Epilogue
One Year Later….
“Yes, Felicia, the drag queens are back,” Mark said, as he watched the exuberant dancing on the deck with far more enjoyment than he had last year. “Do you want me to send you a video?”
“No.” Even over the phone, he could hear the firmness in her voice. “I want you to hang up, turn your phone off, smooch your boyfriend, and get on that ship.”
Mark grinned and slid his arm around Terry’s waist, drawing him closer. “Yes, ma’am. Say goodbye to Terry first.” He held the phone close enough for Terry to hear her.
“Goodbye, Terry!” Felicia called out. “Don’t get yourselves stranded again!”
Terry laughed. “Bye, Felicia,” he sing-songed. “Be nice or I won’t bring you back any rum!”
“I know where you live!” she sing-songed back, and then Mark heard the sound that signaled she’d hung up, because of course she had to have the last word.
He smiled and shook his head, but he turned off his phone and dropped it in his tote bag, where he planned to let it stay unless he needed it to take a photo or video.
“Empty threats. We’ll have enough time to get you into a safe house before she can make it from Atlanta to Virginia Beach,” he said, squeezing Terry’s waist.
They’d been settled in Virginia for less than six months, but Mark already thought of it as home.
Although the truth was, he’d feel like he was home anywhere as long as Terry was there too.
They’d had to be long distance for a little while they both rearranged their lives, but it had been worth all the effort.
Terry laughed, pulling Mark toward the line of people who were waiting to board. “Felicia aside, I’m never safer than when I’m with you,” he said, leaning in for a quick, hard kiss. “Or happier.”
Terry had, in fact, seemed giddy ever since they’d moved in together.
He’d started the travel agency he’d dreamed of, using the money he’d saved during his cruise ship contracts as his starting capital.
He’d done amazingly well for the short time he’d been in business, leveraging the contacts he’d made and already making a small but growing profit.
Enough to treat Mark to this cruise, since Terry was a sentimental mush ball who wanted to celebrate the anniversary of the day they had met in the same place.
Mark thought back to the last time he’d stood on this pier, resentful of Felicia’s meddling and dreading being away from the office for an entire week.
He thought he’d have a terrible time once he found out it was a Pride-themed cruise, but he’d been wrong.
Despite being stranded, he thought the cruise was the best thing that had ever happened to him, not only because it gave him a much-needed shift in perspective, but also because it had brought him and Terry together.
There wasn’t anything he could regret about that.
“Same,” he said, his voice soft. He probably looked as besotted as he felt, but he didn’t care, and he leaned in for a more lingering kiss without an ounce of shame or self-consciousness.
Terry returned the kiss, then pulled back unhurriedly as several passersby good-naturedly suggested that they get a room. “So want to know a dark secret?” he asked, raising a brow.
“Oo, a secret?” Mark shot him a playful grin. “What is it?”
Terry leaned in. “I’ve never had sex on a cruise ship. Shocking, isn’t it? Care to help me rectify that lack?”
Mark was surprised by that confession, but also pleased by the implications.
All that time on board, and Terry had never been tempted enough to hook up with any of his coworkers or break any rules with a passenger.
But that was going to change on this trip, and Mark was happy they could share this first-time experience.
“Oh, trust me, you won’t be lacking at all by the end of the week,” he said, waggling his eyebrows.
“Good.” Terry gave him another swift, hard kiss, and then he caught his hand and pulled him toward the boarding ramp. “Come on! Let’s get started.”
Laughing, Mark followed Terry up the ramp, and with each step, he left all thoughts of work, clients, and all his other mundane responsibilities further behind.
He’d pick them back up in a week, when he was tanned, well-rested, and well-fucked, but for now, he wanted to focus on enjoying cocktails, lavish buffets, port tours, and all the other entertainment the cruise had to offer.
But most of all, he planned to focus on Terry and the time they’d have away from adult life to just be together without any outside duties or pressure.
But this time, he didn’t intend to swim with any dolphins.