Would you like to come?”

Jenn, a little tipsy, heard the potential for the pun and smiled. She very much would like to come, but not on the deck. Not tonight, anyway.

“No, thank you.” She turned to look at Trey. “What about you, Trey?”

Trey smiled at Chloe and Desire. “Your first sunset at sea? That’s something you’ll never forget, and one of the most romantic things in existence. You don’t want a third wheel like me crowding and making things awkward for you. You go right ahead. I’m gonna keep an eye on Ms. Jenn, I think.”

Jenn waved him off playfully, but she winked at Chloe and Desire when Trey turned back to them.

The couple smiled in unspoken understanding of Jenn’s intentand bid the other two good night, walking hand in hand out of the ballroom.

Jenn leaned over onto the table, cupping her chin in one hand, the other crossed under her breasts. She was keenly aware of the effect that the position had on the girls. She was planning on it.

Trey looked into her eyes and smiled warmly. “Now, what am I going to do with you?”

She giggled. “How am I going to do you?” she mimicked back.

He laughed. “Now I know you’re drunk. Let’s get you to your room.”

Jenn groaned. “Don’t be like that.”

Trey stood and offered her his hand, which she took gladly, enjoying the warmth of his palm against her fingertips.

“It’s a week-long cruise. I promise I’m not going anywhere.” Trey smiled as he gently folded her arm under his and led her toward the elevators. He nodded at the buttons. “Which deck did you end up on?”

Jenn couldn’t take her eyes away from Trey’s. She’d never met another man who consistently met her eyes as he did, especially given what she was wearing. “You have really beautiful eyes,” she said suddenly.

He smiled. “Thanks. I’ve always thought they were some of my more impressive features.” He laughed, then repeated, “Which deck?”

“Hmm?” She turned her attention to the rows of buttons waiting to be lit by purpose, driving those riding the elevator on to bigger and better things. “Twelve,” she said slowly, thinking.

Trey smiled. “Same as me. That will certainly make things more convenient.” He tapped the corresponding button.

“What things, exactly, Trey? Tell me exactly what sorts of things would you like to conveniently do with me?” Jenn turned, rotating her arm in his so that she could clasp him with both arms around his slightly soft middle (she adored that about him), pressing her body up against his so that he could feel every curve of hers.

Still staring saint-like into her eyes, Trey smiled tenderly. He placed his hands carefully on her back, approximately where her bra strap would be, if she were wearing one. His big hands gently cupped the soft flesh there as he bent to whisper softly in her ear, “All the things.” Jenn shivered deliciously.

The elevator door dinged open, and Trey gently maneuvered her around so that she was facing out. Taking her left hand in his, he placed his right hand on the curve of her waist beneath the baby blue peplum blouse. She dropped her hand to cover his and squeezed with the left as he led— practically danced— her out of the elevator.

“What room number?” he asked quietly when they reached the branch in the hallway.

“Twelve three fifty-nine.” She pointed with her head, pressing his hand harder to her waist and trying to slide it lower, onto her hip. He stubbornly stayed exactly where he was.

“Very convenient,” he said. “I’m literally a door down and across the hall.”

“Very convenient,” she echoed, taking in his scent. Tobacco scent, not actual tobacco, with what may have been some sort of bay rum mixture? She breathed deeply. He smelled so good.

“Twelve three-sixty,” he said quietly.

For the first time that evening, she watched his eyes leave her face and wander over her body. She pretended he was looking for more than just her keycard. She shivered slightly again, goose pimples covering her skin.

“Are you cold?” he asked, concern in his voice.

“Not at all,” Jenn said, pushing back into him. He was so delightfully soft. Muscles were one thing to look at, but another to actually experience. The thought of pushing up against someone big and knotted like Casey made Jenn slightly nauseous at the moment. Give her a man with a little bit of padding on him any day. Give her a man like Trey…

“Where are you hiding your keycard?” There was a laugh in his voice. She looked up into his gently smiling eyes. Without hesitation, she slowly and deliberately reached one hand into the plunge of her blouse and unstuck the keycard from where friction had adhered it to the skin of her breast, never leaving Trey’s eyes.

He laughed, accepting the card from her two fingers. “Clever girl.”

He slid the keycard in the lock, pushing the door open. He let his hand slide from her waist and gently nudged her in with his other hand.

She turned to look at him, crossing her arms beneath her breasts and put a pitiful pout on in one last attempt to entice him in. “Are you really going to make me sleep in here all on my own?”

He looked into her eyes, and he smiled adoringly. “Tonight, I am. Phone?” He held out his hand.

She located her phone where she’d left it on the countertop and handed it to him, puzzled.

He held it up to her face to unlock it, then stared silently at it for a few moments, tapping quickly. He handed it back. “All right, I’ve gone ahead and set up the messaging on the cruise app and added myself to your circle. Let me know when you wake up in the morning, and we’ll pick things up from there.” He gently kissed her forehead, and backed out the door, one hand on the handle. “Can you get yourself ready for bed, or do you need help?”

Seeing one last opportunity and taking it, Jenn backed up to the bed and let herself fall onto it. She held up one leg off the floor, high heel outstretched and creating just enough space to afford him a decent peek up her skirt. “I definitely need help.”

Trey laughed. “You’re incorrigible. Good night, Jenn.”

Jenn raced to strip off her top, truly desperate now. By the time she’d gotten it over her head and tossed in the direction of the entrance, it bounced harmlessly off the back of the door, dropping to the floor in a shimmery pile as it clicked shut.

She fell back, sighing in frustration. She stared up at the ceiling, one fist pressed to her forehead, the other hand slowly tracing light lines across her bare abdomen. For just a moment, she smiled, biting her lip and closing her eyes as she ran the hand upward toward her breasts, imagining that they were Trey’s fingers. After a moment she gave up. Her fingers were too cold, and nowhere near large enough. The thought of his big hands gave her one last pleasurable shiver that she smiled away before kicking off her heels, standing up to unzip and drop the now-regrettably-too-long skirt to the floor, leaving her standing in only the thong panties she wore underneath. Clicking off the light, she pulled back the covers and slid into the bed.

The moment her legs hit the sheets, she was glad for Trey’s help in making the decisions that had led to this point in her evening. It really was for the best. With as much as she’d drunk at dinner, she probably wouldn’t have been able to remember and feel everything she wanted to in taking Trey into her bed. Better leave that for another night. Tomorrow night, however, she wouldn’t have been able to truly appreciate THIS. She joyfully slid her legs back and forth beneath the sheets, her smooth skin gliding easily, the fabric caressing her skin everywhere, all at once. It wasn’t sex, but it would do. It would do very nicely for tonight. As Trey said: it was a boat. He wasn’t going anywhere.