32. Henrik
THIRTY-TWO
HENRIK
It’s Memorial Day, and the last day of Crab Fest. Carina and my parents are meeting me at the Brina so we can take part in the Blessing of the Fleet ceremony. It’s when participating boats are blessed with holy water.
“Carina, it’s so good to see you,” Mom says from beside me as I help the woman of my dreams onto the boat. A wave of peace washes over me. I love having her on my boat.
“It’s good to see you too,” Carina says before I wrap my arms around her. Inhaling, I get an instant high off her vanilla and citrus body wash. “Mmm. You smell good.” I squeeze her tighter. “It feels like forever since I’ve seen you.”
Her laughter floats in the salty ocean air. She runs her hand up my chest. I love having her hands on me. “I just left your house last night.”
I groan. “Don’t remind me. I sleep so much better when you’re next to me. I missed you last night and this morning.”
Rising on her toes, she brushes her lips against mine. “I missed you too.”
My father’s voice crackles through the boat’s intercom.
“Are we untied, son? It’s time we head over to the ceremony.
Miss Brina needs her annual sprinkling of holy water.
” Letting go of Carina, I interweave our fingers and lead her to the ladder that accesses the wheelhouse.
Climbing behind her, I have the best view.
Her plump ass is only inches from my mouth.
I lick my lips and flex my fingers around the rungs of the ladder. I desperately want to touch her.
The door of the wheelhouse is open, and my parents’ voices float out as my dad captains the boat out of its slip.
We’re not alone. The thought of that is like a bucket of freezing water dumped over my head.
Their presence is the reminder I need, seeing as I’m only seconds from turning feral.
Keeping her close in front of me, I follow her into the wheelhouse, effectively hiding my erection from my parents.
She leans against me as we sail to the ferry dock for the blessing.
Turning her head and raising her face to mine, she excitedly says, “Guess what?”
Leaning down and kissing her soft lips, I mumble, “What?”
Her eyes sparkle. “I got my boat assignment for the NOAA survey.”
Turning her to fully face me, her smile widens, and my pulse picks up. Please be the Brina. Please be the Brina. Please be the Brina.
“I’m assigned to the FV… Emilie.” My face and heart fall. What. The. Fuck? She’s on Eirik’s boat?
“What?” I rasp, my emotions strangling me. Heavy with disappointment, my chin dips to my chest. As my mind spins, my breathing labors.
I feel Carina’s fingers on my chin, gently trying to lift my head.
When my eyes meet hers, I don’t see the same disappointment I feel coursing through my body.
In fact, her cheery demeanor confuses the hell out of me.
“Henrik,” she whispers. I frown, and she narrows her eyebrows.
“Hey, grump. I was just joking. I’m on the Brina with you. ”
Instantly, my frown cracks and I feel my lips pull into a smile. “Really? You’re on the Brina?”
She nods and smiles widely at me. I pick her up and spin her around. The relief of knowing she’ll be with me covers most of my fear that she’ll be on the Bering Sea for months. My only experience with it has been during the crab seasons, and it can certainly be intimidating.
“What’s all the fuss about?” Mom calls. Setting Carina back on her feet, I turn to my parents and clear my throat.
“Remember the NOAA survey I signed up for this summer?” Both my parents nod. “Carina has been assigned as one of the scientists on the Brina.”
“That’s great, son,” my dad replies, and my mom smiles.
By the time the boat is blessed and Dad has the Brina docked in her slip, Carina has to rush back to work.
With a speedy goodbye to my parents and a quick kiss on the lips, she power walks up the dock to the harbor parking lot.
Watching the swing of her hips and her plush round ass, I smile to myself. Damn, I’m a lucky man.
After helping Mom disembark and giving my dad’s hand a firm shake, I climb back onto the boat to finish a few chores. Pulling out my phone, I turn on some music, then open my texts.
Me
Hey, gorgeous. How about we celebrate your boat assignment tonight by grabbing dinner and a drink at Kodiak Brewing Co.?
Siren
Sounds great. I’ll meet you there at five-thirty.
Me
Looking forward to it. I love you.
Siren
Love you too.
For the rest of the afternoon, I putter around the boat, organizing and checking that the cabins are in decent shape since we’ll have guests on board in a few weeks.
I want Carina in my cabin, but I suspect NOAA will put the kibosh on that plan.
It’s not like I’m going to fuck her in the common areas and make it awkward for everyone aboard.
It’s just I sleep so much better with her next to me.
I can behave myself if I have to. Maybe. I’ve never been tested in that respect.
Twenty minutes after five, I pull into the restaurant and brewery and scan the lot for Carina’s car.
She’s not here yet. Taking in the building, I smile.
There’s no doubt we’re in Kodiak, a Mecca for commercial fishing.
Fishing nets with various shapes, sizes, and colors of fishing buoys cover the building’s wooden exterior.
In my peripheral vision, I notice a car parking next to me.
Shifting my focus, I see it’s my girlfriend.
I feel a smile pull at my lips. Carina is the best woman I’ve ever met, and I’m the luckiest man on the planet because she’s mine and I’m hers.
I never knew feeling like this was possible.
It’s as scary and intimidating as it is exhilarating and exciting.
Stepping out of my truck, I slide around the back of her car and reach for her door handle.
“Gorgeous,” I whisper when I get the door opened.
Her dreamy smile makes my heart skip a beat.
Offering her my hand, I help her out of the car and into my awaiting arms. My body heats.
There is nothing better than having her pressed against me.
With my lips against her hair, I ask, “Ready to celebrate?”
She nods and steps back, wearing a radiant smile.
“Let’s go, beautiful.” Hand in hand, we walk into the brewery. I haven’t been here in ages, and when I talked to Eirik earlier and mentioned it, he told me they just recently remodeled.
Carina tugs on my hand and whispers my name.
After checking in with the hostess, I turn to her. “What’s up?
I look where she’s pointing to a nearby wall. It resembles an enormous shadow box, and it’s filled with hundreds of light-colored glass fishing floats. “That’s awesome. Have you ever found a glass float on your beachcombing adventures?”
“I wish. That would be the ultimate find.” Her hopeful expression lights a fire within me. I want to give her everything her heart desires.
“Henrik, table for two,” the hostess calls out.
I squeeze Carina’s hand, leading her over to the hostess station. The hostess grabs two menus and cloth-wrapped silverware, then leads us to an off-set, semi-private corner.
“Your server will be right with you,” the hostess says before leaving.
Glancing around the room, I admire the atmosphere of the brewery.
The interior screams reclaimed and refurbished.
The walls are covered with aged galvanized steel and white-washed wood.
When my gaze finally reaches the bar, I smile.
Being a brewery, each beer is made in-house.
And because of that, each tap handle is Alaska-themed.
There’s a crab claw, jumping salmon, Kodiak brown bear, moose antler, and the stock of a shotgun decorated with the establishment’s logo.
“This place is unbelievable. I hope the food and beers are as good as the decor.”
Even though the menu is full of amazing-sounding food, we both decide on fish and chips made with freshly caught halibut.
Picking a drink is far more difficult. Carina orders a Borealis Burst Seltzer and I opt for the Sleeping Lady Ale.
When they’re delivered, we each try both.
Carina’s drink is too sweet for me, and she thinks my ale is too hoppy.
But we both decide the fish and chips are perfect.
I especially enjoy the tartar sauce. They added cucumber to it, and it’s a refreshing addition to a classic.
Our server returns when we’re finished with our meals. “Can I interest you in a cup of coffee, maybe a piece of Death by Chocolate Moose pie?”
“Moose?” Carina asks.
The server laughs. “Yeah, it was the owner’s touch. Instead of ‘mousse,’ they used ‘moose.’
“That’s clever,” I say with a smile. “We’ll both take coffee, and we’ll share a slice of the Death by Chocolate Moose pie. Thank you.”
The server notes it on her pad and then heads back to the kitchen.
Our conversation has been casual and comfortable up to now. However, when the topic turns to the NOAA survey, I see her shoulders rise and tighten.
I study Carina’s worried face. “Are you nervous about the survey?”
She forces a tight smile, but I see the concern in her eyes. “A little. I’ve never worked on a boat as big as the Brina.”
Hearing Carina express her concerns, my gut squeezes, as I have many of the same. Burying my anxiety because she doesn’t need anymore, I give her a smile I hope is reassuring.
“Shouldn’t that make you feel safer? Brina’s huge and stable.
Plus, we aren’t taking all our pots. The weather and ocean aren’t predictable, but I know from history neither should be problematic during the timeframe we’re going to be out there.
May we run into the occasional rough seas?
It’s a possibility. But I need you to trust me.
I would never knowingly put you in danger.
I’ll always do my best to protect you. I know going onto a crabbing boat might stir up some feelings for you, but I’m here for you, every step of the way. ”
“Thanks, Henrik. I appreciate you so much. But I can’t seem to shake my fear. I don’t know how I’ll react until we’re on the water. I’ve been fine on the smaller boats, but crabbers intimidate me.” She pauses, touches her heart, and admits, “It reminds me of Jakob.”