8. All Aboard
Chapter 8
All Aboard
San Francisco Port—The next afternoon
A utumn sunlight glinted off the bangles on Cerissa’s wrist as she stepped out of the taxi van, her other hand brushing over the smooth gold. Married . She still couldn’t believe she’d met and married the love of her life. Gratitude did not begin to describe the emotion filling her chest.
Karen jostled her arm, and Cerissa glanced up, seeing the cruise ship for the first time. Excitement rushed through her veins and a lump caught in her throat. The Hawaiian Desire was a modern skyscraper on water, hovering twenty stories above them. When she finally took in a deep breath, the crisp salt air of San Francisco’s harbor invigorated her.
Time to check in and get this vacation started!
She and Henry had driven to San Francisco the night after the wedding, with Karen and Rolf in a separate SUV following them. Her new husband had brought three full-sized suitcases, so they’d needed both of Rolf’s SUVs to haul four adults and their luggage.
After spending last night in a gorgeous boutique hotel, Cerissa and Karen left the two SUVs at the parking garage and took an oversized taxi to the dock with all the luggage while the guys spent part of the day sleeping at the hotel, and the remainder hiding from the sun. Henry and Rolf would somehow join them after sunset, except Cerissa hadn’t been told how .
The cruise line had embarkation down to a science. The taxi driver unloaded their belongings, and porters immediately flung the already-tagged bags into large luggage bins.
Cerissa counted to make sure all the bags made it. “Wait, not that one.” She took the handle of her roller bag from the porter and tipped him for his service.
Karen grabbed her wheeled carry-on from the driver, then hooked her arm in Cerissa’s. “Don’t worry. The ship will deliver everything to our rooms.” She pointed at the arrows. “We go through those doors to check in.”
The ubiquitous sea breeze tugged at Cerissa’s braid, loosening wispy strands.
Karen had a scarf tied over her hair, but the wind was winning, flapping the scarf’s tail. The minute they were through the entrance, Karen whipped off the scarf and finger-combed her shoulder-length, fine auburn hair.
Cerissa smoothed her own loose strands back, then gaped at the large, cavernous building. It was like a warehouse, but with security screening, roped lines, and check-in booths. After passing through security, she showed her passport and ticket, and the representative directed them to the right line. The counter agent asked a series of questions, ticking boxes on a handheld tablet as she went, then passed the device to Cerissa for an electronic signature. Once Karen completed hers, they followed the arrows on the floor, pulling their small bags behind them.
“So how are our mates getting on board?” Cerissa whispered.
“You’ll see. It’s a surprise.”
“But the ship pulls out of port before dusk. They can’t board as cargo and then join us at dinner. The cruise ship will have no record of them.” Cerissa gripped her bag by the handle and climbed the stairs to the red-carpeted gangway. Looking over the rail, she caught sight of the water three stories down. “Or is Ari hacking the cruise ship’s computer system to create a record of them boarding?”
“Never fear.” Karen scanned her card at the security station, and the scanner dinged its approval. “Our guys are quite resourceful.”
Cerissa followed suit and entered the ship’s lobby, tugging her carry-on bag behind her. “Did they tell you how they’re getting on?”
“Yup. But Henry wants to surprise you, and it’s your honeymoon”—Karen drew an imaginary zipper across her mouth—“so my lips are sealed.”
Cerissa frowned, but then glimpsed the ship’s lobby and could only gawk. The artwork and décor were elegant, and the carpets plush. A greeter at the entryway handed out glasses of champagne. She took a sip. Not the highest quality, but it would do.
A steward held a placard with both their names. Cerissa handed him her cabin card key, and he guided her and Karen to the elevator dedicated to the suite guests.
“Without your card, the elevator won’t stop at suite level.” He demonstrated how to swipe the reader, then punched the fifteenth floor, returned the card, and wished them a wonderful trip.
The rising glass-encased elevator gave her a peek onto each floor, including the themed areas opening into the central atrium. Looking straight up revealed a skylight, which was constructed from multicolored glass panels. She spotted a large library on the fourth floor, a coffee bistro with comfortable overstuffed chairs on the fifth, shops featuring jewelry, perfume, and clothing on the sixth, the casino on the seventh—Henry and Rolf planned to spend time there at some point—and on the next floor, an area with tables for family games and activities.
When they reached the fifteenth floor, the elevator door swished open. A short hallway led to the first suite. Karen slid the electronic card across the reader and opened the door. “Oh my God, Cerissa, look at this. Rolf really went all out. This is better than the pictures.”
Cerissa smiled, pleased she knew something Karen didn’t. “He changed your booking to the Grand Suite at the last minute so you wouldn’t find out. That’s his surprise for you. Henry and I are in the Honeymoon Suite.”
Karen parked her roller bag in the living room. “Let’s go check out yours.”
A few steps down the hallway, Cerissa found her cabin and swiped the electronic reader. The door opened into a large living room with sliding glass doors on each side, one leading to a balcony overlooking the private pool—reserved exclusively for those passengers who booked suites—and one to a balcony facing the sea.
Two dozen red roses in a crystal vase were on the bar, along with a tray of bite-sized appetizers and desserts.
The card read, Cari?a, I cannot wait until tonight. With all my love, Henry.
Cerissa sighed, excitement fizzing through her, and left her bag by the bar. She’d yet to come down from the wedding high, and now she had the honeymoon to replace it.
“Ooh, treats,” Karen said, dishing herself a plate of petits fours and stuffing one in her mouth.
Cerissa explored the suite, starting with the master bedroom. “Look at this bathroom. It’s bigger than the one I have at home, and mine isn’t tiny. It’s even got a whirlpool tub.”
Karen touched her back, peering over her shoulder and crowding in behind her. “Wow.”
Cerissa returned to the living room to gaze through the sliding glass doors. “And there’s a pool balcony. We have our own private lounge chairs. Oh, this is going to be so much fun!”
Karen hugged her. “We’ll have a great time.” She plopped onto the couch and kicked off her shoes, stretching out. “God, I’m exhausted.”
“You’ve been tired a lot lately.” Cerissa frowned. “Are you sleeping okay?”
“All the parties and wedding planning—I’ve loved doing it for you, but I’m wiped. I just need a moment to catch my breath. Some downtime, you know?”
“Well, that’s exactly what we’re going to have.” Cerissa brought the tray over so they could nibble on the snacks. “If you’re feeling run-down, don’t let Rolf take any blood tonight.”
“Don’t worry, I take a regular iron pill.” Karen pushed to her feet. “Come on. Let’s go walk around the promenade and get a feel for the ship. The brochure said they have some excellent shopping on board.”
“The stores don’t open until we’re out of port. Dish up a snack to go. We’ll check out your room and then sightsee.”
Karen scooped some crackers and sliced brie onto her plate. “Speaking of food, I booked us an early dinner, so we can eat before the guys arrive.” A sparkle showed in her eyes. “The rest of the week we can move the reservations to accommodate either them or the shows. Your choice.”
Cerissa spun around, her arms out like a young girl, her hands still tattooed by the slightly fading henna dye, the bangles jangling as she twirled. “I’ve never been happier in my whole life. It still feels unreal.”
“Oh, it’s real. I was there for all of it, remember?” Karen grinned. “Come on, let’s go explore.”
Hawaiian Desire cruise—Later that evening
T he exclusive dining room reserved for the suite passengers had an old world feel with a modern flair. The ma?tre d’ pulled out a chair for Cerissa, then for Karen, seating them next to the floor-to-ceiling windows on the west side of the ship. They had a luscious view of early dusk over the harbor with the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance. The tables were covered in black linens with enough forks laid out for every conceivable course, and three hand-blown wineglasses waiting to be filled—one for white, one for red, and one for dessert.
Cerissa perused the menu. The sommelier offered wine flights, paired with various dishes the chief chef recommended, and she planned on trying the pairings just so she could report back to Henry.
Karen cracked open the menu. “Oh my God, escargot! I haven’t had them—”
“Uh, garlic? The sauce is butter and garlic.”
“Rolf can abstain tonight. I’m having escargot, dammit. And he isn’t getting any”—Karen lowered her voice—“blood, that is. Doctor’s orders, so I don’t get too tired. Remember?”
“Of course, just blame me. I’m sure that’ll improve Rolf’s opinion of me.” Cerissa chuckled. “I’m starting with the lobster salad and then the cognac Dijon lamb chops.”
While they ate, the ship’s engines came to life and gently rattled the tableware. By the time the ship labored away from the long dock, which had to be the length of three football fields, dessert and French press coffee were being served, and the vibrations rippled the surface of the rich, fragrant coffee.
Once the captain had the bow turned around in the bay to power forward, the shudder smoothed out. The ship cruised slowly through the harbor and passed under the Golden Gate Bridge. Everyone in the upscale dining room had their phones out to take photos of the famous bridge framed with fluffy clouds, lit pink and orange by the setting sun.
“Dinner was great,” Cerissa said as she rose from the table. “Was something wrong with your steak, though?”
“No, the filet mignon was fine. Why do you ask?”
“You didn’t eat much of it.”
Karen shrugged as they departed the dining room. “I must’ve filled up on the escargot and French bread, because I didn’t want all that meat when it arrived. Besides, did you see the size of the steak? It was huge.”
She was right. Cerissa couldn’t imagine eating large quantities at every meal. “What would you like to do now?”
“Let’s go to the deck level and walk around. We can watch the city lights behind us as we head out into the open sea.”
“Shouldn’t we go to our rooms and wait for Henry and Rolf?”
“No need to. They’ll be here any minute.”
Cerissa narrowed her eyes. “Will they now?”
“I’m not spoiling the surprise, bestie. Come on, let’s go.” Karen gestured at the stairs. “Too many people waiting for the elevators.”
Cerissa followed, happy to stretch her legs after sitting so long at the meal, but they’d only climbed a few levels when Karen stopped on the seventeenth floor.
“Just a sec.” She gripped the center stair rail, breathing hard, sounding winded.
Cerissa offered a hand. “Perhaps we should take the elevator.”
Karen leaned against the railing and waved her off. “No, I’m fine. I haven’t gotten much cardio lately. Too busy to train.” She breathed in deeply a few more times. “Okay, let’s go.”
Concerned, Cerissa kept glancing at Karen as they climbed, but resisted telling her friend to head back to the room and rest. The suggestion would only annoy Karen—she gave off vibes of being in an adventurous mood tonight.
When they arrived at the outdoor deck, they strolled around the main pool.
Karen nudged her, pointing at a curving staircase made of Plexiglas. “Let’s see what’s up there.”
Cerissa shrugged and climbed, but given how Karen grinned like a crazy super-villain, she had the feeling she was being tricked into something. They reached the top, where a jogging path circled the perimeter with a sports area at one end. Below them, Cerissa watched the water slosh lightly in the netted pools, closed for the night. Lights brightened the deck as clouds passed across the full moon, darkening the sky.
No one was out jogging, but plenty of people ambled along the track, so she did the same. After the large, heavy meal, the night breeze revived her and the blackness of the Pacific Ocean was calming. Beyond the ship’s stern, the slowly retreating cityscape looked magical with all the high rises illuminated.
Over by the sports area, crew members cordoned off a section encompassing the basketball and volleyball courts.
“What’s happening there?” Cerissa flicked her fingers at the bright orange ropes strung between the stanchions, then swung around when she heard a distant rotator sound. “What’s that noise?” Her mouth hung open as a helicopter flew over the rear smokestack to hover, then land, on the marked-off deck.
Karen’s lips twitched, a self-satisfied smile forming. “I believe our heroes have arrived.”
Cerissa felt a blast of relief as Henry’s presence touched her through the crystal. “I don’t believe it. They came by helicopter?”
“It’s a service you can arrange when you’re late to the ship. It’s not cheap. I called in the reservation this morning, telling the cruise line that the guys’ flights were delayed.”
Cerissa bounced on her toes, pressing against the barricade’s rope as Henry, and then Rolf, skipped down the rail-like metal steps built into the helicopter, both dressed swankily in upscale sport coats and slacks and carrying their small roller bags. The purser checked their identification and swiped their key cards into a portable reader. Other passengers crowded around the barricade. Cerissa waved to catch Henry’s attention.
He strode across the court to duck under the rope, dropped his bag, then swept her into a deep kiss. When he lifted his mouth from hers, he smiled smugly. “Good evening. How was your first day at sea?”
Cerissa laughed and hugged him tightly. He loved making a grand entrance. “I missed you. But Karen and I have been getting a feel for the ship. We should show you where our rooms are and give you a tour. It’s so big, you’ll need a map not to get lost.”
“Then let’s get moving.” Rolf wrapped an arm around Karen’s waist.
“This way.” Cerissa took Henry’s hand and led them away from the crowd.
They walked downstairs, and Henry opened the door to the Honeymoon Suite using his card. Karen followed him in.
Rolf grabbed her hand and pivoted her away from the door. “They do not require your help.”
“But we have champagne to drink.” Karen huffed in protest. “Cerissa and I want to toast the start of the trip before going our separate ways for the night. A fresh bottle should be on ice in her suite. The cabin steward arranged it for us.”
“ Liebling , if you want champagne, I will order you some. Although I suspect you’ve had enough for one night.”
“Not true. I skipped the wine at dinner.”
“Then I’ll order you whatever you want.” He escorted her across the hallway to their suite and, holding his key card to the lock, opened the door. “Did you or Cerissa request the key for our sleeping room?”
“All taken care of, my liege. You and Henry are sharing an inside room with two twin beds.”
Cerissa, still standing in the hallway, laughed. “The cabin attendant on the fourth floor already knows you’re day sleepers, and we bribed him well to make sure you two are undisturbed, with a promise of a large tip if he performs his services well, per your instructions.”
“Excellent, cari?a .”
“ De nada .”
Karen and Rolf waved goodnight and disappeared into their suite.
Henry dipped and swept Cerissa off her feet, his back holding the door open, and carried her across the threshold.
Happiness fizzed through her veins as she wrapped her arms around his neck and caught his lips for another sensuous kiss.
The door automatically closed behind them. After setting her down, he lifted the champagne bottle and expertly popped the cork. “May I pour some for you?”
“Yes, please.”
He poured in an inch and held the glass to her lips.
She took a sip. “Delightful.”
“And our luggage?” He finished filling the glass without the foam overflowing and handed it to her. “Everything arrived safely?”
“It did.” She raised the glass and let bubbles flow over her tongue. They tickled. “I took care of unpacking before dinner. Um, except for your third suitcase. I dialed in the usual code, but it didn’t open.”
“Do not worry. I’ll unpack that bag later.” With a hand on her back, he guided her to the bedroom. “I have missed you, mi amor .”
She giggled and polished off the champagne. “Uh, yes, especially in one particular way, I assume?”
“Well, we do have that entire week of abstinence to atone for.” He paused in the doorway to the bedroom and nuzzled her neck.
She flushed, her blood heating. “I suppose we do.”
He ushered her inside, stopping by the bed. “Then what shall it be? BF or FF?”
“Hmm.” She set the champagne glass on the bedstand and stripped off her clothes, not surprised when Henry followed her lead.
While he undressed, she injected the morphing stabilizer to keep her human when he bit, then pulled back the bedcovers. Walking over to him, she pressed against his now-naked chest and nuzzled his cheek. “Bite first.”
“As madam wishes.” He kissed her neck softly, starting at her ear and working his way toward her collarbone, and then reversed again.
His sensual touch sent a wonderful shiver through her. When he gently plunged his fangs into her neck, she let out a little gasp as the fang serum swirled through her. He began sucking, his bloodlust feeding another kind of lust, which ramped up the passion pulsing through her.
They never left the suite their first night together aboard the cruise ship, and Cerissa couldn’t say she minded one bit.