4. Gill
Chapter four
Gill
“ N ow that’s a pool!” I wanted to get right into that sparkling Infinity Pool. “We need to have our detectives solve a crime on a cruise, Duane!”
“So we can write this trip off?” He said wryly. “I mean, I was studying the ships’ emergency procedures in case we had some sort of chase and rescue.”
“Good ideas, man.” I pulled off my t-shirt and dropped it on one of the comfortable looking loungers. There were only two open, but I figured we would be in the pool.
“I hope I don’t sink after that breakfast buffet,” Anisa said, pulling her pink and turquoise cover up on the lounger next to my shirt.
My eyes roamed her lush, curvy body.
Duane cleared his throat, and I realized I’d been staring.
“Sorry, gorgeous. You took my breath away.” I saw Duane staring at her backside as we laughed and headed into the pool in front of us.
Then she turned, with one foot in the water. “The view isn’t too bad for me, either.”
Anisa made us both get out periodically to add more sunscreen. I loved that even after being on this boat with us for one day, she was looking after us.
Duane smiled at me as he put some on her shoulders and back. Yes, this trip was already living up to everything I’d hoped, and more. I’d certainly never expected to find someone so perfect for both of us, so quickly. Maybe it was because we knew her a bit, but it felt like we’d been a trio for a long time. I hoped we would be, for a long time to come.
***
After a couple hours, we were hot and tired. “Would you like to cool off in the penthouse with us? We can get lunch ordered in.”
“Just lunch.” Duane said, seeing her hesitation. “We are happy to take this as slow as you want.”
“And if I don’t want to take it slow?” She laughed. “Kidding. I’m having fun getting to know both of you.”
“I might need to go back into the pool,” I said.
The walk wasn’t far to our penthouse. Duane thought this was an indulgence, but we dithered a bit about taking this cruise, and the only choices left by the time we decided were an Ocean View penthouse or tiny cabin. I figured that was a sign to treat ourselves.
“Oh, wow, your books really must do well,” she said as she walked over to the floor to ceiling windows.
“You doubted that?” Duane teased. He moved to the iPad on the desk, which would call up the butler who helped us if needed, and the room service menu.
“Not at all, and I even started re-reading them last night, but I fell asleep.”
“Glad to know they bored you.” I stepped next to her, enjoying the view of her taking in the ocean.
She laughed. “Please. The authors kept me up too late and were very distracting.”
“Is that so?” I asked, pulling her into my arms for a kiss. It felt so natural to be able to do this. I smoothed one of her dark curls behind he rear.
“OK if we get the sandwich platter and a salad?” Duane said from behind me.
He handed me the iPad then pulled Anisa into his arms for his kiss.
“Will it always be even?” She asked.
“Nah, we’re not worried about that. Plus I enjoy watching,” I said absently as I looked over the food choices. I added chocolate covered strawberries and some champagne. I didn’t think we were ready for a full seduction, but I wanted to have them around for fun during the trip sometime. After all, we had eight more days. Plus I knew Duane and I had every intention of continuing this when we got home. It was all we could talk about last night. We were both nervous as it seemed almost too easy, but neither of us wanted to let her go.
Anisa put her hand on my arm. “Did you just say you like watching?” Her face was turning red, and not from the sun we’d just left.
“I do.”
“I do, too.” Duane took the iPad and finished up the order. I saw him nod at my choices.
Good to know we were on the same page.
***
We were kissing on the couch, my lips on Anisa’s neck while Duane kissed her deeply, when we heard chimes.
“That’s likely the food,” I said, as the door opened, and Aaron, the butler came in with a cart of our lunch.
Anisa seemed nervous at his presence and moved a little away from Duane.
I was sure Aaron saw all kinds of things in his line of work and went to get my wallet with some cash tips.
“I can’t believe I’m hungry again after this morning, but this looks terrific,” Anisa said a few minutes later when we sat at the small dining table near the windows. She selected a cucumber sandwich and glanced at the bowl of chocolate strawberries.
Aaron even opened the champagne bottle, before I could tell him to just put that in the fridge.
But Anisa poured herself a glass. As she lifted it to her lips, I admired her long fingers around the glass. I could feel my body harden. It was like I was a teen again, getting turned on by everything she did.
By the time she sampled a chocolate strawberry, I was ready to pull her onto my lap and kiss her before hauling her into the bedroom.
Duane poured himself some ice water and then filled my water glass. He was correct. We had to slow down, or we’d scare her.
“We’d like to see that Stellar Sky Lounge again tonight,” Duane said. “We were hoping you’d join us.”
“That sounds nice. I might need a nap first.”
“I know what you mean. I can’t remember when I’ve last napped in my adult life, but I can see I might have to for this trip.”
“Gill has endless energy. Multiple rounds of edits? No problem. Six am agent meetings? Great. PHD candidate meetings all day? He’s there.”
“I drove my mother crazy,” I admitted. “But she had four boys, so she kept us all outside and active all the time. The others couldn’t believe I went into biology, but I loved science. I knew working for a corporation wasn’t for me, and when I was a TA, my brother got in free to university as well.”
“Wow! And I’d like half your energy. I’m kind of a read under the covers gal, though I take martial arts.”
“That’s amazing,” Duane said, “Tell us about that.”
“Duane is our advance plotter man. He remembers all kinds of random things and uses them in the books. So please tell us all about your sport and in great detail.”
We all laughed, but she told us about it, and I enjoyed hearing about her sparring and form classes.
“I noticed your toned arms.” Duane smiled at her. He’d already taken out his phone to make some notes about what she was telling us.
I’d worried that would put her off, or make her shy, but she loved the idea that we might include martial arts.
“Lots of push-ups,” she said.
When we finished eating, she helped us pack the dishes back onto the cart Aaron had left.
“The butler is really cool,” she said. “But does he come in a lot?”
“No, and we can add a do not disturb note, or send him a note when we want the dishes picked up.”
“That’s amazing. Include a butler somewhere in the book.”
Duane nodded. “I think maybe the guys need to go on a trip like this.”
“But how could they bring Cassie?”
“She’d go undercover with them,” I said. “She could pose as one of their wives.”
“Yes! And there could be a fake wedding! Oh!” She took my hand. “Sorry, I’m sure fans are always telling you what to add to the book.”
“We get some email and suggestions at signings, but I really like that idea,” Duane said, typing it into his phone notes app.
“Have you ever thought of writing?” I asked her. “We run into many people who do.”
“Why don’t you guys teach writing?”
“We’ve done the occasional presentation or mini course on thriller writing, but our work commitments and doing the books takes a lot of time. Plus, our departments don’t really consider it serious work.”
“Jealousy,” she said again. “I guess it isn’t exactly biology or economics, like what you teach, but you’d think they’d like having famous teachers in the faculty.”
“They like when we have interviews, and when we mention the university. We don’t get it either, but until we want to quit, we keep those lives separate.” Duane explained.
“I could see that. Hey, do you mind if I have a tour of this penthouse? It’s beautiful.”
“Sure.” I took her hand and led her to the stairs in the corner. “Our bedrooms and bathrooms are up here.”
“This is lovely!” She exclaimed over Duane’s room. “I would sleep with the shades open here.”
Then she stepped into the bathroom. “Um, I have to take a bath here.”
“You wouldn’t hear us complain about that,” I said.
“No,” Duane said. “Feel free.”
She hesitated. “OK, maybe later.” Then she walked into my room and started exclaiming over it.
Duane and I had admired these rooms, but her excitement made me appreciate it even more.
By the time we were back downstairs, she grabbed her bag. “If I don’t head back to my place now, I’ll never leave.”
Duane and I moved to walk with her.
“I’d better stop at the main gift shop. I made so many lists for so many months that I can’t believe I forgot to pack a few things.”
She leaned in to kiss me, sliding her arms around my neck. I felt her gorgeous breasts pressed against my chest and I wanted to yank her as close as we could get, but made my hands rest on her hips. Duane moved in behind her and sunk into the feeling of the three of us together, as she turned to kiss him, too.
“We’ll pick you up for dinner, ok?”
She named a time and hurried out the door.
“I hope she will stay here with us soon,” Duane said.
“Yes.” I said, going up to take a shower.