CRUISE TO ROMANCE (11 page)

Ryan breathed deeply enjoying the
feel of the warm woman spent so delightfully in his arms.  Jennifer was so
responsive.  Her enthusiasm made love-making so much easier and spontaneous. 
Amazingly enough, he felt satisfied.  Not just physically, but emotionally. 
That was a new experience for him.  Ordinarily, he was always ready to be on
his way after the passion, but being a gentleman first and proud of his
reputation for satisfying a woman second, he always hung around to talk.  This
was a first for him.  He felt the same way she did.  He could really get used
to this, but he wasn’t ready to admit it.  He had issues that needed tending
and the woman in his arms needed a man who was emotionally willing.

Ryan tugged the bed sheet up so
that he could cover them.  A short nap, and he’d be going back to his cabin. 
It wouldn’t do for Mike to get wind of this romance.  Ryan lifted Jennifer off
and turned her on her side.  She scooted that enticing butt of hers against him
and he gently caressed her breasts.  Ah, yes. 
Seni bei.

“I told you he would be here, so
you’re going to have to pay up.”  A woman’s voice, filled with soft laughter,
broke the silence and edged into his consciousness.

“I wouldn’t have believed it if I
hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.”  The incredulous tone of the man’s voice cut
through his sleep with a familiar nudge.

Ryan awoke to the words.  He
wasn’t sure just who they belonged to, but he knew he wasn’t dreaming them. 
Slowly he opened his eyes.  The cabin was flooded with bright sunlight and a
tousled-haired woman lie sleeping in his arms.  Jennifer.  Details of the warm
wonderful night before came flooding back.  Jennifer in his arms while she
begged him to make love to her.  Jennifer sobbing when he sucked her nipples. 
Jennifer’s ecstatic expression when she sheathed him and tightened her
muscles.  In the next moment he was hard and ready.  Ready for his delightfully
passionate Jennifer.

Ryan looked past Jennifer to the
sliding glass doors leading to the balcony.  The doors were completely open and
a cool Atlantic breeze gently teased at the edges of the sheer curtains he had
pulled back the night before so they could enjoy the moonlight.  The coverlet
to the bed had fallen off during the night.  Their clothes were strewn across
the floor in haphazard disarray.  One sexy high heel shoe sat on top the
counter of the dressing table, next to an open bottle of perfume.

Ryan noticed there was no
movement of the ship, so he knew they were sitting in port.  Off in the
distance he heard the noise of traffic and a steel band playing Calypso for the
tourists who would soon be disembarking.  Obviously, they had slept late.  But
what about the voices?  Had they come from the balcony of the next cabin or had
he imagined them?  When he heard a slight rustle, he glanced down toward the
foot of the bed to see two people standing there, quietly watching him as if he
were a laboratory specimen.  Mike!  No, Mike
and
Sheila, he corrected
himself.

“I can’t believe, after all the
lectures, after all the orders to stay away from the passengers, you are in bed
with Jennifer.  You’re late.  We were supposed to meet twenty minutes ago.” 
Mike looked suspiciously calm for such angry words.  “I’ve got some things to
say to you, big brother, and you’re going to listen.”  His eyes danced with
unspoken humor, but Ryan failed to notice.

“Not now, Mike,” Ryan groaned and
rubbed his hand over his eyes.  “Give me a few minutes and I’ll meet you up at
Neptune’s Court for breakfast.”  He felt Jennifer stir and held her tightly. 
If she sat up, the sheet would fall, and she was deliciously naked underneath. 
There was no way he was going to give Mike an eyeful, not to mention allowing
Jennifer additional embarrassment.

“What’s wrong?”  Jennifer asked
sleepily while fighting with the covers to sit up.  What was holding her
tightly in place?  Then she realized where she was, and who she was with, and
what they had been doing.  She turned her head to see Mike smiling down at
her.  He looked like a fair version of Ryan, all muscles and trim good looks. 
Then she noticed Sheila standing just behind Mike with a smug victorious look
on her face.  How could this happen?  She could feel a warm flush cover her
chest and face.  On top of that, she felt Ryan’s warm hard body against her and
instantly knew he was ready for love.  Of all the rotten luck!

“Hi, Mike.”  Jennifer smiled and
tried not to think about the incredible male lying next to her with his
testosterone filled body pressed next to hers.  “Hi, Sheila.  I guess we
overslept.”

“Hi, yourself,” Mike answered
with a winning smile.  “You’re doing just fine.  It’s that brother of mine
that’s running late.”  He winked at Sheila and asked, “Could you take Jennifer
to breakfast this morning?  I’ve got business with Ryan.”

“Sure thing,” Sheila answered
returning his smile.  “Just don’t forget that I won the bet.”

“What bet?” Ryan growled.

Mike laughed and explained. 
“When I couldn’t find you, Sheila bet you would be here.  I didn’t believe her,
but here you are.”

“Now you have to pay up.”  Sheila
kissed his cheek.  “You owe me big time.”

Mike grinned and kissed her
back.  “It will be my ever-loving pleasure, you imp!”  Then he turned to Ryan. 
“Neptune’s Court in fifteen minutes, big brother.  You’ve got some major
explaining to do.”

“Don’t push it,” Ryan growled.

“Why not?  Right now I’m holding
all the cards.” Mike glanced at Jennifer before winking at Sheila again.  “Have
a good day ladies.”

As he walked out of the cabin,
Sheila looked to Jennifer then to Ryan.  “I’ll be back in five minutes.”  She
grabbed her purse from the vanity and left them in stunned silence.

Right now Ryan wanted nothing
more than to turn and make love to the voluptuous woman lying in his arms.  She
was ready and more than willing, and at this point, he had little control
left.  He was hard and wanting.  He could feel her soft smooth skin beneath his
hand and her shapely hips against his groin.  But he knew better.  The ship was
in deep port and he had plans to go diving.  At the moment, he was in no mood
to deal with Mike and whatever he wanted to dish out to him.  But deal he
must.  As owner and CEO of Exercisetech, he was still in command and control,
regardless of what Mike might think.

Ryan pressed his face into
Jennifer’s sweet smelling hair and kissed her.  “Good morning, Beautiful.”

“Good morning to you too,” she
answered cheerfully.

“How are you feeling after our
night of lovemaking?” he asked, concern lacing his voice.

Jennifer rolled over to face him
and caressed his cheek, feeling the soft morning growth on his skin. 
“Wonderful,” she smiled, “and hungry.”

“Well then, I guess we’d better
get going.”  He kissed her sweetly, then reluctantly climbed out of bed and
began gathering his clothes.  After pulling on his slacks, he walked over to
Jennifer and kissed her again.  “Enjoy St. Kitts,” he said gently, trying to
hide his anger and frustration at Mike.  “Talk to you later.”

Jennifer nodded and watched him
leave with the rest of his clothes and his shoes in hand.  Nothing like a nice
family feud to start off the day, she thought, as she scooted out of bed and
headed for the shower.  She was absolutely certain that Ryan would have made
love to her again, if not for the early interruption.  Naked, he was
beautiful.  All that masculine energy ready for her, desiring her . . . the
attraction was almost overwhelming.  If only he had turned the security lock
last night.  Now he would have time to regret their lovemaking and time to
build his defenses again.

Fighting back tears, she turned
on the water for her shower.  She wanted to be dressed and ready when Sheila
came back.  It was easier to answer questions and defend herself fully dressed
she decided.  Not that she would have to with Sheila.  Sheila wanted her to
find love, to experience the wonder of sex with a tender, caring man.  However,
this was one time that she should have minded her own business.

Slipping off her robe, she
stepped into the shower.  After soaking herself in the hot water, she grabbed
the shampoo.  But before she even had the cap off, she heard a knock at the
door.  It must be room service, she decided.  She shivered as she turned off
the water and stepped out of the shower into the air-conditioned bathroom. 
Quickly, she threw on a robe and dripping wet, opened the door for the
steward.  “Balcony, please.”

She picked up a few bills from
the vanity drawer and handed them to the steward on his way out.  This time
when she stepped into the shower, she didn’t have interruptions.  Jennifer
wasted no time in showering and dressing.  In fact, she was pleasantly pleased
to find the coffee  was still hot in the thermal carafe.  After eating her
fruit, she fixed her corn flakes.  She might as well eat since she didn’t know
when Sheila would come bouncing back.

She had just finished her first
cup of coffee when she heard the door open.

“Eating without me?” Sheila’s
voice inquired.

“Join me, if you like.”  Jennifer
smiled and poured another cup.

Sheila scooted the lounge chair
across from Jennifer into the sunlight, adjusted the back to a half reclining
position, then sat down and relaxed.  “Well, I am glad to see that you and Ryan
finally got together.  Mike was upset, but I don’t understand why.  Just
because Ryan warned him not to get involved with the ladies on this trip is no
reason for Mike to be so bent out of shape.  After all, I’m sure Ryan has
enough sense to realize that Mike and I are an item and he’s not giving Mike
any grief about it.”

“Thanks, Sheila.”  Jennifer
picked up a plate of pastries and passed them over to her.  Sheila picked out
one and nodded when Jennifer gestured to the coffee.  “Why did you bring Mike
to our cabin?”

“We had a bet.”

Jennifer stiffened at her
friend’s casual statement, then settled deeper into the lounge chair.  From the
balcony she could see the shoreline of St. Kitts with its white beaches and
sparkling blue waters.  Sailboats dotted the bay, tossing lazily in the waves
created by the incoming tide.  The sounds of “We had a bet” were still ringing
in her ears, portending an outcome she didn’t want to know.  But still her
curiosity drove her.   “Just what was your bet?”

“I bet him Ryan would be in bed
with you this morning after a hot night of making love to you.”  Sheila took
the coffee carafe from Jennifer and poured herself a cup.

Emotions hit Jennifer hard---surprise,
betrayal, embarrassment---in rapid fire sequence.  Hurt and confused, she
picked up her coffee.  It had been the most wonderful night of her life and her
best friend was embarrassing her by making bets over it.  “That’s it?”  Anger
laced her voice as she tried to calm down.  “Anything else?”

“You’re getting upset over
nothing, Jenn.  Mike thinks you are adorable.”  Sheila took a bite out of her
pastry and leaned back in her chair.  “Anyway, I won.  That’s what counts.”

“You are so smug,” Jennifer
groused.  “What’s your payoff?  A hot night in the sack?”

Sheila laughed.  “No, I’ve
already had that.  Mike is paying for a full day of water sports when we stop
in the Bahamas.  A full day of play free—for me
and
you.”

“What!”  Jennifer jerked and
spilled some of her coffee down the front of her shirt.  The heat from the
liquid seeped through the thin material and warmed her skin.  She set the cup
down and brushed at the spill with a napkin.

“Mike was so sure I was wrong,
that he actually came up with the idea, not me.”  Sheila was grinning from ear
to ear.  “Obviously, he approves of you or he wouldn’t include you in the
payoff.”

“I don’t believe it,” Jennifer
groaned.  What could Ryan be thinking right now? Probably not sweet memories of
last night, that was for sure.

“Believe it.”

“Didn’t you stop to think, to
wonder why Mike was so certain?”  Jennifer did.  Now the pieces were starting
to fit.  Mike knew that Ryan didn’t want to get involved with anyone.

“Not really.  I knew that I had
inside information, but I wasn’t sure he would still be here.  So, I focused
mostly on the bet and hoping I would win.”

“Well, you won.”  Jennifer
answered, still angry about the light-hearted bet.  “But you could have just as
easily lost.”

“What do you mean?”

“Ryan didn’t want to make love to
me.  He didn’t even want to kiss me goodnight.”  Jennifer took a deep breath
and continued.  “I’m the one who threw myself at him.  It was the wine that
weakened his defenses, not me.”

“I don’t believe you.”  Sheila
finished off her pastry and wiped her fingers.  “I’m not going to fall for that
line.  You are a beautiful and desirable woman, and he wants you.  I see it in
his eyes, the way he watches you, the way he smiles at you.  Jennifer, you are
blind when it comes to men.”

“Sheila, he is attracted to me
but he doesn’t want the involvement.  He made it quite clear.  After I forced
the issue, he told me that all he could give me was a shipboard romance.” 
Embarrassed, she put her face in her hands for a moment, then looked back up at
Sheila.  “Do you really think that after Ryan learns his brother is betting on
his sexual exploits that he will want to make love to me again?”

Sheila looked contrite.  “Well,
he’s a man.  He’ll definitely want to make love to you again.”

“I’m sorry to burst your bubble,
but how do you think I feel right about now?”  Jennifer stood up and brushed the
wrinkles from her slacks.

“Awful?”  Sheila offered.

“Awful just about covers it.” 
Jennifer made her way over to the glass sliding doors then turned to look at
Sheila.  She was beautiful lying there in the morning sun.  She would never
have trouble attracting men.  Not like Jennifer, who resorted to begging to get
male attention.

“What are you going to do?”

For a brief moment she studied
Sheila.  “You needn’t worry.  You’ve won your bet with Mike, hands down, just
as I won the bet with you.”  She stuffed her hands in her pockets and turned to
leave.  She needed to change her shirt and get away from everyone for a while. 
Then as an afterthought, she turned once more to her silent friend and added
sadly, “In the future, don’t make me a subject of any more of your bets.”