CRUISE TO ROMANCE (17 page)

“Just what do you think you’re
doing?” she asked.

Ryan smiled and continued pouring
the brown liquid straight down the front of her to her vulva.  Ignoring her
look of protest, he grabbed her ankle and pulled her foot in front of him. 
“I’m about to have dessert.”

“You can’t be serious,” Jennifer
replied and started to get up.

Ryan pushed her leg back against
her and pressed her back into the pillows.  “Just lie back and enjoy.  You’ll
get your turn.”

“Ryan,” she giggled.  “No.  It
feels gooey!”

“Of course, it does, Jenn.  It’s
chocolate!”  Ryan laughed and covered her toes with the sticky substance, then
slipped her big toe into his mouth and sucked.

Jennifer shrieked and laughed as
sensations rioted through her body.  His tongue seemed to be everywhere—on top
of her toes, around her toes, between her toes, licking up the sweet milk
chocolate syrup.  But it was when he sucked each toe that she thought she might
faint from the sensual overload.  Then he gave her feet a much needed reprieve
and started licking the chocolate from her breasts.  First he licked between
her breasts, teasing his way to her nipples.  Everywhere his tongue touched, he
seared a path of fire and sensation.  This time, when he sucked her breasts,
she could only moan in pleasure.  “Now, Ryan.  Please, now,” she begged.

“Not yet, Jenn.  I’ve got places
to go, chocolate to eat!” he laughed and began making his way down her body,
licking away the chocolate, making sure he didn’t leave any behind.  When she
started to whimper softly, he stopped, looked up, and grinned.

“Ryan,” she scolded softly, “you
have chocolate all over your face.”

“You, sweet Jennifer, have
chocolate in all the right places.”  Ryan laughed and went back to his
ministrations, following the chocolate to her inner thigh, where his tongue
sought out her tender clitoris and teased it with maddening persistence.

Jennifer screamed as she felt the
pulsating sensations begin to overtake her tenuous hold on reality.  Suddenly, Ryan
was there, inside her, rocking her, pleasuring her beyond her wildest beliefs. 
Her body took over and met his rhythm, climbing higher and higher, until the
spasms overtook her and her mind went blank.

Ryan felt her spasm around him
and gave into the overwhelming sensations that gripped his body and took away
his control.  With a shout of joy he reached his peak and braced himself so
that he wouldn’t crush Jennifer.  He shuddered in ecstasy and collapsed on his
side, pulling her against him, enfolding her in his powerful arms.  When had it
ever felt this good?  He couldn’t remember.

“Jenny, Jenny,” he whispered,
then closed his eyes, falling into a light sleep.

Jennifer rested against Ryan and
thought about the moments they had just shared.  He wasn’t going to get away
with what he’d just done to her.  The night was still young and they hadn’t
used the hot tub yet.  She was sure she could think of something to have
him
begging as well.  She smiled to herself.  After all, there was still plenty of
chocolate!

Chocolate had taken on a new
meaning for Jennifer by the time the ship reached St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.  Not
only had she found new and exciting ways to torture Ryan, she had accepted the
fact that she found making love much more enjoyable than eating.  A good thing,
too, since she hadn’t eaten much these past two days.

Jennifer looked out over her
balcony at Charlotte Amalie, the capital of St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.  From the red
roof tops painting the picturesque town with color, to the sparkling turquoise
waters, St. Thomas was one of the most beautiful islands she had seen on her
trip.  At 5:30 this morning, a local pilot boarded the
Ocean Goddess
and
guided the magnificent ship into its berth here in the harbor.  Only a few
steps away from the pier lay the charming Havensight Mall with all the
distinctive stores that were also downtown.

Right after breakfast, Jennifer
and Sheila went on an early morning tour of the island.  They came back to the
ship to shower and change.  Jennifer was finished, but Sheila was taking a
shower and taking her time.  They only had thirty minutes before they were to
meet Ryan and Mike downtown at the Hard Rock Café for lunch.

After lunch, they would go
shopping,
finally
!  St. Thomas was a shopper’s paradise with a number of
retail stores situated in the original buildings used by pirates to sell their
bounty in the 1700s.  According to one of Jennifer’s friends, the real deals in
St. Thomas occurred before Hurricane Andrew wrought havoc on the Island.  After
Andrew, prices went up.  Saving the duty was really no big deal to Jennifer. 
From what she could tell from shopping the other islands, at least with
jewelry, there were better prices to be found on the Mainland.  But she still
wanted to look and enjoy the sights.

Grabbing her glass of iced tea,
Jennifer sat back down on her lounge chair and waited for Sheila.  It wasn’t as
if the guys wouldn’t wait for them if they were a few minutes late.  After the
moments she and Ryan shared, she didn’t doubt his affection or desire for her. 
She’d just spent two wonderful nights and one incredible day with him in a
plush suite with anything she wanted at her fingertips.  What more could she
ask for?  Ryan was sweet and attentive.  Playful and arrogant.  And totally
male!

Ryan’s love making left her
mindless and satisfied.  It was a good thing she’d finished her book before his
wonderful seduction started.  As it was, she still had to prepare that dinner
for the Captain on Friday night.  This was the last island on the cruise where
she could do any research for special recipes, so she planned to fit research
in while they were in town.  She was sure Ryan wouldn’t mind a few detours.

“Okay, Jenn, I’m ready.”  Sheila
stood at the balcony doors straightening her flowing slip dress of white
georgette.  Her sandals hung from her fingers.  She looked like she’d just been
made love to with her damp hair and pouty lips.

“You know, you don’t have to go
if you don’t want to,”  Jennifer said.

“What?  Let Mike have all the fun
after he kept me up all night?  You can’t be serious.”  Sheila settled onto a
chair and slipped her sandals on.  “Besides, our cruise is almost over.  I want
to pack in as much fun as possible.”

“Do you still think Mike has
someone else on this cruise?”   Jennifer asked.

“Absolutely.  His brooding has
gotten worse, but he tries not to show it.”  Sheila stood up.  “I guess whoever
she is, she doesn’t want him.  That’s what I find amazing.”

“It doesn’t bother you?” 
Jennifer wondered how Sheila could stand knowing he wanted someone else.

“No.  This cruise is just a fun
vacation.  Meeting Mike and enjoying his company is a plus that I intend to
keep enjoying just as long as he does.  Don’t worry about me Jenn, I’m not
looking for the man of my dreams.  Not yet, anyway.”

Jennifer smiled and entered the
cabin, bringing along her iced tea.  She thought about what Sheila just told
her, but she couldn’t envision having such a cavalier attitude toward a
relationship with a man.  Her feelings ran far too deep to just play around for
fun.  She was hopelessly in love with Ryan and hoped that he was starting to
feel the same for her.  While he hadn’t made any commitments, he showed all the
signs of a man getting serious.

Jennifer paused at the vanity
long enough to study her reflection.  She had dressed comfortably in soft beige
cotton twill cargo pants.  Her coordinating burnout lace top was cut low
enhancing her breasts.  She also chose to wear flirty little sandals.  Ryan
would love the look.  Especially the lace.  Just as he seemed to love
everything about her.

Jennifer sighed and finished her
iced tea.  Romance was definitely in the air.  They needed to talk about their
feelings—it was time.  She wanted him to know how she felt about him.  He
needed to tell her that he loved her.  She couldn’t be that wrong about their
relationship, could she?

*    
*     *

On the second floor of the
International Plaza, situated between Main Street and the Waterfront Highway,
the Hard Rock Café overlooked the bay dotted with sailboats and whitecaps.  An
ocean breeze blew through open windows and breeze-way doors.  Jennifer nibbled
on a French fry while Ryan and Mike talked about their morning of scuba
diving.  Ignoring the three of them, Sheila watched the latest videos on a
nearby screen.

But Jennifer’s mind wasn’t on
videos or scuba diving; instead, she thought about cooking and the dinner she
would soon be preparing.  Most of the planning was done, however, she was
thinking of changing the dessert.  An orange and rum brûlée might be nice.  The
brûlée could be made the day before, allowing her to join the Captain and her
friends at the table for dessert.  The more she thought about the idea, the
more she liked it.  When she got back to the ship, she would approach Chef
Ruscelli for his permission.

“Earth to Jenny, Earth to Jenny.”

At the sound of Ryan’s voice,
Jennifer glanced his way.  Both men were watching her with amused expressions.

“Whatever it was you were
thinking about, it must have been really good.”  Mike teased.

“Sorry guys.  I didn’t mean to
drift off that way,” she answered.

“It’s okay.”  Ryan assured her. 
“As long as you’re thinking about me.”

“I hate to disappoint you, but
you were only incidental to what I was thinking about.” Jennifer laughed and
picked up another French fry.  “I was thinking about Friday night’s dinner. 
Did you get your invitations yet?”

“No, not yet.”  Ryan answered,
shaking his head.  “Do you think the Captain has forgotten us?”

“Not hardly.  I suspect that if
you don’t find the invitations when you get back to your cabins today, you will
find them in your cabin mailboxes tomorrow.  From what I understand from Chef
Ruscelli, the Captain is also inviting Helga Swensen to dinner, so you guys
should have a good time.”  Jennifer reached for her Coke and took a drink.

Mike frowned.  “Why is he
inviting her?”

Ryan looked at him thoughtfully
before responding.  “Helga has been very instrumental in encouraging the
passengers to try our new machines.  She would make an excellent saleswoman for
Exercisetech.”

“I wouldn’t know,” Mike answered
dryly.  “I would hope she’s a better saleswoman than she is a
masseuse
.”

“Goodness, Mike,” Jennifer
exclaimed.  “Why would you say something like that?”

“Let’s just say that she is a
little rough,” he hedged.

“With me, she was wonderful!” 
Jennifer beamed.  “It was a great experience.”

“Well, I’m not into women beating
up on me.”  Mike finished his beer and turned to Sheila.  “Ready to go Sweet
Cakes?”

“Sure thing, Honey Bun!”  Sheila
laughed and rose from the table.  “I want to go to H.
Stern’s jewelry
outlet.  Join me?”

Mike rose from the table.  “I’m
right behind you,” he answered.

Ryan studied Mike for a moment,
then tossed a few bills onto the table.  “Come on, Jenn.  I think H. Stern is
as good a place as any to start.”

Jennifer preceded Ryan to the
door, then turned to him when the other couple was out of hearing range.  “What
was that all about?”

“I’m not sure,” Ryan answered
truthfully.  “I guess he just doesn’t like the way she gives men massages. 
What else?”

“I guess you’re right, but that’s
the first negative comment I’ve ever heard from Mike—about anything or
anybody.”

Ryan had a pretty good idea where
Mike was coming from, but he didn’t feel like telling anyone about it.  Mike
had fallen hard for the Swedish beauty queen.  Too bad she didn’t return his
affections.  A five or six-year gap in age couldn’t make that much of a difference,
so he didn’t see that as a real problem.  Mike was a genuinely kind and loving
man.  His loyalty was unquestionable.  If Helga didn’t want him, she was
missing out on someone really special.  Ryan caught up with Jennifer and
grabbed her hand.  “Let them wander ahead of us.  H. Stern Jewelry is just
ahead on Main Street.”

“Okay.”  Jennifer smiled and
reveled in the knowledge that he wanted to be alone with her.  They walked
slowly through the crowded walkways, down Main Street to the jewelry store.  When
they entered, Sheila and Mike were nowhere to be seen.

“They’ve probably gone upstairs,”
Ryan answered her unspoken question.  “Let’s browse down here first.”

For a few minutes they browsed
the showcases filled with unique jewelry.  Rings with precious stones, sapphire
watches, bangle bracelets and necklaces with an attitude.  A back room housed
designer pieces and a coffee bar.  Jennifer rested at the counter and sipped a
cup of vanilla flavored coffee while Ryan browsed again in the front of the
store, speaking in hushed tones to a young saleswoman.  Before she knew it, she
had company.  Sheila and Mike joined her at the coffee bar.

“What’s going on?” Mike asked.

I guess he’s shopping,” Jennifer
answered.  “But I don’t know for what.  He asked me to wait here for him.”

“Oh, Jennifer,” Sheila
exclaimed.  “You should see the jewelry upstairs.  It’s unbelievable!  I bought
a bracelet and a matching pair of earrings.  You should really go look at the
bargains.”

“Maybe I should.  Let me tell Ryan.” 
Jennifer slipped off her bar stool leaving the small back room for the front of
the store.  Three seconds later she stopped, mesmerized by what she saw.  Shock
registered throughout her body, and she was only vaguely aware that her ears
were ringing and her head pounding.  Ryan stood in the front of the store, but
he was not alone.  A beautiful woman with long black hair was kissing
him—deeply.  Her arms were thrown around his neck, and her body, her tall
voluptuous body, was pressed against his.

“Jennifer, what’s wrong?” Sheila
called out.

Jennifer couldn’t answer for the
pain.  She was too busy staring.  The woman looked her way, her eyes quickly
narrowing with suspicion.  Clutching her purse, Jennifer raced out of the
storefront, unnoticed by Ryan.  With a blinding flash, it came to her as she
ran down Main Street—the way he always kept them in public, his unwillingness
to make love to her, Mike’s anger when he found them in bed, Sheila’s
suspicions, Helga’s warnings.  Ryan had a girlfriend!  Ryan had a girlfriend
all this time!  She had no one but herself to blame.  She’d thrown herself at
him, and this was exactly what she deserved.  Calm down, she told herself, calm
down.  The whole thing was just to win a bet.  She won.  She ended up in bed
with Mr. Gorgeous.

Jennifer pushed through the
crowds, turned down Palm Passage, and headed toward the water.  Palm Passage
was like most of the side streets, far too narrow for vehicles.  The original
buildings, made of limestone and mortar, still stood, their insides gutted and
renovated.  The merchants had turned Palm Passage, into a palm-filled,
pedestrian walkway with storefronts and a small outdoor café.  When Jennifer
found the café, she discovered a secluded corner, settled herself at the table,
and ordered a glass of wine.

For a while she sipped her wine
and tried not to think.  It was all she could do just to hold back the tears.  Ryan
should have told her that he had someone else.  While she was busy falling in
love, he was playing, enjoying a cruise.  It wasn’t as if he’d set out to
seduce her, for heaven’s sake.  Jennifer had set out to seduce him.  Why wasn’t
the woman on the cruise with him?  Of course, he didn’t know about the bet, but
it shouldn’t have made any difference to him.

Jennifer finished her wine and paid
her tab.  She should go back to the ship and talk to Chef Ruscelli.  Maybe it
wasn’t too late to cancel the dinner, since the invitations hadn’t gone out
yet.  She slipped the strap to her pocketbook over her shoulder and headed down
Palm Passage to the Waterfront Highway.  Just before she reached the taxi stand
near the Hard Rock Café, she felt a hand on her arm.

“Excuse me, Jennifer.  Do you
have a moment?”

It was her.  The woman she’d seen
kissing Ryan.  How in the world did she find her?  Jennifer frowned, but turned
to face her.  “How do you know my name?”