Chapter Six
Day 6: Thursday
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
352.57 Nautical Miles from Tortola
Andrew
“Hans, do we have an answer?” I push as we need to make a decision regarding the test.
“The Maritime Board has approved the second operator’s test results. As long as you and Pinnacle sign off, the ship can leave on schedule.”
“Ok, I will discuss this with my father and get back to you in fifteen minutes.”
“What did he say?” Ally asks. She stopped in this morning for some breakfast and conversation.
“Ultimately, it’s going to be up to us.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Safety must be our top priority, and at the end of the day, the ship passed the test. I need to call Dad.”
As I dial the phone, Ally states, “You know, it’s your call, AJ. I know you’re looking for advice from Dad, and I get that, but you’re the guy who has to make this call.”
“Hey, Dad. Ally’s here too, so I’m going to put you on speaker.”
“Good morning, sweetheart,” he says.
“Good morning, Dad,” she replies.
“AJ, have you spoken with Hans?”
“Yes, sir, that’s why I’m calling.”
“Annnnnnd?”
“Dad, Hans says the Maritime Board signed off on the revision since the ship passed the test. It’s ultimately up to us as the owners.”
“What are you going to do?” he asks. Ally smiles at me as we both feel the transfer of power from him to me.
“Since the results were the same and there have been no other issues, I would like to authorize moving forward with the transfer and get our ship on the water.”
There’s silence. Did I mess up already? Would he make a different decision?
“Dad?”
“I knew the day would eventually come; I just didn’t know the exact date. Now I do. You’re ready, and I couldn’t be prouder. ”
Ally grabs my hand and looks at me like a proud big sister.
“Thanks, Dad, thanks for everything. I need to call Hans and sign the paperwork.”
“I’ll let you get to that. Excellent job, AJ. And Ally?”
“Yes, Dad?”
“You still coming in next week?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Ok, you and Marcus should plan on dinner at the house at some point.”
“I’ve already reached out to Mom.”
“Ok, you two have a great day. Love you.”
“Love you, too,” we say in unison.
Ally stands and gives me a hug. “Congratulations, AJ!”
“Thank you so much for your support.”
“Go get our ship, AJ,” she encourages.
Dialing the phone, Ally asks, “So, how’s it going with your cruise crush?”
I put my hand up as Hans answers the phone. “Hans, send over the paperwork, and we’re good to go. Let’s get our ship on the water!”
Our conversation is brief, and we both feel satisfied with the resolution.
Without missing a beat, “Cruise crush?” Ally picks up where she left off.
“I’m falling in love with her,” I admit.
Ally’s eyes nearly burst out of her head.
“What?! Are you serious?”
“Yup, I’ve been fighting it because there’s so many unanswered questions and logistics, but I’ve fallen hard for this woman.”
She sees the seriousness in my eyes and hears it in my voice.
“AJ, you’re serious, aren’t you?”
“I am. I just don’t know what to do next.”
“Have you told her? Does she know?”
“No, I haven’t said anything. Does she know? I have no idea. I’m at a loss for what I’m going to do.”
“You need to tell her.”
“No fucking way!” I snap.
“AJ, she has to know. Maybe she feels the same way?”
“And then what? We get into a long-distance relationship, visits every other weekend? Ughhhh,” I moan, running my hands through my hair.
“Maybe?”
“Ally, I genuinely like her, but I’m in no position to jump into a long-distance thing, not right now. Have you seen my schedule? We’ve got the new ship, the VIP cruise, and just the day-to-day operations of the company. I’m going to be knee-deep in meetings and proving myself to the board of directors. I don’t have time for a relationship. It just wouldn’t be fair to her. ”
“All valid points,” she confirms. “But,” here it comes, “are you really going to just let her go?”
“We’ve got today and tomorrow. Let’s see how it shakes out.”
“Really, ‘let’s see how it shakes out?’ That’s your plan? You’re an idiot!” she declares.
“DJ, I love you. Do you love me? Check yes or no,” I grunt in my best caveman voice.
“Yup, an idiot!” she emphasizes.
“We’re headed into town. Catch you later?”
“Cigars and rum?” she asks, knowing me all too well.
“Yup, you need anything?”
“No, we’re good, thanks. Well, actually, if you’re going to see Rico, Marcus needs a box, please. And AJ, she needs to know. Regardless of the outcome, don’t not tell her how you feel.”
Delaney
“Good morning, Dominican Republic,” I announce as I open the blinds to the balcony. I walk out to watch as the ship comes into port. The sun is warm, and there are a few clouds in the bright blue sky. The water below is a mixture of blues and greens as I watch the lines being tossed to the workers on the dock.
I have only two more sun-ups until we’re back in Fort Lauderdale. I really don’t want to think about it, but it’s becoming more of a reality than I care to admit. What started out as a work trip has developed into the most romantic trip of my life. Completely unexpected. I certainly wasn’t looking for it, and it was AJ who ran into me. Yeah, this is all his fault. Let’s stick with that. In the meantime, we’re headed to shore to run some errands and relax. It’s another perfect day in paradise.
I see him standing at the piano, waiting for me to arrive. He’s wearing black board shorts and a white tee that hugs his defined torso. The man looks so incredibly good. His skin tone has become a shade darker this week. He didn’t shave this morning, giving him a scruffy but sexy look, especially with his black Wayfarers and his styled hair. He smiles as soon as he sees me. He has a unique way of making every hug feel like we haven’t seen each other in years. It’s a hug I’ve grown accustomed to as he wraps his large arms around me, pulling me close to his chest while holding me until I’m ready to let go. Yummy. He smells like a tall cup of let’s-go-back-to-bed and mess around this morning. Who needs coffee when you can wake up to this?
“Good morning,” I hear in my ear.
“Good morning to you,” I respond .
“I thought we could get the shopping done first and then check out the lazy river and pool. Are you wearing your suit?”
“Yes, under my shorts,” I confirm. “So, where are we headed?”
“Cigars and rum, two of my favorite vices.”
“Any others?” I ask with curiosity.
“Well, I like to drink rum, smoke cigars, and eat you,” he whispers with a subtle grin.
The man can turn me on with his smile, his touch, his words, and his propensity to compliment me every chance he gets. No other man has ever had this effect on me, or my chatte for that matter.
There are modified rickshaws shuttling passengers to the end of the pier, so we jump into one. It’s so much fun, even if it is only a three-minute ride. He holds my hand as if it’s just become second nature to us. This feels so real, and I don’t want it to be over on Saturday morning.
“Ok, tonight,” he starts. “I was thinking we go on a date.”
“Like a real date? Like a date date?”
“Yes, like a date date.”
“Ok,” I say, feeling giddy.
“I made dinner reservations, and then we can go to the show if that’s ok?”
“Ohhh, feeling confident, aren’t we? Mr. I-Already-Made-The-Reservation…”
“Well, reading the signals and the fact that you said you were spending the night, I hedged my bets,” he admits, smiling.
“I think it was a good bet.”
As we walk by the shops and restaurants, I can’t wait to come back after shopping to float in the relaxing lazy river. It’s a new port, and the DR did a fantastic job building it up. We get to the cab stand, and there’s a large black SUV waiting for us among a sea of white taxis.
“Monsenor Cigar Factory,” he tells the driver.
“The man knows what he likes,” I say.
“Yes, I do,” he replies, looking directly at me. His not-so-subtle gaze doesn’t go unnoticed.
“So, you come here often?”
“Often enough. I know there are a ton of great cigar companies on the island, and in my opinion, the DR produces the best cigar in the world. I found these guys several years ago, and it just stuck. It’s nothing fancy, I promise, but they’ve got a great selection, and they make a great cigar. I also like the fact that you can’t get them anywhere but here, which makes it special and unique.”
“Maybe I should get my dad and brothers one? I have no idea what to pick.”
“Not a problem. I’ve got you.”
Winding through the narrow streets, I’m very surprised at how clean and beautiful it is. The bright colors on the buildings and the energy in the streets are contagious. The SUV makes a left turn and pulls to the side of the street .
“We’re here,” the driver announces.
AJ jumps out, turns, and grabs my hand as I exit on his side.
“This is it?” I question, scrunching my brow. It’s a small, yellow building, and most tourists would probably drive right by it if they didn’t know what was inside.
“I told you it wasn’t fancy.”
We walk in and it’s like he’s the fucking mayor of Puerto Plata.
“ El Jefe !” exclaims one guy rolling cigars behind a table.
“ Hola, Amigo ,” comes from another.
Hugs and shoulder bumps are exchanged. The room is filled with testosterone and cigar smoke.
“Who’s the pretty lady?” asks a guy sitting in a plastic chair.
“Rico!” He walks over, and they embrace like longtime friends.
“This is DJ.”
Extending his hand, Rico welcomes me, “It’s a pleasure. You’re way too beautiful to be hanging out with this guy!” He looks at me, holding his stare. “You look very familiar.”
Oh, shit!
“I recognize you,” he slowly states. “Were you in a movie? No, on TV?”
No…no…no…
“You’re one of those models on a magazine cover,” he blurts out.
Well, not completely inaccurate.
“Oh, you’re so kind. Stop it,” I plead.
Really, please stop, or someone is going to put it together.
“AJ, what should I get for my dad and brothers?” I quickly ask, trying to deflect all attention from me.
He takes me to a back room full of cigars.
“Wow! This is incredible. How do you pick?”
“Trial and error.”
“What are you getting?”
“His boxes are already packed,” says one of the guys, pointing at the table in front.
“Boxes?”
“I needed to restock my humidor. My father requested a box, I give them away to business partners, and I needed to pick one up for Marcus.”
“Can I just buy three?” I ask, not knowing the protocol.
“Pick any three you’d like, on the house,” Rico offers.
“No…I couldn’t,” I say.
“Please, it’s my pleasure, and consider it hazard pay for having to hang around with him,” he jests, pointing to AJ.
“Ok…ok. Enough of that. Would you like me to pick out a few cigars for you?” AJ asks.
“I have a better idea,” interjects Rico. “You can roll your own. ”
“Really? That sounds like fun,” I jump at the chance for a new experience.
I sit behind the table, and Rico instructs me on the steps I need to follow to roll the tobacco and cut the edges. My first one comes out uneven. AJ laughs and then comes up behind me. He places his hands on mine, and we slowly roll the filler bunch with the binder leaf. He’s done this before. After we seal the binder, we roll the wrapper leaf, apply the cap, trim the excess, and do a final press. This one looks a lot better than my first. It’s a quick process, but I enjoy rolling and learning about cigars because it’s another connection I can share with AJ.
AJ takes a quick picture of Rico and me, which I’m sure my dad and brothers will get a kick out of.
“We need to get going. Thank you as always, my friends,” AJ says as he embraces Rico and the other workers. Without hesitation, Rico embraces me too.
“Please come back and visit us,” he requests.
“I certainly will. Thank you.”
“ Jefe , tell your father we said hello and send him our regards.”
“Thank you, and will do.”
What a fun stop! Since this shop is not within walking distance of the ship, I have no idea if anyone else knows about it. It’s an authentic cigar factory filled with stories, smoke, and friendships. It was the perfect stop for me to create new memories during this amazing trip. It’s also something I need to remember to add to my journal.
“So… El Jefe ?” I nudge him.
“I’ve known those guys for a long time,” he replies.
I’m not sure if I buy his answer. That’s the second time someone has used the term “Boss” to greet him.
“We just need to walk around the corner,” he directs, holding my hand.
We walk into, for lack of a better description, a local convenience store. It’s filled with snacks and souvenirs, with an old man sitting behind the counter reading a newspaper. He looks over his glasses. “Can I help you?”
“Brugal fifteen”
Again, the man knows what he likes.
The shop clerk gets up and takes us down an aisle filled with bottles, then points at the top shelf.
We leave with three bottles and a flip-flop magnet. I love this man!
Andrew
Swimming and floating all afternoon in the hot Dominican sun has been perfect. I spent all afternoon just gawking at DJ in her simple two-piece black bikini. The woman is classy and sexy all at the same time. The best part is she doesn’t even know it.
“So, when you’re not cruising, what do you like to do for fun?” I ask.
“I enjoy reading, going out with friends, and exercising. How about you?”
“I like watching sports, but I’m not a plan-my-weekend-around-it kind of guy. I play poker on Thursday nights and, don’t laugh, I’m in a pickleball league.”
“Was not expecting that! I love pickleball!”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah, just started last year. I’m not in a league or anything, but we usually play on Friday nights and then go out for M and M.”
“What’s M and M?” I ask.
“Mexican and margaritas,” she explains.
“Nice.”
“In fact, we played last Friday night, and we may have stayed a little longer than I wanted since I had an early flight to catch the cruise. Truth be told, I almost missed my flight,” she admits.
Laughing, I ask, “Really?”
“I was a hot mess running through the airport.”
“I love it!”
“Thank God the pilot recognized…” She abruptly stops.
“He recognized you?” I say, surprised.
“He recognized that I had obviously had a rough morning, and I was the last one on the plane.”
“Oh…the walk of shame.”
“Yup, all the way back to 24A. And that’s totally not me. I’m a very punctual person. If you’re early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late, and if you’re late, you’re left behind.”
“What’s your biggest pet peeve?”
“That’s easy,” she says. “Poor grooming. Tardiness. Rude people.”
“Damn, I was late the other day at the piano.”
“Yes, I’m giving you a pass as your other qualities and actions have cleared your slate. You? Biggest pet peeve?” she inquires.
“Poor communication.”
“Go on,” she encourages.
“Relationships, professional or personal, break down because people don’t communicate what they need, want, or desire. It’s impossible to please or to meet a person’s expectations if they don’t communicate. Think about it, if people didn’t have to guess what others were thinking, how much faster we could move forward? In proposals, projects, dating, love, sex, and life.”
As soon as I say it, Ally’s words come back to haunt me, “Don’t not tell her how you feel.” Fuck !
“That’s really good, AJ. I think I’m a good communicator,” she says, looking for validation.
“You certainly are, especially when you say, ‘don’t stop’ and ‘yes, right there,’” I joke.
“Very funny, you jack-ass! What time is dinner?” she asks from the lounge chair next to me.
“Six thirty. The show isn’t until eight, but I want to give us enough time so we don’t have to rush through our meal.”
“Where are we dining this evening?”
“Just a little place, I know…”
“Could you be more vague? What do I wear?”
“I’m wearing a jacket and jeans if that helps.”
“Ohhh…Mr. Fancy Pants.”
“Hey, it’s a date, right? So, I want to make sure my lady friend knows I’m serious and not just taking her to a flip-flop bar for margaritas.”
“What the fuck is a lady friend? What are you, eighty-two? And I happen to like margaritas,” I declare, being a smartass.
“I think you’ll enjoy this.”
“I have no doubt.”
There have been so many opportunities this afternoon to tell her how I’m feeling, but I haven’t been able to pull the trigger. I don’t want to ruin the day or give her any excuse to cancel our plans for tonight. We’ve grown very comfortable with each other in conversation and silence. It’s easy, almost effortless.
We make our way back to the ship so we can shower and get ready for our evening.
“I’ll pick you up here at 6:20,” I say as I hold the elevator door on the tenth floor.
“Ok, thanks for a great afternoon, AJ. And thanks for helping me with the cigars.”
“My pleasure. I’ll see you later.”
The door closes, and the elevator ascends to the fifteenth floor.
I’ve got two hours before I meet DJ, which gives me enough time to walk the ship and visit with crew members. I find Javi working at a poolside bar, making frozen drinks with colorful umbrellas. We catch up, and I let him know that his next assignment will be on the Pearl . He is, of course, extremely excited about it. I’m also meeting Pieter in his office so we can call Margot. I’ve spent more time relaxing than working, and I’m starting to feel a little guilty about it. I want to get down to the engine room since we upgraded the entire system during the renovation. Since the engine crew is always dressed in white coveralls, I stop by my room for a quick change so I don’t look like a tourist who got lost in the hallways .
I meet with Stephan, our chief engineer, for a bit and speak with some other crew members while in the engine room. It’s difficult to carry on a conversation since it’s so loud, and wearing headsets is a must.
As I walk the ninth floor, I stop to speak with one of the room attendants.
“Good afternoon, I’m Andrew from Pinnacle,” I introduce myself.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Andrew. I’m Marisa.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. How long have you been with us?”
“Three years.”
“Fantastic! Marisa, I have one question that I ask the crew when I have the opportunity.”
She nods.
“What is one thing we can do to help you do your job?”
“Oh, Mr. Andrew, everything is good,” she replies.
“Marisa, I’m sure there is something we could do. We’re not perfect,” I admit.
She spends a minute thinking about it and answers, “If you could move the cleaning supplies to a central location on each floor, we would save so much time going back and forth when we need to refill.”
“Where are they now?” I ask.
“In an aft storage room.”
This means our attendants have to walk the length of the ship to refill any of their cleaning supplies. This is just not efficient.
“Anything else?” I pry.
“I have a guest in 9007 who said that I’m fantastic, and she loves my towel creatures,” she boasts. “I think she’s in her room. Would you like to meet her?”
“No, that’s ok. I believe you. Your feedback is very much appreciated. Let me see what I can do about the cleaning supplies. Really appreciate you. If you think of anything else, don’t hesitate to let me know.”
“Thank you, Mr. Andrew.”
As I continue walking through the crew hallways, I’m reminded of my summers working on the ship and the good memories I recall. Then I think about how far I’ve come from sleeping with a roommate in a room the size of a closet because Dad didn’t allow for any special treatment to my signing off on our new ship this morning. I glance down at my watch and realize I’ve got to get moving. It’s date night!
Delaney
I return to my room and find another floral arrangement waiting for me. Like I need another reason to want to sleep with this man.
What the hell does that mean? He wants to know if I have a toy? Does he want me to bring it tonight? I’m very confused by his note, but the flowers are gorgeous. I already asked AJ if I could spend the night, so I need to write in my journal now since I won’t have time later tonight.
The Dominican Republic is tomorrow, and I’ve already reserved my spot in his bed tomorrow night. Way to play hard to get!
Day 6: Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Re-reading my entry from last night, what was I thinking? I mean, I wanted to spend the night last night, but somehow, I’m holding out for tonight? Have no clue. For the record, I want to have sex tonight. Don’t know if he feels the same way, but I’m ready to have this man inside me.
We had a great day in Puerto Plata. We went to a small cigar factory in town, which was an experience. Rico recognized me, but couldn’t remember from where, THANK GOD. I’ve come this far without anyone recognizing me when I’m with AJ aside from the whole gondola fiasco. Then he bought some rum and then we swam, floated, lounged, and just enjoyed being with each other. I almost told him that the pilot recognized me but caught myself and recovered. Or at least I think I did. He has planned a date for us tonight. Dinner and a show. Should be fun.
Tomorrow is a sea day, so maybe I can explore more of the ship since I really haven’t done so. I’m so far behind! I don’t have nearly enough info to write about! Saturday is right around the corner. I want to tell him how I feel, but the timing never seems right. And I don’t want to ruin our vibe or wig him out. AJ, I love you. Do you love me? Seriously?! I want to tell him, I just don’t know when or how. It’s time to get ready for my date so I’ll deal with the rest as it happens.
I take my time in the shower and want to make sure I don’t cut myself shaving. I allow the soapy water to rinse off the sunscreen and immediately apply lotion all over my tan body as soon as I dry off. As I get ready, I realize it’s been forever since I’ve been on a proper date. Seriously! You know, the kind of date when the guy picks you up, has a reservation for dinner, and an actual plan afterward? I’m genuinely excited about it. Although we’ve been with each other non-stop this week, I feel like tonight is going to be different. The butterflies in my stomach won’t take a break.
Standing in front of the closet naked, I realize two things. Number one, I’m running low on clean clothes. Number two, I don’t have many dressy outfits left. Forget clean underwear. That ship has sailed, no pun intended. When I packed for this trip, I wasn’t expecting to fall in love, and I certainly didn’t expect to need a “date” outfit. He’s always dressed so well. He said he was wearing a jacket tonight, and if he looks anything like he did the first night we had dinner, I may skip the show and ask him to take me right to bed.
And that’s the other thing running through my head. Sex. I know we’ve done a lot this week, far more than I would’ve if we were on land. There’s just something so romantic and sexy about just letting go while on vacation. Getting back to the sex part. It’s been a while. Probably longer than I care to admit. While my Os have been numerous and mind-blowing this week, the idea of him in me gets me wet, very wet. Like the glaze being poured on the donuts as they travel down the conveyor belt at Krispy Kreme. My “Hot Now” light is definitely on. I just hope he wants it as badly as I do.
I grab the only thing that is appropriate for tonight. As I look in the full-length mirror, I examine myself in my black and white floral A-line, pleated skirt that flares out at my knees. I’ve paired it with a tight-fitting, black top that accentuates my waist and the girls. I feel good. Hopefully, AJ likes what he sees.
I walk up the staircase to the tenth-floor landing just before the elevator door opens. AJ steps out, confident and sexy, looking like a runway model again. #thatsmydate
“Wow!” he says as his eyes take me in. He breaks his stare and greets me with a big hug.
Flutter, flutter. The man just knows how to make me feel special. His arms feel so good wrapped around me, very secure and loving. I hold our embrace as long as possible to take in his scent. It has me tingling already .
“And look at you! I’m nominating you for People’s Sexiest Man Alive,” I declare.
His outfit for the evening includes dark blue jeans, a thin blue pinstripe shirt, and a patterned blue jacket I haven’t seen yet. His scent is still lingering on me, and I love it. I’ve got to figure out a way to bottle that up and take it home.
“Seriously, you’re absolutely gorgeous,” he reiterates.
“Thank you. And thank you for my flowers, they’re beautiful. I do have one question, though.”
“Thinking of you,” he says.
“What?”
“You are going to ask what TOY means. Thinking. Of. You.”
I didn’t know men like this existed. I’ve certainly read about these guys in my rom-com books, but to be with one in real life is surreal.
“AJ, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“So, where’s this special place you ‘know about?’” I ask.
He smiles like he has a surprise. “Come on.”
We jump back in the elevator and get off on the 14 th floor. I studied this ship, and I don’t recall any restaurant on the 14 th floor. We exit the elevator, and we head to the back of the ship.
“Where are we going? There aren’t any restaurants up here.”
“You sure about that?” he questions.
We arrive at a large door labeled “Bella Vista.”
“What’s this?”
He opens the door to a small, intimate room set up with a single table for two. The room is just like Emilio’s, with the windows overlooking the back of the ship. The room is lit with twinkling white lights and red roses on the table.
“AJ,” I whisper. It’s so beautiful. I’m at a loss for words.
“You ok?”
“How? Seriously? I’m…I’m just, this is incredible,” I fumble for words, sounding like a complete idiot.
“You like it?”
“Yes, of course, yes.”
“What is this place?”
“Just a little place I know about.”
We walk over to the table, and he pulls out my chair. Just then, a familiar face appears.
“Good evening,” Marcus says.
“I see the whole cigar thing is paying dividends,” I whisper, leaning across the table so Marcus doesn’t hear me.
“Good evening, Marcus,” AJ returns.
“We have prepared a special menu this evening. We’ll start with an arugula salad with strawberries, walnuts, and blue cheese crumbles. Then, a filet wrapped in bacon with a demi glaze reduction, twice baked potato, flanked by several large, broiled sea scallops. Finally, my signature New York style cheesecake with a berry topping.”
“That sounds perfect,” I say.
“The only thing I need to know is the temperature of your filet and what you’d like to drink.”
“Medium for me, please,” I respond.
“Medium-plus?” Marcus asks AJ.
“Yes, please. Red ok for you?” he asks, looking at me.
“That’s fine.”
“Let’s go with the Caymus, please.”
“Ok, if you need anything, just let my staff know.”
“AJ, this is extraordinary.”
“The food hasn’t even come yet.”
“You know what I mean. I don’t know how you did this, but this is really over the top.”
“When I asked you to go on a date date, I knew I had to bring my A-game.”
“Well, I didn’t know you had any other.”
Andrew
The view off the back of the ship is mesmerizing. The engines stir up the wake, and we watch the white path the ship carves into the water. Then, the sun hits the horizon and adds different shades of pink and orange to the picture. However beautiful that view is, nothing compares to the woman sitting across the table from me. Her outfit tonight has me so distracted. But it’s more than that. It’s our conversation and her authenticity.
When a woman finds out who I am and how much I’m worth, there’s always a shift in the relationship. Granted, DJ doesn’t know who I am, but I did tell her I’m rich, and there hasn’t been a shift. In fact, I think we’ve only grown closer over the last few days. Echoes of Ally telling me I have to tell DJ how I feel are ringing in my head.
“That was very good,” I state as I finish the last bite of cheesecake.
“That was the best thing I’ve ever had on my lips,” she admits.
“I’ve had better,” I brag, looking directly at her.
“AJ!” she responds in her scolding yet playful whisper voice.
I smile.
“How was everything?” Marcus asks as he approaches the table.
“Fantastic! Thank you so much,” DJ says.
“So happy you enjoyed it. And you have about fifteen minutes before the show starts.”
“Really enjoyed it. Thank you so much, Chef,” I say.
We make our way through the ship toward the theater. We get into the elevator, and she leans in. “Thank you, AJ, that was wonderful.”
The FiveGuys from Motown absolutely nailed it tonight. From Aretha Franklin to Smokey Robinson, they put on a fantastic show. They have colorful sequin jackets and coordinated dance moves with each song. By the end of the show, the audience is standing and dancing in the aisles. They always get high scores on the cruise survey. I found these guys while I was attending a conference, and we book them several times a year throughout the fleet. I make sure they don’t see me, or I would have some serious explaining to do.
“Those guys are really good,” she says as we exit the theater. “So, what’s next on our date date?”
“I was thinking about heading up to the open-air bar to try one of my new cigars if that’s ok.”
“Fresh air sounds great.”
We find the same seats we sat in five nights ago. That seems like forever and several orgasms ago. The air is warm, the moon is bright, and the sky is full of twinkling diamonds.
“You sure this is ok?”
“What? Smoking a cigar?”
“Yeah, I know some people don’t like the smell.”
“No, it’s fine. You’re just going to have to brush your teeth.”
“Absolutely,” I confirm.
I clip the end, light the cigar, and slowly exhale the smooth taste of Dominican tobacco. After several long draws, she reaches her hand out and says, “Hold on, let me see that for a second,”
I hand her the cigar.
“What do I do?”
“Slowly, and I mean slowly, draw your breath back and hold it, then blow out. Do not inhale.”
She takes it in her mouth and then coughs.
“Slowly, I said.”
She takes one more drag and then releases the smoke in a cloud above her head.
“How do I look?”
“Fucking sexy as hell.”
She hands it back to me. “That’s not bad.”
“Have you ever smoked before?”
“Nope.”
“Well, we can check that off your list.”
“I’ve had a lot of firsts during this trip,” she says, reminiscing .
“Any one in particular stand out?”
“Being covered in cocktail sauce,” she teases me, laughing.
“Oh, come on!” I exclaim. “I thought we put that behind us?”
“Or was it the pina, I mean, pinko colada?”
“Yeah, not my A-game.”
“Or the incredible shower I had in Saint Thomas,” she recalls, her tone shifting.
“That was a great shower,” I agree.
“Or the ‘jewelry’ you gave me last night?” she teases, referencing the pearl necklace.
“Time to go!” I jest, but not really.
Delaney
We walk hand in hand back to 15001.
“Can I get you anything?” he asks, standing in front of his small refrigerator.
“No, thank you. I’m just going to use the restroom.”
Tonight has been perfect. He has been perfect. I check myself in the mirror before I go back out to the living room.
“I’m just going to brush my teeth,” he says, making good on his promise.
The butterflies have subsided, and I know what I want. I have a strong connection, and I don’t want to just fuck. Last Saturday night, I would’ve just fucked him. Tonight, I want to make love to this man.
When he comes out of the bathroom, I’m sitting on his bed, naked. He stops at the doorframe.
“Holy shit! God, you’re beautiful.”
His words bring me comfort and confidence as I feel completely exposed and vulnerable. I need to tell him.
“AJ. I want to communicate clearly with you,” I state with a serious tone.
“Ok.”
“I want you to make love to me.”
“I wouldn’t have imagined anything different.”
I love this man! Not just a little, but a lot.
He walks over and stands in front of my nude body. He reaches down and cups my face while placing a soft kiss on my wet lips. I begin loosening his belt, and he lets his pants fall to the floor. He takes off his shirt, exposing his chiseled abs and chest. Just running my hand over the creases gets me wet. I grab the band of his black boxer briefs and slowly lower them to the floor .
He climbs on top of me as we scoot back on the bed. He leans down and kisses my lips as he slides his body between my legs. His body is warm. I feel his tongue and lips drag against my skin, kissing and licking my neck. “Mmm,” I moan.
I run my hands over his back as he has his way with my sensitive boobs. Feeling him lick and suck on my hard nipples is not something I’ll ever get over. He’s intentional about giving pleasure to both. When one nipple is in his mouth, the other is being rolled between his fingers. Cupping and caressing my large breasts is transporting me to Pleasureville.
I can feel his cock getting hard against my chatte . His mouth moves to mine, and I feel his tongue part my lips, searching for its companion. They collide, and our moans become more wanting. The heat from his breath on my bare skin is intense. He continues burying his head in my chest, sucking, licking, grabbing, caressing. “ Fuuuuuuck yes ,” I moan.
I feel his body begin to slide down mine as he moves his mouth lower. I raise my knees, giving him exactly what he wants. I feel his tongue slide across my smooth mound in one full swipe. And then again. His tongue is thick and powerful. I feel that unique pleasure when he slides his tongue into my wet slit.
“ Yeeeees …”
I know I’m soaking wet.
“You taste so fucking good,” he mumbles from below.
Waves of pleasure crash against me like the water against the ship. His mouth, hands, tongue, skin, sounds, and words all create incredible sensations throughout my body that I’ve never felt before.
His mouth explores every inch of my body.
“AJ, I want you inside me,” I plead.
He pulls his head away from my bare mound, his lips glistening. “You sure you don’t want me to finish?”
“I want you right now,” I demand, clearly communicating my desire.
He reaches over to the nightstand and pulls out a condom.
I take it from him and slide it over his full length. I can’t get over how hard this man is as I unroll the condom over his shaft.
I lie back on the bed and spread my legs. He grabs my ankles and lifts them, giving him more access to my wanting hole.
I feel his head rub against my slit. It’s driving me crazy.
“DJ, look at me,” he requests.
When our eyes connect, that’s when I feel him slide inside me. Finally! Inching slowly, making sure I acclimate to his size, he splits me, and I feel my chatte stretch to accommodate him. My eyes roll to the back of my head as I’ve never felt anything like this before. My lips grip his cock as he fills me, finally feeling his balls bottoming out against me. No man has ever been this deep inside me.
“Oh, my God, AJ…”
“You alright? ”
“Ah, yeah!” I confirm.
He holds his cock in place, and I feel him flex it inside me. What the fuck is that?! Yes, please!
“Do that again!” I beg. “Fuck, that feels incredible.”
He retreats all the way, sliding completely out of me, then immediately drives his cock back in and then out again. Feeling him fill me with each thrust is mind-blowing. He settles into a rhythm, and his tempo is perfect, not too fast, not too slow.
“Ohhhh…yessss…fuck yes!” I groan.
Then, unexpectedly, he raises my legs just a little, allowing him to hit a different angle. “Ohh, that works!” I confirm. His pace increases, and I can feel him push me closer to O-Town.
“That’s it, right there…yes…fuck me…this is awesome!”
His grip on my ankles tightens as he drills deep into me. My grip on the sheets tightens.
I feel the burning sensation building around my center. “I’m going to come, AJ,” I moan.
With that, he takes his thrusts to another level that I wasn’t expecting.
“Yes, that’s it…Holy shit…I’m cominggg …” I scream as my O explodes all over his thrusting cock. My body shudders and quakes as he makes sure I ride it until the end.
“Did you finish?” I ask.
“Not yet. I would like to give you one more before I do.”
This fucking guy! I’m not sure I can even comprehend what he just said. Before I have time to even think about it, he steps off the bed and asks me to get on all fours. I can still feel my center pulsing. I get into the doggie position and feel his tongue slide the entire length of my slit.
“Fuck, AJ!”
“I just had to get a little taste,” he confesses with a smile.
His large hands grip my waist as his hard cock finds my dripping core. He wastes no time filling me again. This time, I feel his balls slap against me with each thrust.
“Oh. My. God. Don’t stop!” I plead. This isn’t going to take long, as the friction on my clit is fucking unbelievable. His hands grip my waist tighter.
The smack on my bare ass is unexpected and such a turn-on. Definitely was not on my bingo card tonight!
“AJ!” I snap.
“Sorry, was that ok?”
“Fuck, yes! Do it again!” He obliges. “Ohhhh fuuuuuck…AJ, you better come with me!”
“I’m close!” he states.
Thrusting harder and faster, the man is a fucking machine.
“Mmm…Yeeeees…I’m coming, baby,” I declare as I ride my second O against his cock .
“Fuck, yes! Yessss! Ahhhh.” His hands grab my waist hard, and he pulls me tight against him as he finishes and collapses on my back. He’s breathing hard, and I feel his hot breath on my neck.
“Holy shit, AJ, that was…that was…I…I don’t even have the words,” I stutter, panting and exhausted.
We make our way back onto the bed, sated and spent. We lie naked, our bodies intertwined and exhausted.
He wraps his arm around me and pulls me close. I rest my hand on his chest and can feel his accelerated heartbeat.
“You ok?” he asks.
“I have no idea how I could be better.”
“Give me about thirty minutes,” he says, grinning.
I have two more Os before we’re done for the night. My body and chatte will never be the same. Lying next to him, I realize I want to be with this man tonight, tomorrow, and every day after that. I just don’t know how to tell him. #fallinghard